Introduction / Westray Grays / George Gray and Margaret Seatter / George Gray and Jean Reid / Robert Gray and Christian Harcus

George Gray and Ann Thomson

George Gray (b. 1811) was the son of Robert Gray and Christian Harcus. He married Ann Thomson (b. about 1806) and they and their family were at Dogtou at the time of the 1841 census when he is described as a fisherman.

They were to have seven children:

• John Gray (b. 16th February 1832).

• Jean Gray (b. 15th February 1834) who married Charles Reid

• Robert Gray (b. 13th July 1836) who married Elizabeth Leslie

• Ann Gray (b. 3rd June 1840) who married Robert Traill Harcus

• Christian Gray (b. 10th November 1842) who married John Harcus

• George Gray (b. 18th November 1844) who married Catherine Hewison

• Isabella Gray (b. 15th May 1848)

In 1851, the family was at Nether Garth where George is stated to be a farmer of 15 acres employing one labourer and also a master stonemason employing an apprentice. It is assumed that the son Robert was the apprentice as this is the occupation that is given for him.

By the 1861, the Grays had relocated to a nearby croft, Brandies, 18 acres in size. The three eldest children had moved to live and work elsewhere. Son Robert Gray was married and living nearby at North Midhouse. George's occupation is given purely as stonemason in this census and he is described as a farmer in subsequent.

Ann Thomson died on 27th August 1878 at the age of seventy eight. George had moved from Brandies to North Hammar by 1891 and staying with him was his daughter Isabella Gray, sister Christina Gray and his granddaughter, Isabella Harcus, is also recorded as there.

Different members of the Gray family had been at North Hammer previously. Ten years back in 1881, it was George's nephew William Gray (son of William Gray and Margaret Hewison) and in 1871 it had been George's son, Robert Gray, and his family. Brandies and North Hammar were adjacent.

George Gray died on 30th January 1894 at the age of eighty three.