James W Gray (1846 - 1889)

Born 20 Apr 1846 in Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Martina (Danley) Stutts — married 4 Nov 1871 in Marshall County, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 19 Apr 1889 at age 42 in Alabama, United States

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Biography

James W Gray, son of John Gray and Bethney Wright

Possible middle name Warren, per undocumented source

Birth Date: 20 Apr 1846, per cemetery headstone

Birth Place: Alabama, per census records

Death Date: 12 Apr 1889, per cemetery headstone

Death Place: assume Alabama, based on last census and burial

EVIDENCE OF PARENTS:

1) James has childhood census, age 5, with parents in 1850.

2) James is named in 1871, as a child of Bethany (Wright) Gray - (see below)

MOTHER:

Bethany (Wright) Gray of Lauderdale, AL, names her 10 children in a 1871 petition to the Commissioners of Claims. The petition was for the reimbursement of property (crops, animals, food stores, etc.) taken by Union soldiers in 1864.

Source: Fold3 - https://www.fold3.com/image/4226194

(There are 47 pages in the document. Below is an excerpt from page 15)

I am a widow. I was married 34 years ago – My husband was strickly a logal man – during the whole of the war – he done nothing to aid the confederacy in any way – My husband is dead – he died the 27th day of October 1864. I have 10 children. Their names are – Eliza J – James W – Suzie B – John D – Ephraim N – Benjamin S – Ann – Jesse M – Willis H – Rebecca Gray. There ages are the 1st – 26 years – 25 – 23 – 22 – 20 – 17 – 15 – 13 – 11 – 9 – years are their ages – None of my children were in the confederate service. I came in possession of the property by the death of my husband – I have never taken out any letters of administration. I am asking for myself and the children. I took possession of the property at the death of my husband.

BURIAL:

Find A Grave Memorial# 34040477 (headstone pictured)

Inscription: Jim W Gray

Birth: Apr. 20, 1846

Death: Apr. 12, 1889

Burial: Henry Stutts Cemetery, Green Hill, Lauderdale County, Alabama, USA

Created by: Scrappy

Record added: Feb 20, 2009

MARRIAGE:

Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002

Name: Martina Danley

Gender: Female

Marriage Date: 4 Nov 1871

Marriage Place: Marshall

Spouse: James W Gray

Notes:

James and his brother Ephraim, married DANLEY sisters Mary & Balie

Mary and James were previously step-relatives.

Mary is the granddaughter of Allen Beavers Sr., by Allen's daughter Francis.

James is the step-grandson of Allen Beavers Sr., by Allen's 3rd wife Bethany.

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1850 census: Division 2 East of the Military Road, Lauderdale, Alabama, USA

John Gray .......... 30 ... TN ... laborer

Bethana Gray ... 24 ... AL

Mary Gray ......... 10 ... AL

Eliza Gray ............ 8 ... AL

James Gray ......... 5 ... AL <--------

Elizabeth Gray .... 4 ... AL

John Gray ............ 2 ... AL

1860: (cannot locate census)

1870: (cannot locate census)

1871: marriage of James W Gray to Mary Martina Danley

1880 census: Lauderdale, Alabama

James Gray ....... 35 ... AL,AL,AL ... farmer

Montina Gray ... 35 ... AL,AL,AL

Benjamin Gray ... 6 ... AL,AL,AL

Minton Gray ....... 4 ... AL,AL,AL

Jerry Gray ........... 1 ... AL,AL,AL

1889: death of 1st husband, James W Gray

1894: marriage of Mary (Danley) Gray to 2nd husband Walter F Stutts

Sources