Miles Gray, of Somerset

Soon after William Turpin's death, his widow married Miles Gray -, a prominent early settler of Virginia and later Maryland. Miles Gray made gifts of both land and negroes to his step-children. WRONG: after his first wife's death, William Turpin married Miles Gray's daughter (name unknown).

From Virginia Eastern Shore Public Library

Miles was born circa 1637.1

Miles immigrated to before 1655.2 He married Ann (-----) circa 1660.3

On 27 Oct 1668, Miles Gray, who had fathered a bastard child by Hannah Leach who was one of Ann Toft servants, paid a fine to Ann Toft of 1500 lbs of tobacco (Acc Co Orders, 1666-70, f. 20).

In Feb 1696/7, Mr. Miles Gray was listed as a Vestryman for Somerset Parish which consisted of Manokin and Many Hundreds in Somerset Co, MD. Others listed with him included John Huett, Richard Chambers, John Panter, Nathaniel Horsey and Peter Elzey (Old Somerset, p. 155). Miles Gray was also listed as a settler in Somerset Co, MD, between 1666 and 1700 (Old Somerset, p. 465). On 27 Jul 1708, Miles Gray gives 1 mare to Mary Turpin daughter of John Turpin (Somerset County Livestock Marks, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Vol. 1, p. 160). Miles was living in March 1672.1

Miles made a will on 20 September 1717 at Somerest Co, MD.4 Miles died before 21 November 1717 at Somerset Co, MD.4

Married

1. Ann (-----) b. c 1640, d. 3 Mar 1702 Marriage* He married Ann (-----) circa 1660.3 
2. Hannah Leach b. c 1640 (not married)
3. Margaret Ivery, widow of William Turpin

Children

1. Jane Gray+ b. c 1660
2. (d|o Ann) Gray b. c 1664
3. (d|o Ann) Gray+ b. c 1665

Child

1. John Leach b. 1668

Notes

It seems very likely that Miles GRAY married (2) to Margaret (Ivery) GRAY, widow of William TURPIN I, sometime before 1710. So the children of William TURPIN and Margaret (Ivery) did become Miles GRAY's step-children.

It seems possible to me that William TURPIN II, son of William TURPIN I, could have married (1) Mary GRAY, who had become his step-sister, although I don't have proof of that here.

But I can prove that Margaret, wife/widow of William TURPIN, did marry Miles GRAY. In 1710, Miles GRAY and his wife Margaret, together as "We" deeded 450 acres of land called "Davis Choice" which became "Husbands Love" to Solomon TURPIN. In this deed Miles GRAY describes his and his wife's relationship to Solomon Turpin: "Solomon Turpin, son-in-law unto Miles Gray, but sonne lawfully begotten of the body of my wife Margrett Gray..."

Here is the pertinent land record, proving that Margaret married (1) William TURPIN I, and (2) Miles GRAY. Note that this land is conveyed to Solomon TURPIN by both parties together as "We Miles Gray and Margrett Gray, my wife ..."

.............................

Maryland State Archives Somerset County, Maryland Liber 7, folio 703

Deed, We Miles Gray and Margrett Gray, my wife, of Somerset, for Natural love and affection we have and bare unto Solomon Turpin, son-in-law unto Miles Gray, but sonne lawfully begotten of the body of my wife Margrett Gray - grant "Husbands Love" lying on south side of Back Creek 450 acres, adjoining the land of Phillip Berry, deceased.

Deed 31 May, 1710, Between Solomon Turpin and Elizabeth his wife, Miles Gray and Margret his wife all of Somerset County on 1 part and Ephraim Wilson Gent. of same County on other. Land granted Thomas Davis called "Davis Choice" 450 acres. Thomas Davis sold land to Lewis Knight. Said Lewis Knight and Ester his wife cohabit together in Virginia did apt. George Lane as their attorney of Somerset County, 14 Aug., 1694 to convey above part of said land called "Husbands Love" to Margaret Gray.

Citations

1. [S91] Accomack Co, VA, Court Orders, 1671-73(iv), p. 74.
2. [S1569] Maryland Calander of Wills, Vol. 4.
3. [S1695] Woodrow Wilson Taylor.
4. [S975] Henry C. Peden Jr. & F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Volume 9, p. 123 (Miles Gray Family).

Links

• http://espl-genealogy.org/MilesFiles/p788.htm#i78750
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/turpin/messages/1983.html
• http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu/delmarva/

  ---

Repudiated his wife Ann because she had committed adultery with one John Hancock (not of the Massachusetts Hancocks) - the bitter joke being that he was just as guilty as she was.

Miles Gray M, b. 1638, d. before 21 November 1717

• Birth* 1638 Miles was born in 1638.1
• Immigrated* 11 March 1655 He immigrated on 11 March 1655 to Northampton Co, VA. He was shown as Miles Gray..2
• Immigrated 3 October 1655 He immigrated on 3 October 1655 to Northampton Co, VA. He was shown as Miles Gray..2
• Marriage* circa 1657 He married Ann (nn) circa 1657.
• Land patented* 12 July 1664 Miles Gray patented land on 12 July 1664 at Accomack Co, VA. He received 400 acres for transporting 8 people into the colony.2
• Biography* 27 October 1668 On 27 Oct 1668, Miles Gray, who had fathered a bastard child by Hannah Leach who was one of Ann Toft servants, paid a fine to Ann Toft of 1500 lbs of tobacco (Acc Co Orders, 1666-70, f. 20). In Feb 1696/7, Mr. Miles Gray was listed as a Vestryman for Somerset Parish which consisted of Manokin and Many Hundreds in Somerset Co, MD. Others listed with him included John Huett, Richard Chambers, John Panter, Nathaniel Horsey and Peter Elzey (Old Somerset, p. 155). Miles Gray was also listed as a settler in Somerset Co, MD, between 1666 and 1700 (Old Somerset, p. 465). On 27 Jul 1708, Miles Gray gives 1 mare to Mary Turpin daughter of John Turpin (Somerset County Livestock Marks, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, Vol. 1, p. 160).
• Deposition* March 1671/72 He gave a deposition in March 1671/72 at Accomack Co, VA. He was shown as Miles Gray who gave his age as 34 years.2,1
• Will - Extr* 2 April 1698 He was named as the executor of a will on 2 April 1698 at Somerset Co, MD. In his will Robert Cattlin gave daughter Sarah land and a son William (under 18) land. Miles Gray Extr. Witt: James Curtis, Edward Stockdell, Jane Stockdell, Bryan Dowty & Samuel Handy.3
• Will - Named as heir* 14 February 1706 Miles was named as a heir in a will on 14 February 1706 at Somerset Co, MD. In his will Thomas Abbott gave sister Jane, gave Miles Gray land and named Mercy Fountain Extr. Witt: Alice Rigby, Henry Smith, James Davis & Nicholas Fountain.4
• Will* 20 September 1717 Miles made a will on 20 September 1717 at Somerest 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.2,5
• Death* before 21 November 1717 Miles died before 21 November 1717 at Somerset Co, MD.2,5

Family 1 Ann (nn) b. c 1640, d. 3 Mar 1702

• Marriage* circa 1657 He married Ann (nn) circa 1657. Children
• 1. John (of Miles) Gray Sr.6 b. 1657, d. b 18 Jun 1732
• 2. Jane Gray+ b. c 1660
• 3. (d/o Ann) Gray b. c 1664
• 4. John (of Miles) Gray+ b. 1669
• 5. Alexander (of Miles) Gray b. c 1670
• 6. Sarah Gray+ b. c 1680, d. 1720

Family 2 (mistress) Hannah Leach b. c 1640 Child 1. John Leach b. 1668

Citations

1. [S91] Accomack Co, VA, Court Orders & Wills (& Deeds), 1671-73, p. 74.
2. [S975] Henry C. Peden Jr. & F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Volume 9, p. 123 (Miles Gray Family).
3. [S2124] Vernon L. Skinner Jr., Somerest County, MD, Wills 1667-1748 (Liber EB 9), p. 20 (will of Robert Cattlin).
4. [S2081] Vernon L. Skinner Jr., Somerest County Wills 1770-1777 & 1675-1710 (Liber EB 5), p. 35 (will of Thomas Abbott).
5. [S2124] Vernon L. Skinner Jr., Somerest County, MD, Wills 1667-1748 (Liber EB 9), p. 15 (will of Miles Gray).
6. [S975] Henry C. Peden Jr. & F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Volume 9, p. 124 (Miles Gray Family).