John Gray of Bath

1. Memorial inscription in St Swithin's Church, Walcot, Bath: In The Vault beneath are deposited the remains of JOHN GRAY Esqr late of the Island of Jamaica and for some Years resident in this City whence he died Aug. 23d 1780. Aged 45 Years Also of SARAH FORBES GRAY his Widow who died April 1st 1800. Aged 56 Years. Also of their Son in Law WILLIAM JAMISON Esqr who died Septr 10th 1797 Aged 45 Years.

2. Administration of the will of John Gray of the island of Jamaica but now of the City of Bath was granted in 1798 to Thomas Gray, son of John Gray. The will had been made in 1780, and given that the original was shipped by Rene Payne to Thomas Gray, brother of John Gray, in Jamaica and that Thomas Gray the brother was said in 1798 to have died some 14 years ago, then John Gray must have died sometime between 1780 and 1784 (an attestation said that he died in or about 1780). In the will he left his wife Sarah Forbes Gray an annuity of £200 p.a. in lieu of dower in his [unspecified] real estate and 'negroes', and after her death the long annuities underpinning the £200 p.a were to go to his daughter Mrs Ann Jamison and his sons Thomas and John Gray. The will of his brother Thomas Gray merchant of Kingston was proved 28/04/1798: in it he left monetary legacies of £5000 to his wife and £7500 to his three nephews, including the two sons of John Gray of Bath..

1. St Swithin's Church, Walcot, Internal Monuments, https://www.batharchives.co.uk/sites/bath_record_office/files/STS%20Internal%20Monuments.pdf [accessed 07/07/2020].

2. PROB 11/1309/43; PROB 11/1305/261.

We are grateful to Stephen Bird for his assistance with compiling this entry.