Notes |
- William Gray was 18 when he came to the Colony with Baillies Party in 1820 as an indentured servant to James Ford. He was a son of James Gray and born in Essex. In 1830 he married Elizabeth Marsden, daughter of George and Elizabeth Marsden. The Marsden’s came to the Colony with Dixon’s Party, at which time Elizabeth was 8 years old.
William seems to have moved around a great deal doing a number of unspecified jobs, but ultimately it seems that he was farming at Walsingham. He was also involved in all aspects of Settler life in his community.
In November 1850 he turned 49 and in March of 1851 was appointed Field Cornet for the area. Just 3 months later, on 2 June 1851, he was killed by rebel Hottentots in a field near Theophilis Mission while on active service in the 8th Frontier War. Details of the battle are recounted in The Reminiscences of Thomas Stubbs, which also describes William’s death and how tragic it was for his wife to hear the wagon arrive late that evening at her house and find her husband’s body being removed from it.
William left his wife and eight children: Eliza, Elleanor, George, Elizabeth, Susanna, Jane, William and James. He was buried in the cemetery, which would become the churchyard of the yet to be built St. James Anglican Church at Southwell.
Elizabeth, his wife died on 2 July 1886 in her 76th year. Eliza( 22 April 1832- 8 November 1915) is buried with her husband, John Ford (1823-1884) in the plot next to her sister Jane. The couple have 6 children buried with them.
George married on 14 January 1857 to Lydia Brown, daughter of Nathaniel Brown of Reed Fountain. William married Ellen Penny, daughter of Charles Penny junior. Jane died 2 November 1930 at the age of 87 – she never married.
In 1853 Rev. H. Waters wrote to George Southey, son in law of William, saying that a church was to be built at Southwell, partly in memory of William, and which would contain a memorial to William. The land was donated by Benjamin Keeton.
This abridged extract is one of 282 people listed in the book: Just ordinary People by Liz Eshmade
- William Gray was 18 when he came to the Colony with Baillies Party in 1820 as an indentured servant to James Ford. He was a son of James Gray and born in Essex. In 1830 he married Elizabeth Marsden, daughter of George and Elizabeth Marsden. The Marsden’s came to the Colony with Dixon’s Party, at which time Elizabeth was 8 years old.
William seems to have moved around a great deal doing a number of unspecified jobs, but ultimately it seems that he was farming at Walsingham. He was also involved in all aspects of Settler life in his community.
In November 1850 he turned 49 and in March of 1851 was appointed Field Cornet for the area. Just 3 months later, on 2 June 1851, he was killed by rebel Hottentots in a field near Theophilis Mission while on active service in the 8th Frontier War. Details of the battle are recounted in The Reminiscences of Thomas Stubbs, which also describes William’s death and how tragic it was for his wife to hear the wagon arrive late that evening at her house and find her husband’s body being removed from it.
William left his wife and eight children: Eliza, Elleanor, George, Elizabeth, Susanna, Jane, William and James. He was buried in the cemetery, which would become the churchyard of the yet to be built St. James Anglican Church at Southwell.
Elizabeth, his wife died on 2 July 1886 in her 76th year. Eliza( 22 April 1832- 8 November 1915) is buried with her husband, John Ford (1823-1884) in the plot next to her sister Jane. The couple have 6 children buried with them.
George married on 14 January 1857 to Lydia Brown, daughter of Nathaniel Brown of Reed Fountain. William married Ellen Penny, daughter of Charles Penny junior. Jane died 2 November 1930 at the age of 87 – she never married.
In 1853 Rev. H. Waters wrote to George Southey, son in law of William, saying that a church was to be built at Southwell, partly in memory of William, and which would contain a memorial to William. The land was donated by Benjamin Keeton.
This abridged extract is one of 282 people listed in the book: Just ordinary People by Liz Eshmade
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