William Gray1

(circa July 1760 - 8 August 1829)
FatherDonald Gray b. cir. 1727, d. aft. 1765;Relationship rather assumes that the Watten baptism of a William of the right age to a Donald is a match for the William in the Halkirk cemetery with a first son named Donald2
MotherKathrin Morgan2 b. say 1730, d. aft. Aug 1765
Relationship5th great-granduncle of Lorna Henderson

BMDB data

     William Gray was born cir. Jul 1760 Laird of Dunn, Par. of Watten, CAI, SCT.2 He was baptized on 11 Jul 1760 in the Par. of Watten, CAI, SCT; entry reads: Donald Gray in Laid of Dun had a son procreated betwixt him and Katherine Morgan his spouse baptized called William before witnesses: Donald Sandison in ?Sth Dun? and ?Henry? Sandison in Achahoy.2,3
     William Gray married Margaret Sutherland, daughter of Alexander Sutherland and Female ?Elizabeth or ?Christian UnknownSurname, on 9 Jan 1789 in the Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, entry reads: "William Gray in Mibster was married to Margaret Sutherland in Mibster 9th Jany."4,5
     William Gray died on 8 Aug 1829 probably at Tongside, Halkirk, CAI, SCT; age shown as 69 on h/stone (for once someone who actually knew how old he was).3 He was buried with Margaret Sutherland in the Halkirk Cem., CAI, SCT, #37 reads: William Gray tacksman Tongside 8.8.1829 69, w Margt Sutherland 18.1.1848 81, s Ben(jamin) 23.12.1854 49 (one of 3 neighbouring graves holding assorted Gray relations: William & Margaret, son Alexander & wife Ann MacLEOD, grandson William & wife Isabella MANSON).6
     Nov 2013 update: further checking of GRAY baptisms has led to the finding that in 1802 William was living as Achinarras - and that in 1803 and 1805 a William GRAY of Achinarras was witness to the baptisms of two of the children of Alexander GRAY and Margaret SUTHERLAND of Mybster.
Alexander has long been picked to be William's brother but any evidence lacking.
I consider it now to be found.7,8


For several years Margaret has been tagged in my database as being of an age to be a dtr of William, although there were a number of other Gray families in the area at this time. Naming pattern of her children fitted, but no baptism was found. When she married William Murray of Olgrinbeg, she was living at Tongside, which added to this speculation. Bobby has subsequently, Jul 2009, found her death certificate, indexed only under Murray, not Gray, and it shows the speculation was correct, and adds a birthplace of Tormsdale.9,10,11

Census/Where lived/Occupations

     William Gray lived in Jan 1789 Mybster, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT.5 By May 1802 William was living Achinarreys (Achinarras), Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, (and was still there up to at least Mar 1807).7,8,12
     By cir. 1809 William Gray and Margaret Sutherland were living Torm(e)sdale, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, (when dtr Margaret born).11 According to his tombstone William Gray was a tacksman Tongside, Halkirk, CAI, SCT, in 1829.3

All the other info

     William Gray witnessed the baptism of Catharine Gray on 29 Apr 1802 Halkirk, CAI, SCT; entry reads: "Catharine lawful Daughter to Alexr Gray & Catharine (sic - Margaret assumed) Sutherland in Mybster was baptized 29th April Witnesses Wm Gray in Achanarras & Isobel ?Ronald? Achlibster Wits."13 William Gray witnessed the baptism of Donald Gray on 29 Jun 1803 Halkirk, Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT; entry reads: "Donald lawful son of Alexr Gray and Margt Sutherland in Mibster was baptized 29th June David Sutherland in Braerangag Parish of Latheron & Wm Gray in Achinnaras Witnesses.14,8 William Gray witnessed the baptism of Margaret Gray on 26 Mar 1805 at Halkirk, Caithness; entry reads: "Margaret lawful daughter of Alexr Gray and Margaret Sutherland in Mybster was baptized 26 March Donald McDonald there and Wm Gray in Achinarreys witnesses."15,1 William Gray witnessed the baptism of Catharine Gray in Mar 1807 at Halkirk, Caithness; entry reads: "Catharine lawful daughter of Alexr Gray and Margt Sutherland in Mybster was baptized March Donald McDonald there and Wm Gray in Achanarras witnesses."16,12
     Click here to see William's page on WikiTree, a (free) collaborative on-line tree.17

Family

Margaret Sutherland (cir. 1767 - 18 Jan 1848)
Marriage*
     William Gray married Margaret Sutherland, daughter of Alexander Sutherland and Female ?Elizabeth or ?Christian UnknownSurname, on 9 Jan 1789 in the Par. of Halkirk, CAI, SCT, entry reads: "William Gray in Mibster was married to Margaret Sutherland in Mibster 9th Jany."4,5 
Children
  • Elizabeth Gray18
  • Donald Gray
  • Alexander Gray
  • William Gray
  • Donald Gray15
  • Christian Gray15
  • Benjamin Gray3
  • Margaret Gray+19 (cir. 1809 - 30 Sep 1855)
ChartsGRAY
Last Edited21 Apr 2014

Citations

  1. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. 26 Mar 1805 Margaret d/o Alexander (Mybster) GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND, Halkirk, CAI, 037/00 0010 0199, copy d/loaded (for David GRAY) Aug 2013.
  2. Birth baptism marriage: Watten, CAI Dist 43/2, Bap 1760 William GRAY, extracted Nov 2003 (identification of this as the baptism of the William who married Margaret Sutherland is based on birth date, and naming pattern only).
  3. A S COWPER & I ROSS, MIs: CAI Halkirk, Vol 3 pt 11, Entry #37 Wm GRAY/Mgt SUTHERLAND, rechecked Apr 2004.
  4. Brian GRAY (11934), "FT GRAY, Donald & MORGAN, Katrina", Marr. 9 Ja 1789 William GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND, Halkirk.
  5. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Marr. 9 Jan 1789 William (Mibster) GRAY & Margaret (Mibster) SUTHERLAND, Halkirk, CAI, 037/00 0010 0302, copy d/loaded Aug 2013.
  6. A S COWPER & I ROSS, MIs: CAI Halkirk, Vol 3 pt 11, Entry #37 Wm GRAY ( tacksman, Tongisde, 8.8.1829 aged 69); Margt SUTHERLAND (18.1.1848 aged 81); Ben[jamin GRAY] (23.12.1854 49), rechecked Apr 2004.
  7. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. 15 May 1802 Christian d/o Wm GRAY & Margt SUTHERLAND in Achanraras, Halkirk, CAI, 37/00 0010 0188, copy d/loaded Nov 2013.
  8. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. 29 Jun 1803 Donald s/o Alexr GRAY & Margt SUTHERLAND in Mibster, Halkirk, CAI, 37/00 0010 0188, copy d/loaded Nov 2013.
  9. Births christenings marriages: Halkirk, CAI, SCT, Mar. 6 Aug 1830 Margaret GRAY (Tongside) to William MURRAY (Olgrinmore), transcr. Sep/Oct 1994, copy d/loaded Jul 2009.
  10. "Lorna's Family History Musings", Apr 2004, updated Jul 2009.
  11. Scottish BMDB entries (from 1855), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Dth 30 Sep 1855 Margaret MURRAY nee GRAY, mother SUTHERLAND, Olgrinmore, Halkirk, CAI, 037 #31, copy d/loaded Jul 2009.
  12. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. Mar 1807 Catharine d/o Alexander GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND in Mybster Halkirk, CAI, 037/00 0010 0214, copy d/loaded Nov 2013.
  13. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. 29 Apr 1802 Catharine d/o Alexr GRAY & Catharine (sic, Margt assumed) SUTHERLAND in Mybster, Halkirk, CAI, 37/00 0010 0179, copy d/loaded Nov 2013.
  14. GRAY, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bap. 29 Jun 1803 Donald s/o Alexander GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND, Halkirk, CAI.
  15. GRAY, International Genealogical Index (IGI).
  16. GRAY, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Bap. Mar 1807 Catharine d/o Alexander GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND, Halkirk, CAI.
  17. WikiTree online at http://WikiTree.com/, Oct-11.
  18. Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bap. 9 Jan 1790 Elizabeth d/o William GRAY & Margaret SUTHERLAND in Mybster, Halkirk, CAI, 037/00 0010 0114, copy d/loaded Nov 2013.
  19. Letter, Robert B to Lorna Henderson, Dth 30 Sep 1855 Margaret MURRAY nee GRAY, Olgringbeg, Halkirk, rcvd Jul 2009.

E. & O. E. Some/most parish records are rather hard to read and names, places hard to interpret, particularly if you are unfamiliar with an area. Corrections welcome
 
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