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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: sigismunda on Thursday 06 April 06 16:09 BST (UK)
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My ancestors had a croft called Marble Quarry at Portsoy from about 1768 till the early 20th century. Does anyone know anything about it? I believe it was around 12 acres and in the early days was a market garden for supplying Portsoy.
Jean
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I have an Ann Gray, born 1 June 1860 at Marble Quarries, Portsoy, parents Alexander Gray and Ann Grant. I also have her family in the 1861 and 1871 census if that is any use?
Ann Gray married my first-cousin-three-times-removed James Stewart on 20 June 1879 and had at least four children. However I have yet to find what became of them after 1891.
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Thank you for your reply about the Grays.
I have a record of Ann Gray's name in the family tree that my father's uncle drew up in about 1900. He knew her husband's name, which matches the one you gave, but I know nothing more about her. II'm descended from her father's young brother John (5.12.1823-15.2.1865). Please can you apss on the 1861 and 1871 information you have for her.
I have a few bits and pieces about the Grays back to 1745. Willing to let you have that if you don't have it already.
Jean
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Hi - I teach in the schools around Portsoy - in fact have just been in the marble shop this week.
The quarry was situated to the west of Portsoy not far from the 17th century harbour. Red and green Portsoy marble (a type of serpentine) became quite a well known export from the village - a very distinctive form of marble quarried locally - a bit like Blue John in the Peak District. Portsoy marble is found in Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles.
The marble is still worked locally - you can buy it in the shop down by the harbour.
If you ant me to do any research there I'm there once a week...
Alison
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Thanks for that offer. Actually I was in Portsoy about 5 years ago and went to the Marble Shop, but they had never heard of the croft. I suspect it has been built over. I looked at old maps and think I located it but I'm fairly sure it must be part of the new houses to the Cullen side of Portsoy. That's a guess, however.
Many of my early ancestors fill the old cemetery in Portsoy. The last of the direct line left at the end of the 19th century. I believe there were still Grays at Marble Quarry Croft for some time after that, and I do remember a meeting a George Gray when I was very young, in the 1940s.
Jean
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I have only just picked up on this thread and hope I can help a little. I have in my possession a copy of a diary dated 1885 titled 'The Genealogy of The Marble Quarry Gray's' given to me by George Moir Gray (d 1986). I can remember as a youngster in the 1950's having had a ruined cottage pointed out to me as being the one referred to in the thread. This was on the track leading from the town to the swimming pool. I have since re-visited but there are no longer any visible remains. The Gray family appear to have run this as a croft.
According to the info I have Ann Gray (spouse of James Stewart employee of The Great North of Scotland Railway) had 13 children.
The John Gray I have (dates coincide) had 6 children.
If I can be of further help I will do my best and if anyone can throw any light on the details of Alexander Gray (b 1740? d 1826) and his wife Jane Boggie I would be grateful.
Andrew
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According to the info I have Ann Gray (spouse of James Stewart employee of The Great North of Scotland Railway) had 13 children.
I'd very much appreciate any details you cane let me have about the 13 children.
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Nice to hear from you. The information I have is from a family tree drawn up for my late Uncle Gordon Joseph (Cardinal) Gray and was used for his biography by Michael TRB Turnbull in 1994. I did say in my earlier post that I have 13 children but now realise there are 12. Details as follows:
William b1880 d1887: Annie b1882: James b1886: Frances b1886: Jean: Mary: Mina d1928: George d1927: Alexander: Donald d1915: Grant d1926 and Ian. I have no other verification for this information but believe the tree was professionally researched.
My own line comes from William Gray's second marriage to Elspet Young and their youngest son George who married Christina Gordon in 1862.
I am also in possession of a book 'The Gordon Henderson Story' written in 1962 by Janet Henderson that makes reference to 'The Grays of Marble Quarries' and tells the story of Gordon- Gray-Henderson connections. This book does not appear to make mention of the Stewart side.
I hope this is of some help.
Andrew
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Thank you. Stand by for a PM.
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My Maternal GM was Lizzie Gray the eldest of 6 children. There was Lizzie , Mary, Peggy ( Hilda Margaret). They were sent to London to work as servants for relatives of the Earl Of Strathmere. The family lived in Rowan Bank Cottage, Kemnay. Through their support they were able to help put their siblings through college. Their siblings were William ( who became a chemist but sadly died of tb when quite young), Gordon, who became a headmaster and Frances the youngest who became a teacher. We have the family bible and some old photograph albums of the family. The name Prendagast is mentioned if I remember correctly. I always remember being told that Granny's cousin was a Cardinal Gray and some mention of Wilfred Hyde-White (the actor) being related to Granny too. Rowan Bank was sold I thinK after the death of Mary.
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Do you have any dates, Mary? And who were the parents of Lizzie and her siblings?
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Hello . Father was John G ( Possibly Gordon)dob 1860? Gray and Mother was Elizabeth Gray.dob 1866 ( nee Lowie possibly or similar). I do have some photos back in the uk of my ggm and ggf at my brother's home.My grandmother's siblings were , Lizzie, 1892?(herself) , John G, 1894?, Hilda Margaret 1895? and Mary 1896. There was a younger brother William , who trained as a chemist but died in his 30's from TB. Not sure of DOB for him.Then there was Frances the youngest child. Hilda ( Peggy) and Mary never married or had children (That i know of) If there is anything else I can help with please let me know and Thanks for getting in touch. My Grandmother outlived them all. I think it was about 1987 that she died.
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This looks like the family's 1901 census entry, from what you mention:
John G Gray 40, Mechanical Engineer b. Portsoy Banffshire
Elizabeth Gray 34 b. Kintore, Aberdeenshire
Lizzie L Gray 9 b. England
John G Gray 7 b. Kemnay, Aberdeenshire
Mary A Gray 5 b. Kemnay, Aberdeenshire
Hilda M Gray 6 Month b. Kemnay, Aberdeenshire
Address: Rowan Bank Cottage, Kenmay
Monica :)
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With the reference to Portsoy for John Gray's birth, I wonder whether this may be his birth details which potentially show a middle name of George https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XY1M-J4L
Possible birth entry for wife Elizabeth here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XYG2-2Y5
If you haven't viewed this as yet, John and Elizabeth's marriage (which I think shows in 1890) will be available to view online on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk It is pay to view but costs are very reasonable. For marriages, this includes full names of bride and groom's parents, including also full details on mothers' names.
Monica
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I think that birth entry for John George Gray looks likely. This looks to be I think John and wife Elizabeth down in England for 1891 (explains the reference to England for your grandmother Lizzie's birth). This entry shows in the town of Jarrow, Durham:
John George Gray 30, engine fitter b. Scotland
Elizabeth Gray 24, wife, b. Scotland
RG12/4166/57/38
The census in 1891 was on 5 April. Your gran Lizzie must have been born no time after. Her birth reg shows as:
Lizzie Lawie Gray, 2nd Qrt 1891, South Shields, Durham - ref. Vol. 10a, pg. 898.
Monica
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Hello. I've just caught up with your researches and think we are related. Was your mother my cousin Margaret (christened Elizabeth?) and your father Paddy? Or are you descended from one of their sons? If so, get back to me as I've been researching our line for ages and can share bits. Don't want to do so on public forum, however.
Sigismunda
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Hello just came across this thread by accident .I am great grandson of James Stewart who married Anne Gray.The Stewart spelling was changed to Stuart although my granda retained Ew spelling Have all the info for my grandad brothers and sisters if still required.
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William and Annie both drowned at legmoon (rocks at Portsoy).The family were offered the lease of Cultain, Fordyce by the Countess of Seafield after this, moving there in 1901.They stayed at Hill street in portsoy for a time and also farmed Westerwards at portsoy.Only two scions of the tree exist in Scotland today my own from James Stewart (Cultain)and Alexander Stuart (Durn Portsoy).The Cardinal Gray connection is correct although he denied it.Funny how family first names crop up Jean,Grant Alexander .
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James Stewart born 7th March1884 not 1886.just checked family bible
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If you look at the online OS map on the National Library of Scotland website bring up the sheet for Banfshire 003.08 Published 1904 Rev 1902
The three fields immediately south of the Quarry and the Bathing House add up to approx 12 acres and there is a building in the corner of the south east part of the field. Possibly the croft?
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I don't think I have any connection with the Marble Grays (although I can trace my direct Gray ancestry back to well before 1700 in Birkenbog, Fordyce, also Inaltrie, Deskford), but our paths cross twice!
George Taylor (wife Jessie Geddes) was farmer at Cultain or Meikle Cultain (as far as I can tell the same place, neither being Little Cultain along the road) in 1901, having been there for over thirty years and then being age 62. My Geddes folks were at the neighbouring Cotton Croft for well over 120 years (until 1970s).
Do you know more about your James Stewart's tenancy at Cultain? I'm presuming George Taylor simply retired (he died in 1912) and James Stewart took over at Whit 1901. He owned a couple of properties in Fordyce Village, so would have been quite comfortably off. His MI in Deskford has him 'late of Cultain'.
Separately, I have a John George Gray born 1894 at Knowes Deskford to James Gray & Jessie Ann Alexander. His Grays had been at Meikle Knowes probably from the marriage in 1849 of Walter Gray & Ann Gibb; they are related to me via Walter Gray's mother Janet Wright. Given the 'John George' and the proximity of Knowes and Cultain, do you recognise any of these names?
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In reply to deebel that is where I thought marble quarries croft to be.The Taylor that was here -Cultain -retired to Keith I was told naming his house there Cultain.His wife died before that extract from McWillie Diary's.May have been 1902 that Stewarts came to Cultain but it was May term anyway.I'll take in the rest and think. Geddes were in Cotton Croft my Grandad and them were friendly cycled to Broughty Ferry and back in a day to see my grandad s sister. Jean off to South Africa!
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In reply to Fordyce am sorry but none of those names ring a bell.Iwas aware of Grays on Meikle Knowes at that time Wilsons of the diary fame( it is available from St Andrews University history dept)were in little Knowes leaving for Burns yr after we came to Meikle Cultain to give it it,s full title.However my grandads wife Elsie Cooper were in Little Knowesaround 1909 she had an uncle? John Cooper who was vet in Fordyce married to a Jessie Gray Jessie born at Milton(Milltown) in 1839.Daughter of George Gray and Elizabeth Whyntie who were married at Milltown
Also have John Gray in France Nov 14 along with the rest of the Stuart bros he is down as born Fordyce however listed as killed.Further to the tenancy of Cultain I was always told that the Taylors had been in Cultain for along time possible that George Taylor being second generation and that when he gave up farm that he was very unfit and not really able to do the work.Seafield renewed most of the buildings at that time a new dwelling house having been built some yrs earlier.Seems strange we have the Ann Alexander George James forenames all cropping which are Stewart family names.Think am right in saying there were Taylors in langlanburn at this time
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Hi Stewart 1. I didn't get a notification, so I've only just seen your reply. I can't reply properly right now. I do have my own copy of the Wilson Diaries. I also have a photocopy of an unpublished manuscript being an extension to the diaries called 'My Gleanings' or similar (I cannot lay my hands on it at the moment - too much paperwork everywhere!).
I'll get back to you as soon as poss.
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Hi Stewart 1
Thanks for extra info on Geo Taylor at Cultain. Re its name, in the OS Name Books it's recorded as simply 'Cultain' (by its tenant George Lawtie and its proprietor, so I take that as being definitive), and as such in 1861 too. There is no 'Little Cultain'. This suggests Cultain only became Meikle Cultain when Little Cultain was built. George Taylor was ensconced by 1871, with mother and sister.
<<The Taylor that was here -Cultain -retired to Keith I was told naming his house there Cultain>>
Yes, it was 'Cultain Cottage' Back St, Keith, which I suggest is today's 'Cultain House', 78 Back St, Keith.
<<His wife died before that extract from McWillie Diary's.>>
I don't understand that. His wife Jessie Geddes died 18-6-1925.
He married age 50 in 1889, giving himself as a bachelor, which is confirmed by earlier censuses.
Re John Cooper vet. His wife Jessie Gray is related to me down a collateral line - 3rd cousin 4-times removed to be precise. Her father, George Gray, and John George Gray's gdfather, Walter Gray, were brothers. Their mother was Janet Wright, d/o Anne Andrew, d/o Walter Andrew my 6x-gtgdfather who was born 1708 in Pittenbringand, Cullen.
<<Also have John Gray in France Nov 14 along with the rest of the Stuart bros he is down as born Fordyce however listed as killed.>>
I don't know him, but my records are by no means complete.
<<Geddes were in Cotton Croft my Grandad and them were friendly cycled to Broughty Ferry and back in a day to see my grandad s sister.>>
That's one heck of a journey on one day by pushbike - that's a 240 mile round trip. Somebody's exaggerating, unless it was by motor bike!
My gtgdfather Peter Geddes was born at Cotton Croft in 1854. His mother, Margaret Smith, was the oldest person in Scotland when she died at Cotton Croft in 1921 aged 104, her gdson George Geddes (Postie) taking over the croft.
So, it sounds as though it was Postie who had a postman's holiday to Broughty Ferry!
Have you any other tidbits about Cotton Croft? Postie's gdson is still alive and kicking in Buckie, and interested in the family history - he's never mentioned the Broughty Ferry trip (but why would he?) so anything you can add would really be appreciated.
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Hello,
My name is Jasmine born in Malaysia. My father is Barry son of Horace Gerald Gray who passed away in Kuching, Malaysia. He had the first radio shop in Kuching. Horace was married 3 times and my father was from his third and last marriage to Florence who is half Spanish, half Filipino. If I am not mistaken, my great grandfather was William George Gray who migrated to Malaysia and served as a headmaster at an all boys catholic school. He was the son of Alexander Gray from Portsoy and I believe he was a farmer.
My family and I are now living in England. Can anyone shed some more light on our family history.
Thanks!
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Hello Jasmine
Think you are on the right wavelength excuse the pun. When did your G Grandfather emigrate if you don't mind me asking.My great uncle George Stuart died in Malaysia.His mother my great grandmother was a Gray.Have a contact who knows the Gray history.Stewart
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Hello Jasmine, and hello again Stewart1.
'My' branch of the Marble Quarry Grays are actually Stewarts/Stuarts, descended from Ann Gray (1860-1940), daughter of Alexander Gray and Ann Grant who married my first cousin three times removed, James Stewart, in 1879.
I knew a bit about her son George Stuart (1895-1927) who died in Singapore, but not William George Gray.
However a quick search suggests that Ann had a younger brother named William George Gray, who was born in the parish of Fordyce on 7 January 1867. (Portsoy is in the parish of Fordyce). William, aged 4, is in the 1871 census with his parents and four siblings at Marble Quarries, and Alexander is described as a farmer.
The obvious place to look for more information about him is in the online digitised newspapers at http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/default.aspx
I did so and found a couple of articles which told me that George Grant Gray, who died suddenly in 1937 aged 39, was the son of the late Mr Gray, a Scotsman who was headmaster of St Anthony's School. George had a brother Horace and a brother William; the latter had died in a boxing match before 1937. George left a wife and several children.
There is an obituary of Mr W G Gray in the Straits Times of 20 November 1922, which pretty much confirms everything else.
So I think there's enough there to be sure that Jasmine and Stewart1 are related, though Jasmine is not related to me. ajg141 and sigismunda are also related to both Stewart1 and Jasmine but not to me (or to Fordyce as far as I know).
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Thank you again Forfarian.
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Another snippet:
From the Straits Settlements Government Gazette, December 23, 1904:
"List of Qualified Jurors, Penang, 1904"
"William George Gray, schoolmaster, Anglo Chinese School; Burmah Road"
and
Shipping line: Nederland Line Royal Dutch Mail
Master: Hemmes
Name: Horace Gerald Gray
Birth Date: abt 1898
Birth Place: Straits Settlements
Age: 34
Arrival Date: 8 Jun 1932
Port of Arrival: San Francisco, California
Ship Name: Shinyo Maru
Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan
Last Residence: Borneo
Accompanied by: A E
Friend's Name: A E Maclachlan
My line Gray line connects with Peter GEDDES & Jean GRAY who marr 1730 both of whose families had lived at Mains of Birkinbog, Fordyce since 1705 at least. The GRAY line goes back James & Jean GRAY born est 1650 probably still in Fordyce. I haven't gone through the many GRAY collateral lines to come forward in time to see if any meet the Alexander GRAY at Marble Quarry, who was born abt 1816 in Fordyce, prob s/o William GRAY & Margaret PHILP.
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The Gray family headstone semi legible in Portsoy Cemetery.Next to it is the Stuart stone ie Anne Stuart /Stewart nee Gray.Can I post photo on here?
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Can I post photo on here?
Yes.
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Will try to take one this wkend and see if I can manage to upload it.
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Stewart1 has been out and taken some photographs of the Gray gravestones, and asked me to upload them here.
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Next one
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Last one
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Thanks for doing this .It got me out of a fix.
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Nae bother!
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Hello,
My name is Jasmine born in Malaysia. My father is Barry son of Horace Gerald Gray who passed away in Kuching, Malaysia. He had the first radio shop in Kuching. Horace was married 3 times and my father was from his third and last marriage to Florence who is half Spanish, half Filipino. If I am not mistaken, my great grandfather was William George Gray who migrated to Malaysia and served as a headmaster at an all boys catholic school. He was the son of Alexander Gray from Portsoy and I believe he was a farmer.
This William George Gray does not tally with the William George Gray who was the son of Alexander Gray of Marble Quarry. He died at Mill of Park, Banffshire, in 1957.
Another of Alexander's relations did die in Singapore, in the quarantine hospital. He was a ship's captain and had caught smallpox. He was married but had no children.
There is at least one other Gray family from Portsoy but with no traced link to the Marble Quarry Grays. Maybe your ancestors came from them? So many used similar christian names.
I hope you do find your true tree.
Sigismunda
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This William George Gray does not tally with the William George Gray who was the son of Alexander Gray of Marble Quarry. He died at Mill of Park, Banffshire, in 1957.
William George Gray, born January 1867 in Portsoy, son of Alexander Gray and Ann Grant, was the headmaster of St Anthony's School in Singapore, and he died there on 2 November 1922. He is described in several newspaper items in Singapore as a native of Banffshire.
William Gray, son of George Gray and Christina Gordon, Mill of Park, and later tenant there himself, died on 19 September 1957 in Chalmers Hospital, Banff.
I am not in the least doubt that Jasmine's Grays are descendants of the Marble Quarry Grays.
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MARYDALTONTHEW, who were the parents of Elizabeth M Dalton who married John P Thew in Chelsea 1949/Q2/5c/661 and Frances M Dalton who married Kazimierz Kubera in Kensington 1956/Q3/5c/2898 ?
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If anyone can throw any light on the details of Alexander Gray (b 1740? d 1826) and his wife Jane Boggie I would be grateful.
Andrew
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Does anyone have any more information on Alexander Gray and Jane Boggie?
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This is all I have on them.
1770, Jan 13. Alexr Gray Gardener in Fordyce and Jean Bogie in Banff were contracted. [Banff Parish Register]
Janry 14th 1770. Alexander Gray in this parish contracted with Jean Boggie in Banff and were married. [Fordyce Parish Register]
Therefore when their banns were called, he lived in the parish of Fordyce and she lived in Banff. It is said that she was a lady's maid at Forglen House, and that she was the daughter of James Bog(g)ie of Towie near Cullen.
There are three children in the surviving records, all baptised in Fordyce: Mary 1771, William 1774, and May 1779. There could be others whose baptism records have not survived, but if there were, then either they died before 1855 or they left Scotland.
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Forfarian - that's very kind of you to reply, and so promptly.
So we have Jean - not Jane; and Boggie possibly not Bogie.
I have this piece of info if its of any use - not sure how reliable it is - from a family researcher back in the fifties:
Alexander's father (a Schivas Gray?) was employed by the Laird of Auchintoul, Mr Morrrison, on the river Don from 1735 until 1746, when he joined Bonnie Prince Charlie's army at Culloden where he died of wounds. His only son, Alexander, was raised & educated by Morrison, trained as a gardener. Then employed by Abercrombie of Forglen (Near Aberchirder on the Deveron) where he met Jane, daughter of Laird of Towie. They married and left Forglen to Marble Quarry Farm near Portsoy in 1768 where he market-gardened.
There is no mention of Alexander's mother. I wonder of anyone knows any more about his father?
"daughter of Laird of Towie" - not sure if that's short hand for illegitimate - the laird appears to be a Barclay. I assume Abercrombie was the Gardener/factor of Forglen.
Thanks for the information. Appreciate it.
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Don't worry about spelling variations. Jane and Jean are totally interchangeable, and an extra g in Bogie is not significant.
I have also heard all of that story before, but I don' t know where it comes from.
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Forfarian - that's very kind of you to reply, and so promptly.
So we have Jean - not Jane; and Boggie possibly not Bogie.
I have this piece of info if its of any use - not sure how reliable it is - from a family researcher back in the fifties:
Alexander's father (a Schivas Gray?) was employed by the Laird of Auchintoul, Mr Morrrison, on the river Don from 1735 until 1746, when he joined Bonnie Prince Charlie's army at Culloden where he died of wounds. His only son, Alexander, was raised & educated by Morrison, trained as a gardener. Then employed by Abercrombie of Forglen (Near Aberchirder on the Deveron) where he met Jane, daughter of Laird of Towie. They married and left Forglen to Marble Quarry Farm near Portsoy in 1768 where he market-gardened.
There is no mention of Alexander's mother. I wonder of anyone knows any more about his father?
"daughter of Laird of Towie" - not sure if that's short hand for illegitimate - the laird appears to be a Barclay. I assume Abercrombie was the Gardener/factor of Forglen.
Thanks for the information. Appreciate it.
Hello have you anything to pinpoint Alexander’s fathers name as Schivas as I have been told it was John Gray. of or working at Muiresk nr Turriff .
There are at least two Auchentouls one on the river Don near Alford the other at Aberchirder or Foggie . The Foggie one is the most likely due the connection to it and Laithers next to Muiresk at Turriff never mind the distances involved .
If you can confirm something about this ‘ Schivas Gray ‘ and any chance of this leading to the Estate of Schivas thst would be interesting . There is a Duke of Gordon connection to Schivas estate and a Gray connection too . With the John Gray supposedly being killed in Duke of Gordon’s army at or enroute to Culloden this Schivas connection might just be the reason for ‘ being taken under the umbrella of the house of Gordon ??
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Stewart 1
The only reference I have (attached) is an old hand written tree of Frank McDavid circa 1950. In it he writes:
‘a Gray of Schivas m but wife died prior to 1745. This Gray died of wounds at Culloden 1744 in army of Prince Charles Edward Stewart. M 1740. Bogie Laird of Towie.
The Gray of Schivas went to work for the laird of Auchintoul 1735 (?). After Culloden, Alexander Gray , 5 years old was left in the care of General Alexander Gordon, the Laird of Auchintoul who looked after and educated Alexander before the latter went to Forglen House. Alexander went to Forglen House where he met and married Jane Bogie and went to Marble Quarries where William and 2 sisters were born”. There appears to be a Gordon and Gray connection to Schivas estate predating John Gray, though the Gordons of Schivas appear to be of the Gordons of Huntley
You suggest Alexander’s father’s name as John Gray of, or working, at Muiresk nr Turriff.
And your proposal of Auchintoul at Aberchirder makes perfect sense. Though I am unsure of the reference to Foggie which is new to me. Laithers, I see, he acquired in 1712.
From his book of the History of Peter The Great: https://archive.org/details/historypetergre00gordgoog/page/n14/mode/2up
the Major General Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul was born the 27th of December 1669, eldest son of Alexander Gordon and Isobel Gray, daughter to Gray of Braik, brother to Lord Gray. His grandfather, George Gordon of Cocklarachie, bought Auchintoul. Descended from the Gordons of Craig.
“In the year 1699 or 1700, he married his friend General Patrick Gordon’s daughter, then the widow of Colonel Strashurgh, a German; by whom he had several children, who all died in their infancy.”
Returning from Russian military service “soon after his arrival in Scotland he caufed make an addition to his land, house of Achintoul; and in 1712 purchafed the barony of Laithers in Aberdeenshire.”
“From 1727 he returned to Scotland till 1739, when his lady died, he enjoyed all the happiness that results from a country retirement, an agreeable neighbourhood and universal respect. Sometime after his lady's death, he married Mrs, Margaret Moncrieff, eldeft daughter to Sir Thomas Moncrief of that ilk; with whom he lived very happily till the end of July 1752, when he died in the 82nd year of his age, of a tedious illness occasioned by the ftranguary and gravel. He was buried on the 5th of August in his father's burial-place at Marnochkirk; and left no issue by any of his wives.”
Returning to Scotland in 1739 when his wife died, a 75 year old war hero, with no surviving children, looking after the five year old son whose father had died in battle makes sense.
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I am unsure of the reference to Foggie which is new to me.
The planned town of Aberchirder (pronounced "aber-HIRD-er") was laid out on land that belonged to a farm named Foggieloan. The name stuck, however, and most local folk would recognise Foggie or Foggieloan as meaning the place officially called Aberchirder.
You can see Foggy Loan on this map from before the founding of Aberchirder
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.3&lat=57.55493&lon=-2.63945&layers=3&b=1
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Alexander's birth entry in the old parish registers gives
July 2nd 1733
John Gray in Mains of Muiresk had a child baptised named Alexander. Witnesses William Simson in Machon and James Murray in Muiresk.
John was baptised next in October 1735 a nd Andrew 1737. Israel was baptised in 1743 and James in 1745.
Skip a generation and John (1735) in Dorlaithers had a son named Alexander in 1761.
1771 shows the baptism of Mary Gray , daughter of Alexander, in Portsoy and a witness is John Boggie in Bridge Haugh near Cullen.
Do any of these names mean anything? Stewart
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Towie in the Cullen context is a farm near lintmill part of Birkinbog Estate latterly being part of Forglen Estate before being sold off .
The above I received from a family friend on this thread .
Other member had also gone back to this Gray of Braik . It seems there is a rough consensus on direction .
Given Culloden was 1746 is it possible that that Alexander was also there as a boy ?
With the earlier Jacobite rebellion being 1733 one starts to wonder if some of this hand written Gray history may be factually correct but with the wrong uprising .
Stewart
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Message also for Jasmine Gray;
I am also researching on the Gray family in Singapore, whom I believe are related to you. A DNA close link pointed me to research Mr W. G. Gray, your great grandfather, I believe.
Have you heard of a baby (female) born in 1927 who was adopted out? Another parent is Japanese.
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Hello Jasmine, and hello again Stewart1.
'My' branch of the Marble Quarry Grays are actually Stewarts/Stuarts, descended from Ann Gray (1860-1940), daughter of Alexander Gray and Ann Grant who married my first cousin three times removed, James Stewart, in 1879.
I knew a bit about her son George Stuart (1895-1927) who died in Singapore, but not William George Gray.’
Greetings,
I would also like to know more about George Stuart please. I understood that he died in Singapore in 1927. Do you know if he had any children?