JAMES GRAY Born in Lairg 27 JAN 1846
d Newcastle 15 NOV 1920
James left Lairg before the railway arrived. He walked to Inverness on his journey south to Edinburgh. He was apprenticed there or more likely in Berwick to Thomas Pearson, as a tailor’s cutter.
He married Ellen, his daughter, but no record of their marriage or children’s births have been found. Her first surviving child was born in Buxton. Perhaps she was there for here health. Her other two sons were born in Edinburgh.
Ellen is buried in Lowick, near Berwick on Tweed, where she was born. (See photograph of her memorial.) Ellen 22.7.1853 – 22.8 1883
It is believed that after the death of Ellen, James traveled south, and set up in the west of Newcastle as a tailor. There he married his second wife Ada Mary Wear who was from a fishing family in Hull. They lived at 99 Sidney Grove.
Warlock's ABC 1880s (Central library Newcastle) mentions James Gray's tailors shop at 17 Grey St. After 1900, Ward’s Directory gives 23 Dean St.
All five of their children were born in the Westgate district of Newcastle on Tyne.
He died in 1920. Ada Mary lived with her spinster daughter, Helen, at 35 Milvain Ave until 1947. She James and Helen, who lived until 1970, are buried together in Elswick cemetery nearby.
1 HAROLD GRAY Next mentioned
3 REGINALD GRAY Born in Westgate
Again little is known, except that he worked for an
Insurance firm in Sheffield. He married Pauline, of German
parents, but had no issue. He died before 1947.
4 HELEN GRAY Born in Westgate
She never married, but worked all her life as a secretary
for Sir Angus Watson in Newcastle. (Skipper sardine Co.)
5 ARTHUR GRAY Born in Westgate
Served in the Army in Hong Kong. He retired to a civil
service job, but became very deaf in later years. He
lived by the Roman wall remains on the West Rd Newcastle.
Died Christmas time 1972.