Edward Gray of the Plymouth Colony

Edward Gray

• Baptized: 15 April 1623 in Stapleford Tawney, Essex, England
• Death: 30 June 1681 Plymouth, Plymouth Colony
• Parents: John Gray, of Stapleford Tawney and Elizabeth Ward
• Spouses: 1) Mary Winslow 2) Dorothy Lettice

Edward Gray was born in England on April 15/163 at Stapleford Tawney, and died at Tiverton on June 30/1681 or 4. Buried at Plymouth Burial Hill, where his gravestone, of blue slate, roughly made and rudely cut, is the oldest in the Cemetery.

Biography

Edward Gray, son of John of Stapleford, the progenitor of this branch of the family was in Plymouth in 1643. Family legend says that he and brother Thomas were sent to America by relatives who were scheming for the property that Edward and Thomas were to inherit. Thomas died in Plymouth June 7, 1654.

He ant his younger brother Thomas,came to Plymouth in 1643. He was then a boy and the Gray family says that the two boys were smuggled on board and sent over by friend in England, intriguing for the possession of property which rightfully belonged to the boys.

Edward was a leading citizen and merchant in Plymouth. When he died in June, 1681, he left the largest estate up to that time in Plymouth. His holdings included nine thirtieths of the land company which eventually formed Tiverton and Little Compton, RI. as described in what is called the Grand Deed. He was a Merchant and Ship Owner and resided in that part of the town bordering on Kingston. He was one of the first purchasers of Middleboro in 1662, and Deputy for Plymouth from 1676 to 1679.

Edward married, 1st, at Plymouth on January 16/1651, Mary Winslow, born 1630, died 1663, daughter of John Winslow, son of Edward and Mary (Schilton) Winslow, who came on the Mayflower, and brother of Governor Edward Winslow.

A Landowner and merchant in Plymouth Colony. Immigrated to America in 1642 with his brother Thomas on the ship "Recovery' out of London. This ship was owned by his uncle Alexander Graie. To Plymouth in 1643. In 1651 he married Mary Winslow, daughter of John and Mary (Chilton) Winslow. Their children were: Desire 1651, Mary 1653, Elizabeth 1657, Sarah 1659, and John 1661. After Mary's death in Plymouth in 1663, Edward married in 1665 Dorothy Lettice. Their children were: Edward II 1666, Susanna 1668, Rebecca 1670, Thomas 1669 (see site #36257503), Hannah1673, Anna 1671, Lydia 1677, and Samuel 1682 (see record# 20495342). Dorothy died in Little Compton, Rhode Island in 1726. Plymouth records show Edward became a merchant, and among the wealthiest in Plymouth Colony. He was a key investor in lands south of Plymouth to Newport Harbor. He died at age 52, young for a time when 70 was not uncommon. He lived to see peace restored with the Indians, but not long enough to see the development of his lands in what is now Rhode Island

1643- First appeared in the records of Plymouth, MA.

1668, June 3- Fined 10 shillings for using reviling speeches to John Bryant on the Lord's day as soon as they came out of the meeting house. The following March, John Bryant was fined for the same offense.

1678, January 6- He was licensed to sell small quantities of liquor to such as may be employed by him in fishing and such like occasion, for their use and refreshing.

1676-79: Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly.

As a merchant, his name appeared numerous times in the records for various complaints by him and against him, such as non-payment of debts.

His is the oldest surviving grave stone on Burial Hill in Plymouth, MA. It reads, "Here lyeth ye body of Edward Gray, Gentleman, aged 52 years and departed this life ye last of June 1681."

Immigration

Chester E. Rogers wrote in 1947, "Edward Gray appeared in Plymouth about the year 1643. Tradition has it that he and his brother were sent from England in order that scheming relations might obtain possession of their property. He became a merchant, and the wealthiest man in the colony."
A Landowner and merchant in Plymouth Colony. Immigrated to America in 1642 with his brother Thomas on the ship "Recovery' out of London. This ship was owned by his uncle Alexander Graie.

• To Plymouth in 1643.link

Family

1st wife: Mary Winslow

On 16 Jan 1650/1 he married Mary Winslow (d. 1663 Plymouth), daughter of John and Mary (Chilton) Winslow.link

Their children were:

• Desire (b. 06 Nov 1651 - d. 04 Dec 1690).link m. (10 Jan 1672) Nath'l Southworth.link
• Mary (b. 18 Sep 1653).link
• Elizabeth (b. 11 Feb 1658).link
• Sarah (b. 12 Aug 1659).link
• John (b. 01 Oct 1661.).link

2nd wife: Dorothy Lettice

After Mary died, Edward married Dorothy Lettice (of Thomas and Ann) on 12 December 1665.link

Their children were:

• Edward II (b. 31 Jan 1666/7 - d. 1726) m.1 Mary Smith m.2 Mary Manchester (d. 1729)
• Susanna (b. 15 Oct 1668).link disputed marriage to John Cole.link
• Rebecca [--1670--?].link
• Thomas (b. 1669? - d. 05 Nov 1721).link m.1 Anna (b. 1673 - d. 16 Oct 1706).link m.2 Phebe (1666-1746).link
• Hannah [--1673--?].link
• Anna [--1671?--].link
• Lydia [--1677?--].link m. (07 Aug 1696) Caleb Loring (b. 09 Jun 1674).link
• Samuel (b. 1682? - d. 23 Mar 1712).link m. (13 Jul 1699) Deborah Church. Dorothy remarried Nathaniel Clarke.link. She died in Little Compton, Rhode Island in1726.

Occupation

Plymouth records show Edward became a merchant, and among the wealthiest in Plymouth Colony. He was a key investor in lands south of Plymouth to Newport Harbor.

Death

He died at age 52, young for a time when 70 was not uncommon. He livedto see peace restored with the Indians, but not long enough to see the development of his lands in what is now Rhode Island.

Cemetery

This is the oldest known burial from a stone that can still be read inBurial Hill.link The inscripition reads:link
:Here Lyeth ye Body of EDWARD GRAY Gent Aged About 52 years & Departed this life ye Last of June 1681 Burial: Burial Hill PlymouthPlymouth County Massachusetts, USA

Mentioned in John Winslow's Will

The Last Will and Testament of John Winslow'

• In the name of god Amen the twelveth day of March in the yeare of our Lord according to the Computacon of the Church of England one thousand six hundred and seaventy and three AnnoRegni Regis Car: Secundi Anglia &xxji I John Winslow Senr of Boston in the countie of Suffolke in New England Merchant being weake of Body but of Sound and perfect memory praysed be Almighty God for the same Knowing the uncertainetyof this prsent life and being desirous to settle that outward Estate that the lord hath lent me I doe make this my last Will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) ffirst and principally I comend my soule to almighty God my Creator hopeing to receive full pardon and remission of all my sins and salvation through the merritts of Jesus Christ my Creator hopeing to receive full pardon and remission of all my sins and salvation through the merritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer : And my body to the Earth to be decently buryed with such charges as to the Overseers of this my last Will and Testament hereafter namedshall be thought meet and convenient And as touching such worldly Estate as the lord hath Lent me my Will and meaneing is the same shall beimployed and bestowed as hereafter in and by this my Will is Exprest -"Imprimis I Doe revoake renounce and make voice all Wills by formerlymade and declaire & appoint this my last Will and Testament:"
• Item I Will that all the Debts that I justly owe at the time of my decease to any person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid in convenient time after my decease by my Executor or overseers hereafter named.
• Item I give and bequeath unto my Deare and well beloved wife Mary Winslow the use of my now dwelling house with the gardens and yards thereunto belonging for and during the tearme of her naturall life
• Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife the use of all myhousehouldgood for her to dispose of as she shall thinke meet
• Item I give unto my said wife the sume of ffoure hundred pounds in lawfull mony of New England to be paid unto her by my Executor or Overseers hereafter named in convenient time after my decease:
• Item after the death of my said wife I give and bequeath my said dwelling house with all the Land belonging to the same unto my sone John Winslow and to his heires to ever he or they paying when they come to possesse & enjoy the same the sume of ffifty pounds of Lawfull mony of new England unto william Payne the sone of my Daughter Sarah Meddlecott- And also to parnell Winslow Daughter to my Son Isaack Winslow the full sume of ffifty pounds of like Lawfull mony; and my will is that both the said sums be paid into the hands of my Overseers to be improvedfor them untill they come to age or the day of Marriage with the fullprofitt that they make of the same and in case either of the said Chldren dye before they come of age or to marriage as afforesaid: My willis that the survivor of them shall then enjoy both the said sums: Butin case both of them should dye before they come to age: My Will is that then the said sums shall be Equally divided amongst the Daughters of my Daughter Latham to be paid unto them as they come to age or marriage as afforesaid Item my will is that my Katch Speedwell (whereof I am the sole owner) and the produce of the cargo that I sent out in her: be (at her return to Boston) disposed of by my Overseers hereafter named and the neate produce thereof be Equally divided amongst my Childen my sone John Winslow onely Excepted and to have no part thereof :
• Item I give and bequeath unto my sone Benjamin the full sume of one hundred pounds to be paid him by my Executor or overseers hereafter named when he shall attaine the Age of twenty one yeares Item my Will is that if my sone Edward Winslow shall see cause to relinquish his sd part and intrest in the sd katch Speedwell and her proceeds : then my Will is that he shall have one quarter part of my Katch John’s Adventure unto his owne proper use : And then the said Katch and Cargo to be Equally divided among my other Children : my son John Excepted as afforesaid together with my sone Edward from having any part in the afforesaid Katch or Cargo
• item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Susanna Latham the sume ofthirty pounds in mony to be paid her at the day of her marriage And to the rest of my Daughter Latham's Children I give and bequeath unto Each of them five pound pr peece to be paid unto them as they shall come to age or the day of marriage
• Item I give and bequeath unto my sone Edward Winslows Children the sume of five pounds pr peece to be paid unto them as they shall come to age or the day of Marriage
• Item I give and bequeath unto my sone Edward Grey his children that he had by my Daughter Mary Grey the sume of twenty pounds pr peece to be paid unto them when they come to age or the day of their respective marriages
• Item I give unto my sone Joseph Winslow’s two Children five pounds pr peece to be paid unto them as afforesaid
• Item I give unto my Grandchild Mercy Harris her two Children five pounds apeece to be paid unto them as afforesaid
• Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman Josiah Winslow now Governor of New Plimoth the sume of twenty pounds to be paid unto him by my overseers in Goods : Item I give unto my Brother Josiah Winslow the sume of twenty pounds to be paid unto him by my overseers in Goods : both inconvenient time after my decease
• Item I give unto my kinswoman Eleanor Baker the Daughter of my BrotherKenelm Winslow five pounds to be paid her in goods by my overseers inconvenient time after my decease Item my will is that what my Estate shall amount unto more then will pay funerall Charges My Debts and Legacyes in this my will give and bequeathed it shall be divided (after the Decease of my said wife) among my seaven Children in Equall proportions Except any one of my said children shall have any Extraordinary providence befall them by way of any Eminent Losse then that part of myEstate that shall remaine as afforesaid shall be divided & distributed according to the prudence and discression of my overseers hereafter named or any two of them :
• Item my will is that in case any of my now children shall dye before my said wife that then his or their proportion of the said remaineing Estate shall be disposed to his or their Children if they have any: if not, then that part or parts shall be equally divided amongst the survivors of my said Chldren :
• Item I give to Mr Paddyes widdow five pounds as a token of my love Item my will is that my Negro Girle Jane (after she hath served twenty yeares from the date hereof) shall be free : and that she shall service my wife during her life and after my wifes decease she shall be disposed of according to the discression of my overseers hereafter named or any two of them :
• Item I doe nominate and appoint my sone John Winslow the sole Executorof this my last Will and testament.
• Item I doe hereby nominate & appoint my loveing ffriends Mr Thomas Brattle Mr William Tailer and Mr John Winsley my Overseers to see this mywill performed so farr as they can : And I doe hereby give unto my said Overseers five pounds apeece in mony as a token of my love
• Item my will is that my said Overseers or any two of them shall & hereby have full power to make saile of any part of any of my vessell or vessells that I have not hereby disposed of : And also any other goods wares and merchandize for the best advantage of my afforesaid Children:
• And better paymt of other Legacyes by me hereby given & bequeathed : Item my will is that during the absence of my said Executor my Overseers above named or any two of them have full power to act in all mattersand things resspecting this my will as if he was personally prsent :
• And farther my Will is that my said Executor shall not act in any matter or thing respecting this my will with out the advice and consent ofmy said overseers or two of them And that my executor shall not underany pretence whatsoever claime any more of my estate then I have hereby bequeathed him
• In Witnesse whereof I the said John winslow Senr have hereunto set my hand & seale the day and yeare first above writtenJohn WinslowSigned sealed & published by John Winslow Senr as his last will & Textamt in the prsence of us - John Joyliffe, John Hayward ser"

Inventory

The inventory of the goods of John Winslow, deceased 1674 Note: inventories are valued in pounds (L), shillings (s) and pence (d). There were 12 pence (or pennies) to a shilling and 20 shillings to a pound.

Impr * The Household stuff in ye house in sundry things Apprised wth his wareing apparell Att 200 00 00

• In new England money 500 00 00
• In peeces of Eight 500 1/2 peeces 133 09 04 6
• french Crownes at 001 10 00
• Eleven Crosse Dollers at 5s 6d pr peece 003 00 06
• In English money 003 03 00 2
• Barrills of porke 004 19 00
• Money Received of Captaine Curwin 005 04 00
• Money Received of mr John Richards 012 10 00
• Money Received for canvas 010 01 00
• two Butts & halfe of sugar sold 032 18 06
• Money Received of James Andrews 001 17 04
• Money Received of Steephen Hescott 017 18 00
• Produce of the Ketch Speedwell with her Cargo Charges Deducted 330 00 00 * the produce of the Barke Mary & part of her Cargo Beinge sold the Charges beinge Deducted 209 00 00 * To a parcell of Goods Received pr Elias Parkman from England sold & with the Advance Amounts to 145 00 00
• To a quarter part of the pinke Jane & Sarah sold for 110 00 00 * To another quarter of Ditto Ketch given to mr Edward winslow valluedat 110 00 00
• To a hogshead of sugar Came from Nevis vallued Att 006 00 00
• To 6 hogsheads of tobacco sold for 032 17 06
• To a parcell of leafe & Role robacco unsold vallued att 040 00 00
• To old England goods unsold vallued Att 004 00 00
• To the Dwellinge house Garden & land Adjoyninge to itt 450 00 00 * To cash due from the tresures as pr mr John Richard Receit 012 10 00
• To money Due from Nathaniel fryer pr Bill 032 10 00
• Due from Nathaniell Winslow pr booke 004 05 00
• Due from Goodwife farnam 003 08 00
• Due from Goodwife Pearce pr books 001 18 02
• Due from Job WInslow pr books 004 17 06
• Due from Nathaniell Walker pr books 008 18 00
• Due from mr Joseph Roche 200 00 00
• Due from mr Richard Patishall Above 009 00 00 The whole summe is two thousand nine hundred forty six pounds fourteenshillings tenn pence 2946 14 10

Sources

• Mayflower Families through Five Generations, V2, p5-20
• Mayflower Increasings Through three Generations, Susan E. Roser, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1989, p41-41.
• Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Vol. 15 Chilton/More 1997 p. 13
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988: death notice: GRAY(Edward, gentleman), of Plymouth, h. Dorothy (Lettice) (second w.), father of one son and five daughters by his first wife; by his second w.father of two daughters; married Coles; of Lydia (w. Caleb Loring Esq.); of Edward, settled (?) Tiverton, R.I. (father of Sarah (w. Lt. Samuel Bradford of P.)); of Thomas and Samuel, settled at Little Compton,R.I., last of June, 1681, a. abt. 52).
• Hayward, Elijah. Plymouth Colony Records, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1855) Vol.9::* Page 313: "Plymouth, Edward Gray, to Mary Winslow, Jan. 16, 1650-1."::* Page 315: "Plymouth, Edward Gray, to Dorothy Lettice, Dec. 12, 1665."
• Land Deed, (1676, November). Ancestry.com. Web.[http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=431d9dbf-13c8-4f03-ae3...]
• Descendants. Ancestry.com. Web.Ancestry tree
• Edward Gray Notes. Ancestry.com. Web.Ancestry tree
• Raymond, Marcius Denison. Gray Genealogy: Being a Genealogical Record and History of the Descendants of John Gray, of Beverly, Mass. (Tarrytown, New York, 1887) Page 262
• Register of the Society of Mayflower Descendants In The State of California]] (Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1917) Page 87: Calf. No. 54, General No. 3088 Samuel Bradford Doten, Reno, Nevada.
• ”Earliest Inscriptions From Plymouth Burying Hill, (NEHGS, Boston, 1850) Vol. 4., Page 254
• Chris, (2012, July 15). Edward Gray and Mary Winslow and Dorothy Lettice of Plymouth, Mass. Massachusetts and More Genealogy Blog. Web.link
• FIndagrave.com. Web.[http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2011/174/70966615_130896843512.jpg link
• Austin, J.O. (1887). "Gray." The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island: Comprising Three Generations of Settlers who Came Before 1690 (with Many Families Carried to the Fourth Generation), pp. 85. Genealogical Publishing Co. Google Books.link
• Perkins, F.H. (1896). Handbook of Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Its History, Its Famous Dead, and Its Quaint Epitaphs, pp. 13-15. A.S. Burbank. Google Books.link includes tombstone inscription
• Stratton, E.A. (1986). Plymouth Colony, Its History & People, 1620-1691. Ancestry Publishing. Google Books.link
• Clarke, Augustus Peck. Clarke's Kindred Genealogies (Harvard Print. Co., Cambridge, Mass., 1896) Page 66: Claims his gravestone inscription is wrong because the Stapleford Tawney, England baptism record shows a date of April 15, 1623.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• http://duxburyhistory.org/Summer%2008%20nwsltr3.pdf
• https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=42044+paget+brewster&ah...