New Info from Don’s house

Photos and Documents from my last visit to Don's house

Eliza Lucretia DeLong

Eliza Delong-Piper: Obituary

*includes Probate announcement for Mary Henry-DeLong (her mother)

Alexander Gray: Civil War Service Records and Memorial

Don donated $200. towards the Dodge County Civil War Memorial in 2010, "In Honor of Alexander Gray". There was an an event held for the Wasioja Civil War Days, 150 Years in 2011. Wasioja was the designated recruitment office for Dodge County beginning in 1861.

See, Media: Alexander Civil War (3) (4) (5)

(4, Doug) Kerr record (May, 2006): Alexander born 1810; died 10/13/1866

(5, Peg) John and Bathia arrived sometime in 1865, George in 1866 or 67.

(3, Doug) until 1865 when John and Bathia arrived

Both the family history of the Gray Family and the Kerr Family write that John and Bathia arrived sometime in 1865. There is a family portrait that has names across the top and this across the bottom: First generation in the Gray farm. Personal Note: the portrait had to have been taken sometime after the 1860 Michigan Census, as the baby, Jane appears to have died sometime after.
My sources for 1866

A Chronicle of Claremont Township and Village (see, Media, Gray, George R and John, Historical Information -John Gray Sr Profile Page) state he arrived in 1866 and purchased the homestead; Warranty Deed, 3/17/1866; transferred from John Sr to George R, 1/25/1867 (see, Media, 6th Generation Gray lives on Riverview Farm in 2015).

Probate File, Bathia (Davidson) Gray; Estate in Michigan, minor children (George 20 and Bathia Jr 18) filed 1/16/1866 (1st court appearance and filing -Petition to appoint guardian, 12/12/1865). Petitioner, son of John Sr, John Jr).


Timothy and Louisa (Paddock) Lynch

Documents: Timothy and Louisa (Paddock) Lynch (2 pgs) written by Robert Lyn *includes his handwritten page

add to Timothy and Louisa

Gray Family Reunion: Questions, errors in Gray Family History

Gray family reunion held July 13th from 2002. Interesting note: John and Bethia Gray emigrated from Aberdeen Scotland and settled in Claremont Township in 1866. Which is incorrect. By what I have seen so far in the family notes: Michigan is not mentioned; on the Family Portrait the person who wrote the names across the top of it also wrote across the bottom: First Generation in the Gray Farm and we know this photo to have been taken in Michigan; appears to me it was taken after the 1850 Census.

John Sr with Bathia, family portrait: the person who wrote the names across the top must be the same person who wrote the names in the front of the scrapbook because William was written as the youngest son and John as the oldest; the youngest daughter's name was unknown (Jane)
according to the stamp on the cardboard frame taken in Brainerd, Minnesota?
Note to Self: could have been a ‘traveling’ photographer. The portrait may not have been taken in Brainerd, MN but later placed in that frame for display. Most of the family portraits I've seen have not been in any kind of frame. I do know that Gray relatives had land that area (I think they were Paddock's). I think William was added to the children of John Gray (on that photo and on the scrapbook cover I spoke of earlier) after Don received the visit from W. Scott Gray and learned of the existence of William Gray, son of John Gray Sr.

John Gray Sr and Bathia Davidson
Note to Self: the marriage certificate states that he was a farm servant when he married Bathia Davidson (the spinster). My theory goes something like this: he was a servant for Bathia's family; his wife (Barbara Troup) died at the time of the birth of William; he needed a wife and Bathia needed a husband. Her father provided the money needed and as insurance for his daughter's financial security John also had to put the home and some land in her name; that would explain the Probate of her estate; which startled me when I read it because women weren't normally allowed to own land or have their own bank accounts, etc.
 Stephen sent me something about a Davidson family you found on the internet, if I remember correctly (without looking for it in your email history), they were well-to-do, titled, landowners, etc. Makes me wonder if you should revisit that information and do some more research.

  Also, I remember the William Davidson, age 24, under John Gray's name on the 1834 Passenger List, likely Bathia's brother; unfortunate that neither of us has been able to find any record of him in a Federal Census, which seems odd.

the land John Gray Sr purchased in Michigan (refer to, The Gray Family Story, Scotland to America:

Factors influencing new settlement in Michigan, particularly focused on Wayne County: In the late 1830’s and early 1840’s, ‘Michigan fever’ swept the East, and millions of acres of land were grabbed at the bargain price of $1.25 an acre… Michigan employed an emigrant agent… selling land helped the government pay debts and accumulate tax-payers…

  And, this quote from a letter from Michigan to relatives in Scotland:

We own 720 acres which we purchased from the US Government at one dollar and 25 cents and acre. There is plenty of government (land) within a few miles mostly very good. People are crowding in almost every day so that there will not be an acre of Government land within a great many miles in a short time. Lots of land cost a hundred dollars last year can be sold for two hundred this year.

1850 Census, Farm Value $800. Equip $70.

1860 Census, RE Value $4,000. Personal Estate $600.

The increase in his RE Value in ten years is phenomenal! Appears by this he would have had no trouble paying $1,800. for 160 acres (11.25 per acre).

9/6 Blog Post: John Gray Sr’s family photo comparison
I added to the new photos to my 9/6 Blog Post: John Gray Lineage Photo Comparison. To me, in the Family Portrait, George R looks younger than Bathia Jr!

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