The Gray Families of East Norton, Leicestershire

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

This work was initiated by Simon T Gray in his investigation of his family tree.

One of his contributions was to the [East Norton Heritage Group]

Information regarding the Gray families is expanded in [The Gray Family]

Simon also tried to research the earlier Grays who probably came from Northamptonshire and to this end he commissioned two reports

• Investigation at the Northampton Record Office

• Investigations at the Northampton and Leicester Record Offices

Simon has also placed his research on an Ancestry Public Tree [Gray Family Tree] which links to Ann Gray (1786-1874). You can navigate from here.

A hand Dawn Family tree was found in the possessions of Evelyn Mary (Gray) Ekins (1922-2011) Hand drawn Gray family Tree found among the possessions of Evelyn Ekins nee Gray

It is unclear as to who drew the original tree (of which this is a photocopy).

Gray Family Tree

From Simon Gray regarding the above tree.

You had already sent me a copy of the old family tree and the mention of the first John Gray’s siblings, George, Frances and Mary (Essam) confirmed to me that the John Gray baptised in 1743 who was the eldest child of John Gray (1702-1783) and Susannah Phillips was our man.

His siblings included George, Frances and Mary and Frances married William Essam at Rushton.The marriage of John Gray of Rushton to Susannah Watson of Bringhurst took place at Rushton in 1784. Each of them probably received legacies from their fathers who died in 1783 and this would have provided the resources for John Gray to take on the tenancy of the farm at East Norton. Apart from the baptism dates this all fits together to confirm that it is right to accept them.

Going further back requires more guesswork but I did find a John Gray who was baptized at Gretton in 1702 and this led to earlier Grays at Gretton.