Gravestone of William Gray (1678-1744), Elspet Annand or Annan (c.1689-1770), Andrew Gray (1728-c.1758), Alexander Gray (1713-1804) and Christian Johnston (bef.1733-1807) - Slains Kirkyard, Collieston, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Date: 13 Feb 1744 to 10 Dec 1807
Location: Slains Kirkyard, Collieston, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Surnames/tags: Gray Annand Johnston

Contents 1 About this monumnet 2 The deceased 3 Transcription I (1879) 4 Transcription II (1911) 5 Transcription III (Late 20th Century, date unknown)

About this monumnet

This gravestone is located at Slains Kirkyard in Collieston in the former parish of Slains in Aberdeenshire, located at DMS cooordinates 57°21'05"N, 1°56'00"W.

The monument appears to have once been a table-top monumnet (see "Transcription I", below). If so, the horizontal slab has been removed from its supports and placed on the ground. The inscription on this slab is now illegible.

When Slains Kirkyard was transcribed by the Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society (date unknown), it was given the number 74 on the transcription plan.

The deceased

At least three transcriptions of the stone had been made, leaving some question about all of the people buried here:

The following are confirmed burials, noted in all three transcriptions:

• William Gray (1678-1744), and his wife,
• Elspet Annand or Annan (c.1689-1770).

The following are likely burials, but are only given on "Transcription II":

• Andrew Gray (1728-c.1758);
• Alexander Gray (1713-1804), and his wife,
• Christian Johnston (bef.1733-1807).

Transcription I (1879)

"From a table-stone:— Here lies in the hope of a blessed resurrection, the corps of WILLIAM GRAY, sometime of Clochtow, who departed this life, February 13th, 1744, aged 66 years. Also ELSPET ANNAN, his spouse, who died 23 Dec. 1770, aged 81 years."

[Source: Andrew Jervise, "Epitaphs and inscriptions from burial grounds and old buildings in the North East of Scotland; with historical, biographical, genealogical, and antiquarian notes, also an appendix of illustrative papers, with a Memoir of the author. Volume 2." (Edinburgh: Edward Douglas, 1879), page 247.]

Transcription II (1911)

"Here lies in hopes of a blessed resurrection, the bodies of William Gray, sometime in Clochtow, who departed this life 13 February 1744 aged 66 years, [born 1678]; Also his wife, Elspet Annand [sic], 23 December 1770 aged 81 years [born 1689]. Also their son Andrew, aged 29 years. Also their son, Alexander, sometime farmer in Knaps-Leask who died 21 December 1804 aged 92 years. Also His spouse Christian Johnston, who died 10 December 1807 aged __?__"

[Tom Gray, transcriber, "The Gray Family (from 1700)," typescript, 1969, private collection, Calgary, Alberta; citing Andrew Mitchell, "The Gray Family," unpublished MS, 1911. The birth years indicated in square brackets appear to have been added by the transcriber.]

Transcription III (Late 20th Century, date unknown)

“(Flat) Here lies in the hop [sic] etc., the corps of WILLIAM GRAY sometime of Clochtow who dep. this life 13 Feb. 1744 aged 66. Also ELSPET ANNAN his spouse d. 23 Dec. 1770 aged 81.”

[“Unpublished Memorial Inscriptions,” on-line database, Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society (https://www.anesfhs.org.uk : accessed 28 May 2020), entry for William Gray and Elspet Annan, Slains Burial Ground, stone number 74. The date of this transcription is unknown and it contains no reference to Andrew Gray, Alexander Gray or Christian Johnston referred to on an earlier transcription.]

Gravestone of William Gray (1678-1744), Elspet Annand or Annan (c.1689-1770), Andrew Gray (1728-c.1758), Alexander Gray (1713-1804) and Christian Johnston (bef.1733-1807) - Slains Kirkyard, Collieston, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Photographed on 18 June 2020.