Robert Gray (abt. 1730 - aft. 1799)

Biography

Robert was born about 1730 in Ireland. He died after 1790 in Iredell County, North Carolina.^[1]

From 1751 to 1771, he is in the records of Augusta Co., Virginia, where he had property that joined a corner of his father in law, Francis Beaty's land. In a Nov 1760 Augusta County, VA land record he is called "Robert Gray, of Rowan County, North Carolina" indicating that he had made his move by then. In 1764, he had a land grant for 396 acres of land on Back Creek, in Mecklenburg Co., NC.

In his Will of 1799, he made bequests only to his wife, Eleanor, daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" and son Hugh. He did not mention any land bequests, evidently having made transfers to others of his children previously. He had additional children: Thomas, d. abt 1810; Robert Gray Jr, d. abt 1799; and John. Possibly others.

Spouse: Eleanor Beaty^[2]

Will

Will of Robert Gray, Iredell, NC 11 Dec 1799^[3]

• State of No. Carolina Iredell County Decbr. 11, 1799
• In the name of God Amen I Robert Gray of sd state & county being in the usual & full exercise of my reason so make and constitute this as my last will & testament. In respect to my temporal property I dispose of in mode & manner following Viz
• First my will is that my wife Eleonor have a respectable & sufficient maintainance of the plantation on which I now live during her lifetime also the full possession & free use of the house which I now live during the same period, also my usual riding mare her choice of two cows out of my stock at my Deceas, one old loom & tacklings & all the household furniture Exclusive of what I formerly gave to my daughter Betsy which property she is freely to possess & enjoy & dispose of at pleasure at her own decease.
• Secondly, I will to my daughter Elizabeth her choice of cows & a full right to all that part of my stock which I formerly gave to her & which she now claims as her own together with all that part of household furniture I formerly gave her, which she now claims also
• thirdly, I will to my son Hugh the plantation on which I now live one waggon & gears & all the farming Utencils one sorrel year old colt & all my stock of hogs with a full right & title in & to all that share of property I formerly gave to him & which he now claims further my will is that when all debts and expenses is fully paid and satisfied, the remaining part of my stock (if any remains) be equally Divided Between my wife Elinor Daughter & son Hugh I also constitute and ordain my Nephew David Beaty sole executor of this my last will and testament I also Revoke and Disannul all former wills by me made or done, ratifying & confirming this as my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year above written. Signed sealed published in presence of
• -Robert Gray
• William Wallis, Jurat
• Thomas Gray, Jurat

Notes

(Excerpt) Will of Francis Beatey - Mecklenburg CO NC, 1773^[4]

• In the name of God Amen.
• This twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand Seven hundred and seventy three, I Francis Beatey of Mecklenburg County and providence of North Carolina...

• ...Item I will and bequeath to my well beloved son-in law Robert Grey his heirs and assigns forever a tract of 400 acres of land in Tryon County on both sides of First Broad River including the Holton Rocker Cove provided that his son John Grey shall be entitled to a 1/3 of the value thereof. And I give 5 pounds proc to his daughter Elizabeth Grey to buy her a Bible and the Works of Mr. Andrew Grey...

Sources

1. ↑ #C1790, #HeritageVolII
2. ↑ #HeritageVolII
3. ↑ Will of Robert Gray, Iredell, NC 11 Dec 1799. Original document: NC State Archives, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. Published at Ancestry.com
4. ↑ Will of Francis Beatey - Mecklenburg CO NC, 1773. Mecklenburg Co., Will Book G. pp. 81-86 C.R. 065.801.11 Original documents: NC State Archives, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. This transcription was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: James B. Beaty Jr. (MacBeatey@aol.com) James B. Beaty Jr., 7414 Pine Bluff Circle, Charlotte, NC 28214

• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2M-94N : accessed 30 October 2018), Robert Gray, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 386, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
• The Heritage of Iredell County, NC Vol II - 2000, published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 29866, LC # 00-110956, 574 pages with index, See also Space:The Heritage of Iredell County