The Heritage of Elizabeth Gray

Elizabeth Gray Gibbs 1915 - 1975

Surname Gray:
An ancient Anglo-Scottish name literally meaning a man with gray hair or beard from the pre- 7th century word "graeg". Of course, in our family it could mean : those whose hair turns prematurely gray. wink wink 😉

source: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/gray

All kidding aside, because of all the information I have been able to uncover (we're talking 7 generations here), this will be a lengthy edition. So grab some popcorn, your favorite beverage, and get comfy. May I introduce to you to the American lineage of Phillip Gray:

When starting the research into my grandmother, Elizabeth Gray Gibbs' family history , I wasn't sure what I would find. She died in 1975 when I was almost eleven. Memories are a little foggy and I only remember snapshots of times we shared and names of family members being mentioned through the years.
What I didn't know was that the Grays were such entrepreneurs. It is also the first branch in which a time frame can be determined for when the first ancestors may have arrived in the U.S. The following account is taken from the History of Ledyard CT. A similar account is written in the book Gray Genealogy.

The Connecticut Grays

Two Scotch brothers, Phillip and Benjamin Gray, arrived from the Island of Guernsey to Boston on a vessel "whilst still boys". We know that Phillip (our ancestor) was born in 1690. If he were a boy, he may have arrived anywhere from 1700 to 1710. Phillip moved from Boston to Groton, CT, north of Ledyard, around 1710. It was here that Phillip Sr. married whom I believe to be Mary Killam. Together, they had 4 sons: Phillip Jr., Benjamin, Ezekial, and Elijah. Phillip Sr's. occupation was a knitter. A knitter at that time may have been the same as someone who spun flax or silk for clothing as this was a cottage industry in the early days of Groton. Elijah fought in the Revolutionary War, was wounded and sent to the Jersey prison ship near NY where he died. He left behind a wife and 4 children. Ezekial died at sea at the age of 18. There are many accounts of local men being lost at sea either while whaling or sailing around Cape Horn for international trade.

Marriage entry for Phillip Gray and Mary Killam in 1737. Also lists their 4 children correctly. Most verbal stories handed down state that Phillip's wife was a Mary Stoddard, but looking at this doc, I believe Mary Killem is the correct person.

Phillip Gray, Jr. was my 6th g grandfather.    He was born in 1749 in Groton, CT. His first wife was Hannah Latham. Together, they had 6 children: Jonas, Latham Sr, Ezekial, Stephen, Lydia, and Mary. After Hannah died, Phillip married Mercy Chapman. They had a son named Asa, who is credited with writing a pamphlet on the Gray family history as he knew it.
Latham Gray Sr.(1772-1821) married Amy Brown(?-1822) in 1791. Together, they had 2 sons and 6 daughters: Henry, Latham, Jr., Mercy, Esther, Annah, Betsey Amy, and Filena
Thus far, I have been unable to find out much about Phillip Gray, Jr. or his son Latham's occupation, but piecing together local town history and the careers of other family members, it may be a safe conclusion that they were involved in the lumber or sawmill industry.   Phillip Sr .'s 2nd son, Benjamin who was a revolutionary war veteran, partnered with Joseph Lee to build the Lee's Brook Sawmill . The Grays that remained in Groton would continue to work in sawmill industry as well as farming. Future generations that left Groton would continue this occupation elsewhere.

The Ledyard Up-Down Sawmill still exists today. Check it out: http://www.ledyardsawmill.org

Grave marker for Benjamin Gray of Groton, CT, brother of Phillip Gray, Sr.

Grays of Herkimer NY

According to the history of Ledyard, CT, the population of the town began to deteriorate as certain industries died off. Farming became hard with "worn-out" farms and fewer children being born to take up the family trade. Many families moved west for a better life. Latham Gray, Jr. (1800-1884)was one of those who moved west to Ohio, Herkimer County, NY. In 1820, he bought 300 acres on the southside of the creek of the town of Ohio and began improvements, so many in fact, that businesses were started and the area was called Gray or Grayville. By 1828, Latham moved his first wife Julia Ann Pendelton Gray and their two boys: Henry Pendleton and William L. from CT to NY. The village thrived under Latham's efforts. Dairy was a major industry in the area. In 1837, Latham bought a business which produced cheese boxes. The first store, blacksmith shop, tavern, boot & shoe shop, and tannery all opened and have been credited to his talents with business development. It has also been said that he may have been a manufacturer of lumber and furniture maker. A sawmill was already in place on the northern side of the creek of his 300 acres, so this may have been possible and would certainly continue the family business started in CT. He was also a Free mason and supervisor of the village. Busy Guy!!
His son William L Gray, would become the first postmaster of Gray NY.

History of Ohio/Gray NY p. 447

On the homefront, Latham's first wife, Julia died in 1831. He married his second wife, Catherine Benchley in 1836. They had one daughter, Helen S. and one son, Charles. Catherine died in 1855. A crazy side note here: Catherine Benchley was the sister of Lucina. Lucina would marry Latham's son, Henry. So, father and son married two sisters. Basically, Henry P married his step aunt. Wow! 😮 Latham would marry a third time to Mary Ann Vickery. That marriage produced no children.
Latham died in 1884, leaving quite a legacy in Herkimer county. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Gray NY, as are Catherine and Mary Ann. Julia's burial location is unknown.

Latham Gray Jr.'s gravesite

The Grays of Georgia

Latham Jr.'s eldest son Henry Pendleton Gray, married Lucina Benchley in 1847, you know, his stepmom's sister. They had 9 children: Benjamin Benchley (BB) , John C., George, Mary, Catherine, Henry P., William, Charles, & Helen.

1855 NY Census showing Henry and Lucina living in the household of Lucina's parents Benjamin and Sarah Benchley. It also lists their first four children: Benjamin, John, George and Mary.

Sometime between 1855 and 1860, the Grays moved from NY to Taylor GA. By 1870, they would live in Brunswick, GA. On the 1870 census, Henry lists his occupation as salesman.

1870 Census. Henry and Lucina had moved to GA and added to their family with four children. The first 5 children were born in NY. BB was out of the house by this time and married. Also, Lucina is mistakenly named Susan. Daughter Mary Cordelia is listed as Caroline.

In 1880, millwork was listed as his occupation. I'm seeing the family trend continue here. In 1876, Henry's first wife, Lucina died. In 1878, Henry married Mrs. Mary Brown. She had two children from a previous marriage, Eddy and Minnie. She died in 1889. Henry married for a third time to Mary S. Furlong in 1891. She died in 1894 of ueteran cancer.
Henry would eventually move to Willacoochee, GA and live with his daughter Kate until his death in 1912. He is buried in Brunswick along with Lucina and his 2nd wife Mary in Oak Grove Cemetery. Sadly, it is in poor condition.
photo sources: findagrave.com

Gray Family Plot in Oak Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, GA

Lucina's headstone laying on the ground and broken. Not all graves have markers.

Lucina's broken headstone 😢

Benjamin Benchley Gray

My great great grandfather is so interesting that I thought he deserved his own special mention here. It is amazing that more is not known about him via family stories, pictures or books. I have only been able to uncover tidbits, but they add up to a very driven man who made quite an impact on the town of Willacoochee, GA. Here is what is known for sure:
In 1870, B.B. married Ellen Sophie Furlong of Franklin, LA. He was 21, she was 16. Family folklore says that Ellen was part cajun/part Cherokee. I have found nothing to support this. That doesn't mean it is incorrect, however, Furlong is actually an Irish name. In some census records, her father's birthplace is stated as Ireland.

Ellen Sophie Furlong Gray 1854 - 1936 photo source: findagrave.com

Marriage certificate of B.B. and Ellen

By 1880, BB and Ellen moved to Millwood GA. Here, they lived with Ellen's mother, Mary, two of BB's brothers and their first 4 children. They would eventually have 14, yes 14, children, although 13 survived past infancy.


1880 Census showing young Gray family in Millwood, GA.

1900 Census. The white arrow is pointing to George W. Gray, my great grandfather

The following is a portion of a short biography of B.B. written about Willacoochee's history. It was authored by Dr. Hal Henderson (a great grandson) and Carolyn O'Berry (a grandaughter):

"As a young man, Gray migrated to Georgia settling first in Brunswick, eventually moving to Pine Bloom. There he built and operated one of the largest sawmills in the area. He remained in the lumber business until his death. At one time, his lumber company had one of the largest payrolls in the country. In addition to his lumber endeavors, BB Gray was a pioneer railroad builder, building several railroad lines to haul timber to his sawmills. He later sold one of these lines, which was called the OCILLA, PINEBLOOM, AND VALDOSTA RR, to the GEORGIA AND FLORIDA RR CO. for almost a million dollars.
While a young man, Gray married Miss Ellen Furlong of Louisiana, their marriage resulted in a family of twelve children (actually 14). He built a large two-story home at Pine Bloom where he and his wife, along with numerous servants, reared his children. Gray was an active member of the Willacoochee Methodist Church and even built a church at Pine Bloom which was called Gray's Chapel for his employees. Gray was also an active member of the Willacoochee Masonic Lodge. The Lodge was located on the third floor of the Gray Building which he built around the turn of the century.
BB Gray died at his home in Pine Bloom on September 6, 1926."

The following pictures help to fill in some of the blanks of B.B. Gray' story. The only thing I have been unable to locate is a picture of his home at Pinebloom. Those who remember it all agree that it was a grand place with a large wrap around porch. What happened to it? Did anyone inherit it? Some stories say it burned down, others say it became dilapidated and fell down. Another question is about Pinebloom itself. Was it a town or the name for B.B. and Ellen's homeplace? I think it may be the latter. I don't know how much land B.B. acquired, but like his grandfather, Latham, Jr. in NY, I think he bought hundreds of acres with virgin pine timber, built his home, a sawmill, a railroad station, a chapel, and probably other outbuildings or small housing for employees. It was probably a self-contained unincorporated "town". It does not exist today.

This map from 1899 shows where Pinebloom was located along with a railroad station called Gray's Station. source:http://railga.com/opv.html


These pics are typical examples of a sawmill and the forest they harvested. The article in which these pics are included mention Gray Lumber Co. Not sure if the sawmill on the left is one of B.B.'s, but am sure his looked similar. source:http://railga.com/opv.html

Abandoned Railway Depot at Willacoochee. Was this originally Gray's Station? The article stated that this was built by Gray Lumber Co.

One sketch of lumber seasoning appartus B.B. had patented in 1904. You find out more at this link: https://www.google.com/patents/US733835

Headstones of B.B. and Ellen Gray in the Willacoochee Cemetery. Photo source: findagrave.com

As a post script, I will tell you that not all was peaches and cream at Pinebloom. There was a murder there and Ellen's brother Ben W. Furlong was a nasty character. Maybe I will save those stories for a law and order edition of this blog. Gotta keep you coming back, right? 😉

Now, back to our story.....
B.B. and Ellen's son, George Washington Gray was my great grandfather. He was born at Pinebloom in 1888. In 1912, he married Mabel Claire Callahan from Tennessee. He was a dentist, she a schoolteacher in Willacoochee. Together, they would have 4 children: B.B. Gray II, Elizabeth, George and Imogene. Tragically, George died in 1936 in a single car accident. That's about all I know of George. I have found a little bit about the Callahans, but that will be a future post as well.

I will close this edition, but don't worry, we aren't finished with the story of Elizabeth. After all, she has yet to meet Buddy Gibbs, right? I think they deserve their own story.
Don't know about you, but this was a lot to absorb! Until then, I leave you with pictures and more documents.
Cheerio!
Melody