Thomas “Ancient Planter” Gray I

• BIRTH 1595 England
• DEATH 1653 (aged 57–58) Virginia, USA
• BURIAL Southwark Parish Cemetery, Surry County, Virginia, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 82936248 Pictures added by S G Michael

Thomas Gray, Ancient Planter, was born 1595 Northumberlandshire, England the son of Sheriff Edward and Catherine Le Strange Gray. He married four times: 1st Annis Valentine 29 March 1611 and had two children together; Jone/Jane Gray b. 1618-? & William Gray b. 1622 - ?. He married 2nd., Margaret (MNU) Gray 1617 with no record of any children. He married 3rd., Rebecca (MNU) Gray 11 September 1626 and had three children; Rebecca Gray b. 1629 - ?, Francis Gray b. 1632 - ? (m. Mary MNU) & Lydia Gray (m. 1st., Samuel Judkins, Sr. and 2nd., Thomas Pitman, Jr. He married 4th Mary (Foster) Gray 1645 and their five children were: Jarrett Gray, Capt. William Gray, I b. 1648 - 1719 (m. Elizabeth Jarrett), John Gray b. 1650 - ?, Thomas Gray, II b. 1652 - ? & Aurelia Gray Rush 1656–1683

Thomas lived in James City in 1623-24 as he was listed in the muster of 1624-25 with wife Margaret, son William age 3 and daughter Joane aged 6 years. Thomas was deposed 7 March 1653-54 and stated he was aged 60 years or so. He was witness at General Court at Jamestown on 12 October 1626.
His first Patent of Land was dated 27 August 1635 for 550 acres on south side of the James River, "over against James City" and on Rolfe's and Cross Creeks, included 100 acres as an Ancient Planter and 50 acres for the transportation of his Annis Gray, present wife, Rebecca Gray and two sons, William and Thomas".
Virginia Land Grants to Thomas Gray:

Thomas Gray, 550 acres – James City County, November 18, 1618. 100 acres due as an “Ancient Planter” at or before the time of Sir Thomas Dale (March 27, 1611). 50 acres for the personal advantage of Avis (Annie), his first wife into the colony; 50 acres for the personal advantage of Rebecca, his now wife, and 350 for transportation of his two sons, William Gray and Thomas Gray, and five servants – May 26, 1638.
Thomas Gray patented land in Surry County, Virginia, in 1635, 1639 and 1642. He was born in 1593 and died before 2 November 1658, Surry County, Virginia at the age of 65. He left four sons, William, Thomas, John and Francis Gray. Gray’s Creek opposite to Jamestown Island gets its name from him.

Parents
Sheriff Sir Edward Gray 1544–1628
Catherine Le Strange De Gray, Baroness of Howick 1546–1595

Spouses
Anne Valentine Gray m 29 March 1611
Margaret Annis Valentine Gray 1599–1625 m. 1624
Rebecca (MNU) Gray m 11 September 1626
Mary Foster Gray 1625–1654 m 1645

Children with Anne*, Margaret**, Rebecca***, Mary****

• Jone/Jane Gray 1618-?
• William Gray 1622 - ?
• Frances Joan Gray Hucks 1618–1679
  • *Rebecca Gray 1629 - ?,
    • Francis Gray 1632 - ? (m. Mary MNU)
    • Lydia Gray Judkins/Pittman 1635–1678 (m. 1st., Samuel Judkins, Sr. and 2nd., Thomas Pitman, Jr.)
      • Jarrett Gray
      • Capt. William Gray Sr. 1648 - 1719 m. Elizabeth Jarrett died Surry County, Virginia
      • John Gray b. 1650 - ?
      • Thomas Gray, II b. 1652 - ?
      • Aurelia Gray Rush 1656–1683

References
1. Early Virginia records

2. Our Ancestral Heritage

3. http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gray-688

4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82936248/thomas_gray

5. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, by Lyon G. Tyler, Vol. I, page 247.

6. The Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstract of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666, Abstracted and Indexed by Nell Marion Nugents, Volume One. page 31.

7. Ruffins, Gray & Allied Families. Ancestry of Lenore Barber O’Donnell, Woodville, Ms. Film #0875360, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Ut. pp. 4 - 6.

Source 1: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=celtic75&...

Packaged Ancestors : Vol. 1

Contact: John  

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ID: I095417

Name: Thomas Grey

Sex: M

Birth: 1593 in England

Death: BEF 28 NOV 1658 in Surrey County, Virginia

Occupation: AFT 1600 Planter, in Virginia

Marriage 1 Annis Valentine b: in England

Marriage 2 Margaret

Marriage 3 Rebecca b: 1605 in James City, James County, Virginia

Married: 1626 in Surry County, Virginia

Children

Rebecca Grey b: 1628 in James City, James County, Virginia

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Source 2:

Families of Walsh, DeBord, Mason, Nelson,etc

Contact: Nancy   Email: awalsh@myexcel.com

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1. ID: I8121
2. Name: Thomas Sr Grey
3. Sex: M
4. Birth: 1593 in England
5. Death: 1658 in Surrey Co.,VA
6. Note:

   Name: Thomas Gray Sr

Sex: M
Birth: 1593 in England
Death: 2 NOV 1658 in Surry County,Virginia
Change Date: 2 DEC 2002 at 17:24:15
Father: Edward Grey b: 1550 in Morpeth Castle,Morpeth,Northumberland,England
Mother: Catherine La Strange b: 1552 in England
Marriage 1 Margaret Anis b: 1597 in England
Married: 1645 in Surry County,Virginia
Children: William Gray Sr b: 1648 in Surry County,Virginia
Father: Edward Grey b: 1550 in Morpeth Castle,Morpeth,Northumberland,England

Mother: Catherine Lestrange b: 1552 in Hunstanton,Norfolk,England

Marriage 1 Margaret Anis

Married: 1645 in Surry CO,VA

Children

1. William Sr Grey

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