Searching Gray Family

Hello Arnie,

If you go to www.rootsireland.ie and log into their site.  Click on the left side of the page on @county genealogy centres'

This will bring you to a new window showing you the map of Ireland.

Click on Co. Derry.

this will bring you to the Derry genealogy centre.

Scroll down the page until you see a sentence at the bottom saying "source list for genealogy centre"

This will show you exactly what records are available in the civil and church records.

You'll find that most church records only started around 1830 or so.  Civil registration only started in 1864.

If your family of Greys were protestant then there may be a marriage records starting in 1750 or so.

I doubt very much if you will get any records going back to the 1600, but maybe I'm wrong.  You are already blessed to be able to trace you family back so far.  Woild that other people could be that lucky.

Good Luck in your quest,

Regards,

Anne Dennehy

Arnie,

My ancestors came to the colonies in 1718 with a group of Reverend McGregor's congregation. My G-
G-G-G-G Grandfather was Matthew Gray, b 1710 in Aghadowey, Londonderry, Northern Ireland d 16 Feb 1783 in Worcester, MA, USA. I am trying to confirm if his father was the John Gray, b 1660 in Aghadowey, Londonderry, Northern Ireland d about 1740 in Worcester, MA, USA. Some show the father as John "the immigrant" Gray and others show the father as Matthew Gray Senior. My Matthew Gray married Jane or Jean Kelso, whose father was Hugh Kelso that also came over to the colonies in 1718. Their son Keslo Gray was my G-G-G-G Grandfather and his son Kalso Gray was my G-G-G Grandfather. Kelso Gray is considered an American Patriot for his acts of support for the rebellion againt the English. I am hoping the parish birth records will show the birth date and parents for Matthew Gray.

I found a photo taken in 1902 of Matthew Gray's house in Worcester, MA that was built around 1730. The house didn't look like that in 1730 as it probably had a lot of add-ons and updates in 170 years. I have gotten a lot of information from history books on Worcester, Pelham and Peterborough that mention my ancestors. Kelso Gray married a Phebe Gray and I am trying to trace that Gray family. I have one source that says it was William Gray's daughter. I am trying to find out the relationship of those two Gray families. I hope they weren't first cousins.

What is your line of ancestors?

Ron

Hi Ron. What you described is also my family. We must be related. How cool.