Col. Thomas Gray

http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/revwar/resul...

apparently he owed some money...

A Patriot of the American Revolution for RHODE ISLAND with the rank of LIEUTENANT COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # A047757

From "Some of the Gray Line":

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rinewpor/grayfam.html#Col. Thomas

Col. Thomas

• Born 27 Jan. 1729;
• m.2 Nov 1747 Abigail Brown;
• d. 8 Nov. 1803 in Tiverton when he went there from Bristol to attend the funeral of his son John.
• Col. Thomas bought a large tract of the Mount Hope lands in Bristol, RI. from Nathaniel Munroe on January 17, 1769, (Bk. 3, Pg. 220) and settled there.
• In 1776 he was commissioned as Captain of the Ninth Company, to be raised in the counties of Newport and Bristol.
• He was next commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment, Bristol County, and later Colonel of the same.
• He died in Tiverton where he had gone to attend the funeral of his son John.
• His wife Abigail (Brown) died in Bristol on September 14, 1813 at the old homestead on Metacom Avenue. Both are buried in Legion Hall cemetery.

Children:

• 1. Abigail b. 1752; Tiv.; m.Hezekiah Peck 8 May 1791, Swansea, MA.
• 2. Meribah b. Tiv.; m.Steven Munroe
• 3. John b.1757 Tiv.;(1748 LDS); d.4 Nov 1803; m.Martha (Layton?), 26 Sept.1775.
• 4. Pardon b.1764 Tiv.; m.Reliance Davis 14 Jan 1786; d.16 Aug 1826 Bristol.
• 5. Ruth b1765 Tiv; m. Thomas Waldron 20 Nov 1776/8

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http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rinewpor/ColThomasWill.html

Will of Col. Thomas Gray

I Thomas Gray, of Bristol, in the county of Bristol, and State of Rhode Island, yeoman, being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, blefsed be God for the same, do make and publish this as my last will and testament, in form following that is to say.

First. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Abigail Gray, all my household furniture and indoor moveables of what kind or nature soever; also my negro woman Hannah, and negro boy Richard, together with my riding Mare, womans saddle, one cow, such as she may choose from among my cows at the time of my decease; also I will and order that my Son Pardon Gray , furnish and provide for the aforesaid Abigail, his mother, yearly and every year so long as she remains my widow, two hundred weight of good beef, and two hundred weight of pork,, fifteen bushels of merchantable indian corn, thiryy weight of flax, and twenty weight of wood, and to pay or cause to be paid her twenty dollars yearly, so long as she remains my widow; also I will and order that my aforesaid son Pardon, cut and draw to the door as much fine wood as may be necefsary for her use: also my Will is and I hereby order that my wife Abigail have a privilege in the orchard for as much fruit summer & winter, as she may need for her own consumption; and to be furnished with three barrels of cider yearly, provided the orchard affords so much: also my Will is that my aforesaid wife have the use and improvement of all the new part of my now dwelling house in situate in the Township of Bristol, with the garden to the Northward of the house, together with the privilege of keeping any kind of poultery in and about the houses and yard, with free privilige of pafsage to and from any part of my farm wherever she may have an occasion: also my Will further is that my Son Pardon furnish keeping summer and winter for the horse and cow aforesaid long as she remains my widow: all of which I give unto my wife Abigail in liew of her dower or right of thirds (provided she accepts the same) and not otherwise.

Having of late given to my Son John Gray, such parts and parcels of my real Estate lying in Bristol and else where by Deed, to enable him to distribute the same amongst his wife and children in such a way and manner as he thot' best by Will, which distribution he has since made and is now dead. I shall therefore make no other provision for my grandchildren, the children of my son John aforenamed than to give to the sons and daughters of the sd. John, that may survive me, One dollar in cash; which I hereby order my Executor named to pay them immediately after my decease.

Item I give and devise unto my Son Pardon Gray, all my lands and buildings thereon standing lying and being in the township of Bristol, which I have not heretofore disposed of ( saving and excepting out of the same such uses and priviliges as I have heretofore afsigned and set out to my aforenamed wife Abigail) to him, his heirs and afsigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Moribah Munro, one hundred and twenty dollars, to be paid to her in one year after my decease, by my Executor hereinafter nam'd.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ruth Waldron, One hundred and thirty dollars, to be paid her by my Executor in one year after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Abigail Peck, one hundred and twenty dollars, to be paid her by my Executor in one year after my decease.

Lastly As to the remainder and residue of my Estate that I have not heretofore disposed of, be it what kind or nature soever I give and bequeath the same to my son Pardon Gray to further enable him to perform the duties enjoined upon him by this my Will; whom I hereby appoint whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former Will by me made.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three.

Signed, Sealed published and Declared by the aforesaid Thomas Gray, to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed names as Witnefses in his presence and in the presence of each other.

• John Cook
• Sarah Almy
• Thomas Durfee

Whereas it escaped my recollection in giving off the various devises contained in the foregoing Will to do for my Wife Abigail, what my desire is to do for her. Now my mind and Will is that all the ready Money I may have by me at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath to my aforesaid Wife, Abigail, to be taken out before any legacy or other things are paid out by my Executor. And I hereby declare this present Instrument to be a Codicil to my said Will and direct the same to be annexed thereto and taken as part thereof. In Witness whereof I have set my hand thereto, in (presence) of the subscribing Witnefses: the day and year above said,

• John Cook
• Thomas Durfee
• Thomas Gray (seal)
• Sarah Almy

At a Court of Probate holden within and for the Town of Bristol, Dec. 5, 1803; The last Will and Testamenrt of Thomas Gray, late deceased, and a Codicil to the same was exhibited to said Court and John Cook, Sarah Almy and Thomas Durfee, the subscribing witnefses to the said Will and Codicil appeared and made oath agreeably to Law, and the said Court having examined the evidence relative to the execution of the said Instruments, do consider that they are proved, and thereupon do order and Decree that the same be Recorded as & for the Last Will and Testament of the said Thomas Gray.

Byorder of said Court.-- Jon a Rufsell, Clk.

Recorded by Geo. Munro 2nd Prob't Clk., March 30, 1815

The information that follow for the Grays of Tiverton, Rhode Island, was researched and kindly provided by Rodney W. Gray.

From "Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Vol. 7":

http://books.google.cl/books?id=psINAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA315&lpg=PA315&dq=...

Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the first Wednesday of May, 1775.

• The Hon. Joseph Wanton, Governor.
• The Hon. Darius Sessions, Deputy Governor.

The following officers, declared elected, were duly engaged:

• The Hon. Nicholas Cooke, Deputy Governor.
• Assistants (10 in number)
• Deputies (numerous)
• The Hon. Metcalfe Bowler, speaker
• Mr. Josias Lyndon, clerk
• Mr. Henry Ward, secretary
• Mr. Henry Marchant, attorney general
• Mr. Joseph Clarke, general treasurer
• Stephen Hopkins, Esq., chief justice of the superior court of judicature, court of assize, and general jail delivery.
• Sheriffs of the several counties.

Field officers of the several counties:

• William Bradford, Esq., major general of the forces of this colony.
• Bristol County
• Mr. Nathaniel Martin, colonel
• Mr. Thomas Gray, lieutenant colonel
• Mr. Benjamin Bosworth, major

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And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that each officer and soldier shall receive the following monthly wages, while in the service, to wit:

• Each colonel: 15 pounds
• Each lietuenant colonel: 12 pounds
• Each major: 10 pounds
• Each captain and captain-lieutenant: 6 pounds

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that each field officer be allowed 10 shillings per week, and each other officer and soldier, 6 shillings per week, for billet, while in this colony, after enlistment, and before the regiments are embodied; and each soldier shall also have a blanket and knapsack, given him by the colony.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that each officer and soldier be paid his wages, and the weekly billet that shall be due, as soon as maybe; and that one month's wages be paid in advance, before the troops march out of the colony.

From Clarke's Kindred Genealogies by Augustus Peck Clarke A.M., M.D., of Cambridge, Mass. (1896), pgs. 82-85

http://www.archive.org/stream/clarkeskindredge00clar#page/82/mode/2...

Thomas Gray (Thomas-3, Edward-2, Edward-1), son of Thomas Gray and Sarah Bennet Gray, his wife, was born Jan. 27, 1729. He was married to Abigail Brown, born Feb. 21, 1731/1732 (Ben M. Angel notes: this translates to 1732 in our modern Gregorian calendar system), daughter of Abraham Brown and Sarah, his wife, "in Tiverton in ye Colony of Rhode Island on ye fifth of November, A.D. 1747, by Samuel Durfee, justice apeace." Thomas Gray afterward settled in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he bought of Nathaniel Munroe a large tract of the famous Mount Hope Lands. The purchase was made Jan. 17, 1769, in the ninth year of His Majesty's reign, and recorded January 21st, 1769, in Book no. 3, page 220, of the Records of Land Evidence for said Bristol. According to the census return of Bristol in the year 1774, Thomas Gray was residing there at that time. His family consisted of one male above 16 years, three males under 16 years, two females above 16 years, and two females under 16 years. Total in family eight persons.

Thomas Gray was illustrious in the service in the War of the Revolution. In 1775, both Houses of Legislature of Rhode Island joined in the grand committees of the Army of Observation. Thomas Gray was commissioned as Captain, Silas Talbot as Lieutenant, and Reuben Sprague as ensign, for the Ninth Company, to be raised in the counties of Newport and Bristol. Officers for the other companies were also commissioned at this time.

These companies for the various counties, says the author of the "Spirit of Rhode Island in the War of the Revolution," soon filled up, and were on their march to join the grand army near Boston.

Never, perhaps, had "His Majesty an army sooner enlisted and equipped for his service than this Army of Observation of Rhode Island in 1775. The blood of the martyrs at Lexington was as 'seed' which was soon scattered over the whole country, and it fell on 'good soil' in every part of the land, and by the blessings of God 'brought forth fruit abundantly.' A fire was kindled in the breasts of men that burnt up the 'tory stubble' in the colony, and was not extinguished until Great Britain herself acknowledged our independence, based upon the principle that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of its ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to instigate new government laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and supremacy."

1776 - Captain Thomas Gray was commissioned as Lieutenant Colony of the First Regiment, Bristol County, Rhode Island. Nathaniel Martin, Esq., was Colonel, and Jesse Maxon, Esq., was Major.

Thomas Gray afterward was commissioned as Colonel and continued his service in the War of the Revolution.

The children of Thomas Gray and Abigail (Brown) Gray, his wife, were:

• 1. John Gray (married)
• 2. Meribah, m1. Shaw, m2. Munroe
• 3. Ruth, m. Thomas Waldron, Feb. 1, 1778. He settled in the state of Pennsylvania.
  • The children of Ruth and Thomas Waldron, her husband as given in rhyme of the old folk, were:
    • Steady Nat, Skinner John
    • Kean Billings, Great Tom
    • Pleasant Ambrose, Oh, dear Ben
    • Nice Josie, Throupe, and Sam
    • Pretty Abbie and Becky.
• 4. Abigail, m. Peek.
• 5. Pardon, b. 1764, m. Reliance Davis b. 1764

Thomas Gray died in Tiverton 1803 while there attending a funeral, according to one account, the funeral of his brother John; according to another account, that of his son John. In his will, made Nov. 7, 1803, and proved Dec. 5, 1803, Thomas Gray declares that his son John was then deceased.

Mrs. Thomas (Abigail Brown) Gray died in Bristol, Rhode Island, at the old homestead on Metacom Avenue. Both were buried in Tiverton, Rhode Island.

The will made 1803, Nov. 7, was proved 1803, Dec. 5. To his wife Abigail all his household furniture and indoor movable; also his negro woman "Hannah" and negro boy "Richard," together with riding mare, woman's saddle, one cow such as she may choose from among his cows at the time of his decease. Also that his son Pardon furnish and provide for aforesaid Abigail, yearly so long as she remain his widow, two hundred weight of good beef, and two hundred weight of pork, fifteen bushels of merchantable Indian corn, thirty weight of flax and twenty weight of wool, and to pay her twenty dollars yearly, so long as she remains his widow; his son Pardon to cut and draw to the door as much wood as may be necessary for her use. To have a privilege in the orchard for as much fruit, summer and winter, as she may need for her own consumption, and to be furnished with three barrels of cider yearly, provided the orchard affords as much. Also his wife Abigail to have the use and improvement of all the new part of his dwelling house situated in the Township of Bristol, with the garden to the northward, with the privilege of keeping any kind of poultry in and about the house and yard. Also, that his son, Pardon Gray, furnish keeping, summer and winter, for the horse and cow so long as she remains his widow. He mentions in his will his son John, deceased, to him he had deeded his share of the real estate to be distributed amongst his children to his wife. He gives to John's children one dollar each.

• To his son Pardon, all his lands and buildings thereon situated in the Township of Bristol.
• To daughter Meribah Munroe, one hundred and twenty dollars.
• To daughter Ruth Waldron, one hundred and thirty dollars.
• To daughter Abigail Peek, one hudred and twenty dollars.
• The remainder of his estate to his son Pardon, further to enable him to perform the duties enjoined upon him by his will. His son Pardon Gray was sole executor.