Introduction / Westray Grays / Early Gray Families

John Gray and Barbara Beaton

John Gray was the youngest child of John Gray and Barbara Gray, and was christened in Westray on 20th August 1783. He married Barbara Beaton (possibly Bethune) on 5th September 1810 and had three children:

• Mary Gray christened 18th October 1811 in Westray.

• John Gray, christened in Westray on 26th May 1813. No further records have been found for John.

• Archibald Gray, born about 1818

John earned his living as a fisherman, according to the census records. The following shows his household in the 1851 census.

1851 - New Peatwall, Westray

	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
John Gray	Head	Married	67 years	Fisherman	Westray
Barbara Gray	Wife	Married	74 years		Westray
Archibald Gray	Son	Unmarried	33 years	Tailor Master	Westray

Barbara died 30th May 1857, and was buried in the North Church Burying Ground, Westray, according to the Death Registration. In the 1861 census, John was living alone in Pierowall, next door to his son Archibald. He died 26th December 1864.