Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
- Gray; family
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
William Gray (1) was born in 1751, the son of a Hull packer. He married Faith Hopwood in 1777. They had three children - Jonathan (b. 1779), Margaret (b. 1782), and William (2) (b.1785). William Gray (1) died in 1845.
His son, Jonathan Gray and his wife Mary had two children, Margaret (2) (b.1808) and William (2). Jonathan died in 1837. His son, William Gray (3) had a son, Edwin, born in 1847. Edwin died in 1929.
See Also - Gray; William (1751-1845); Solicitor
See Also - Grays solicitors
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The Gray family were prominent solicitors in York - the firm of Grays Solicitors dates back to 1695. Originally located on Low Petergate, the firm relocated to Duncombe Place, near the Minster, in 1897, and still exists today.
In 1788, William Gray (1) and his wife Faith Gray purchased Gray's Court, known as 'The Great House'. During the 1800s (the exact date is unknown), the Gray family purchased Treasurer's House, which had been used as 2 separate dwellings. Part of Treasurer's held the observatory to which John Goodricke and Nathanial Piggott worked. In 1897 Treasurer's House was sold to Frank Green who later donated the building complete with his collection to The National Trust.
The Gray family were also prominent figures in the local community. Jonathan Gray served as Under-Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1803. He had a keen interest in music and was an amateur musician. He was an active member of the York Musical Society and the first President of York Choral Society, founded in 1833.
His son William (the third William Gray) also served as Under-Sheriff for thirty five years. He was a Trustee of York Cemetery in 1868. He co-founded the York Sunday School in 1786 and served as it's first Chairman. He was also a founder member of the British Association for the Advancement of Scienceand was Chairman of the York County Savings Bank 1871-1878.
Edwin Gray served as an Alderman from 1897-1905. He also had a prominent role in the Yorkshire Insurance Company, serving as its Director for fifty years and as the Chairman from 1912-1929.
Both William Gray (3) and Edwin Gray served as Lord Mayors of York - William in 1844, and Edwin in 1897.
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
William Gray (1) was born in 1751, the son of a Hull packer. He married Faith Hopwood in 1777. They had three children - Jonathan (b. 1779), Margaret (b. 1782), and William (2) (b.1785). William Gray (1) died in 1845.\nHis son, Jonathan Gray and his wife Mary had two children, Margaret (2) (b.1808) and William (2). Jonathan died in 1837. His son, William Gray (3) had a son, Edwin, born in 1847. Edwin died in 1929.
Relationships area
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
VCH
RCHME
Word documents accompanying Accs 0005 and 0006.
FamilySearch
www.yorkcemetery.org.uk/genealogy
www.grayssolicitors.co.uk
Jonathan Gray and Church Music In York 1770-1840 by Nicholas Temperley (Borthwick Papers Issue 51. University of York, Borthwick Institute).
Cobb, William, A History of the Grays of York 1695-1988 (William Sessions Ltd., Ebor Press, York 1989)