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

William Gray and Margaret Hewison

William Gray (b. 26th April 1813) married Margaret Hewison from North Hammar on 23rd November 1839. She was born on 14th March 1813. William went to stay with Margaret's parents, William Hewison and Barbara Couper, at North Hammar. William Gray was a fisherman while his father in law is shown in the early censuses as a farmer of the twelve acres.

They had eight children, all born at North Hammar:

• Robert Gray b. 21st March 1841 who married Mary Tulloch

• William Gray b. 23rd July 1842 who married Janet Craigie

• Thomas Gray b. 20th June 1844 who was with the family at North Hammar at the time of the 1861 census. His occupation was given as agricultural labourer.

• Barbara Gray b. abt 1847 who married Thomas Harcus

• James Gray b. 15th June 1848. He was with the family at North Hammar at the time of the 1861 census.

• Jane Gray b. 4th November 1850 who married John Drever

• Margaret Gray b. 21st May 1855. She was with the family at North Hammar at the time of the 1871 census.

• Betsy Gray b. 30th April 1857 who married John Corse

Barbara Couper died on 6th April 1855 while her husband, William Hewison died just over a year later on 1st June 1856 at the age of seventy three. This left William Gray and Margaret Hewison with their family at North Hammar but only for a short time as William himself died of typhus on 10th February 1858 at the early age of forty four. Their youngest daughter was less than a year old.

Robert Gray, the eldest son became head of the household at North Hammar, staying there with his wife and family. Margaret Hewison stayed with them at North Hammar and subsequently at Breckaskaill but was with her daughter Jane Gray and her family at Helzie in Rapness by the time of the 1901 census.

he lived for forty three years after the death of her husband and died at Helzie on 29th April 1901 at the age of eighty eight.