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Facts and Events
John Gray was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA
John Gray's land (Borden Tract SW, 203 acres, 1742) 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. (Note: land nearby acquired by John Gray's sons is indicated in blue. Isaac Gray, who also acquired land (also indicated in blue) nearby is possibly an older son of John Gray, but not listed in John's will; additional research necessary to prove this relationship).
Acquisition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:
- Pages 196-199 [5 pages]. 26-27 July 1742. Benjamin Borden of Orange County to John Gray of same. Lease and release; for ₤6.2.1 current money. 203 acres 2 rood on waters of James River, part of 92,100 acres patin (patented) 6 Nov. 1739... on the northwest side of the Timber Ridge... (signed) Benja. Borden. Wit: Richard Woods, Jos. Lapsley, Gilbert Campbell. 26 Aug. 1742. Acknowledged by Benjamin Borden, Gent. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book, Dorman, pg. 75].
Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 434.--8th March, 1757. Jno. Lyle and Samuel Gray, executors of John Gray, late of Augusta, yeoman, deceased, to James Greenlee, yeoman, 203 acres devised to be divided be bis executors between his wife and children, but not being susceptible of division, they, with consent of wife and as many children as are of age, decide to sell the land and divide the money. The 203 acres is part of Borden's 92100 and conveyed by Borden to Jno. Gray, 27th July, 1742. £94, on northwest side Timber Ridge. Delivered: Samuel Greenlee, 17th June, 1779.
Will of John Gray
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
Will Extract and guardianship 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 414.-- 21st May, 1752, John Gray's appraisement by Danl. Lyle, William Caruthers, Archd. Alexander.
- Page 334.--21st November, 1759. Saml. Gray's bond (with Patt. Hays, Jno. Allison) as guardian (?) to Joseph Gray, orphan of John Gray.
- Page 339.--21st November, 1759. William Gray's bond (with Patrick Hays, Saml. Paxton) as guardian (?) to Benj. Gray, orphan of John Gray.
- Page 228.--21st November, 1759. William Gray's bond (with Patrick Hays, Samuel Paxton), as guardian (chosen) to Benjamin, orphan of Jno. Gray.
- Page 229.--21st November, 1759. Samuel Gray's bond (with Patrick Hays, Jno. Allison), as guardian (chosen) to Joseph Gray, orphan of Jno. Gray.
- Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER 21, 1759. - (315) Joseph Gray, orphan of John Gray, chose Saml. Gray his guardian. (318) Benj. Gray, orphan of John Gray, aged 14, chose William Gray his guardian.
Transcribed Will from Rootsweb.com post:
- WILL OF JOHN GRAY
- Will Book 1, Page 396, Augusta County, Virginia
- In The Name of God, Amen. The twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord God 1751. I John Gray of Augusta County Yeom being sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be giving (sic) to God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die. Do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the direction of my executor nothing doubting but [at] the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to bless [me] in this life. I give and bequeath and depose (sic) of the same in the following manner and form. Imprimus, I give and bequeath unto Angess my beloved wife my son Jacob Gray my son William Gray, my son David Gray, my son Joseph Gray, my son Benjamin Gray, my daughter Ann Gray. All my estate of lands messauages and tiniments with all my goods and chattels of every kind each of them to have an equal share of the whole, viz:- My wife and children above mentioned, only except five pound unto my son Joseph and six pound unto my son Benjamin to be reduced of the whole estate. Item I leave and bequeath unto my son Samuel Gray a Black yearlng heifer, Item I leave and bequeath unto my son John Gray one shill sterl. Item, I leave and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Gray one shill sterl. Lastly I constitute and ordain my son Samuel Gray and John Lyle my sole executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other will and testaments by me before their named [heretofore made?]. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above [written].
- John Gray (Seal)
- Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the [said] John Gray as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers.
- Archibald Alexander
- James McClung
- Daniel Lyle
- At a Court continued and held for Augusta County the 27th day of November 1751.
- This last will and testament of John Gray deceased being produced into Court by Samuel Gray and John Lyle the executor therein named was proved by the oath of Archibald Alexander, James McClung, and Daniel Lyle the witnesses thereto subscribed and admitted to record and on the motion of the [said] Samuel Gray and John Lyle who made oath and acknowledged their bond according to law certificate is granted for obtaining a probate thereon in due form.
- Teste.
- A Copy Teste:-
- Harry Burnett, Co. Clk.
- for Augusta Co., Va.
Processioning List of 1748
- "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 14.--12 April, 1748: Processioners' Returns: Robert Huston and Alex. McClure: Processioned for Wm. Hall, Robert Allison present; 20th January, 1747-8, processioned for John McNab, Baptist McNab present; 20th January 1747-8, processioned for Robert Huston; 28th January, 1747-8, processioned for Charles Hays, Andrew Hays present; processioned for Wm. Givens, Andrew Hays present; 29th January, 1747-8, processioned for John Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson present; 29th January, 1747-8, processioned for Andrew Baxter, Nathaniel Evans present; 29th January 1747-8, processioned for Alex. McCleary, Moses Whiteside present; 30th January, 1747-8, processioned for Mathew Lyle, John Lyle present; 30th January, 1747-8, processioned for John Gray, Mathew Lyle present; 12th February, 1747-8, processioned for John Pater Sally, Michael Finney present; 10th March, 1747-8, processioned for John Paul, Roger Kays present.
Records of John Gray in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 2 - Muster List of 1742: Capt. John McDowell's List: John Gray (listed among many others).
- Vol. 1 - DISTRICT COURT. List of deeds recorded in Orange County executed by Benjamin Borden, 1734-1745: John Gray, 6th July, 1742.
- Page 209.--19th March, 1746. Benj. Borden & Co. to Mathew Gyle (Lyle). Testator agreed to sell in his lifetime, 451 acres, 2 R., 17 P., for £13.10.0 current money Virginia, part of 92,100, grantee's old survey; Thomas McSpadon's line; John Mathews' line; John Gray's corner. Witnessed and acknowledged as above.
- Page 461.--22d January, 1747. £11. Benj. Borden, &c., to Rev. William Dean, of Brandywine Manor and Chester County in Pennsylvania (sold in testator's lifetime), 265 acres, part of 92,100; corner to Robert Huston and John Gray, on Mill Creek. Teste: John Lyle, Samuel Gray, Samuel Lyle. Acknowledged, 18th February, 1747.
- Page 505.--18th May, 1748. 165. John Mathews, yeoman, to William Carruthers, yeoman, 297 acres, 2 R., 10 P., part of Borden's 92,100, and conveyed by Borden to John, 11th June, 1742, on a hill called the Timber Ridge; corner to John Gray. Teste: Benj. Borden, Richard Wood, Alexander McCoskey. Acknowledged, 19th May, 1748.
- Page 502.--21st November, 1753. Wm. Coruthers to John White, 187 acres in Borden's tract. Tract of John Gray, deceased, McCreary's line, McSpeden's line, Nathan People's cor.
- Page 505.--21st November, 1753. Same (From Wm. Coruthers) to Nathan Peoples, 187-1/2 acres Borden's land; James Greenlee's and John Gray's, deceased, line; cor. above, McSpeadin's line; Mathew Lyle's cor.
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