Edward Gray (1673-1757)

Biography
Gray Genealogy says:
 * Edward Gray, born in Lincolnshire, England, 1673, came to this country in 1686. He served an apprenticeship with Mr. Barton at Barton's Point, Boston, as a rope-maker. When he had earned enough for the purpose, he returned to England to visit his friends. On his coming down the English Channel he was impressed on board a man of war, whence he was released through the influence of the Surgeon, who knew his family. He then returned to Boston, where he again worked as a journeyman, and soon earned enough to hire a rope-walk, in which he was so successful that in a very short time he was able to purchase one. His business continued so prosperous that he was thereby enabled to live genteelly and to dispense liberal charities.


 * In 1699 Mr. Gray married Susannah Harrison, by whom were seven children. She died June 4, 1713; he married 2d, Hannah Ellis, a niece of Rev. Dr. Coleman, of the Brattle St. Church, she having come over from England for that purpose. Dr. Coleman had told his wife that he had two nieces in England, and asked her if he should send for the one called "Lump of Love." She assented, and he accordingly sent for her, and soon after she arrived Mr. Gray married her. By her he had five children. He became an opulent merchant, and died July 2d, 1757, aged 84 years. He had lived a long and useful life, and left a handsome estate. Dr. Chauncey said of him in a funeral sermon, " He was unexceptionable, and unenvied except for his goodness." He was buried in the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont St., behind the Park St. Church, in his own tomb near the gate. By his will dated Feb. 12, 1753, witnessed by James Otis, Mr. Gray gives to his son John, the rope-walk, a brick warehouse adjoining, mth yarn houses, knotting house, dwelling house and land, standing the whole length of the present Pearl street, and on "Cow Lane," now High St. and Atkinson St., and valued at £1,000. The whole estate was appraised at about £5,500. By the inventory he had ten colored slaves appraised at £246.

__SHOWFACTBOX__