Mary Gray

MARY GRAY Lady Parbroath

Marie Gray (1581) Mary Gray (1581) (Mary Gray (1601) Marie Gray (1601) Mary Gray, relict of David Seytone of Parbroth (1602) Mary Gray, elder Lady of Parbroith (1617) Dame Mary Gray, Lady Parbrothe (1623)

Fake Genealogy

First

At least one pedigree published by MyHeritage falsely claims that Mary Gray, daughter of Patrick Gray, fourth Lord Gray, married William Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie. It is true that Williiam and Mary were contacted to marry, probably when they were children, but the marriage did not actually take place. The same pedigree makes a second false claim, that Mary Gray also married George Seton, fifth Lord Seton, when she did in fact marry David Seton of Parbroath. The Scots Peerage IV: 262 The fake pedigree published by MyHeritage follows:

Hon. Mary Ruthven (born Gray), 1547 - 1600. Mary Ruthven (born Gray) was born in 1547, at birth place, to Patrick (Lord Gray Airlie) Gray and Marion Gray (born Ogilvy). Patrick was born Circa March 1508, in Buttergask, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Marion was born in 1514, in Airlie, Angus, Scotland. Mary had 16 siblings: Elizabeth Helen Bruce (born Gray), Isabel Strethan (born Gray) and 14 other siblings. Mary married George (5th Lord of Seton) Baron The Sir Seton, 7th Lord Seton. George was born in January 1531, in Of Seton, Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. His occupation was Master of the Household to Queen Mary of Scots 1563, waggoner, Scottish Ambassador to France 1583. They had 3 children: George SEATON and 2 other children. Mary married William Ruthven in 1565, at age 18 at marriage place. William was born in 1548, in Ruthven Castle, Perthshire, Scotland. His occupation was 1st Earl of Gowrie. Mary passed away in 1600, at age 53 at death place. MyHeritage

Second

A second pedigree published by MyHeritage falsely claims that Mary Gray, daughter of Patrick Gray, Lord Gray, and his wife Marion Ogilvy, married William Ruthven, Lord Ruthven. William Ruthven and Mary Gray were contracted to marry, probably when they were children, but the marriage did not take place. This fake pedigree goes further, and falsely claims that William Ruthven and Mary Gray had a son named William Ruthven. This is wrong. The Scots Peerage IV: 262 The fake pedigree published by MyHeritage follows:

Mary Seaton (born Gray), 1540 - 1600. Mary Seaton (born Gray) was born in 1540, at birth place, to Patrick Gray and Marion Gray (born Ogilvy). Patrick was born in February 1508, in Buttergask, Perthshire, Scotland. Marion was born in 1514, in Airlie, Angus, Scotland. Mary had 9 siblings: Patrick Gray, Katherine Mortimer (born Gray) and 7 other siblings. Mary married David Seton of Parbroath. David was born circa 1535, in Of, Parbroath, Fife, Scotland. His occupation was Comptroller of Scotland 1589. Mary married William Ruthven. William was born in 1528, in Ruthven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They had one son: Williame Ruthven. Mary passed away in 1600, at age 60 at death place. MyHeritage

The Question of Identity

Dame Mary Gray is the daughter of Patrick Gray of Buttergask, afterwards Lord Gray, and his wife Marion Ogilvy. The Scots Peerage IV: 282-3

Proposed Marriage

Dame Mary Gray was contacted to marry William, Lord Ruthven, afterwards Earl of Gowrie, but the marriage did not take place. The Scots Peerage IV: 263

Marriage

Dame Mary Gray married David Seton of Parbroath.The marriage contract is dated 12 April 1568. RMS: 287

Children

1. George Seton of Parbroath
2. David Seton of Kinglass and Ravenscraig
3. John Seton
4. Robert Seton
5. William Seton
6. Andrew Seton
7. Margaret Seton
8. Mary Seton
9. Elizabeth Seton

EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL RECORDS OF SCOTLAND

                   1

30 May 1581: Charter by which David Seton of Parbroath, with the consent of his wife Marie Gray confirms that he has sold the land called the three Urquardis to Master John Scharp, advocate. Regrisrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1580-1593, charter number 287 on p. 94

                   2

10 December 1581: Crown Charter confirming charger, dated 30 May 1581, by David Seytoun [Seaton] of Parbroth [Parbroath], with consent of Mary Gray, his spouse, to Mr John Scharp [Sharp], advocate, of the lands called three Urquhardis [Urquhart], viz., Eistertoun [Eastertown], Lawsounistoun and Lappie [Lappie], lying in the sheriffdom of Fife. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Shairp family of Houston, West Lothian, reference GD30/264

                   3

9 May 1601: Instrument of sasine in favour of George Seytoun, elder son of David Seytoun of Parbroth, in respect of the barony thereof, under partial reservation of liferent, following on charter by said David and Mary Gray, his spouse, of the same date. Registered SRS Fife etc, 1 June 1601. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/218

Note: By a charter dated 9 May 1601, David Seton of Parbroath, with the consent of his wife Marie Gray, confirmed that he had given the barony of Parbroath to his eldest son George Seton and his male heirs by his wife Jean Sinclair. He reserved his own liferent and that of his wife Marie. He also reserved a liferent from the land called Wrquartis to his daughter Elizabeth, His charter was witnessed by his son Robert Seton and William Seton. Regrisrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1593-1608, charter number 1201 on p. 419

                   4

18 June 1602: Extract decree at the instance of Mary Gray, relict of David Seytone of Parbroth, and Robert and Elizabeth Seytoune, her children, against Patrick Glasfurde, notary in Coupar, as haver, and George Seytoun of Parbrothe for registration in B of C and S of a contract, dated 15 and 16 April 1601 by which the said George bound himself to relieve the said David and Mary from various obligations and to confirm certain infeftments in favour of the said Robert and Elizabeth (Elspeth) and the said David disponed to the said George the barony of Parbroth and other lands. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/220

                   5

25 March 1617: Extract decree at the instance of John, Lord Lindsy, and his tutors against Jean Sinclare, relict of George Seytoun of Parbroith, Mary Gray, elder Lady of Parbroith, and David Seytoun of Parbroith for delivery of writs. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/251

                    6

23 November 1623: Decree of poinding of the ground at the instance of Mr Thomas Douglas of Stanypethe against Dame Mary Gray, Lady Parbrothe, Robert Seytoune, her son, and David Ramsay and Alexander Andersoune, her tenants, in terms of no 227. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Earls of Glasgow (Crawford Priory), reference GD20/1/253