John (of Miles) Gray, the Elder

It is exceedingly difficult to tell which "John Gray" is which.

John (of Miles) Gray [the Elder] M, b. 1657, d. before 18 June 1732

• Father Miles Gray1 b. 1638, d. b 21 Nov 1717
• Mother Ann (nn)1 b. c 1640, d. 3 Mar 1702
• Birth* 1657 John (of Miles) Gray Sr. was born in 1657 at Accomack Co, VA.
• Biography* April 1672 In Apr 1672, Jno. Gray, aged 3 and the son of Anne, was named in Acc Co Orders, 1671-73, p. 88, which would put his birth circa 1669. [John Gray the Younger] Possibly another Jno. Grey, aged 18 and a servant of William Brittingham, was named in Apr 1675 in Acc Co Wills, 1673-1676, p. 263, which would put his birth circa 1657. [John Gray the Elder]

In 1683 Miles and Ann Gray sold all of tract A116 to Roger Miles, but two years later (1685) Roger and his wife Ann deeded 200 acres back to Ann Gray for life and then it was to go to her son John Gray (Whitelaw, p. 1124).

On 28 Nov 1689, a John Gray an inhabitant of Somerset Co, MD, along with many others, signed a loyalty oath to the King (Old Somerset, p. 349). In 1694 John and Bethula Gray sold the southern half of the Ann Gray part of A116 to William Lewis (Whitelaw, p. 1127). The deed was dated 18 Mar 1693 and stated in part "John Gray, Planter, and wife Bethula sold William Lewis 100 acres in the woods between Gargaphia and Gilford." On 6 Oct 1695, John "Grey," Robert Hawley and John Arue witnessed the will of Franics Wharton (Acc Co Wills &c, 1692-1715 (xi), p. 251). In 1697 John Grey and wife Bethula sold their other 100 acres to Richard Price (Whitelaw, p. 1127). The deed was dated 4 Aug 1697 and stated in part "John Gray, Planter, for 5000 lbs tobacco paid by Richard Price; 100 acres in the woods between Gargaphia and Gilford Creek, part of 200 acres granted to Roger Miles and Ann his wife, set over to Ann Gray "mother of me" by a deed dated 17 Nov 1685" (Acc Co Wills &c, 1692-1715(xi), p. 267). Ann Gray also deeded land to John Gray on 21 Jan 1678/8. On 4 Sep 1700, John Gray, along with John Polke and William Alexander Sr., witnessed a deed of division of Reverend Thomas Wilson in Somerset Co, MD. John Gray, along with Archibald Smith and Anthony Goldsmith were named overseers of the will of John Goldsmith, a Somerset Co, MD, carpenter, whose will was probated on 19 Jan 1701/2. On 3 Mar 1702, John Gray petitioned the court for the administration of the estate of his mother, Ann Abbott (Acc Co Orders, 1697-1703, p. 142).

• Will - Father's* 20 September 1717 John was named in his father's will on 20 September 1717 at Somerset Co, MD. In his will Miles Gray gave son-in-law William Turpin tracts Furnis' Choice and Reach. He gave his son John Turpin tract Flint. To godson John Leach tracts Ell and Hammock. He named a wife (unnamed) and made her Extr. To grandchild Sarah Beauchamp. To Mary Turpin and Sarah Coventon. To son John Gray. Witt: Lazarus Maddux, John Fountain, George Bosman & Alexander Maddux.2
• Will* 6 January 1730/31 John made a will on 6 January 1730/31 at Somerset Co, MD.1
• Death* before 18 June 1732 He died before 18 June 1732. It was on this date that his will was proved.1
• Marriage* before 1694 He married Bethula (nn) before 1694.3 Family Bethula (nn) b. c 1665

Child 1. Thomas Gray+ b. c 1700, d. b 7 Aug 1728

Citations

1. [S975] Henry C. Peden Jr. & F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Volume 9, p. 124 (Miles Gray Family).
2. [S2124] Vernon L. Skinner Jr., Somerset County, MD, Wills 1667-1748 (Liber EB 9), p. 15 (will of Miles Gray).
3. [S572] Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties).