Samuel Gray

  Noted events in his life were:

• Family History: From History and genealogy of the families of old Fairfield, by Jacobus, Volume II, Page 399. Samuel Gray, son of Henry Gray, Jr.

Baptized 25 June 1704.

He married (1) 24 Oct. 1734, Eleanor Sturgis, daughter of Christopher, born 19 Oct. 1704, died 4 Feb. 1762 in 58th year (gravestone); married (2) 19 June 1763, Joanna Stone of Providence, who died 15 Jan. 1770.

Hezekiah Gray conveyed 1764 to Father Samuel Gray, land in Compo for life; also to mother-in-law Johanna Gray for life.**

Samuel and Hezekiah Gray of Bedford, N.Y. conveyed land at Compo, 1770.

Children [by first wife], recorded Fairfield, baptized Westport:

Sanford, born 23 Sep. 1735, died 23 Nov. 1735.

Hannah, born 12 Nov. 1736,* married 28 Apr. 1762, Sylvanus Francher, of Stamford.

Hezekiah, born 14 Nov. 1738.

Samuel, born 10 July 1742, baptized 11 July 1742, died in New Providence, 3 Nov. 1760.

Sarah, born 11 Feb. 1733/4, baptized 12 Feb. 1733/4, died at Bedford, N.Y., 4 Apr. 1814.

Mary, born 8 Mar. 1746, baptized 16 Mar. 1746, died at Westport, 25 Sept. 1825 age 79 (gravestone); married (1) 16 Nov. 1763, Joseph Gorham, Jr.; married (2) Asher Taylor; married (3) 25 July 1790, Ebenezer Godfrey; married (4) 16 Mar. 1797, Ebenezer Coley, of Weston.

* John Nott, son of Hannah Gray, baptized 25 Dec. 1757.
** Hezekiah Gray's mother-in-law, Johanna Gray is assumed to be Johanna Stone Gray, his father's second wife, not his mother-in-law as we think of it now, but rather his step-mother.

• Family History: From Gray Genealogy, 1887, Page 218. Samuel Gray, son of Henry Gray, III (3),* married Ellinor (Eleanor) Sturges at Fairfield, Conn., Oct. 24, 1734; she died January 4, 1762; he married 2nd, Joanna Stone, June 19, 1763; she died January 15, 1770.

Issue:

Sanford Gray, born September 23, 1735
Hannah Gray, born November 12, 1736, married Sylvanus Tranpher, April 28, 1762.
Hezekiah Gray, born November 14, 1738.
Sarah Gray, born February 11, 1744; married Gabriel Higgins of Bedford, N.Y., March 2, 1763.
Mary Gray, born March 8, 1746; married Joseph Gorham, Jr., November 16, 1763

Hezekiah Gray, son of Samuel, and Abigail his wife, were members of the Green's Farms Church, 1767; and had there baptized daughters Abigail, Lucy, Ellen, and Hezekiah, Jr., the latter date of July 19, 1761. Hezekiah, Sr. was probably the Hezekiah Gray who was a Lieutenant in a Company formed in Bedford, N.Y., 1776, and afterwards Captain of a Company attached to Col. Drake's Westchester County Regiment. His descendents not traced.

The Henry Gray above recorded as one of the corporate members of the Green's Farms Church, it must be admitted may have been Henry Gray (2), it being very difficult in the absence of exact data absolutely to determine. However, it is believed to be correct as it stands.

* This differs from Families of Old Fairfield information, which has him as the son of Henry Gray, Jr., Henry Gray, III's father. The Genealogy of the Gray-Hort Family also shows Samuel as the son of Henry Gray, Jr.

• Family History: From The Genealogy of the Gray-Hort Family, 1960. Samuel Gray was baptized 25 June 1704, and married twice during his life. His first marriage was to Eleanor Sturgis on October 24, 1734, daughter of Christopher, who died in 1762 in his 58th year. His second wife, Joanna Stone of Providence was more fruitful with five children*. Their children were Sanford, born September 1735, died November 1735; Hannah, born November 12, 1736; Hezekiah, born November 14, 1738; Sam; and Mary.

* This is believed to be an error as all of the children were born before Samuel married Joanna Stone.

• Family History: From Barbour Connecticut Records. Samuel, son of Henry, mar Eleanor/Elliner Sturgis, dau of Christopher, 24 Oct 1734 - Fairfield VR
Sanford, son of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 23 Sep 1735; d. 23 Nov 1735 - Fairfield VR

Hannah, dau of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 12 Nov 1736 - Fairfield VR

Hezekiah, son of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 14 Nov 1738 - Fairfield VR

Samuel, son of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 10 Jul 1742 - Fairfield VR

Sarah, dau of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 11 Feb 1743/4 - Fairfield VR
Mary, dau of Samuell & Ellenor, b. 8 Mar 1746 - Fairfield VR



Hezekiah, son of Samuell, mar Abigail Waterbury, dau of Capt. David, of Stanford, 24 Apr 1760 - Fairfield VR

• Parents: Conflicting information about his parents. The History and genealogy of the families of old Fairfield, by Jacobus, Volume II, Page 398 and The Genealogy of the Gray-Hort Family, 1969 identify Samuel's parents as Henry Gray, Jr. and Hannah Sanford, while Gray Genealogy, Page 218, identifies Henry Gray, III as his father. Under Samuel Gray's information, Gray Genealogy, Page 218, indicates that Samuel could be the son of Henry Gray, Jr. Therefore, it is assumed here that Samuel Gray is the son of Henry Gray, Jr. and Hannah Sanford, not Henry Gray III.

• Real Estate: From his father's will, 1731, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut. I give and bequeath to my loving and well beloved son Samuel Gray, the whole of my homested land esteemed to be about thirty acres more or less with all the buildings thereon and the remainder of my movable estate, only reserving Northeast end of ye dwelling house and one third part of my homested land ^ & Barn & cellar for my afor said wifes improvement (for) the term of her natural life as afor said. Also I give to my sd (said) son Samuel ye land ye town gave me that part which my dwelling house stands upon.

Sanuel was also named executor of his father's estate.

• Court: From the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Vol 8, 13 May 1736, Hartford, Connecticut. Page 44

At a General Assembly holden at Hartford in His Majesties English Colony of Connecticut in New England in America on Thursday the 13th Day of May ... 1736.

The petition of Jacob Gray, Isaac Gray, William Gray, Samuel Gray, Thomas Disbrough and Abigail his wife, John Nott and Martha his wife, Sarah Jackson, all of Fairfield, and Christopher Sturgis and Mary his wife, of Stamford vs. Andrew Burr and the rest of the proprietors of the common and undivided land in Fairfield, being read and the parties heard upon the same: The question was put, whether anything should be granted thereon, and resolved by this Assembly in the negative. Cost allowed the respondents is: £4 15s. 10d. Ex. granted May 29th 1736.

• Payment: From Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, Vol. XVI, Pages 191 to 194, 9 Jan 1751, Connecticut. The Wolcott Papers, Correspondence and Documents During Roger Wolcott's Governorship of the Colony of Connecticut 1750 - 1754

LIST OF BILLS OF EXCHANGE

An account of cash received at the Exchequer for reimbursing the Colony of Connecticut for their expenses in taking Louisbourg & Cape Burton, and the bills which have been drawn by their Honors Jonathan Laws Esquire deceased & Roger Wolcott Esquire and discharged by Dr. Benjamin Avery.

His Hon Roger Wolcott, 9 Jan 1751 to Samuel Gray, 200

Note: This is assumed to be the correct Samuel Gray and that it indicates he was alive in 1751.

Hathi Trust Digital Library

Samuel married Ellener Sturges, daughter of Christopher Sturges and Mary Goodwin, on 24 Oct 1734 in Fairfield, Connecticut. (Ellener Sturges was born on 19 Oct 1704 and died on 4 Feb 1762 in Westport, Fairfield, Connecticut.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: Barbour Connecticut Records, 24 Oct 1734, Fairfield, Connecticut. Samuel, son of Henry, mar Eleanor/Elliner Sturgis, dau of Christopher, 24 Oct 1734 - Fairfield
VR

Also, from History and genealogy of the families of old Fairfield, by Jacobus, Volume II, Page 399

He married (1) 24 Oct. 1734, Eleanor Sturgis, daughter of Christopher, born 19 Oct. 1704, died 4 Feb. 1762 in 58th year (gravestone); married (2) 19 June 1763, Joanna Stone of Providence, who died 15 Jan. 1770.

Samuel next married Joanna Stone on 19 Jun 1763 in Westport, Fairfield, Connecticut. (Joanna Stone died on 15 Jan 1770.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: From History and genealogy of the families of old Fairfield, by Jacobus, Volume II, Page 399, 19 Jun 1763, Fairfield, Connecticut. He married (1) 24 Oct. 1734, Eleanor Sturgis, daughter of Christopher, born 19 Oct. 1704, died 4 Feb. 1762 in 58th year (gravestone); married (2) 19 June 1763, Joanna Stone of Providence, who died 15 Jan. 1770.