Person:John Gray (147)

John Gray, II, of Augusta, Greenbrier and Monroe County, VA
m. 1719
  1. Samuel Gray1720 - 1775
  2. Elizabeth GrayBet 1725 & 1737 - Aft 1751
  3. John Gray, II, of Augusta, Greenbrier and Monroe County, VA1726 - 1801
  4. Ann GrayAbt 1730 -
  5. Isaac Gray, of Mill Creek, Borden Tract, Augusta County, VABef 1731 -
  6. Jacob GrayBef 1732 -
  7. William GrayBef 1734 - 1794
  8. Capt. David Gray, of the Borden TractAbt 1735 - Bef 1793
  9. Joseph GrayAbt 1741 - Abt 1818
  10. Benjamin Gray1745 -
  • HJohn Gray, II, of Augusta, Greenbrier and Monroe County, VA1726 - 1801
  • WJennett 'Jane' UnknownBef 1739 - Abt 1818
m. 26 Feb 1759
  1. Jean 'Jane' Gray1762 - 1806
  2. Elizabeth Gray1764 -
  3. Margaret GrayAbt 1765 - 1825
  4. Mary Gray1767 -
  5. Martha GrayAbt 1769 -
  6. John Gray1770 - 1821
  7. Archibald Gray1771 - 1830
  8. James Gray, Jr.1771 - 1844
  9. Eleanor Gray1777 -
Facts and Events
Name John Gray, II, of Augusta, Greenbrier and Monroe County, VA
Alt Name John Grey
Gender Male
Birth? abt 1726/30 County Ulster, Northern Ireland
Marriage 26 Feb 1759 Timber Ridge, Augusta County, Virginia[apparently the John Gray that married on 26 Feb 1759 in Augusta County]
to Jennett 'Jane' Unknown
Residence[3] Rockbridge Baths, Rockbridge, Virginia, United States
Death[9] 2 Nov 1801 Monroe County, Virginia
Alt Death? 18 Nov 1801 Monroe County, West Virginia
Questionable information identified by WeRelate automation
To fix:Invalid date(s); edit the page to see message(s)

John Gray was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents

Welcome to
Old Augusta

Early Settlers
Beverley Manor
Borden's Grant
Register
Data
Maps
Places
Library
History
Index

……………………..The Tapestry
Families Old Chester OldAugusta Germanna
New River SWVP Cumberland Carolina Cradle
The Smokies Old Kentucky

__________________________

Disamgibuation

Not to be confused with John Alexander Gray (1745-1795) of Washington County, Virginia.


Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Image:CraigJohnfrom_HutchinsonJohnBeverleyNE.jpg

John Gray's land (Beverley Manor NE, 292 acres acquired from his marriage to Jean, widow of John Craig who had acquired this tract from John Hutcheson and his wife Margaret in 1754) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.


Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:


  • Page 319.--18th March, 1785. John Gray and Jane, late Jane Craig, administratrix of John Craig, deceased, to William Gullett and Jane, his wife, only child of John Craig, deceased, of Greenbrier, to Nicholas Spring, stump in a poison field; Rey. Mr. Anderson's line, John Seawright's corner.

Land Records in Greenbrier County, VA

  • p 33 - 1773 - John Gray, from P. Smallwood Roby, assigns to John Gray 1,000 acres on Lost Creek to include his settlement made in 1773. [History Harrison Co., WVA, by Haymond, 1910 - Early Settlements]
  • p 28 - 1778 - John Gray, 400 acres on Salt Lick Creek, a branch of the Little Kanawha River, to inlcude his improvement made in 1773 in the right of residing in and making a crop of corn in 1778 with a premption of 1,000 acres adjoining. [History Harrison Co., WVA, by Haymond, 1910 - Early Settlements]


Land Records in Monroe County, VA

  • In 1800 John Gray received a Land Grant from Virginia of 246 acres on the waters on the south side of the Greenbrier River where he now lives adjoining the lands of James Chambers. [Index of Grants issued by the VA Land Office, housed Archives Library of Virginia, Richmond; Deed Book 4, pg. 513].


Will Transcript

In the name of God, Amen.
The twenty seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Nine.
I, John Gray, Sr., being now arrived to an advanced period of life but of sound mind, and disposing memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that is appointed for all men, once to die, do make, and ordain, this my last Will and Testament. Principally, and first of all, I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God, who gave it, and as for my body, I recommend it to the dirt, to be buried, in a Christian like and decent manner, at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting, but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God. And touch such worldy estate, as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and bequest in the following manner and form.
First, I give and bequeath to John Gray, Junior, my eldest son, ten shillings, by reason I have formerly given to him his full share.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to Jean Gullett ten shillings as she hath hitherto received of me her full share.
Thirdly, I give and bequeath to Margaret Nickols, ten shillings, as she has hitherto had her full share.
Fourthly, I give and bequeat to Elizabeth King, ten shillings, for the reason before mentioned.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto Martha Leach, ten shillings, as above is said.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath unto Mary Hoxie, ten shillings as she hath received of me her full part.
Seventhly, I give and bequeath to Eleanor Patton, ten shillings, for the same reason as before is mentioned.
And to Jennett Gray, my true and loving wife, I give and bequeath my Negro Wench named Ginney, together with her (?) to be her own true and proper possession and at her own free disposal forever and also, my house and land I now live on, together with stock of all kinds, and farming implements, improvements, and furniture of all kinds, to be hers and at her disposal during life, and at her death, the house and land together with the improvements and appurtenances, whatsover shall descend to James Gray, my youngest son, to be his possession, to him and his heirs forever, and of that bequeathment, he the said James, shall pay to my son Archibald Gray the sum of one hundred pounds, which he the said Archibald shall of right demand of him before said named James. And the stock and furniture before mentioned I leave to the discretion of my wife to bequeath and dispose of as she may think proper.
I also constitute and appoint my son John Gray, together with Jennett my wife, to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament.
And I do, by these presents pronounce and declare, this, and no other to be my last will and testament in revocation of all former wills and testaments, whatsover by me in any wise before named or bequeated.
In witness, whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written.
Signed: John Gray.
Signed (wit) Samuel Cart, William Hutchison, John Hutchison, J. Handley
At a court of Quarterly Sessions continued and held for Monroe County the 18th day of November 1801. The last Will and Testament of John Gray, deceased, was presented in court by John Gray and Jane Gray, the Executors therin named proved by William Hutchison and John Hutchison and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said executors who made oath and gave bond and security according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form whereupon they, together with Edward Keenan and James Chambers their sureites, entered into, and acknowledged bond in the penalty of $3,000.00 for their due administration of the descendant's estate, and performance of his will.
[Source: West Virginia Archives: Film Box # 36, Vol 1, 1799-1817, pp 18-19].


Processioning List of 1767/8

"Processioning" was the periodic review and agreement of property lines between settler's lands. Processioning Lists are useful in determining the general area of a settlers lands and their neighbors at specific time periods:


  • Page 448.--1767-68: Processioned by John Gillespie and Andw. McClure: For William Tease, Saml. Steele, John and Wm. Finley, John Ramsey, John Black, John Patrick, Charles Tease, Andw. Russell, Wm. Russell, Wm. Skillren, James Alexander, Andw. McClure, Francis Alexander, Wm. Logan, Zachariah Johnston, James Thompson, James Galespie, John Williams, Hugh McClure, Samuel McClure, Saml. Frazier, Andw. Russell, John Graham, John Hutchison, Wm. Hutchison, Saml. Pilson, Zachariah Smith, John Gray.


Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:


  • Page 396.--23d April, 1751. John Gray's will, yeoman--Wife, Agness; son, Jacob; son, William; son, David; son, Joseph; son, Benj.; daughter, Ann Gray; son, Saml.; son, John; daughter, Elizabeth. Executors, son Samuel and John Lyle. Teste: Archd. Alexander, James McClung, Daniel Lyle. 27th November, 1751, proved by all witnesses, and both executors qualify, with sureties Archd. Alexander and James McClung.
  • Page 354.--26th October, 1756. Alex. Thompson, Captain, to William Thompson, yeoman, £20. Bill sale of horses and cattle. Teste: Samuel McKune, John Gray.
  • Page 534.--15th March, 1758. Jno. Lyle to James McKee, £35, 210 acres, part of Borden's 92100; cor. Mathew Lyle; cor. Jno. Gray. Teste: Wm. Todd, Mathew Lyle, Robert Huston. Delivered: Jno. Lyle, 16th August, 1774.
  • Page 198.--2d April, 1762. Mathew Lyle and Esther to John Lyle, £10. 461 acres, part of Borden's 92,100 and conveyed by Borden to Mathew; corner Thomas McSpadin, John Mathews' line; corner John Gray. Delivered: Jno. Lyle, 4th March, 1774.
  • Vol. 1 - JUNE, 1764 (C). - John Cusham vs. John Gray, Weaver.--Account, 1759-61.
  • Page 35.--2d August, 1766. Borden's executors to James McKee, gent., £50, 301 acres, part of 92100, on northwest branch of Mill Creek, in line of a tract surveyed for the Rev. Mr. Dean; John Gray's line, corner John Lyle; corner Greenlee's survey.
  • Vol. 1 - AUGUST 22, 1767. - (257) Jurors: John Ray, Moses Williams, John Gray, Nicholas Seahorn.
  • Page 515.--16th May, 1768. Alexander McDonald, John Gray and William Hutcheson to John Ramsey, bond in £200 conditioned to make secure title to 141 acres for £100 in Beverley Manor, excepting mines and minerals, if any (mentions deeds of lease and where as having been made on same date as this).

Records in Virginia

  • 1782 - Greenbrier County Tax List: John Gray listed with 13 horses and 19 cows
  • 1783 - Greenbrier County Tax List: John Gray listed with 11 horses, and 17 cows
  • 1790 - Listed in Census in Greenbrier County, Virginia.
  • 29 May 1792 - John Gray paid four tithes for himself and 3 sons.
  • 1792 - Greenbrier County Tax List: John Gray listed with 1 negro and 16 horses.


Notes

James drove cattle for the militia in Place:Rockbridge, Virginia, United States. DAR# 783424


From Rootsweb Message Board:

The Will of John Gray (Sr.) dated 27 August 1799, from Monroe Co, VA. John Gray Sr. & wife Jennett (Craig?) were parents of James Gray, my 3rd great grandfather. The will of John Gray Sr. is significant, since it was recorded in Monroe Co, VA. Other documents in my family confirm that this is the correct John Gray (Sr.), whose will was probated in Monroe Co, VA on 18 Nov. 1801. Names of children mentioned in the will of John Gray Sr. agree with my other family records.

Family legend claims John Gray, Sr., Scotch-Irish, came from Ireland to America in the 1700s; then lived first in PA and Rush Co, Indiana before moving to Monroe Co, VA. He also may have lived in Greenbrier Co, VA, since that is supposedly the birth location in 1803 of his [grand] son Andrew Kincaid Gray. [1]

References
  1.   Fothergill, Augusta B. (Augusta Bridgland), and John Mark Naugle. Virginia tax payers, 1782-1787, other than those published by the United States Census Bureau. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1978)
    page 51.

    Drove and collected beef

  2.   Abercrombie, Janice Luck, and Richard Slatten. Virginia Revolutionary publick [sic] claims. (Athens, Georgia: Iberian Publishing Company, c1992)
    vol. 3, p. 825.
  3. Rockbridge County, Virginia service claims, Commissioner's Book 5
    reel 5 pp 74-75.

    Located at the Library of Virginia

  4.   Virginia, United States. Heads of families at the first census of the United States taken in the year 1790, Virginia: records of the state enumerations, 1782 to 1785. (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1908).
  5.   pp 116 &346, in Morton, Oren Frederic. A history of Monroe County, West Virginia. (Staunton, Va.: McClure Co., 1916).
  6.   Greenbrier County Records
    pp 203,215,319, 363.
  7.   Liberty of Virginia.

    Publick Service Claims, Rockbridge County, Virginia

  8.   History of Madison, Illinois
    551.
  9. Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
  10.   see day's notes on dar applicaton