Looking for Relatives of John GRAY
Hi I'm tracing my family tree and have got back as far as John Gray, born in Wisbech around 1826. He moved to Norwich at some point and married a woman called Esther with whom he has a phenomenal 11 kids (at least). if anyone has any information about him or his ancestors I would be very grateful Thanks Sharon

Hi Sharon, i have a direct link to John Gray and Esther, i agree a phenomenal amount of children, one or two others followed suit. I still have to verify (an amatuer) but im sure john's parents were, George W Gray 1791 and Mary, they lived at old hall farm lynn rd wisbech st peter and he was a gardner. John was the youngest of 4 the eldest being george ,ann and mary. It appears george and ann lived together as brother and sister the majority of their lives at 1 east place wisbech st peter (cencus 1861-71-81-91). I have lost mary due to marriage most possible, but john is recorded in kings lynn at 39 king st in 1851 as a hairdresser around this time he married? , esther their first child charles is registered in kings lynn. From here they moved to norwich, where john set up again as a hairdresser. Esther died about 1878 john never remarried so had his hands full but continued as a hairdresser, 2 sons followed suit, in norwich. Im pretty sure john died in 1907 and either had moved back to wisbech after the 1901 census or was buried at his request here, i need to recheck this bit. My link to john is via his 6 th child ernest. I hope this helps, i still have lots to do as yet, and would love to go back further,if anyone can help i would be gratefull. all the best tony :)

Descendants of John Gray
I am a direct descendant of John Gray, he was my Great Great Grandfather, His father was George Willbor or Wildbore Gray, one point I would like to verify what is the correct name. he was married to a Mary Fletcher from Eye in Northamptonshire, on 30/April/1815. I believe he lived in Horsefair and was a horse trader. His father John Gray born 16/3/1756 in Wisbech, Married an Amelia Chapple, in Wisbech on 24/March/1785. I have not been able to get beyond this point and coming to Wisbech to do more research in now out of the question as we now live at Bideford in Devon.

re john gray
Hi Londoner, many thanks for the information, its nice to add another piece in the puzzle. Re the horse trader i wasnt aware of this the only info i had was from the census showing a gardener, it is nice to have the wifes names though. Which path of the family from john do you follow? I have tracked his various children to a wide variety of places in england. Do you have any knowledge of a Spanton Gray, i have heard from a couple of relatives this was used as the family name for a while? Many thanks once again, keep in touch all the best tony :D

Hi Tony have never come across 'spanton' gray. my line is down through John-amelia chapple george wilbore or wildbore-mary fletcher john chapple-esther porter charles woodley-mary louisa naunton frederick george-constance mary naunton (they were cousins) william james-florence emily greenouff john william frederick-marie anne monrgomery+pamela payne john richard-annie-marie darbyshire+ daniel john montgomery & kate isobella lancaster david charles-joanne-mary brookes paul leslie-josephine clarkson +ben samuel & elliot & luke the interesting line of the family is the naunton line it goes back to King Henry II of England via the Wingfield's and the dukes of norfolk, I decided to go that line when I got stuck on john gray. any chance of you checking george wildbore/wilbore to see what is correct. it has always been said in our family that we were travelers, so there may be a connection with the fair ground people who i was informed are gray's and they winter stop over in kings Lynn.

re john gray
Fascinating, will do my best to find out, regards the travellers i was aware of this, but was told we were of romany decent. I will over the next few days finish compiling what i have to date, perhaps we could combine the two. Which of john and esthers children do you follow? I am passing wisbech in mid december on way to family in norwich, and will try to make time to have a ferret about. many thanks once again tony

Charles woodley Gray who married Mary Louisa Naunton from southwold 3/September/1872 he was my great grandfather. after they married he moved to colchester then to chelmsford from what info I could get he worked with Marconi at chelmsford on radio transmissions across the north sea to Holland, his son my grandfather worked for the GPO before BT he was the first chef engineer in the city of London. I got the a look at his records at the PO archives.

re john gray
Hi again, if im correct was charles a telegraphist trainer at quite a young age, i had found his trail to southwold and on to london, 2 addresses there i think. i also found one of his sisters in london who has married a goldspink. Thanks once again tony