William Gray

b. say 1773, d. May 1846
FatherJohn Gray1
MotherJean McCain1
Birth-Saysay 1773 William Gray was born say 1773. 
  William's daughter Evelina indicated that her father was born in Pennsylvania on her 1880 census entry. Other sources say he was born at sea and then traveled with his family from Pennsylvania to Virginia.2,3 
Marriage9 Jan 1794 He married Mary Davis, daughter of John Davis and Mary Allison, on 9 Jan 1794 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5,6 
Cens-18101810  William was listed as the head of his household on the 1810 Washington County census. Although names were not assigned to individual household members, tally counts in appropriate age categories allow one to infer the presence of William, Mary, their sons John and William, and their daughters Jane, Mary, Hannah, Sarah and Elizabeth (also 2 slaves). However, this census also suggests the presence of an additional male born between 1795 and 1800.7 
  One source states that John and Mary had an additional son named James born in 1796. If so he appears to have died before 1846 and probably did not leave heirs.1 
Court Record24 May 1817  William and Mary were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in 1813 by Mary's stepmother, Mary Davis, against several of her stepchildren. William gave a deposition in support of the defendants position.8 
Will5 May 1846  William wrote his will in May 1846. He left his wife Mary several slaves, a horse, 2 cows and as many sheep and hogs as she wished to keep. William also documented that he had on that same day exchanged lands with his son William so that the younger William owned the land the elder William resided on. William's will bequeathed the 125 acres he received in the exchange to his son Robert Emmett. William Sr. also left the younger William $575 as part of the exchange but stipulated that William pay each of his brothers and sisters or their heirs $142.

William's will bequeathed his daughter Jane Snoddy 130 acres in Marion Co., Tennessee. He also instructed that the remainder of his slaves be sold and the monies divided among his children (or their heirs) after each child accounted for sums already advanced to them. The children were named as: John, Jane, Polly, Hannah, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Evaline and Sarah (deceased). William appointed his sons William M. and John Gray as his executors.9 
DeathMay 1846 William died in May 1846.9 
Will-Recd25 May 1846 His will was recorded on 25 May 1846 in Washington County.9 

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William's will

Family

Mary Davis b. 16 May 1773, d. 14 Apr 1856
Children
  • Jane Gray9,1 (1798 - )
  • John Gray9,1 (11 Jan 1799 - 27 Feb 1875)
  • William M. Gray9,1 (1801 - 24 May 1848)
  • Mary Gray9,1 (May 1803 - Aug 1875)
  • Hannah Gray+9,10,1 (18 Mar 1805 - 16 Dec 1878)
  • Sarah Gray9,11,1 ( - 1846)
  • Elizabeth Gray9,1
  • Rebecca Gray9,1 (1811 - )
  • Evaline Gray+9,1 (2 May 1813 or 3 May 1813 - 5 Dec 1884)
  • Robert Emmet Gray9,1 (1816 - )
Last Edited24 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 193.
  2. [S165] Wm G. Preston household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 100, page 5A (p. 243A), dwelling 39, family 39, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2007, image 5 of 54. Household includes: Wm G. Preston, 28, farmer; Margaret, 30, wife; Eva, 5/12, dau b. Jan.; Eveline, 67, mother; all b. VA; all parents b. VA except Eveline's father b. PA.
  3. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 709, 738.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 23. Record abstracted as: William Gray and Mary Davis, 9 Jan. 1794 by Charles Cummings.
  5. [S1708] Mrs. Ivie McNees, "Davis Records," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume XXII, No. 2 (June 1934): 37. Comment added by Mrs. McNees: "Of the children: Mary md William Gray 1794."
  6. [S1248] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book B (District Ct): 262. Will of John Davis, dated 27 Feb. 1809 and recorded 1 Oct. 1810; witnessed by Alex'r Hamilton and John McCormick.
  7. [S1004] Wm Gray household, 1810 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 8, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  8. [S1295] William Gray deposition in case of Mary Davis vs Russell et al; Wythe Co. Virginia Superior Ct. Chancery Pleas Records 2: 23.
  9. [S701] William Gray Sr. will (1846), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 10: 99. The will was dated 5 May 1846 and recorded 25 May 1846. It was witnessed by Wm A. Preston, Francis Preston, William Lynch and Jacob Lynch.
  10. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 708.
  11. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 738.