Charles Gordon Gray senior

Previous tenant-for-life of Virgin Valley and Prospect Pen in St James, the compensation for which was paid to the 'heirs of Charles Gordon Gray', a group of more than a dozen family members.

1. The genealogy of the Gray family is outlined in an obituary for the eldest sister Barbara Gray who died in Edinbugh in 1810 aged 83. Their father was Hugh Gray, a tacksman of Helmsdale in Sutherland. There were three sons: the eldest Robert (Barbada's twin) who "rendered himself famous by introducing into the Island of Jamaica and keeping a pen of cattle much superior to any thing of the kind known there before his time"; the middle son Charles studied medicine and died young; the third Mr John Gray, as of 1810, "lives in England, a very worthy character." Charles Gordon Gray was the son of Robert Gray. The only surviving issue of the four daughters of Hugh Gray, as of 1810, was Mr Hugh Macpherson, "of the Island of Jamaica."

2. Death of Charles Gordon Gray, at Stratton house, aged 63, son of Robert Gray, who had gone out to Jamaica in the late 18thC, and grandson of Hugh Gray of Helmsdale Sutherlandshire, 'a gentleman farmer.' Will of Charles Gordon Gray of Stratton House near Chilcompton Somerset proved 13/01/1823. In the will he left 'my freehold negroes now on the estates in Jamaica which I hold for life' under the will of his father called Virgin Valley and Prospect Pen, and which [whom?] were now mortgaged to John and Philip Vaughan of Bristol, to his son John Robert a Court Gray for the benefit of his [the testator's] wife and John Robert a Court Gray for her life, then to him. If his son John Robert a Court Gray died, the enslaved people were to pass to the testator's seven daughters, Frances Mercer and six unmarried sisters. He left Industry in trust for his son and wife for their lives.

3. Death of Charles Gordon Gray at Stratton-house near Chilcompton, Somersetshire in 63rd year of age [in 1822]. 'This gentleman was a Vice-president of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society, to whom his scientific knowledge of stock and husbandry is well known. His amenity of manners and liberality of sentiment endeared him to a numerous and respectable acquaintance, by whom and his afflicted family he is deeply and deserved regretted.'

4. Charles Gordon Gray's son, also Charles Gordon Gray, 'was admitted pens. at ST JOHN'S, May 3, 1803. S. of Charles Gordon, Esq., of Tracy Park, near Bath. School, Eton. Scholar, 1803. Went to Jamaica; proprietor and manager of estates there. Married, Feb. 14, 1820, Mary Augusta, dau. of M. Faveaux, of the War Office. Died Jan. 29, 1823, at Fairfield, Jamaica.' Despite his death reportedly after his father made his will [in 1822] Charles Gordon Gray jun. does not appear in his father's will.

5. Charles Gordon Gray's surviving son and heir John Robert A'Court Gray died 09/08/1872 at Kingweston leaving £7000.

T71/873 St James claim no. 172.

1. Gentleman's Magazine vol. 80 part 1 p. 180 (February 1810).

2. Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 133 p. 89; PROB 11/1665.

3. Times 25/12/1822 p. 3.

4. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni 1261-1900 [database online].

5. National Probate Calendar 1872.

We are grateful to Michael Rhodes for his assistance with compiling this entry.