Robert Gray

Biography

Robert Gray, Silversmith, London, was born in 1717. His father is named as Robert Gray and his mother Anastasia.

Anastasia Westley was born in April 1695 in Middlesex, the daughter of Dorothy and Charles. She married Robert Gray on 14 March 1717 in Westminster, Middlesex. They had six children in 13 years. She had one sister.

Robert Gray had a goldsmiths and jewellery shop at 13 New Bond Street between 1777 and 1792 when he died and his younger son William Gray took over the business.

Robert was a cutler and toyman, making and selling expensive trinkets including decorative swords for gentlemen.

Robert's first wife was Jane Skull.

They had two children; a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Anastasia. Thomas owned another jeweller's and cutler's shop in Bond Street. London at the time of Robert's death.

Ann Norman was Robert's second wife. When they married, Robert was living at St George's Hanover Square.

Their children were:
Sarah, Polly, Robert and William.

His son, Robert, went to Oxford and became the Bishop of Bristol.

William took over the family business. He seems to have one son, Frederick. William was living with Frederick as an elderly man and died at Fredrick's home in Castle Cary, a small market town South Somerset, England.

Up until now (20 Jan 2018) attempts have been made to trace William's marriage with no luck. It is believed he may have married abroad. English records have not surfaced at this time. Other records seem to point to a Miss Maria Perrin as his wife and Frederick's mother. This has yet to corroborated.

At least two of Frederick's sons; Ernest and Henry, settled in Christchurch, New Zealand. Ernest is notable as a local politician and is buried in Halswell cemetery.

Sarah and Polly never married. They are described as spinsters in their wills, and both lived to be quite old.

Robert died in 1788. He is buried in the family tomb, at the Parish church. Twickenham

Biography and information completed by Jenna Gray (4x Great granddaughter)

Further research

Information in this biography about Robert Gray has been collated by the Gray family.

Contact Jenna Gray if you are interested in collaborating about this family. Relatives in England are happy to share their research with descendants.

Twickenham - Houses of Local Interest & their Occupiers

The Twickenham Museum has Grove House listed as being built by Robert Gray, Bishop of Bristol. I estimate this is incorrect. Robert (1762 - 1834) would have only been 20 years of age in 1784, when Mr Robert Gray is recorded as living at Grove House. Robert snr is also has his death recorded at Grove House. In 1818 all of Robert snr's adult children were living at Grove House; William, Polly, Sarah and Robert.

The Twickenham Museum
Grove House
Heath Road (Lane), Twickenham
Twickenham Museum - accessed 21 Dec 2017

House built by Robert Gray, Bishop of Bristol 1827-34 (d1834)
1784: Mr Robert Gray
1818: William Gray, Polly Gray, Sarah Gray, Robert Gray
1903: House demolished & replaced by Grove Avenue

Explore

The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers as a possible source of records.

Holly Road, Garden of Rest, Twickenham

"There is, in Twickenham Library, a record of the inscriptions on the 196 tombstones and monuments which could be read in 1930. About 450 names are listed, although there were probably many more unmarked graves. Many burials were those of children who died in infancy."

List of tombs in Holly Road churchyard - including Mr Robert Gray (1788). There's also a Mr Thomas Gray (1735). One of the Roberts has a Thomas named as his brother in his will. Could this person be related?

Life in London the 18th centiruy