George Taylor Gray Born 26 July 1864 - Sunderland/Bishopwearmouth

[pag99]

The above was my great uncle but I have been unable to trace any definite record of him beyond 1871 aged 6.  I believe in 1881 aged 16) he may have been a steward aboard the SS Stanton but cannot prove that it is actually him on the 1881 census. Ater that, nothing.  I have found the record of a George Gray who was killed in action on 4 November 1916 in France/Flanders. He was a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery born and enlisted in Sunderland. His service number is 74839 (this info is on the Soldiers died in the Great War database). However he does not appear on the CWGC listings at all.  If this soldier was my relative he would have been aged 52 when he died.  Would this be feasible at all. I would be grateful for any opinions any fof you may have.
thanks
Pam

[SmallTownGirl]

According to the CWGC website, the George Gray who died on 4 Nov 1916 was only 35 years old, so not your chappie

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/111414/GRAY,%20GEORGE

STG

[lizdb]

Possible

Death
MArch 1921
Auckland
10a 330
George T Gray
age 56

[lizdb]

Is he the one who's parents are William and Priscilla?  Age 6 in 1871.
If so he is still at home in 1881, age 17 occupation - mason

[suzard]

there is also this baptism
George Taylor Grey
baptism 14 Aug 1864
Bishopwearmouth
parents Robert Edward & Jane

Suz

[pag99]

Thank you Small Town Girl. I don't know why I couldn't find him on CWGC but anyway you have ruled him out for me. Back to the drawing board again.

[pag99]

Lizdb and Suzard

The George T Gray son of Alfred and Priscilla is the wrong family and he is the one who died in 1921. My George is the son of Robert Edward Gray and Jane S Dodds, yes he was christened in August 1864 at the Deptford Chapelry. I feel it is him on the 1881 census as a steward aboard the SS Stanton, at the time of the census the ship was moored on the Gironde Estuary in France. The ship collected shipments of wine. I am at a loss as to how I can confirm if it is him or not. Maybe I won't be able to. Frustrating! Thanks for looking.

[suzard]

I thought maybe he was then one who married Jane Byers Wright in 1892 ?
Think he was something to do with shipping - his father was a Shipwright and Jane is alone (but with children) on some census - children were Amelia, Eliza & Edward
Marriage cert should give father's name

Suz

[pag99]

Hi Suz
Yes, I have looked at the husband of Jane Byers Wright before on the 1911 census. His occupation, a seagoing  fireman and the enumerator has written Merchant Service. I rejected it because in his own handwriting he appears to have written the family surname as Grey and not the correct Gray. I dont know why that would be.  There is a merchant seaman record for a George Grey, born 1864 Sunderland, Discharge number 35785.  I will try and get access to that as well as the marriage cert. Here's hoping....
Pam