Questions, Grace Gray 1836-1911

Grace Gray, daughter of John and Bathia (Davidson) Gray married William David Kerr. For this Blog post, I am focusing on the question of her birth date. It doesn't really matter when Grace was born except in the matter of her father, John Gray Sr. having 10 children as it states in his obituary (refer to Blog Post: Questions, John Gray Sr 1813-1892).

    I have found no birth or christening record for Grace Gray. Her obituary states she was born: 11/24/1835. Find a Grave Memorial states birth as: 11/24/1836 (since it appears the marker was placed by her daughter, Minnie, years after her death most likely the daughter provided the birth date, her source is unknown). Only one Census of the five I found lists her birth year as 1836.

Birth of Grace Gray, 1st born child of John and Bathia (Davidson) Gray born in America. 
Marriage of John and Bathia: 2/17/1835.

Source: "Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910," Database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTNV-8PV : accessed 17 June 2015), John Gray and Bathia Davidson, 17 Feb 1835; citing Forgue,Aberdeen,Scotland, reference ; FHL microfilm 993,183.

    If Grace was born 11/24/1835 she would have been born just days short of 9 months from the given date of their marriage.

1840 Census, Dearborn, Wayne, MI (no month or day for this census is shown on the page). The Census is # only, providing a name only for the Head of Household. I use the 1850 Census to determine who the other members of the household are. Using the birth date '1835' for Grace would most likely make her 5 at the time of the Census.

John Gray

Males under 5 (2)  John Jr B: 1838 (2). Alexander B: 1840

Males 5 thru 9 (2) Wm B: 1834 (6). Grace B: 1835 (5)

Males 20 thru 29  (1) John Sr

Females 20 thru 29 (1) Bathia

Females 50 thru 59 (1) Jane, mother of John Sr, B: 1780 (60)

    Total (7)

Employed in Agriculture (1) John Sr

over 20 who cannot read or write (2)

*Grace, age 5, Female not Male

Birth Year of Grace

1850 Census, Michigan, Grace age 14 (abt) 1836

  *would make her 4 in 1840; born 1835 would make her 5 in 1840

1870 Census, Minnesota, Grace age 34 (abt) 1836

1880 Census, Minnesota, Grace age 45 (abt) 1835

1900 Census, Minnesota, Grace age 63 (abt) 1836

1910 Census, Minnesota, Grace age 74 (abt) 1836

Obituary (1): passed away age 75 years, 11 months and 28 days

Obituary (2): born 11/24/1835, Wayne, Michigan

    died, at home, 11/20/1911 age 75 years…

Find A Grave Memorial Created by Daniel Kelley. Record added: 1/30/2012

Birth: 11/24/1836. Detroit, Wayne Co, MI

Death: 11/20/1911. Dodge Center, Dodge Co, MN

Hillside Cemetery, Claremont, Dodge Co, MN

Personal Note: Memorial Stone was placed by daughter, Minnie years later, includes Grace and two of her daughters Anna, Isabelle. Minnie’s will (3/11/1939): order and direct my executor to provide markers for the graves of my sisters Isabel and Anna, and myself and also a marker for the burial lot of my sister Mattie.

Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index

Grace Kerr. Birth: 11/24/1836. Death: 11/20/1911.

Hillside Cemetery, Claremont, Dodge Co. Spouse: David Kerr

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