Gray, George

Published: 04 Dec 2014, Updated: 24 Sep 2020
Page contributors: John Demos, Ray Dusek, Dr. Andrew Millard, Nancy Riley, Teresa Rust
Editor: Teresa Rust

First Generation in the New World

1. GEORGE¹ GRAY, was born, presumably in Scotland, about 1625-30* and died in Maine on 25 July 1693. He is buried at South Berwick, Maine. He married, at Kittery, York County, Maine in July 1672, SARAH (_____), New England Marriages to 1700. [POSSIBLY COOPER², the daughter of ALEXANDER COOPER, Sarah Cooper was born at Kittery in 1656 and died at Kittery in 1726.] Sarah (_____) Gray, married, second, after 30 Aug 1693 and before 4 Jan 1697/8, FRANCIS HARLOW. “HARLOW, Francis & [Sarah GRAY], w George; aft 30 Aug 1693, by 1698; Kittery, ME {Kittery 475; GDMNH 284, 300}”³ On 04 Jan 1697/8 Court Sessions at York, Maine: “We present ffrancis Herloe for swearing he would cut his wiues throat.”⁴
THERE IS NO PRIMARY SOURCE FOR SARAH being a COOPER.

Biographical Notes:
1. According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018),⁵ on page 250, George is categorized as: Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Gray, George. Residences: Upper Kittery ME. Appears: 1659. D.1693. Acquires land in Kittery at about the same time as Scots likely to have been prisoners, and is closely associated with them. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8; App.B]^67891011For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.
2. While we have yet to find a PRIMARY record of the surname of Sarah, the wife of George Gray, I am reluctant to remove her from this page until we know more.
3. PDF of George Grant Research completed by Diane Rappaport.
4. SPOW DNA Study: Group 1-B, Haplogroup R-M269

Timeline:
1659: 21 Oct, George Gray witnessed a deed to Peter Grant, Scottish prisoner of war.
1672: Jul, George marries Sarah in Kittery, Maine
1692: 31 Mar, Date on George’s will.
1693: 25 Jul, Death of George Gray
1693: 30 Aug, George’s will is probated.

Children of GEORGE¹ and SARAH (COOPER) GRAY:
2. i. ROBERT² GRAY, (George¹) b. prob at Berwick, Maine in 1680; d. in 1771; m. (1) in 1706, ELIZABETH FREETHY, daughter of James Freethy and Mary Milbury; m. (2) 12 Jun 1701, ELIZABETH GOODWIN, daughter of William Goodwin and Deliverance Taylor.¹²
2. ii. GEORGE² GRAY, (George¹), b. in Maine in 1675; d. in 1723. “… in captivity in 1692 at Montreal, Canada. Chose to remain in Montreal “for love of religion” He was deceased without heirs in 1723.”¹²¹³
2. iii. ALEXANDER² GRAY, (George¹) b. at Berwick in 1680; d. at Berwick in 1725: m. ELIZABETH HARLOW, dau. of Francis Harlow.¹²
2. iv. JAMES² GRAY, (George¹), b. at Berwick in 1688; d. in 1726; m. (1) abt 1709, (_____) HARLOW, a daughter of Francis Harlow; m. (2) 30 Aug 1711, MARTHA GOODWIN, dau. of Moses Goodwin and Abigail Taylor (who was dau. of John and Martha (___) Taylor.¹⁴¹²
2. v. SARAH² GRAY, (George¹), m., 1st, JOSEPH JELLISON; m., 2nd, NICHOLAS CANE. Not in father’s will.¹²

Second and Third Generations

2. i. ROBERT² GRAY, (George¹), was born probably at Berwick, Maine in 1680 and died probably at Kittery in 1771 at age 91.* He married, (1) at Berwick, Maine on 12 Jun 1701, ELIZABETH GOODWIN, daughter of WILLIAM GOODWIN and DELIVERANCE TAYLOR. He married (2) in 1706, ELIZABETH FREETHY, daughter of JAMES FREETHY and MARY MILBURY.

Biographical Notes:
1709, 29 Nov: York, Maine Deeds; Rob’t and Eliza. have land transaction with James Gray. Book VII, Folio 130-131.
1717/8, 14 Mar: York, ME Deeds, Rob’t Gray deed of sale
1718/9, 10 Feb: York, ME Deeds, Rob’t Gray, Book IX, Folio 122

Children of Robert and Elizabeth (Goodwin) Gray:
3. i. SARAH³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1702-1716
3. ii. GEORGE³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1703-1737, There is a George Gray who marries at York on 26 May 1725, MARY JOY, the daughter of, EPHRAIM JOY. They have five children between Mar 1725/6 and Dec 1736.¹⁵

POSSIBLE Children of George Gray and Mary Joy: NEED VERIFICATION!
4. EPHRAIM GRAY, b. at York on 07 Mar 1725/6.
4. GEORGE GRAY, b. at York on 28 Dec 1727.
4. ROBERT GRAY, b. at York on 16 Dec 1730.
4. ______ GRAY, b. at York on 22 Nov 1734.
4. JOSHUA GRAY, b. at York on 13 Dec 1736.¹⁶

3. iii. JAMES³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1705-1737

Children of Robert and Elizabeth (Freethy) Gray:
3. iv. JOHN GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1707-1788
3. v. RUTH GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1710
3. vi. JOSEPH GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1712
3. vii. JOSHUA GRAY, (Robert², George¹), b. at York in Nov 1714; d. after 30 Oct 1781; he married, JENNAT ELIOTT. See, The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Available for a free two week loan from Archive.org.

Children of Joshua and Jennat (Elliot) Gray:
4. i. ANDREW GRAY, b. at Brunswick, ME on 05 Nov 1738; d. at Deer Isle, ME in 1810/12.
4. ii. JOHN GRAY, b. at Brunswick on 14 Jul 1740; d. at prob. Sedgwick, ME in 1790/1.
4. iii. REUBEN GRAY, b. at Brunswick on 07 May 1743; d. on 11 Mar 1832.
4. iv. JAMES GRAY, b. in 1745; d. at Brooksville, ME on 01 Apr 1821.
4. v. SAMUEL GRAY,
4. vi. JOSHUA GRAY, JR.,
4. vii. FRANCIS GRAY, male, died young.
4. viii. MARY GRAY,
4. ix. DAUGHTER GRAY, died young.
4. x. DAUGHTER GRAY, died young.

3. viii. MERCY GRAY, (Robert², George¹), b. 29 Nov 1718; d. 1760; m., JONATHAN SARGENT.

2. ii. GEORGE² GRAY, (George¹), was born in Maine in 1675 and died in 1723 without heirs. “… in captivity in 1692 at Montreal, Canada [age 17]. Chose to remain in Montreal “for love of religion” He was deceased without heirs in 1723.”¹²¹³”George, in captiv. when his fa.’s will made, was to receive his mo.’s half at her death or mar. if he ret. Remaining in Montreal ‘for love of religion,’ 1702; dead s. p. in 1723.” From Family Search “George Gray Research“

2. iii. ALEXANDER² GRAY, (George¹), was born at Berwick in 1680 and died at Berwick in 1725. He married, ELIZABETH HARLOW, daughter of, FRANCIS HARLOW.

Biographical Notes:
Joanna the daughter listed as the first child is not Alexander’s. Elizabeth had 2 children out of wedlock – Ebenezer whose father was Mainwaring Hilton and Joanna whose father was Thomas Ball. Also there are 3 listing for a Nehemiah. Even if the 1st child died and they named a second the same, the dates look really off. thanks

Children of Alexander and Elizabeth (Harlow) Gray:
3. i. JOANNA GRAY, 1701-?
3. ii. NEHIMIAH GRAY, 1705-1721
3. iii. JOHN GRAY, 1708-1758
3. iv. NEHEMIAH GRAY, 1711-1777
3. v. ALEXANDER GRAY, 1712- ?
3. vi. TIMOTHY GRAY, 1712-?
3. vii. ABIGAIL GRAY, 1714-1763
3. viii. ANN GRAY, 1717-1777
3. ix. LYDIA GRAY, 1719
3. x. NEHEMIAH GRAY, 1721-1763
3. xi. DANIEL GRAY, 1726-1825

2. iv. JAMES² GRAY, (George¹), was born at Berwick in 1688. He married, first, about 1709, (_____) HARLOW, a daughter of, FRANCIS HARLOW. He married, second, at Kittery on 30 Aug 1711, MARTHA GOODWIN, daughter of, MOSES GOODWIN and ABIGAIL TAYLOR (the dau. of John and Martha (___) Taylor.¹⁴ “Marriages solemnized by Rev. Jeremiah Wise.” SEE: Berwick Marriages, page 310: Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.)

Children of James and (_____) (Harlow) Gray:
3. i. FRANCIS GRAY, (James², George¹), b. c 1709. In will.

Children of James and Martha (Goodwin) Gray:
3. MOSES GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. JAMES GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. TAYLOR GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. ALEXANDER GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. MARY GRAY, (James², George¹), before 1726. In will.

2. v. SARAH² GRAY, (George¹), m., 1st, JOSEPH JELLISON; m., 2nd, NICHOLAS CANE. Not in father’s will.
– END OF GENERATION LIST

Additional Information:

SPECIAL NOTICE!
March 2018 from John Demos of South Berwick, Maine:
“To all Gray descendants,
I have been trying to verify the grave site I have sent photos of on Witchtrot Road as George and family. It has become clear that this is not likely the site. I have discovered several old deeds that put George’s “old homestall” to the east of Alexander Cooper’s original grant. These graves are to the west of Coopers and, I believe, are likely a Goodwin plot. Those photos should be removed from this site. But the good news is that we (meaning the Old Berwick Historical Society) now have a good idea where George’s land must have been. I will continue to nail down the proof and, once the snow is gone, we will make a search of the newly identified area to see if we can find any remaining traces of his last resting place. I will keep you updated.Please send me an email to and I can provide copies of the deeds I have found and answer any questions.”
John Demos

The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Available for a free two week loan from Archive.org.

1. Will of George Gray listing his children as Robert, George, Alex and James, no mention of daughter Sarah in this will in 1693.
2. From Doreen Gray today (9 May 2016): “Also, still working on birthplace for George Gray. However, I do have a copy of a birth registry from the Scottish General Register Office. Records: George Gray, April 14,1620, parents Robert Gray and Mrgaret Maddr. Godfathers-Thomas Gray and Thomas Maddr. This George was shown to be from Lanark or the former Lanarkshire (Glasgow). He was shown to be christened at the Glasgow High Church. Still not 100% positive this is our 8x great grandfather. He fits the profile age for the army conscripts of Leslie’s Army-between ages 19-30. Still working on verification.”
3. “GRAY, George (-1693) & Sarah (_____), m/2 Francis HARLOW by 1698; Jul 1672; Kittery, ME (Berwick) {GDMNH 283, 310; Kittery 475}” From: Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. PAGE 650
4. From: Alexander Cooper on Rootsweb:”A few years later, Cooper’s daughter Sarah married Scotsman George Gray, who paid his young wife’s fine “for breach of sabboth & for strikeing of Patience Everington.” ~ ” Scots for Sale: Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth Century Maine and New Hampshire– Diane Rapaport, in “New England Ancestory”- Vol. 5, No.5/6, p. 26″
5. From: Robert Brown~
George and Sarah and possibly one or more of their children are buried behind a farmhouse off of Witchtrot Road where it intersects with Bennett Road. There are head and foot markers where they lay.

Submitted on 13 Feb 2017, by John Demos at :
Hannah Murry/Austin, M: 6/13/1791
Elizabeth (Marr) Worchester/Worester, M: 3/17/1767; D: 10/29/1790, DP: Berwick, ME
Thresa Emery, B: 1784, P: Berwick, ME; M: 8/29/1816; D: 7/6/1859, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
Sarah Cooper, B:1656, P: Kittery, ME; M: 1672; D:1726, DP: Kittery, ME
Martha M. Hamilton/Hambleton, B:1721 or 8/27/1724, P: Berwick, ME; M: 1/1746; D: 1755, DP: Berwick, ME
Martha Goodwin, B: 6/22/1695, P: Berwick, ME; M: 8/30/1711, D: 1759, DP: York, ME
Mary Berry, B: 8/11/1850, P: Portland, ME; M: 8/24/1888, D: 7/04/1924, DP: Farmington, NH
Catherine Roberts, B: 1751; M:9/07/1774
George Gray, B: © 1625, P: E. Lothian, Scotland, A: 1651; D:7/25/1693, DP: Berwick, ME
James Gray, B:1685, P: Berwick, ME, D: 6/18/1726, DP: Berwick, ME
James Gray, B: 9/1724, P: Berwick, ME; D: 2/27/1813, DP: York, ME
Jonathan Gray, B: 1751, P: Berwick, ME; D: 1821, DP: China, ME
George Gray, B: 6/14/1786, P: Berwick, ME; D: 6/14/1838, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
1 Roxanna Goodwin, B: 1838, P: Lebanon, ME; M: 6/09/1858; D: 7/06/1876, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
Mary Libby, B:10/28/1831, P: Buxton, ME; M: 3/18/1878, D: 5/17/1887, DP: Bur. Hollis, ME
Temperance Winn, B: 11/23/1828, P: York, ME; M: 7/17/1847; D: 5/18/1857, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
John Gray, B: 8/3/1825, P: S. Berwick, ME; D: 10/05/1905, DP: S Berwick, ME*

Key:
A: arrived in U.S.
B: date born
P: birthplace
M: marriage date
D: date of death
DP: place of death

“George Gray married the daughter of Alexander Cooper. He was 47 and she was about 16 or 17.” ~ Paula Cummings
George Gray had four sons and one daughter: Robert, George, Alexander, James and Sarah.
“George Gray is my 8th great -grandfather. There is plenty of documentation that shows him arriving at the colonies on the Unity as a Scottish POW from the battle of Dunbar. His life in Scotland however, has proved to be much harder to find. Some researchers believe George was born April 14 1620 to Robert Gray & Margret Madirr. Others believe his father was James Gray. Documentation is scarce and difficult to find for that time period. Visited Scotland’s People Center and Historical Society of Edinburgh with one OPR to support the birth date of 4/14/1620 with a Robert and Margret M. listed as parents. Have hired a genealogist from Scotland to help in search. Resent report looks like links to the Grays of Broxmouth, which was within the Dunbar town boundaries. Estate was taken by Cromwell and used as headquarters before the battle. The battlefield is literally across the road and up a hill from the estate.” ~ Doreen and Gail Gray

George Gray can be found at the Old Berwick Historical Society online site:

“When these young and impoverished prisoners eventually obtained their freedom they stayed, joining the English founding families of a tiny settlement. Among these displaced Scotsmen were said to be Niven Agnew, James Barry, Alexander Cooper, Daniel Ferguson, William Furbush, William Gowen, Peter Grant, George Gray, David Hamilton, Thomas Holme, John Key, Alexander Maxwell, John Neal, John Reed, John Ross, John Taylor, William Thomson, and James Warren (from Downeast Ancestry, Vol. 9, No. 3).”

On 10 September 2016, M. H. Maggelet wrote:
“I haven’t been able to find anything linking our George Gray to a Glasgow birth (purportedly Robert Gray and Margaret Madir), much less any of the nobility of Scotland. I’m a descendent of George via my grandmother Grace Hurley, and her grandmother Nettie Philena Gray (daughter of Loring S. Gray and Philena S. Gray).
While there are tons of documents on the Gray’s of Scotland in online archives and Google Books, linking them specifically to George has proven to be problematic. There are numerous Robert Gray’s, James Gray’s, etc., in the historical records and listings ranging from parish birth and marriage records to legal proceedings (not to mention peerage).
There is evidence in early documents from Maine that he could read and write (in Scots English), while his last will and testament shows his mark.
So, the search for documentation continues. If indeed he has noble lineage, it would be quite fascinating.”

The following is from John Demos on 09 Jan 2018:
A couple corrections.
The pictures of George Gray’s possible grave site is on Witchtrot Rd. near the location of the original George Gray homestead. It is not near my land, which is several miles away, up river. My house and land once belonged to George’s grandson, James and his decedents. Also my research on locating George’s homestead has proven to be much more complicated. The pictures of the graves may belong to Goodwins. I have been through deeds and many maps and cannot nail down where his house was on Witchtrot.
Still working on it.

From Nancy Riley on 18 Nov 2018:
I have Alexander marrying Elizabeth Thompson but I think the children need to be re-visited – Joanna the daughter listed as the first child is not Alexander’s. Elizabeth had 2 children out of wedlock – Ebenezer whose father was Mainwaring Hilton and Joanna whose father was Thomas Ball. Also there are 3 listing for a Nehemiah. Even if the 1st child died and they named a second the same, the dates look really off. thanks

Submitted by Ray Dusek on 19 Oct 2018:
George Gray
1620–1692
Birth 14 APR 1620
Death 31 MAR 1692 • Berwick, York, Maine
Children
Alexander Gray son of George Gray
1680–1725
Birth 1680 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 1725 • Berwick, York, Maine,
Spouse
Elizabeth Thompson 1681-1777
Children
Joanna Gray 1701-?
Nehemiah Gray 1705-1721
John Gray 1708-1758
Nehemiah Gray 1711-1777
Alexander Gray 1712- ?
Timothy Gray 1712-?
Abigail Gray 1714-1763
Ann Gray 1717-1777
Lydia Gray 1719
Nehemiah Gray 1721-1763
Daniel Gray 1726-1825
Robert Gray son of George Gray
1680–1771
Birth JUL 1680 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 30 JAN 1771 • Kittery, York, Maine,
1st Spouse
Elizabeth (Gray) Goodwin 1684-1706
Children
Sarah Gray 1702-1716
George Gray 1703-1737
James Gray 1705-1737
2nd Spouse
Elizabeth Freethy 1699-1754
Children
John Gray 1707-1788
Ruth Gray 1710
Joseph Gray 1712
Joshua Gray 1714-1781
Mercy Gray 1718-1760
George Gray son of George Gray
1682–1723
Birth 1682 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 08 MAY 1723 • Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Spouse
Bridget Horrell 1680-1736
Children
George Gray 1703-?
Sarah Gray daughter of George Gray
1692–1767
Birth 1692 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 31 AUG 1767 • Berwick, York, Maine
Spouse
Joseph Jellison 1686-1753
Children
Job Jellison 1718-1790
Benjamin Jellison 1720-1790
Harmony Jellison 1721-?
Joseph Jellison 1722-?
Mariam Jellisonn 1723-1800
Alexander Jillison ?
Jane Jellison ?
Thomas Jellison ?
Samuel Jellison ?
Thankful Jellison 1727-1780
Nathaniel 1727-?
Elizabeth 1730-?

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12. The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine contributed by Teresa Rust [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
13. Coleman, Emma. New England Captives Carried to Canada Between 1677 and 1760 During the French and Indian Wars. Heritage Books, 2008. [↩] [↩]
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16. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/14257/287/264712144 [↩]