Jeannette and Robert G. Harper Family Papers

1777 THL

Inventory created by Archives Staff 07/2018. Revised 12/2020

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.

EXTENT: 2.4 linear feet, plus one box of albums and photographs

DATE: 1679; 1771 - 1959

ALTERNATIVE FORM AVAILABLE: Most materials in this collection were digitized in 2018. An asterisk (*) marks later accessions which have not been digitized. Not available online.

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The Jeannette and Robert G. Harper Family Papers consists of correspondence, financial documents, land and property records, and miscellaneous papers belonging to the Gray family of Berkeley County, West Virginia and related families. The bulk of the material concerns John Gray and his descendants through his son James William Gray from the late 1700s to the early 1900s.

John Gray immigrated to Virginia from Scotland in 1765 and settled in Virginia with his older brother, David. Their remaining five siblings later joined them. The Grays acquired land, established farms, and became prominent members of their communities and churches. The materials in this collection document the Gray family’s role in the history and development of Berkeley County from the late 1700s through the Civil War, when it became part of the newly formed state of West Virginia, and into the early twentieth century. 

More broadly, the Grays were part of a larger Scottish and Scots-Irish diaspora that settled in the Shenandoah Valley and later pushed westward over the Appalachian Mountains to the newly established states of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. While the Grays remained in Berkeley County, the materials in this collection show an extended network of family and business relationships developed through this process of immigration, settlement, and westward expansion.

In addition to its historical value, the Jeannette and Robert G. Harper Family Papers collection should provide valuable genealogical information for individuals researching the Gray family and other families and individuals connected by marriage or through personal and business relationships.

Materials in Box 1 comprise correspondence to or from various members of the Gray family, but especially John Gray, his son James William Gray, and James’s children, James and Hester Virginia. There is also some miscellaneous correspondence from other individuals. The letters concern business and family or personal matters. The correspondence of James W. Gray includes letters to his wife and mother while he was in Richmond, Virginia while representing Berkeley County in the House of Delegates in 1852.

The majority of Box 2 consists of property records, to include land grants, deeds, leases, rental agreements, and other legal instruments for recording land transactions. Of note is a copy of a land grant issued to John Gray from President James Madison. Most of the deeds list members of the Gray family as either grantee or grantor, but there are a number of contracts between other parties. John Gray’s ventures in land speculation may account for the large volume of deeds in this collection. Most concern land in Virginia (later West Virginia) but there are also some records for land acquired by the Gray family in Clermont County, Ohio. A handful of oversized deeds and surveys are to be found Mapcase 3, Drawer G. Additionally, box 2 contains wills and estate papers of several members of the Gray family.  

Box 3 contains a variety of legal and financial papers such as receipts, statements of account, promissory notes, account books, contracts and other items. Most belong to John Gray and his wife, Jane Gray, his son, James William Gray and his youngest son, also James William. There are a few items from other members of the Gray family. [Copies of Gray family wills are also in Box 4a, where they are held with chancery case records collected during genealogical research.] Box 3 also includes documents concerning the estate and heirs of Joseph Lamon (sometimes written Lemon/Lemmon). John Gray acted as guardian for the Lamon’s two children, John and Rhumiah, and administered the funds assigned to raise the children to adulthood. 

Box 4 contains miscellaneous papers of both the Gray family and other, related, families. Among the papers of Captain James William Gray is a docket book which contains Gray’s account of John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry. A transcription is available.

Box 4a consists of materials gathered for or related to genealogical research for the Gray and allied families. This includes news clippings, Bible records, wills, and chancery cases. The most prominent family names within this material are Silver, Beall, Harper, Miller, Denny, and Maloney.

Box 5 contains a number of invitations and other ephemera saved by the Gray and Silver families, arranged chronologically. An itemized list of these invitations is available.

Last, box 6, contains photographs and images. Many of the photographs have been organized into albums and are annotated with the names of Gray and related family members.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL:

John Gray (1746 – 1816) was the second of seven children born to John Gray (1720 – 1756) of Christen and Jean Wardrop (1723 – 1771) of Fife, Scotland. John and his older brother, David (abt. 1744-1796), immigrated to the North American Colonies around 1765 to join their uncle, William Gray, and eventually settled in the Shenandoah Valley after a short period in Alexandria, Virginia. David settled near his uncle in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and married Elizabeth Craighill. They had no children.

Following the death of their mother in 1771, the remaining Gray siblings joined their two elder brothers in Virginia. John conveyed land to both his younger brothers, William (b. 1751) and James (b. 1755 ). All four brothers would go on to serve in the Continental Army. Margaret (b. 1747) died shortly after arriving in Virginia, leaving behind her husband Thomas Russell and a young son, John Russell. Christian (b. 1749) arrived in America as a widow with a young daughter, Jean McDonald. She married later Thomas Cowan and settled in Berkeley County at the Cowan family home. The youngest sibling, Jean (b. 1756), also made her home in Berkeley County, marrying Thomas Moon in 1780. 

John Gray had been educated at the University of Edinburgh where he learned Greek and Latin and developed an interest in political economy. John Gray went on to settle in Berkeley County and established a farm known as Spring Hill, near the town of Gerrardstown. He also worked as a civil engineer and surveyor, travelling extensively through Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina to conduct surveys. During this time, John Gray purchased large tracts in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and on the Monongahela River in what is now West Virginia. Additionally, Gray served as an overseer and as a trustee of the newly enlarged town of Gerrardstown in Berkeley County.    

John’s first wife was Mary Sherrard Cowan, whom he married in May 1782. It was through his wife’s dower that John acquired the first of the enslaved persons who worked the Spring Hill estate. There is no record of children being born to John and Mary. Following Mary’s death, John Gray married Jean Hyndman Gilbert (1783-1870) in 1805. Jean had been born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1783 to Edward Gilbert and Jean Sim Rennie. Her parents were of Scottish origin. In 1785 the Gilbert family left Ireland for Pennsylvania and, like many Scots-Irish of this period, they eventually moved into the Shenandoah Valley. John and Jean Gray went on to have four children.

Children of John Gray and Jean Hyndman Gilbert Gray

Mary Ann (1805-1830) married Smith Miller (1770-1762) in 1825 and had a daughter, Hester Jane Miller (1825 -1879). Hester later married J Q A Nadenbousch. (1824-1892). Records indicate a second child, John Alexander Miller, was born about 1828. John never married and spent some of his time living with the family of James W. Gray. He died May 11, 1895. 

The second son, John Edward Gray (1814-1837), was born in 1814 and died at age 23, unmarried. The youngest son, David Wardrop (1817-1848) was born shortly after his father’s death. He practiced law in Batavia, Ohio, where his family held land. He later was commissioned as an officer during the Mexican-American War under Captain E. B. Alburtis. He was discharged in 1848 and left Mexico but neither he nor his party of 40 men made it home. 

James William Gray (1811-1866), the oldest son of John Gray and Jean Hyndman Gilbert Gray, was born in 1811 at Spring Hill. He was educated with his brothers at local private school. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1852 but had to resign because of ill-health. During Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry Captain Gray commanded a Company of Berkeley men in support of Captain Alburtis. He was later tasked with guarding the railroad bridge over the Potomac. Although he failed to muster enough men to form a Company, Gray did serve in the Confederate Army under the command of J. E. B. Stuart. He was discharged for disability after the First Battle of Manassas. His health continued to decline and he faced considerable financial liabilities because of the Civil War. He died July 10, 1866.

James William Gray married Martha Jane Gilbert (1823-1893) on February 6, 1840. Martha Jane was also of Scots-Irish descent, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Patterson Gilbert. She was born in Frederick County in 1823 and died in 1893. She and James W. Gray had seven children, five daughters and two sons. 

Children of James William Gray and Martha Jane Gilbert

The eldest child of James W. and Martha Jane Gilbert Gray was Mary Ann Gray (1841 – 1930). She was born at Spring Hill and went to school at the Valley Female Institute in Winchester, Virginia. On November 6, 1867, she married Colonel Francis Silver, C.S.A (1836 - 1885) of Frederick County, Virginia in 1867.  The Silver family initially came to Virginia from Pennsylvania. Francis Silver Sr. (1740-1820) was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and owned and operated mills in the Cumberland Valley. In 1798, Francis Silver Sr. moved his family to Berkeley County. His son, Francis Silver Jr. (1775 – 1852) married Anne Beall, daughter of Captain Zephaniah Beall in 1802. They had one son, Zephaniah Silver, born at Bunker Hill on May 24, 1805. Zepheniah married the daughter of Hiram Henshaw and together they had several children, including Francis Silver. 

Francis and Mary Ann Gray Silver settled at his family estate, known as White Hall, until 1870, when they moved to Berkeley County. They had six children, five of whom survived to adulthood: Gray Silver (1870 - 1935), their only son, and four daughters named Martha J. Silver (1868-1941), Otilia M. Silver Boyd (1871 – 1952), Ann Beall Silver Hoffman (1877 – 1959), and Mary Llewellyn Silver (1878 – 1985). Mary later married the Rev. Lewis F. Harper.

Hester Virginia Gray (1847 – 1880) married Lieutenant Robert Hanson Stewart, C.S.A., on January 24, 1870. Stewart died in 1879. They had no children. Bettie Coe Gray married George Meade Bowers (1863-1925) in 1884. Bowers, who was born in Gerrardstown, West Virginia, was a businessman and manager of his father’s large estate, representative for Berkeley County in the House of Delegates, and later a banker and President of the People’s Trust Company. The Bowers had four children. The other two daughters, Martha Emma Gray (1857 – 1922) and Hannah Ida Gray (abt. 1852 – 1930), never married.

John David Gray was born June 17, 1850. He was educated at the Shenandoah Valley Academy. He and his wife, Anna Malvina Denny, whom he married in 1877, made their home near Winchester, Virginia and were active in the Presbyterian Church. Anna died on February 26, 1888 and John died on August 30, 1924. Both are buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Gerrardstown.

The youngest son of the family, James William Gray, was born on 6 December 1865. In 1888 he married Harriet “Hattie” Wilson. They lived in Berkeley County, where Gray was a farmer. He died on October 5, 1904.

ARRANGEMENT: Box 1 – Correspondence; Box 2 -- Land Grants, Surveys, Plats, Deeds, Leases and Rents, and other Property Records; Gray Family -- Wills, Estate Papers, 1773 – 1920; Papers concerning estate and guardianship of heirs of Joseph Lamon (Lemon/Lemmon), administered by John Gray; Box 3 -- Legal and Financial Papers; Box 4 -- Miscellaneous Papers, Gray and other Families; Box 4a – Genealogical Materials; Box 5 – Invitations; Box 6 – Photographs and Images; Oversize -- Mapcase 3, Drawer G.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Aler, F. Vernon. Aler’s History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia. Hagerstown, MD: The Mail Publishing Company, 1888; Callahan, James Morton. History of West Virginia, Old and New. Volume 2. Chicago, IL: American Historical Society, 1923; Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Pioneers and their Descendents. Chesapeake Book Company, 1963;  Miller, T. C. and Hu Maxwell. West Virginia and its People. Volume 1. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913; Norris, J. E. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley. Chicago, IL: A. Warne

CITE AS: Jeannette and Robert G. Harper Family Papers, 1777 THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

ACQUISITION INFORMATION: Acquired as a gift.

ORGANIZATION:

BOX 1 -- Correspondence

John Gray, Correspondence, 1771 – 1951 (folder contains the following):
Letter, William Wardrobe to John Gray, November 5, 1771, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], June 23, 1785, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], October 18, 1796, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], August 10, 1799, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, David Hunter to John Gray, November 4, 1800, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Josiah Watson to John Gray, November 22, 1800, 1 leaf, manuscript

John Gray, Correspondence, 1801 (folder contains the following):
Letter, John Gray to “Dear Molley” [Mary Gray], March 9, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Copy of Letter, John Gray to Mr. Watson, March 31, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Gray to “Dear Molley” [Mary Gray], April 13, 1801,1 leaf,  manuscript
Letter, Josiah Watson to John Gray, April 15, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Gray to “My dear and loving wife” [Mary Gray], May 13, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James Watson to John Gray, May 19, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Gray to Mary Gray, July 31, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Gray to Mary Gray, October 5, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript

John Gray, Correspondence, 1802 – 1807 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Jos. Glass to “Dear Sir” [John Gray], August 20, 1802, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle [John Gray], December 8, 1802, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Josiah Watson to John Gray, April 25, 18[03], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Wm [William] Gray to Dear Brother [John Gray], April 29, 180[4], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], November 21, 1804, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], December 12, 1804, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Robert Pleasants to John Gray, January 23, 1804, 1 leaf,  manuscript
Letter, Robert Pleasants to [John Gray], September 30th, 1805, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Jas. [James] Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], June 15, 1807, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], June 20, 1807, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], August 29, 1807, 1 leaf, manuscript

Correspondence, John Gray, 1808 – 1811 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Unknown writer to “Dear Sir” [John Gray], April 15, 1808, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], May 30, 1808, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], November 13, 1809, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], January 26, 1810, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Moon to ‘Dear Uncle” [John Gray], May 13, [1810], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], February 19, 1811, 1 leaf, manuscript 
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], March 23, 1811, 2 leaves, manuscript
Jas [James] Gray to Dear Brother [John Gray], May 23, 1811, 1 leaf, manuscript

John Gray, Correspondence, 1812 – 1813 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], April 25, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, William Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], October 19, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Cowan to John Gray, November 6, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, William Gray to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], February [4], 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Cowan to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], June 21, 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Leman to “Dear Sir” [John Gray], July 18, 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], December 4, 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], December 11, 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript 

John Gray, Correspondence, 1814 – 1815, undated (folder contains the following):
Jas [James] Gray to Dear Brother [John Gray], February 7, 1814, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Cowan to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], June 30, 1814, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Leman to John Gray, July 15, 1814, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Jane Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], December 6, 1814, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter,  [James Gray?] to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], January 7, 1815, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Josiah Meigs to “Dear Sir” [John Gray], August 24, 1815, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to “Dear Uncle” [John Gray], November 18, 1815, 1 leaf, manuscript
Copy of Letter, John Gray to James Watson, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript, 21 x 34 cm (21 x 17 cm folded)
Letter, Christian Cowan to “Dear Brother” [John Gray], undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Christian Moon to “Aunt and Uncle” [John and Jane Gray], July, no year, 1 leaf, manuscript 
Letter, John Gray to Mary Gray, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

Correspondence, Jane Gray, 1812 – 1840 (folder contains the following):
Letter, James Maxwell to Jane Gray, March 28, 1818, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Elizabeth Sherrard to Jain [Jane] Gray, July 23, 1819, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, David W. Gray to “Mother” [Jane Gray], August 10, 1839, 1 leaf, manuscript
Note, Jane Gray to Mathew Hunter and sisters, February 1, 1840, 1 leaf, manuscript

David Gray, Correspondence, approx. 1793 – 1795 (folder contains the following):
Letter, David Gray to John Pope, September 14, [1793], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, David Gray to Ritchard Baylor, October 31, [1795], 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray, Correspondence, 1848 – 1850 (folder contains the following):
Letter, J. R. Cook to James W. Gray, December 27, 1832, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Directors of Middleway and Gerrardstown Turnpike Company to James W. Gray, September 10, 1836, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter/poem, James W. Gray to Mary C. Henshaw, September 1837, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, David W. Gray to brother and mother [James W. Gray and Jane Gray], June 28, 1838, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John G. ____ to James W. Gray, January 13, 1845, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John P. Wilson to James W. Gray, March 31, 1846, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, David W. Gray to brother and mother [James W. Gray and Jane Gray], December 29, 1846, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, C. M. Smith to J. M. Gray, January 23, 1848, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, George S. Lees to James W. Gray, November 4, 1848, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, George S. Lees to James W. Gray, May 14, 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, __ Thomson Mason to James W. Gray, April 8, 1850, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Rich’d Parker to James W. Gray, October 21, 1850, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, C. M. Smith to James W. Gray, November 26, 1850, 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray, Correspondence, 1851 – 1855 (folder contains the following):
Letter, C. M. Smith to James W. Gray, December 3, 1851, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Jacob Van Doren to James W. Gray, December 4, 1851, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, S. D. Rees to James W. Gray, January 1, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, C. M. Smith to James W. Gray, March 25, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, [James Newkirk] to James W. Gray, April 7, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letters (possibly drafts), James W. Gray to S. Albertis; James W. Gray to his Niece, June 1, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, M. S. Grantham to James W. Gray, January 19, 1853, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John C. Ault to James W. Gray, October 26, 1853, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, M. S. Grantham to James W. Gray, December 15, 1853, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Willis Pierson to James W. Gray, January 11, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Nathan S. White to James W. Gray, March 10, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Shorkey to James W. Gray, March 31, 1854,1 leaf, manuscript
Letter,  S. Albertis to James W. Gray, August 26, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Lewis Fry to James W. Gray, November 12, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, E. [I.] Armstrong to Dennis Murphy, Allen C. Hammond and Israel Robinson, January 30, 1835, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, R. A. Sommerville to [James W. Gray], August 14, 1855, 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray, Correspondence, 1856 – 1866, undated (folder contains the following):
Letter, D. Smith to James W. Gray, February 27, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to R. D. Seaman and J. B. Hoge, March 5, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, [Joel] W. Roberts to [James W. Gray], June 10, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter (possibly draft), James W. Gray to Israel Robinson, August 14, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Is.[Israel] Robinson to James W. Gray, August 14, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Is. [Israel] Robinson to James W. Gray, August 15, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Samuel Albertis to James W. Gray, August 22, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter,  Jno. Blair Hoge to James W. Gray, Adam Bowers, [Wm.] Chapman, October 24, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, R. A. Sommerville to Capt. Gray, June 17, 1858, 1 leaf, manuscript 
Letter, Jacob B. F. Swier to James W. Gray, October 18, 1857, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope with note about Swier’s payment
Letter, James W. Gray to Daughter [Mary A. Gray], August 20, 1858, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Richard E. Byrd to [James W.] Gray, October 26, 1861, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, J. B. Swier to James W. Gray, December 21, 1863, 2 leaves, manuscript
Note, from Swier, concerning payment from John E. Brady, December 2, 1865, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, J. B. Swier to James W. Gray, December 4, 1865, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, A. J. Hutsler to James W. Gray, July 2, 1866, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, G. [George] A. Hamill to [James W. Gray], undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Elizabeth Swhier to James W. Gray, June 6 [no year given ], 1 leaf, manuscript; plus envelope
Letter, Thomas Moon to James Gray, undated, 1 leaf,  manuscript
Letter/poem, James W. Gray to Mary C. Henshaw, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray to Martha Jane Gray and/or Jane Gray, Correspondence, 1847 - 1852 (folder contains the following):
Letter, James W. Gray to “Martha and Mother” [Martha Gray and Jane Gray], February 15, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to “Mother and Wife” [Jane Gray and Martha Jane Gray], January 11, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to “Wife & Mother” [Jane Gray and Martha Jane Gray], February 26, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Martha Gray, March 1, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to “Mother and Wife” [Jane Gray and Martha Jane Gray]. March 5, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Martha Gray, March 14, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Mother, March 15, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Martha Gray, April 1, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Martha Gray, April 11, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to Martha Gray, April 25, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to “Mother and Wife” [Jane Gray and Martha Jane Gray], May 29, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript

Martha Jane Gray, Correspondence, 1866 - 1892 (folder contains the following): 
Letter of condolence from Excelsior Lodge No. 54 upon death of James W. Gray, July 11, 1866, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, W. M. McDowell to Martha Gray, May 12, 1886, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope 
Letter, John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch to [Martha] Gray, March 19, 1888, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope
Letter, Alexander Parks to Martha Gray, September 14, 1892, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope 

Correspondence, John E. Gray, 1836 – 1837 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Jacob  J. Grassey to John E. Gray January 11, 1836/7?, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, James W. Gray to John E Gray, January 9, 1837, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Eliza and John Bowen to John E. Gray, March 9, [no year given], 1 leaf, manuscript

David W. Gray, Correspondence, 1838 – 1843 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Committee of the Gerrardstown Lyceum to David W. Gray, November 3, 1843, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, [Geo. Lees] to David W. Gray, May 6, 1845, 1 leaf, manuscript

Hester Virginia Gray, Correspondence, 1865 – 1869, (folder contains the following): 
Letter, Virtie Gray to “Sister,” June 10, 1865, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Virtie to “Mary” [Mattie Payne], February 16, 1866, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Geor. W. Grantham to Virdie, July 17, 1867, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, S. J. to H. V. Gray, July 30, 1867, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Geor. W. Grantham to Virdie, June 20, 1867, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, S. Johnston to H. V. Gray, September 12, 1867, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Addie to Virda, [November 26, 1867], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, G. W. [Grantham] to Virda, January 10, 1868, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, D. G. C. to Virda, July 22, 1868, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, “Brother John” [John David Gray] to Virda, September 30, 1868, 3 pages, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, December 6, 1868, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, December 29, 1868, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, February 2, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, March 5, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript 
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, May 9, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, July 4, 1869, 2 leaves, manuscript
Letter, H. Virda Gray to Mr. Ramsay, July 19, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, [Clay?] to Miss V. Gray, [August?] 26, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, September 19, 1869, 2 leaves, manuscript

Hester Virginia Gray, Correspondence, 1870 – 1880, undated (folder contains the following): 
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, February 8, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Ella Silver to Virda, February 16, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, H. [I.] Silver to Virtie Gray, March 10, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, March 13, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, March 27, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, May 27, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Will M. Myers to Virda, July 10, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
*Letter, R. H. Stewart to Virda, September 16, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, L. G. Ramsay to Virda Stewart, March 27, 1871, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, B. Hunter to Virdie, April 25, 1878, 1 leaf, manuscript
*Letter, H. Gilmour to Mrs. Stewart, March 31, 1880, 1 leaf, manuscript
Marriage proposal from [Bob Stew[art], undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Virda to Bob [Robert Stewart?], undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Addie to Virda, March 19, [18??], 2 pages, manuscript
Letter, Jn. D. Gray to “Dear Sister,” April 14 [no year given], 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Ida [Gray] to Virdie, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Eliza B. M___ to Virdie, February 22 [no year given], 1 leaf, manuscript
Postcard, Belle Stewart to Mrs. Robert Stewart, August 4 [illegible], 1 item
Letter, V. B. W. to “Friend Bob,” November 12 [no year given] 1 leaf, manuscript

John D. Gray, Correspondence, 1869 – 1901 (folder contains the following):
Letter, Jn. D. Gray to “Dear Cousin,” April 23, 1869, 1 leaf, manuscript
Note, John D. Gray to [Bill], October 31, 1898, 1 leaf, manuscript
Note, John D. Gray to [Bill], January 28, 1901, 1 leaf, manuscript
Note, John D. Gray to [Bill], April 12, 1901, 1 leaf, manuscript

*Martha Emma Gray, Correspondence, 1890-1892, undated (folder contains the following):

Letter, J. W. Gray to Emma [Martha Emma Gray], February 3, 1890, 1 leaf, manuscript

Letter, “Will” [J. W. Gray] to Emma [Martha Emma Gray], December 13, 1890, 1 leaf, manuscript.

Letter, “Will” [J. W. Gray] to Emma [Martha Emma Gray, April 7, 1892, 3 leaves, manuscript

Letter, “Will” [J. W. Gray] to Emma [Martha Emma Gray], May 20 [no year], 2 leaves, manuscript Letter, [J. W. Gray] to Emma [Martha Emma Gray], May 25 [no year], 1 leaf, manuscript

James William Gray, Correspondence, 1881 - 1901 (folder contains the following):
Post Card, F. Morris to James W. Gray, [May 1881], 1 item
Letter, John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch to James W. Gray, May 11, 1887, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope
Letter, W. Henshaw to “Friend and Bro.” [James W. Gray], March 22, 1888, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope
Letter, Adrian Nadenbousch to James W. Gray, August 27, 1888, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, J. Q. A. [John Quincy Adams] Nadenbousch to James W. Gray, January 9, 1889, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Francis Morris to James Wm. Gray, 5/2, 1891, 2 leaves, manuscript, 2 leaves
Letter, Adrian C. Nadenbousch to James W. Gray, January 11, 1893, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Harriett [Wilson?] to “Will” [ James W. Gray], October 1893, 2 leaves, manuscript; plus envelope
Letter, Alexander Parks to James W. Gray, May 11, 1895, 1 leaf, manuscript; with envelope 
Letter, Geo. H. Wilson to Will [James W. Gray], November 11, 1895, 2 leaves, manuscript
Letter, J. Gus Hankins to “Buck” [James W. Gray], January 26, 1887, 1 leaf, typescript; plus envelope
Letter, H. E. Markle to J. W. Gray, February 19, 1894, 1 leaf, manuscript; enclosed note, Tobias Hall to J. W. Gray, 1 leaf, manuscript, February 19, 1894, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Val [V. W. Wilson] to Will [James W. Gray], September 16, 1896, 3 leaves, manuscript; with envelope
Letter, V. W. Wilson to Will [James W. Gray], October 9, 1896, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, V. W. Wilson to Will [James W. Gray], October 24, 1896, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Francis Morris to James W. Gray, February 14, 1898, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, R. Ashlin White to James W. Gray, July 27, 1897, 1 leaf, manuscript; plus envelope
Letter, A. M. Fauntleroy to James W. Gray, January 30, 1901, 1 leaf, typescript; plus envelope

Correspondence, Silver family, 1902-1904 (folder contains the following):
*Letter, with enclosed promotional booklet, Anti-Bursting Pipe Company to M. A. Silver, October 6, 1902, 1 leaf, typescript, plus envelope and booklet
*Letter, the Robert Clark Company to M. L. Silver, August, 1903, 1 leaf, manuscript, plus envelope
*Letter, R. H. Waggener to Mary Llewellyn Silver, August 11, 1904, 3 leaves, manuscript, plus envelope and 3 enclosed business cards
Subscription notices, 1908, 2 items, printed; with 2 envelopes

*Postcards, L. F., R. G., and Charles E. Harper, 1926-1951, 7 items, printed/handwritten

Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1812 – 1940, undated (folder contains the following):
Letter, Elizabeth Willis to “Dear Son,” mentions Mrs. Gray, April 26, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John Russell to John P. Wilson, mentioning Mr. Gray, May 22, 1816, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Hugh N. Pendleton to Unknown Recipient, October 14, 1834, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, ____ to J. P. Stewart, November 29, 1847, concerns commission of Capt. David W. Gray, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, John A. Miller to Grandmother and Aunt, March 21, 1852, 1 leaf, manuscript
 “Extracts from a letter written at Richmond, Va. March 1852, to a gentleman in Berkeley Co.,” 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, [Adjutant General’s Office] to John Fletcher, January 27, 1860, 1 leaf, manuscript; concerns Grays commission and authority.
Letter, R. R[eese] Lucas to “Friend Miller” [John A. Miller?], September 12, 1870, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, R. [Reese] Lucas to Jno. A. Miller, March 3, 1871, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Stuart W. Walker to [James W. Gray?], August 16, 1892, 1 leaf, typescript on letterhead
Letter, Stuart W. Walker to [James W. Gray?], October 13, 1892, 1 leaf, typescript on letterhead
Letter, A. E. Bowman to H. I. Gray, October 11, 1929, 1 leaf, typescript on letterhead
Letter (concerning Dr. John B. Wily, C.S.A), M. J. Silver to L. F. Harper, December 3, 1940, 1 leaf, typescript, plus envelope
Copy of Letter, Mary Ann Gray to Christian Moon, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Jane Russell to M. Wilson, mentions John Gray’s will, July 8, no year, 1 leaf, manuscript

*Greeting Cards, 1852-1882, undated, 9 items, printed with manuscript

BOX 2 - Land Grants, Surveys, Plats, Deeds, Leases and Rents, and other Property Records (some oversized items are in Map Case 3 Drawer G)

Land Grants, 1781 - 1910 (folder contains the following):
Land Grant, Commonwealth of Virginia to James Watson, October 10, 1781, 1 leaf, manuscript
James Madison to John Gray, March 7, 1810, 1 leaf, manuscript

Surveys and Plats, 1801, undated (folder contains the following):
List of Surveys by Samuel Sandford, June 29, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Survey for D. B. Hale, February 17, 1814, 1 leaf, manuscript
Plat of Gray tract, near Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio, October 26, 1843, 1 leaf, manuscript
Survey, for Thomas Laidley of William Owens 400 acres, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Jefferson Platts, survey of Josiah Watson’s Land, with valuation of plot by William Owens for Captain Davenport and John Gray, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
“Plat of a tract of land on the West Fork of the Monongahela River,” signed John Gray, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
 “John Gray’s Platt of 1110 Acres on Lucey’s Run, No. 1702,” undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Courses of William Cameron’s Land, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Survey,  “W. Watson Lands which Mr. John Taylor [of Kentucky] will show,” undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Plat, Tingle Place, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Plat, Mount Land, undated, manuscript, 1 leaf
Baldwin’s Plat for Lowe, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Plat, John Gilkey, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Survey, Dower of Jane Gray, Verso: Platt of G Grey’s, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Note, concerning survey of Monongalia land made for David Gray on May 24, 1795, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

Deeds, 1761 – 1800 (folder contains the following):
Deed, James and Catherine Crabtree to John Rees, August 3, 1761, manuscript on printed from, 1 leaf
Deed, Robert Allen to Henry Sherard, September 17, 1788, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John and Christian Cowan to John Gray May 4, 1791, 1 leaf, manuscript; Copy of same deed, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Henry Sherard to John Donaldson, April 27, 1795, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, James Cample to John Gray, October 4, 1797, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John Tingle to John Gray), March 27, 1798, 1 leaf (torn in half), manuscript 
Deed, Josiah Watson to John Gray, Joel Ward, William Hannah, Abram Davenport and the administrators of the estate of Moses Hunter, November 26, 1800, 1 leaf, manuscript

Deeds, 1801 – 1842 (folder contains the following):
Deed, James Watson to Abram Davenport and Joel Ward, June 29, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript; Copy of same deed, fragment, 1 leaf manuscript
Deed, Samuel and Isabel Mckown to John Gray, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Elizabeth Evans to Robert Stewart, February 11, 1813, 1 leaf, manuscript, 1 leaf
Deed, related to chancery suit, Alexander and Maria Cooper, James and Margaret Brown, Samuel and Elizabeth Baker to Robert Daniel Jr., June 12, 1827, 1 leaf, manuscript
“Abstract of a deed of bargain & sale from Morris R. [Chew] &wife to Robert Daniels bearing date June 16, 1827”, copy signed by E. G. Albertis, manuscript, 1 leaf
Deed, James Fletcher  to William Maslin, August 4, 1827, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Meverill L. Fletcher to William Maslin, October 1, 1832. 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, William and Editha Fletcher to William Maslin, December 15, 1834, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Owen J. Fishback to David W. Gray, December 29, 1841, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, David Manor to James W. Gray, November 26, 1842, 1 leaf, manuscript

Deeds, 1845 – 1849 (folder contains the following):
Deed, Edward Colston to William Maslin, April 14, 1845,  2 leaves (attached), manuscript
Deed, James and Catharine Mainor to James W. Gray (grantee), November 13, 1846, 1 leaf, manuscript; with enclosure of tax and fee for “Mayner tax” dated August 7, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, David W. Gray (acting for James W. and Jane Gray) to William Dillon, March 8, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John Dinmit to David W. Gray (acting for James W. and Jane Gray), March 8, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Jane Gray to [John Little], 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John and Elizabeth Manor to Samuel Dunham, February 12, 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Samuel Manor to Samuel Dunham, March 5, 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Jacob and Mary Moon to William Housworth, March 17, 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Samuel Dunham to James W. Gray, April 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Samuel and Rosanah Dunham to James W. Gray, October 30, 1849, 1 leaf, manuscript

Deeds, 1853 – 1911 (folder contains the following):
Deed, William Maslin to James Gray, December 13, 1853, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, Edward Gilbert to James W. Gray, September 18, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John Manor  to James W. Gray, November 25, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John and Hannah Meanor to James W. Gray, January 1, 1855, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, (concerns chancery suit) Seaman Garard to Edward Gilbert, October 6, 1855, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, David and Jane Manor to James W. Gray, December 5, 1855, manuscript, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, [James I. James] and Dorcas S. M. James to James and Nancy Park, March 22, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, James McConnel to Jane Gray, November 27, 1857, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John McKown to James W. Gray, June 1, 1858, 1 leaf, manuscript
Deed, John Nadenbousch, Mary Ellen Parks, Alexander Parks, and Eloise R. Nadenbousch to Martha Jane Gray, November 21, 1888, 2 leaves, manuscript, with envelope
Deed, Martha Jane Gray to Martha Emma Gray, January 11, 1893, 2 leaves, manuscript
Deed, Martha E. Gray to John D. Gray, April 10, 1911, 2 leaves, typescript

Leases and Rents, 1801 – 1839 (folder contains the following):
Lease, George Lamon to Zacharia Chapman, March 7, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, John Gray to William Worley, November 15, 1806, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, John Gray (on behalf of Lamon estate) to John Robinson and Martin Hardy, March 21, 1807, 1 leaf, manuscript
Articles of Rent, Lamon Farm, signed John Gray, December 25, 1809, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, John Gray to John Robinson, December 25, 1809, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, John Gray to John Kyle, May 13, 1810, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, James Wilson to John Gray, April 17, 1811, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, John Gray to William Worley, October 19, 1812, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Samuel Hunter, March 10, 1819, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Martha Gilbert, 1819, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to William Tabler, March 14, 1832, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Samuel Cole and Henry Bowers, March 3, 1835, 1 leaf, manuscript 
Lease, Jane Gray to David Meanor, March 7, 1835, 1 leaf, manuscript
Account of Rents Received by Jane Gray for the heirs of John Gray, April 1, 1835 to April 1, 1841
Lease, Jane Gray to Jacob Armstrong, January 25, 1836, 1 leaf, manuscript
Memorandum of an agreement concerning lease, Caleb Meanor to William B. Daniel, December 8, 1836, witnessed by John E. Gray, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Samuel Meanor, January 1838, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to David Meanor, January 1838, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Steven Steen, January 31, 1838, 1 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Carroll N. Macgill, Robert Daniel, and Samuel Meanor, March 17, 1838, manuscript, 1 leaf
Lease, Jane Gray to David Meanor, February 18, 1839, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to John H. Daniel, March 2, 1839, 1 leaf, manuscript

Leases and Rents, 1840 – 1890 (folder contains the following):
Lease, Jane Gray to Thomas Frazier, March 1840, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Barton Lucas, May 31, 1840, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, James W. and Jane Gray to Daniel Mouser, April 1, 1842-April 1, 1845, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Lorenzo D. Maddex, April 1, 1845, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray and James W. Gray to William Gilbert, February 9, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, James W. Gray to Robert Mix, 1852-1855, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Stephen Steen, April 1, 1853, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Joseph Hyle, December 13, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, James W. Gray to Reuben Custer, April 1 1855 – April 1, 1858, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to Asa Wright, January 8, 1856, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Jane Gray to George W. Crane, August 20, 1866, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Martha Gray to James L. Pine, 1868, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, Martha J. Gray and Emma M. Gray to Henry C. Miller, January 5, 1886, 1 leaf, manuscript
Lease, James W. Gray to Henry C. Miller, January 1890, 2 leaves, manuscript

Title Bonds, 1792 - 1846 (folder contains the following):
Judgement, Bond, Peter Fletcher to John Littlejohn, April 19, 1790, witnessed by John Gray, 1 leaf,  manuscript 
Title Bond, John Cowan to John Gray, January 13, 1792, 1 leaf, manuscript
Bond, Moses Fletcher and William Maslin, April 23, 1828, witnessed by John Gray, manuscript, 1 leaf
Title Bond, Edmund Fletcher  to William Maslin, June 18, 1830, 1 leaf, manuscript
Title bond, Meverell L. Fletcher to William Maslin, August 4, 1832, manuscript, 1 leaf
Bond, David Manor, William Sheerand, and Samuel Manor to James W. Gray, November 26, 1842, 1 leaf, manuscript
Bond, Robert Buck to  Jane Gray, James W. Gray, and John E. Gray, September 25, 1845, 1 leaf, manuscript
Title Bond, James Manor to James W. Gray, November 11, 1846, 1 leaf, manuscript; enclosed receipt for payment of rent by James W. Gray, signed James Manor, December 25, 1846

Property Records, Miscellaneous, 1801 – 1842 (folder contains the following):
Receipt for land sale, Dan Burford to John Gray, July 2, 1801, 1 leaf, manuscript
Memorandum concerning land conveyed from James Watson to John Gray, S. Williams to John Gray, September 12, 1806, 1 leaf, manuscript
Articles of Agreement concerning ditch, Thomas Rees and John Gray, May 26, 1815, 1 leaf, manuscript
Receipt & Quitclaim, Owen J. Fishback to David W. Gray, May 1, 1839 to [August] 7, 1839, 1 leaf, manuscript
Quitclaim, David W. Gray to Everhart, March 15, 1840, 1 leaf, manuscript
Receipt, William Shearer and David Manor to James W. Gray for John Gray’s bond, November 7, 1842, 1 leaf, manuscript

Gray Family -- Wills, Estate Papers, 1773 – 1920

 “State of Account between William Wardrobe of Cull and Mrs. Gray’s children,” 1773, 1 leaf, manuscript

John Gray, Will, 1816 (folder contains the following):
Will, June 16, 1816, 1 leaf, manuscript
Will, June 16, 1816, 1 leaf, manuscript
List of Notes due the estate of John Gray, Decd., c. 1816, 1 leaf, manuscript
Receipts, Estate of John Gray, 1841 – 1854, 2 items, manuscript
Transcript of Will of John Gray, June 16, 1816, 6 pages, typescript (undated), 2 copies

Wills & Estate Documents, Gray family, 1835-1920, undated (folder contains the following):
John E. Gray, Will, February 1, 1835, 1 leaf, manuscript
John E. Gray, Will, March 20, 1836, 1 leaf, manuscript
Will, J. William Gray, 1891, 2  pages, manuscript
Will, Hester Virginia Gray Stewart, October 30, 1880, 6 pages, manuscript
Letter concerning partition of James Gray’s land, for Emma Gray, February 7 1916, 1 page, typescript
Will (copy), M. Emma Gray, October 20, 1920, 2 pages, typescript
David Gray, Note concerning estate, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Final settlement, estate of John D. Gray, undated, 3 pages, typescript

Jane Gray, chancery suits, 1817-1888, undated (folder contains the following):
Suit, Jane Gray versus Heirs of John Gray, February 10, 1817, 10 pages, manuscript
Receipt for chancery payment, April 21, 1836, 1 leaf, manuscript
Receipt for chancery payment, June 13, 1836, 1 leaf, manuscript
Complaint, suit concerning estate of Jane Gray, no date, 6 pages, manuscript
The following documents in support of above chancery suit:
-Will (copy), Jane Gray, December 19, 1863, 3 pages, manuscript
-Addition to will (copy), Jane Gray, November 2, 1866, 1 page, manuscript
-Will (copy), James W. Gray Sr., June 24, 1866, 1 page, manuscript
-Will (copy), Anna M. Gray, February 9, 1888, 1 page, manuscript

Martha Jane Gray, Chancery Suit, 1868 – 1911, undated (folder contains the following): 
Summons, concerns chancery suit initiated by Martha Jane Gray over assignment of dower against heirs of James W. Gray, April 1, 1868, manuscript on printed form, 1 item
Suit, Martha Jane Gray vs. Heirs of James W. Gray, May 20, 1868, 2 pages, manuscript
Bill of Court in Chancery, 1871, 1 leaf, manuscript
Letter, Circuit Court of Jefferson County to Mary A. Gray and Martha J. Gray concerning Chancery Case, April 1872, 1 leaf, manuscript
Partition Agreement among the Heirs of Martha Jane Gray and James W. Gray, April 8, 1911, 8 pages, typescript
Notes concerning division of estate, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

Papers concerning estate and guardianship of heirs of Joseph Lamon (Lemon/Lemmon), administered by John Gray

Guardian Account of Heirs of Joseph Lamon, Receipts, 1796 – 1815, 30 items, manuscript

Guardian Account of Heirs of Joseph Lamon, Account Statements, 1805 – 1815, 14 items, manuscript

Lamon Estate, Miscellaneous (folder contains the following):
Receipts, 1797 – 1805, 9 items, manuscript
Summons issued to George Lamon and Rachel Lamon, executors of Joseph Lamon’s will, December 27, 1798, 1 leaf
Summons issued to George Lamon and Rachel Lamon, executors of Joseph Lamon’s will, 1799, manuscript, 1 leaf

BOX 3: Legal and Financial Papers

John Gray, Accounts, 1769-1816 (folder includes the following):
Ledger pages, c. 1769, 4 pages, manuscript
Statements of Account, 1794 – 1809, undated, 8  items, manuscript
John Gray, Promissory Notes and Payment Orders, 1765-1816, undated, 7 items, manuscript

John Gray, Receipts, 1792-1815 (folder contains the following):
*Receipts, 1792 – 1815,  15 items, manuscript (not all are digitized)
John Gray, Taxes, 1804, 1807, 1812, 1813, 4 items, manuscript

John Gray, Insurance Policies, 1806 (folder contains the following):
Mutual Assurance Society Policy No. 92, December 11, 1806, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form
Mutual Assurance Society Policy No. 93, December 11, 1806, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Jane Gray, Legal and Financial Papers, 1818 – 1873 (folder contains the following):
Jane Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1818 – 1873, 26 items, manuscript
Labor contract, Jane Gray and Thomas Frazier, January 1839, 1 leaf, manuscript 

David Gray, Legal and Financial Papers, 1775 – 1794 (folder contains the following):
Bond, David Gray and Joan McDonald, July 8, 1775, manuscript, 1 leaf 
Arthur Gordon, Power of Attorney to David Gray, December 24, 1785, 1 leaf, manuscript
Promissory note to James Lawson, June 23, 1794, 1 item, manuscript
Receipts, 1780-1794, 5 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1833 – 1844, 44 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1845 – 1849, 92 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1850 – 1857, 112 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1841 -1861, undated (folder contains the following):
Receipts, 1861, undated, 8 items, manuscript
Receipts for taxes, 1841- 1866, 6 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Legal and Financial Papers (folder includes the following):
Promissory Notes and Payment Orders, 1841-1845, 8 items, manuscript
Power of Attorney, Edward Gilbert to James W. Gray Sr., December 13, 1856, 2 leaves (attached), manuscript
Contract, James Ritter and Thomas D. Coates, witnessed by J. W. Gray, December 23, 1861, 1 leaf, manuscript

Martha Jane Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1881 - 1886 (folder contains the following): 
Tax Receipts, Berkeley County, West Virginia, 1881, 2 items, manuscript on printed form
Receipts/Statement of Account, 1883 - 1886, 3 items, manuscript
David W. Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1839 – 1846, 12 items, manuscript

James W. Gray, Jane Gray, David W. Gray, Legal and Financial Papers, Clermont County, Ohio, 1838 – 1837 (folder contains the following):
Receipts, 1838 – 1847, 5 items, manuscript
Power of Attorney for Clermont land, Jane Gray and James W. Gray to David W. Gray, October 13, 1838, 1 leaf, manuscript
Summons, David W. Gray, Jane Gray, and James W. Gray, March 5, 1847, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

James William Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1881-1889 (folder contains the following):
Receipts, 1881 – 1889, 56 items, manuscript/manuscript on printed form; plus envelope, 1 item
Tax Receipts, Berkeley County, West Virginia, 1881, 1884, 2 items, manuscript on printed form

James William Gray, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1891-1897, undated (folder contains the following):
Receipts, 1891 – 1897, undated, 49 items, manuscript/manuscript on printed form; plus envelopes, 3 items

James William Gray, Banking Documents, 1894 – 1901, undated (folder contains the following):
Checks, various banks in Martinsburg, W. Va., 1894-1901, 9 items
Bank note, November 23, 1889, 1 item, manuscript on printed form
Bank note, James W. Gray to H. Ida Gray, with attached letter stating that note Bank refused to pay, signed by notary public George S. Hill, 1 item, manuscript on printed form
Account Book, National Bank of Martinsburg, Account of James W. Gray, 14 cm

Gray family, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1837 - 1891 (folder contains the following):
H. Virginia Gray, John D. Gray, Bessie Coe Gray, John E. Gray, Martha Emma Gray, Receipts, 1875 – 1881, undated, 19 items, manuscript/manuscript on printed form (*some items not digitized)

John A. Miller, Receipts/Statements of Account, 1837 – 1887, 57 items, manuscript

Miscellaneous Financial Documents, Receipts, Statements (not Gray), 1772 – 1894, 25 items, manuscript

Farm Account Book, January 1, 1891- March 12, 1892, 1 volume (94 pages) ; 30 cm

BOX 4: Miscellaneous Papers, Gray and Other Families

John Gray, Nominations and Appointments, 1781, 1793 (folder contains the following):
Nomination to Deputy Surveyor, Monongalia County, April 10, 1781, 1 leaf, manuscript
Appointment to Overseer of the Road, January 1793, 1 leaf, manuscript

Freedom Papers for George [Cutler], March 12, 1806; back references two enslaved persons named Hanson, listed as “property of John Gray,” and William, listed as “property of David Gambell,” September 12, 1813, manuscript, 1 leaf

James W. Gray, Composition book, circa 1830s – 1850s; cover shows “Property of Mary A. Silver,” front page indicates pieces written by James William Gray, 1 volume (unnumbered pages) ; 21 cm ; includes two enclosures: 
Poem, 1 leaf, manuscript
Poem, To our Correspondents, by James W. Gray, Jr., 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray, Docket Book, 1856 - (includes account of John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry), 1 volume (unnumbered pages)

James W. Gray -- John Brown’s Raid, 1959, 2011 (folder includes the following):
Memoir of Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry, by James W. Gray, transcribed by Jeannette Markell Harper, 2011, 1 volume (28 pages), printed
Historical Booklet, Centennial Observance, John Brown Raid, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 1959, 1 volume, unnumbered pages

James W. Gray, Miscellaneous Papers, 1852 – 1854, undated, (folder contains the following):
Pamphlet, “Objections to the Military Superintendencies of the National Armories,” 1852, sent to Capt. Gray, 4 pages, printed
Statement concerning misunderstanding between Lewis Fry and M. S. Grantham, August 7, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Proxy ballot, Middleway and Gerrardstown Turnpike Company, December 28, 1854, 1 leaf, manuscript
Statement, Jacob Van Doren, “To the People of Berkeley County,” concerning debts of Richard D. Seaman, May 17, 1852, 1 page, printed
Remarks on the Agreements, concerns agreement with Thomas Rees over use of saw mill, no author, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Memorandum concerning dispute between Lewis Fry and M. S. Grantham over election to sheriff, undated, manuscript
Temperance hymn and notes, unsigned, undated, manuscript, 1 leaf, 39 x 25 cm (folded) – Note: hymn is by Edwin F. Hatfield, c. 1840s
No author, remarks on tariffs, undated, manuscript, 1 leaf
Letter concerning navy, exports, [early 1800s?], 1 leaf, manuscript
Notes, history of United States, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Notes, small manufacturers, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Notes, Trespass Law, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

James W. Gray, Oaths, 1862, 1865 (folder contains the following):
Certificate from Provost Marshal’s Office, Martinsburg, VA, to confirm Oath of Allegiance taken by James W. Gray, August 20, 1862, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form
Certificate of Amnesty Oath, Berkeley County, WV, issued to James W. Gray, October 9, 1865, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Book, The Pocket Lawyer and Family Conveyancer, Philadelphia, PA: Charles Bell, 1841, inscribed with “D. W. Gray, Batavia, Ohio, 1842,” and with annotations, 1 volume (approx. 144 pages) ; 18 cm

Composition Book, “John E. Gray’s Law Briefs/James W. Gray’s Verses,” circa 1836, 1 item, bound, 31 cm

Gray Family, Miscellaneous, 1836 – 1919, undated (folder contains the following):
Single button in envelope, envelope labeled “John Edward Gray 1836”
Envelope, addressed to John D. Gray
Calling cards, 2 items
Membership Card, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, 1883, 1 item, manuscript on printed card
David W. Gay, Names of the Months in French and English, D. W. Gray, [1842], manuscript, 1 leaf
Recipe for fruit cake and other desserts, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript, 15 x 13 cm
Program, Final Celebration, Norwood School, Nelson County, Virginia, June 24, 1869, 1 item, printed
James W. Gray, Kappa Sigma Membership Card, 1883, 1 item
Whiskey Price Lists, circa 1900, 2 pages, printed
Extracts from Annual Reports, Berkeley County Free Schools, 1901-1902, 1903-1904, 1905-1906, 1906-1907, 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 40 pages, variable pagination, printed
Booklet, I. P. Thomas & Son Company Bone Fertilizers, 1902 – 1903, includes blank pages some of which have notes about planting, 1 item, 14 cm
Booklet, Constitution and By-Laws, NSDAR, 1914, 32 pages
H. Ida Gray,  Mary Baldwin Seminary Alumnae Association Bulletin, 1919, 1 item, printed 
Booklet, Pioneer Women of Winchester Presbytery compiled by Mrs. M. A. Snodgrass, 1923-1926, inscribed “(Mrs. Lewis F.) Mary Silver Harper, Berryville, Va.,” 1 item, printed
Program, The William Henshaw Chapter NSDAR, 1929, 1 item
Recipe for corn and rye whiskey, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
*Note, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript

*Booklet, An Address by Judge E. Boyd Faulkner, June 17, 1899, Confederate Monument, Martinsburg, W.Va., 7 pages, printed

Charles E. Harper, Handley High School, 1930-1932, (folder contains the following):
Report card of Charles E. Harper, circa 1930, 1 item, printed/manuscript
The Handley High School Student’s Handbook, 1930-1931; 1931-1932, 2 items

Handlian, 1932, inscribed Lewis F. Harper, Jr., with program for graduation exercises 1932, 1 volume; 1 program

Will, Henry Champnois, June 13, 1679, 1 leaf, manuscript

Certification of Marriage License for William and Jane Sheerand, October 13, 1842, issued by Washington County, Maryland, 1 leaf, manuscript

Advertising and business materials, undated, 11 items, printed

Baby’s Record Book, blank, 1 item, printed

BOX 4a: Genealogical materials

News Paper Clippings, 1890 –1931, undated (folder contains the following):
Death notice, Vance Stewart, Valley News, September 5, 1890, 1 item, printed
Obituaries, J. William Gray, 1904, 5 items, printed
Obituary, Martha Emma Gray, 1922, 1 item, printed
Obituary, John D. Gray, 1924, 1 item, printed
News clippings, Silver family, 1903 – 1931, undated, 21 items, printed

“The Harper Line,” 1728 – 1982, from Frank O’ Beirne, The Harpers of Virginia, West Virginia, and Mississippi, 1982, 1 item, printed  

Silver-Harper Genealogy, 1764 - 1959 (folder contains the following): 
Genealogy, John Silver, 1764-1848, 3 pages, typescript
Will (copy), Benjamin Jefferson, January 2, 1788, with genealogical notes, 1 page, typescript (2 copies); envelope
Extract and notes from Chancery Case, Beall vs. Silver, 1809-1811, 2 pages, typescript
*Will (copy), Smith Slaughter, December 22, 1832, 2 leaves, typescript; additional note indicates filed in suit Andrew Wagonner vs. Elizabeth and John Gray, Administrators of David Gray, 1 leaf, typescript
Family Bible Record, Francis Silver Bible, 1836 – 1959, 4 pages, manuscript on printed form; transcript, 7 leaves, manuscript
Letter, R.T. Daniel to B. W. Jefferson, April 27, 1846, concerning legacy of Christopher Robinson, 3 pages, typescript
*Correspondence, Gertrude Best Yates to Martha Silver concerning Silver-Yates-Hesseltine genealogy, dated: (i) November 9, 1930, 2 pages, typescript; (ii) June 6, 1934, 2 pages, typescript
*Correspondence concerning Jefferson-Whiting-Silver genealogy, sent to L. F. Harper, August 1939, includes: (i) Will (copy), Benjamin Jefferson, January 2, 1788, 1 page, typescript; (ii) Jefferson notes, 1 page, typescript; (iii) Will (copy), Hamilton Jefferson, May 2, 1821, 1 page, typescript; (iv) Elliott-Robinson-Whiting-Jefferson-Silver notes, 1 page, typescript; (iv) Whiting notes, 1 page, typescript (v) envelope.
*Correspondence concerning Silver-Jefferson-Yates genealogy, sent to L. F. Harper, September 1939, includes: (i) Silver-Jefferson-Yates notes, 4 pages, typescript; (ii) Letter, M. J. S. to “Llew,” September 14, 1939, 1 page, typescript; (iii) Letter, Gertrude Best Yates to Martha Silver, November 9, 1930, 2 pages, typescript (dup.); (iv) envelope.
“Information given by Zephemiah Silver Jr. to his nephew Gray Silver relative to his (the former’s) war service,” undated, 3 leaves, manuscript; includes note, Zephemiah Silver Jr. to Gray Silver, undated, 1 leaf, manuscript
Samuel Godman, extract from The Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol. 5, 1 page, typescript

*Anna M. Denny, family Bible record with news clippings, 1827-1888, 14 leaves, photocopies

Beall Family, undated (folder contains the following): 
Zephaniah Beall, d. 1753-1809, 1 page, typescript
Ninian Beall, 1 page, typescript,
John Beall, 1 page, typescript
Cartrell-Beall, 1 page, typescript
Extracts, various sources, 4 pages, typescript

Maloney Family, 1816, undated (folder contains the following):
Will, Daniel Maloney, July 7, 1816, transcript, 3 leaves, manuscript
Note, re. James Maloney, 1 leaf, manuscript

Miller Family, 1790 – 1932 (folder contains the following): 
Family Bible Record, Miller Bible, 1790 – 1932, 12 pages, manuscript on printed form
Notes concerning Miller family genealogy, 6 items, manuscript

BOX 5 – Invitations

An itemized list of invitations is available

Invitations, 1850 – 1889, 47 items, printed and manuscript

Invitations, 1890 - 1895, 28 items, printed and manuscript

Invitations, 1896, 18 items, printed and manuscript

Invitations, 1897 – 1899, 25 items, printed

Invitations, 1900 – 1903, 35 items, printed

Invitations, 1904 – 1905, 38 items, printed

Invitations, 1906 – 1907, 23 items, printed

Invitations, 1908 – 1909, 23 items, printed and manuscript

Invitations, 1910 – 1911, 20 items, printed

Invitations, 1912 – 1918, 23 items, printed

Invitations, 1929 – 1947, 9 items, printed

Invitations, Calling Cards, undated or no year given, 40 items, printed and manuscript

Calling cards, undated, 12 items, printed

BOX 6 – Photographs and images

Ambrotype, boxed, James William Gray, 1 item (in envelope)

Unidentified photographs, 13 items (in envelope)

Duplicate images, Hangar, Evans, and other relatives, 11 items (in envelope)

Silhouettes, Henshaw family, 1 item

Photo album, Wilson, Harper, and Buckles families, inscribed to the memory of Robert Harper, died April 4, 1890, 1 volume (28 pages) ; 28 cm

Photo album, Gray and related families, 1 volume (50 pages) ; 16 cm

Photo album, Gray, Silver, and related families, 1 volume (40 pages) ; 15 cm

Photo album, Wilson, Harper, Forman, Cooper, and others, 1 volume (36 pages) ; 17 cm

Photo album, unidentified persons, 1 volume (22 pages) ; 27 cm

OVERSIZE

MAPCASE 3, DRAWER G

Deed, James Crabtree to John Rees, August 3, 1761, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Deed, Isaac and Hannah Heaton to Henry Sherard, November 17[85], 1 leaf, manuscript

Deed, Jacob Price to Peter Fletcher, April 20, 1789, 1 leaf, manuscript 

Deed, Gilbert and Martha McKown to Isaac McKown, September [10], 1791, 1 leaf, manuscript

Deed, John and Ann Baley to Peter Fletcher, October 1, 1791, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Deed, Moses and Lacy Fletcher to William Maslin, May 3, 1828, 1 leaf, manuscript

Plat of Gray’s Berkeley Lands, undated, manuscript, 1 leaf; with envelope 

Land Grant (duplicate), Commonwealth of Virginia to Josiah Watson, October 10, 1781, 1 leaf, manuscript

Folder containing sheet music, “Sweet Rosalie,” by M. E. Gray, circa 1906, printed; Obituary of Gray Silver, Pennsylvania Farmer, p. 7, 1935, 1 item

PHOTOGRAPHS:
Photographs and other images belonging to this collection may be accessed online through http://handley.pastperfectonline.com. The original albums and frames, with notations, have been retained and are shelved with the collection.