James Gray married Sarah Cheek were married on the 18th December 1813 and they had eight children;
- James Gray : 1814 Whitwell – 1857 Brading
- Leah Gray : 1816 Whitwell – 1892 Brading
- George Gray : 1817 Nettlecomb, Whitwell – Waratah, New South Wales, Australia 5
- Peter Gray b: 1820 Newchurch – 1884 Lake Brading
- Rachel (Richard) Gray : 1822 Newchurch – 1889 Ventnor
- Elis Gray : 1825 Newchurch – 1892 Carisbrooke
- Selah (Sarah) Gray : 1829 Newchurch – 1907 Carisbrooke
- Francis Gray : 1832 Newchurch – 1918 Howland, Ontario, Canada
1. James Gray : 1814 – 1852
James and Sarah Gray’s eldest son and brother to George James Gray, their first born was to live a shorter life than his parents.
James was baptised at Whitwell Church on 7 August 1814. His father’s occupation was stated as ‘labourer’. There are no census records until 1841 by which time James was married.
On 13 May 1834 at Godshill Church James Gray ‘Bachelor’ of Newchurch married Ann Phillips ‘of this Parish Spinster’. Like his father, James was able to write and sign his name, Ann signed with an ‘x’.
The 1841 census tells us that James and Ann Gray along with daughter Harriett 6, James and William 2 years were living at Newnham farm where James was employed as an agricultural labourer. In 1852 the family has grown with the addition of George Elle, Edwin Fanny and Elizabeth and the family have moved to Godshill and James is still doing farming agricultural work.
James was the firstborn but was also the first of the children of James and Sarah to die, he died at Lake Brading at just 42 years of age. The cause of death was fever and pneumonia for 19 weeks and scarlet fever for 9 weeks. His wife Ann was present at his death, again recording her signature with an ‘x’. His profession, like his father was an ‘Agricultural Labourer’.
After the death of her husband James, Ann moves to Brading where by 1861 she is working as a ‘Laundress’. Her son George is working as a ‘Smith’ aged 17 and Edwin at 15 years is working as a ‘labourer’. Fanny 13 years, has no occupation, Frank Albert and Thomas Gray are both at school. She has a lodger by the name of William Phillips aged 68 years, a ‘labourer’.
In 1861 Ann is still living in the same place and still working as a laundress, her son George aged 27 years is a ‘Blacksmith’, daughter Fanny is also a ‘laundress’. Eli is now 18 years working as a ‘Plasterers labourer’, Albert is 16 and a carpenter and Thomas aged 8 years is still at school. There is an additional child living with them, a granddaughter Elizabeth A Watson, born in Whippingham and under 1 year of age.
By 1881 Ann is aged 66 years of age, she is still living in Brading but it is now on Newport road with two of her children living with her. She no longer has an occupation listed but her daughter Fanny 30 years, is a laundress and son Thomas 26 years, is a carpenter. No doubt they are providing for their mother as she did not like so,e of her siblings, end up in the workhouse at Carisbrooke.
Ann Gray nee Phillips died in January 1888 aged 74 years of age, she was buried on 21 January 1888 at Royal Standard Inn, Park Road, West Cowes, Isle of Wight.
2. Leah Gray : 1816 – 1892
James and Sarah Gray’s second child was a daughter Leah, whose baptism was registered in Whitwell Church on 19 May, 1816.
On 30 July Leah Gray aged 17 years married William Harber in Shanklin Church. William Harber was born in Newchuch about 1804, baptised there on 27 January, 1805.
The 1841 census tells us that William Harber was an agricultural labourer at Lake Brading with Leah and her husband’s father also William Harber a widower, aged 70 years living with them from this time.
In 1851 William and Leah are at Lake Farm where William’s occupation is now ‘Farmer of 20 acres of land’. Their household consists of James Gray 51 years ‘Farmer’s labourer’, David Hayden a lodger 32 years ‘Farmer’s labourer’, James Smith ‘son’ 16 years, Frank Gray ‘visitor’ 3 years likely her nephew, the son of her sister Sarah (Selah) and Sarah Gray aged 55 also an ‘agricultural labourer’ it is not clear how this Sarah Gray is related.
By the 1861 census William Harber is aged 60 years and Leah is 47 years, they are living at 5 Melville Terrace in Brading. William has now recorded his occupation as ‘retired farmer’.
In 1871 William is now a ‘lodging house keeper’ in High Street, Brading. They have a domestic servant named Maria Chambers aged 24 years living with them.
Ten years later in 1881, William is a retired labourer aged 76 years and Leah is 65 years living at 3 Pells Cottages, Brading.
Three years later on 4 March 1884, William Harber ‘Farmer’ died at Bridger Street, Sandown with Mary King the informant present at his death. The cause of death was heart disease for the previous fifteen months.
The 1891 census shows Leah Harber alone at 1 Waterloo Cottage, Brading ‘living on her own means’.
Leah Harber née Gray died on 10 January 1892 at the same address as her husband William, Bridger Street, Brading with her nephew Eli, likely Eli Frank Gray the son of her older brother James Ernest Gray who was living at Stagg St, not Carter St, Sandown. The cause of Leah’s death was recorded as ‘Colicil Vilius’ for 7 days and exhaustion from continuous vomiting.
Nothing more can be found about the son named James Smith on the 1851 census aside from this one reference and this name is difficult to trace.
3. George Gray : 1817 – 1861
James and Sarah’s third son, George Gray, was born in Nettlecombe, near Whitwell on 21 December, 1817. Nettlecombe Lane, is about half a mile north-east of Whitwell 6 and contains the site of a deserted medieval village.
George Gray married Ann Lock on 14 January 1841 in Whitwell and they had four children while living on the Isle of Wight before leaving for the new colony in New South Wales. A builder and stonemason who became insolvent in the early 1840’s in an era in England which became known as the ‘hungry forties’, George and Ann Gray set off to meet Ann’s brother Edmund Bull in the new colony, no doubt with the aim of a better life. Their story is told in more detail in another chapter.
4. Peter Gray : 1816 – 1884
Although there is no birth record for Peter Gray, there is a baptismal record transcript on 23 April 1830 at Newchurch, Isle of Wight.
On 23 January 1840, at the same church in which he was baptised, Peter Gray married Ann Rann with both aged 20 years. By 1841 they are living at Haven St, Arreton with on year old George. Peter’s occupation as agricultural labourer.
Ann Rann was the daughter of William Rann and Sarah Mary Groves born at Wroxall, Isle of Wight. Like many of the Gray family, William Rann was also an agricultural labourer.
The 1851 census shows Peter and Ann still living in Haven St, Arreton with children William 8 years, James 5 years and Ellen aged 1 year. There is a change in Ann’s occupation with her working as a charwoman.
In 1861 census the family has moved and is recorded at St Peter’s School, Newchurch. Peter is still working as an agricultural labourer both Pater and Ann are aged 44 years. Their 18 year old son William is working as a Bricklayer’s assistant, and 16 year old James, like his father is an agricultural labourer. Their 11 year old daughter Ellen is a scholar, as is 9 year old Frank. Their youngest son Eli is just 2 years of age.
The 1871 census again shows a change of address this time to Upton Rd, Ryde but Peter is still an agricultural labourer living with Ann. Their daughter Ellen, 21 years, is working as a servant , son Frank aged 18 years is a blacksmith and Eli is now at school aged 13 years. The youngest and last child Peter is now 7 years and at school.
The final census record for Peter and Ann Gray is in 1881 when they are both 62 years of age. This record shows them living at Newport Rd, Brading. Peter is recorded now as a gardener, likely a lighter job for someone his age than farm work. The only child now living with them is their son Peter junior aged 18 years working as a general labourer.
The final records for Peter and Ann are their death registers. Peter Gray died on 29 October 1844 at Lake Brading. As with the census his occupation was recorded as ‘Gardener’, he was 64 years of age. The cause of death was ‘Bronchitis and asthma’ which it records as a condition he had for the previous 7 years. This could also be a reason for his change of occupation from the heavier agricultural labouring to that of a gardener. The informant for his death was his son Eli Gray who was present at his death. It gives Eli Gray’s residence as 2 Bank Gardens, Ryde.
Three years later Ann Gray née Rann ‘Widow of Peter Gray’ also died at Lake Brading, she was aged 69 years. The cause was ‘Paralysis 1 week’. Peter and Ann’s son William Gray of Lake Brading was the informant for his mother’s death at which he was present.
Both Peter and Ann Gray are buried at Christ churchyard Cemetery in Sandown.
5. Rachel (Richard) Gray : 1822 – 1899
There appears to be an anomaly in the records for Peter and Ann’s next child. Whilst there is a baptismal record for ‘Richard’ Gray, there are no other records for him except this one. There are however, records for ‘Rachel’ Gray. I would propose that there is an error in the baptismal record of the name of the child being baptised and that it was in fact Rachel not Richard Gray. Rachel Gray has been recorded with the same birth/baptismal date. There is also no death record for a Richard Gray if they had been twins.
On 22 December 1822 Rachel (Richard) Gray was baptised at Newchurch, the daughter of James and Sarah Gray. She was born at Apse Rd and her father James Gray was a labourer.
On 20 January 1844, Rachel Gray married James Harber ‘Carpenter’ at Newchurch. Both were living in Ventner at the time of their marriage.
Rachel Gray’s new husband was the son of Jane Lane and James Harber a ‘mariner’ who had been employed in the Royal Navy for about 2 years. He was born at Brading.
James Harber was baptised on 20 January 1821, at Brading. Unusually but also helpfully, this record also includes his birthdate: 8 Dec 1820.
The 1851 census finds James and Rachel Gray living in Newchurch with James working as a carpenter and joiner journeyman. At this time Rachel is a lodging house keeper with 5 year old George and 3 year old Louis.
The 1861 census places them at Esplanade House, Newchurch with 40 year old James still working as a carpenter. Rachel now 38 years is listed as ‘wife’ and they now have six children: George 15 years ‘carpenter’, Louis 12, Oscar 8 and Albertina 5 years, all at school. There are two more sons, Charles 3 years and Horacio 9 months. They also have two 17 year old housemaids named Mary Groves and Roseanne Wheeler.
In 1871 James and Rachel Harber are still living at Esplanade House, James is now a lodging house keeper and head of the household. Their son Louis a carpenter, now 22 years is living with them as is his brothers Oscar 18 years and younger brother Charles all working as carpenters. Their sister Fanny (Albertine) is a servant at 15 years with youngest children Anton and Frank at school. They still have a servant living with them, her name was Anna Cook.
This same year on 5 May 1871, James Harber died at Esplanade House, Ventner, he was 50 years of age. The cause of death was ‘Dilation of Heart’ with his occupation being ‘Carpenter Master’. His wife Rachel was the informant and present at her husband’s death.
The Probate record for James Harber took nearly two years to be administered. His wife Rachel Harber was granted the administration. His occupation was noted as ‘Builder and Contractor’ with the estate being under £1000.
By 1881 Rachel aged 58 years is now living with her son Charles Albert Harber, his wife Florence and their young family at Newport Rd, Ventner. Rachel listed her occupation as ‘Cook unemployed’. Her two youngest sons Horatio aged 20 years ‘Painter’ and Frank a ‘Cabinet Maker’ aged 18 years are also living in the household.
On 8 September 1889 Rachel Harber née Gray the ‘widow of James Harber’ aged 66 years died of ‘Tumour fibrous’ at Webbers Cottage, Newport Rd, Ventner. Her son Charles was present at her death and the informant.
Both James and Rachel Harber are buried at Ventnor Cemetery, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
6. Eli Gray : 1825 – 1892
James and Sarah Gray’s sixth child was Eli Gray who was baptised on 5 June 1825 at Newchurch. In 1841 a 15 year old Eli Gray is living with his parents James and Sarah, his 12 year old sister Sarah (Selah) and 1 year old Francis at Apse Cottage, Godshill.
On 24 October 1843, Eli Gray married Ann Weeks the daughter of Hannah Morris and George Weeks an agricultural labourer, Ann was born in Chale, Isle of Wight.
Ann’s mother Hannah aged 40 years died in June 1835 when Ann was about 13 years of age. This change in the family is reflected in the 1841 census when the family were living at Sandown with George aged 45 years an agricultural labourer, Ann aged 20 years, William 17 years and George 15 years. The children have no occupation listed.
The marriage record reference for Eli Gray and Ann Weeks is RO1/145 stating the place as the Register Office, Newport. Ann would have been 22 years and Eli 20 years of age.
Between 1843 and 1851 Eli and Ann Gray had two children, Eli Frank born 1845 and George Albert (Almer) Gray born 1851. By the 1851 census they are living at 3 Pells Cottage, Broad Lane, Brading and Eli is working as a ‘Sawyer’. They have George Weeks Ann’s father aged 56 years living with them as well, his occupation still as an agricultural labourer.
In 1861 their residence is 7 Broad Lane, Brading with 40 year old Eli listed as a ‘labourer’ along with his 16 year old son Eli, 14 year old George and ‘19’ year old Edmund which is likely an error as he was 9 years. They are all listed as working as labourers, although likely 9 year old Edmund is at school. Cephas Gray their son would have been 5 years of age. George Weeks, Ann’s father is still living with them and is a ‘labourer’.
Just six years later Ann Gray née weeks dies. Ann was 45 years old and the wife of Eli a ‘wood sawyer’. The cause of death was ‘Phthisis’ which she had suffered with for nine months. The informant present at her death was Fanny King who lived at Fitzroy Street, Sandown.
In 1871 44 year old Eli ‘Sawyer’ is living with his young 9 year old son Arthur at Lane, Brading. It has been difficult to find any records between 1871 and 1891 but by that final census record for Eli Gray, he was in Carisbrooke Workhouse a ‘widower’ working as a servant. The link to this being Eli Gray son of James and Sarah Gray is in his recorded occupation of ‘formerly sawyer’.
Just a year later Eli Gray ‘Wood Sawyer’ died at the Carisbrook Workhouse aged 64 years. The cause of death was ‘Heart disease Influenza’. The informant was the master of the workhouse.
7. Selah (Sarah) Gray : 1829 – 1907
As with her sister, Selah Gray’s name on her baptism record changed over time to Sarah indicating that these records, as with many of these handwritten records, sometimes informed by those who cannot read or write, do contain errors. In some cases it can sometimes take significant detective work to find and put the pieces together, but this case is straight forward as Selah only appears on the baptismal record and after that she is Sarah.
Selah Gray was baptised at Newchurch in 17 May 1829. She was the seventh child of James and Sarah Gray and was living at Apse Rd, Godshill.
In 1841 Selah is recorded as Sarah Gray aged 12 years living with her parents still at Apse Cottage, Godshill.
In 1847 when Sarah was 18 years old she gave birth to her first child, Frank Barton Gray. He was baptised on 7 November 1847 at Newchurch.
Records state his father was Barnabas Barton but it has been very difficult to find any records associated with that name on the Isle of Wight.
By 1851 Sarah Gray is recorded on the census living with 24 year old William Lane a ‘Hair Dresser’ at St Mary’s Southampton as his ‘Wife’ and Sophia Musslewhite a Milliner aged 20 years. Little 3 year old Frank Gray is recorded at his Aunt Leah Harder’s house as a ‘Visitor’.
However in the ‘England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973’ records (FHL 0918892, 0918894) there is a record for William Lane and Sarah Gray who were married on 25 May 1859 at Fareham, Hampshire. on the mainland across from the Isle of Wight. They had two children, Fanny born in 1860 and Walter William Lane born in 1868.
In 1861 William Lane is a ‘lodging house keeper’ living at 1 Marine Terrace Newchurch aged 40 years, Sarah is 31 and with them is 10 month old daughter Fanny Lane. Also at the residence is Catherine Smith a boarder whose occupation was a house servant.
By 1871 William at 50 years of age is still a lodging house keeper but they are now living at Dean House, Ryde, Sarah is 41 years. Fanny aged 11 and her brother Walter are both ‘scholars’ which is very young for William who was only 3 years old. On this record Frank Lane (stepson of William) is 23 years of age living with them, his occupation is a ‘Pastry Cook’. The family also has a servant living with them, Mary Hopkinson aged 20 years who was born in Ryde.
In 1881 Sarah Lane is a visitor at 13 Steephill Drive Terrace, Godshill at the home of John Maybee a bricklayer and his wife Kate a laundress. She lists her occupation as ‘cook’, it is unclear where William is residing on census night. It is possible that they have split up sometime before 1881 as there are no records after the 1871 census linking them.
In 1901 William Lane is living with his daughter Fanny and her husband William Sykes and their son Frederick at Capton House, Williton, Somerset with his occupation listed as ‘retired butler’. In the 1891 census there is a record for a William Lane aged 70 years living with a brother George a blacksmith journeyman, at Nettlecombe, Williton, Somerset. His occupation was ‘living on his own means’.
On 7 December 1901 William Lane aged 81 years died at Capton, Stogumber of ‘senile decay’ with his occupation recorded as ‘Butler (retired)’. The informant was W Symes, son-in-law of Capton, Stogumber. There is no mention of his wife Sarah on this record. He is buried at Nettlecombe, Somerset.
Like her husband, Sarah’s whereabouts in 1891 when the census was held, is has been unable to be found. The next and final census record for her is in 1901 when she is recorded at Carisbrooke Workhouse on the Isle of Wight. Her circumstances are listed as ‘Pauper’, and ‘widow’ whose occupation was ‘Cook & Domestic’. Her birthplace was listed as Shanklin and age, 71 years.
Sarah Lane née Gray died at the Carisbrooke workhouse on 11 January 1907 aged 77 years of ‘Morbis cordis … Cardiac Failure’. Her record stated she was the ‘Widow of William Lane a waiter Ryde’ with the informant being the master of the workhouse. It seems most likely that William and Sarah split up some time before 1881.
Sarah and William’s daughter Fanny who was looking after William in his last months, had married William Henry Symes, a farmer, they moved to Stogumber, Williton, Somerset and had one son, Frederick John and an a daughter Elsie May. Fanny died in 1838.
Their son Walter William Lane never married and in his younger years seemed to spend time when he was young with relatives or as a boarder. He worked as an iron monger with a shop in Titchfield, he kept in contact with the Lane family. He died in Gosport in 1947.
Sarah’s first son Frank Barton Gray in July 1872 married Kate Waldron a shop assistant in Ryde. Kate’s father Joseph Waldron was a grocer, and her brother Joseph a baker. As we saw from the 1871 census, at that time Frank was a pastry cook. The 1878 County Directory records Frank Barton Gray, baker and confectioner on High Street, Shanklin.
In 1881 Frank B Gray and Kate are living at the Baker’s Shop, High Street, Shanklin. Frank is 32 years and his occupation is listed as ‘Baker (Master) employing 4 men and 2 boys’. Living with them are their four children; Frederic 7 years, Minnie 6 years, Allan Keith 3 years and Elsie K just one year old. William’s sister in law Fanny Lane aged 20 years is also living with them along with a Baker’s assistant name Mary Ann Wadham aged 20 years from Southampton. Frank and Kate Gray’s last child, Jessie Eveline Gray was born on 12 December 1881.
Just six months later tragedy struck on 13 June 1882 with Frank Barton Gray ‘Baker and Confectioner’ dying at Winslow, Christchurch. The cause of death was extensive: ‘Asthma and Bronchitis, Haemoptsis [coughing up blood], Tubercular disease of the lungs and Dropsy’. He was obviously extremely unwell and just 34 years of age. The informant was Keith Waldron obviously an Uncle of his wife Kate from Winklom, Ringwood and he was present at Frank Barton Gray’s death.
Frank’s sole executor was his wife Kate and his Estate was valued at £1182 6s.
In 1891 we find that Kate has taken over her husband’s business and is now the head of the household she is now recorded as a ‘Baker and Confectioner’ at the shop at High Street, Shanklin. Living with her is her son Ernest now 17 years and working alongside her in the business as a baker and confectioner. Her daughter Minnie 15 years of age is an ‘Pupil Teacher’. Her other children, Allan 13, Elsie 11 and Jessie 9 years are all at school. They have an assistant confectioner Emma Grinstead aged 27 years and a 22 year old general servant named Minnie Corney also living with them.
In 1901 Kate now a ‘widow’ does not have an occupation listed but her son Ernest is still a Baker and an employee, so it seems Kate may still be running the business with her children. Minnie is a shop assistant aged 25 years, Allen is now also a Baker Breadworker, Elsie has branched out to become a ‘Photographic assistant’ and the family has servant name Florence Edwards living with them. Their address is Regina, St John’s Rd, Shanklin.
In 1911 Kate now 61 years is living by ‘ private means’ at Ravenscourt, Victoria Ave, Florence Rd, Shanklin with a private servant named Bertha Hannah Phillips. Her son Ernest Frederick Gray is married to Sarah Jane Kingston and are living at the same address with Ernest’s occupation listed as ‘Baker & Confectioner The manufacturer of Bread Cakes & Pastry’.
Kate died the following year 2 December 1912 in Shanklin and is buried there.
8. Francis Gray : 1832 – 1918
As with Rachel/Richard Gray the early church records have an anomaly with their youngest child. One record lists their child’s name as ‘Frances’ and female, the other was ‘Francis’, a son.
The Parish record of Newchurch where James and Sarah Gray’s youngest child was baptised on 12 February 1832, his name is recorded as Francis Gray.
We know on the 1841 census Francis Gray is recorded as Frances Gray and female. He is living with his parents at Apse Cottage, Godshill, a 9 years old going to school. It has been very difficult to find records from this time until 1862 which is the next two records of his marriage.
There is a record of three dates of marriage banns between ‘Francis Gray Bachelor of the Isle of Wight’ and ‘Martha Burridge Spinster of this parish’. The Parish was Donyatt in Somerset, England. The actual wedding day was 20 October 1862 at The Church of the Blessed Mary, Donyatt, Somerset. Francis was 28 years and Martha full age and both were living in Donyatt when they married. Martha was the daughter of Hugh Burridge a farmer and Francis listed his father as ‘Philip’ a ‘labourer’. It is unclear why Francis was in Donyatt or how he and Martha met. His age is also not correct, but we likely will never know the reasons for this. We do know this is Francis Gray by moving forward to the next records.
Births, deaths and marriage records are important resources to use when tracing family history. They give dates, parents names, where they were living, occupations and names of the event. They should also be viewed with a little caution. Each record is only as good as the person writing the details down, the informant’s knowledge of the person and whether the informant wishes to reveal all the details about themselves or the person about whom they are informing. It is always good practise to double check details and challenge family stories which can be interwoven with these records. People have all sorts of reasons as to why they do not wish certain details to be known, or substitute their own narrative.
In the case of Francis and Martha, the details seem straight forward, we know from at least 1862 they are living in Thorly, Isle f Wight, with the young couple likely moving back to the Isle of Wight soon after their marriage. Thorly is on the road between Newchurch and Yarmouth and Francis is working as a ‘labourer’ which would be an agricultural labourer. This is recorded on each of their children’s baptism records. In this case these baptismal records show the family remaining on the Isle of Wight until mid 1868. These records give a framework for their lives.
Francis and Martha’s first child was George Gray born in Thorly, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, George was baptised on 23 August 1863 at the new Bible Chapel, Yarmouth which was built in 1862.
The family is still in Thorly on 3 April 1869 when their daughter Martha is baptised, this time in a ‘Private house, Thorly’.
Ann Jane Coleman Gray their third child, was baptised also at Thorly with no other details except the date of 6 June 1865.
Francis and Martha’s youngest child was baptised on 29 July, 1868 at Thorly, named after his father Francis but in later records is known as Francis Burridge (Berridge) Gray, perhaps to distinguish him from his father but also carry down his mother’s maiden name.
Canada
Between the birth of their youngest child Martha Gray and 1881 except for one record, there is a gap in the records for Francis Gray. What we do know is that in 1881 the family is now living in Algoma District of Ontario Canada. So the next question is how and why did the family move to Canada?
There are numerous references for the need for trades and labourers in Australia but as well as the need for this colony, Canada was also calling for agricultural labourers especially in the 1874 – 1875 time frame. The first newspaper article promotes good wages and cheap living to save for farming land as well the option of ‘free grants’. The second article refers to the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Agricultural Labourers’ Union whose general secretary had visited Ontario, Canada to assess the situation for immigration their members.
Francis Gray and his father and family had been a family of agricultural labourers so this would be seen as an opportunity for Francis, just as New South Wales would have been seen as an opportunity to advance by his brother George.
Although not conclusive, there is the one record that has been located that has the reference that could be relevant to the immigration of Francis and Martha Gray and their family. ‘F Gray, 1 adult male, 1 adult female, 4 children‘ on the ‘Hibernian’ steamship sailed from Liverpool England to Portland with the final destination being Meaford.
The ‘Hibernian’ steamship was part of the Allan Line of ships built in1862. The Allen Line boasted the fastest passage from Liverpool, England to Portland, Ontario. The voyage F Gray and his family were on left Liverpool, England on 25 March 1875.
The ‘Hibernian’ was one of the voyages agricultural labourers were recruited to join, even holding local hall information sessions on the Isle of Wight. One newspaper report referenced 600 labourers on this voyage..
The statistics of immigrants was being reported in the newspapers
Special trains were supplied to help those immigration to get to Liverpool Port in England to meet the steamships.
The voyage of the Hibernian was documented in the newspapers as it arrived in different ports.
In order to link this record to Francis and Martha Gray, there was a need to trace where their destination on the immigration transcript recorded and whether it aligned with later records.
The destination listed on the immigration record transcript Meaford, not a large distance across to Manitoulin Island where the family is recorded. Francis and Martha’s daughter Martha eventually married a farmer from just outside the town of Meaford. So we can get a clear connection between where Francis and Martha were heading on the immigration to where they eventually lived and worked. This makes it much more likely that the immigration record is correct as it fits in the timeframe they immigrated and the place they ended up living.
The 1881 census for the Bidwell & Sheguiandah districts of the district of Algoma, Ontario, Canada, lists the family : Gray Francis ‘Farmer’ ; Martha ‘Wife’ and children Ann C, Martha and Francis. Although the immigration lists 4 children in 1875 this census does not record George Gray who by this time would have been 18 years of age.
By tracing records we are able to use this data to trace where Francis and his family were living, occupations and significant events.
Ann Jane Coleman Gray : 1865 – 1882
The next record is for the death of their second child, Ann Jane Coleman Gray ‘Annie Jane Gray’ at Assiginack on Manitoulin Island, on 14 September, 1882 at just 17 years of age. The cause of death was accidental drowning, the circumstances around the drowning is so far unknown.
This clearly places the family on Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world, with the family moving from a sea island to lake island life. The island has a large indigenous population and history.
Further records show that Francis and Martha Gray and their children spent most of their lives on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada.
Martha Gray : 1869 – 1892
On 19 September 1887, Francis and Martha’s daughter Martha Grey (sic) married John Johnson a 28 years old and a farmer.
John was the son of James Johnson and Catherine Ann Johnson nee Tayor, immigrants from Ireland. John John originally took up land at from Griersville just south of Meaford.
James Johnson and his son John later took up two pieces of farmland just south of Joliette.
It was close to the Red River in North Dakota, USA.
After they married Martha and John Johnson moved to the farm near Joliette.
Their first child Everett Durnford Johnson was born on 1 July 1888 at Beausmont, Joliette, Pembina, North Dakota, USA.
Martha and John Johnson’s second son was born at the beginning of February 1892 but just six weeks later both Forrest Gray Johnson and his mother Martha Johnson nee Gray died and were buried on the same day 22 March 1892 at Drayton Cemetery, Drayton, Pembina, North Dakota, USA.
Francis Burridge Gray : 1868 – 1942
The 1891 census showed Francis and Martha Gray both now aged 54 years living in the township district of Howland Township which is now been absorbed into Little Cutter still on Manitoulin Island with James occupation listed as farmer.
Francis and Martin’s youngest son Frank is living with them of note on the same record is the Stringer family which is significant for the next phase of young Frank Gray’s life.
On 2 April 1902, Francis Burridge Gray married Sarah Ann Stringer in Howland Town. Sarah was the daughter of James Stringer, an Irish immigrant farmer and her mother Elizabeth McKenzie who was born in Grey, Ontario.
Francis and Sarah went on to have two children, their first daughter Bertha Inez Gray 28 August 1903 at Little Current, Manitoulin Island who married William Joseph Riordan in 1923, she died on 19 April 1976 at Rocky River, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA. Their second daughter Daisy Frankie Gray was born 22 November 1911 in Howland Township Manitoulin Island. Daisy was still alive and living with her father Frank when he died on 16 December 1942 at Little Current, Manitoulin Island.
Two transcripts are found on Ancestry of Francis ‘Frank’ Burridge Gray’s obituaries. They tell a little of his and Sarah’s life story.
His wife Sarah Ann Gray nee Stringer died on 8 April 1967 at Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was 86 years of age. Her obituary tells of the death of her daughter Daisy in 1964 but it has been difficult to find the details.
Francis and Martha Gray
So now we come back to the final story of Francis and Martha Gray and their life in Canada. They remained living in Howland Township which was absorbed into the Little Current Township on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. The two excerpts from the records show the record of their deaths. Martha Gray née Burridge died on 27 July 1914 at Lot 9 , Con 7, Howland, aged 78 years. the cause of death was heart disease ‘Aortic insufficiency one year’ and ‘Hypostatic pneumonia two months’. The informant was her husband Francis who did not give her place of birth.
Francis Gray aged 84 years and 5 months died on 4 January 1918 at Lot 9, Con 6, Howland, the name of his informant was his son Francis (Frank) who sated his place of birth as simply England which it had been on all other documents. His occupation was listed as ‘Farmer’ and the cause of death was ‘apoplexy’, which means unconscious possibly from something like a stroke.
There is one more document which is significant in drawing together all the final details about Francis Gray. Although the previous documents listed Francis and Martha Gray’s origin as ‘England’, it is the death registration for their youngest son Francis Burridge Gray that provides a link back to their origins. It states ‘Isle of Wight’ as his birthplace. His wife Sarah Ann was the informant for his certificate.
The details of any of these certificates should be checked as there can be inaccuracies, Francis Burridge Gray was born 3 July 1868 not 1972. So in fact was 74 years of age when he died not up years. This can be cross checked with the birth certificates on the GRO website that indicates the only Francis Gray born on the Isle of Wight was in 1868.
As with these British colonies including Australia and Canada the land was more often proclaimed as English by the colonisers, sometimes with or without treaties in the places they claimed. This colonisation adversely affected the native inhabitants and traditional landowners as was also the case with the local indigenous peoples of Canada. Mantoulin District has an indigenous population of about 40%, a little of the history and treaties along with unceded land is told in the Canadian Encyclopaedia.
References
- DOWN TO THE COAST Artscape Professor Robin McInnes OBE FICE FGS FRSA
- DOWN TO THE COAST Artscape Professor Robin McInnes OBE FICE FGS FRSA p15
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brading
- Mason’s New Handy Guide to the Isle of Wight – Mason, Publisher, Ryde – 1872 Edition
- Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Baptism Date 21 Dec 1817 FHL Film No 1470893 Ref ID item 15 p 11
- Encyclopaedia Britannica – The Victorian British economy https://www.britannica.com/event/Victorian-era
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettlecombe,_Isle_of_Wight
- Mason’s New Handy Guide to the Isle of Wight – Mason, Publisher, Ryde – 1872 Edition
- DOWN TO THE COAST Artscape Professor Robin McInnes OBE FICE FGS FRSA p93
- Hibernian Link – Norway Heritage : https://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=hiber
- Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory – Canadian Encyclopdia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wiikwemkoong-unceded-territory#:~:text=The%20treaty%20ceded%20the%20majority,eastern%20peninsula%2C%20were%20set%20aside.
George Gray - Stonemason & Builder 