Researching William Gray

Gray first served as a state senator, before becoming the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, serving from 1810 to 1812. He married Elizabeth Chipman (May, 1756 - September 24, 1823) in 1782. Elizabeth was a pioneer in philanthropy, volunteering a significant portion of her time to helping the poorest citizens of Boston.

In 1820, he was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society

He owned Gray's Wharf in Charlestown. In Boston "he lived on Summer Street, in the mansion previously occupied by Governor Sullivan."

Elizabeth and William had three sons and one daughter:* William Rufus Gray (1783-1831), a merchant.* Henry Gray, a merchant. (1784-1854)* Lucia Gray Swett (1788-1844)* Francis Calley Gray (1790–1856), a politician, writer, orator, art collector.* John Chipman Gray, (1793-1881) a politician * Horace (1801–1873), father of Supreme Court of the United States associate justice, Horace Gray, and of Harvard Law School professor, John Chipman Gray

He was born in Newcastle, Canada West, the son of William Gray, and was educated in Guelph and Galt. In 1889, he married Clara A. Whetten. Gray lived in London, Ontario. He was president of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Railway, Kings Quicksilver Mining Company of California, the Dominion Oil Company of California, the Maple Leaf Oil Company of California and the Merchants Manufacturing and Importing Company. Gray was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the House of Commons in 1904 and 1908. He died in office in London, Ontario at the age of 54.

Gray was the second son of William Gray of Wheatfield, in the Haulgh, Bolton, and his wife Frances Rasbotham, daughter of Dorning Rasbotham of Birch House, near Bolton. He was educated privately and in 1835 was cornet in the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Cavalry. He was captain in the 4th Royal Lancashire Militia, and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 27th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers.

He owned the Lever Bridge cotton mill in Darcy Lever which in 1891 had 21,000 spindles and 420 looms. From 1850 to 1852, Gray was Mayor of Bolton. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Lancashire.

At the 1857 general election Gray was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolton. He held the seat until he was defeated at the 1874 general election. He was a liberal Conservative and was in favour of education based on religion.

Gray lived at Darcy Lever Hall, near Bolton, in Lancashire (now Greater Manchester) and Farley Hill Place in Berkshire. He was High Sheriff of Berkshire for 1882–83.

He died at the age of 80. Gray married Magdalene Robin, daughter of John Robin of West Kirby Cheshire, in 1861.

Gray was educated at the London College of Divinity. After curacies in Brixton and Beckenham he was Vicar of Ide Hill and Chaplain to Sevenoaks Workhouse and Infirmary from 1911 to 1915. He was the incumbent at St Nicholas with St Clement, Rochester from 1915 to 1942; Rural Dean of Rochester from 1925 to 40; Archdeacon of Tonbridge from 1940 to 1953; and Vicar of Kippington from 1942 to 1952. He retired in 1953 and died on 17 September 1960.