Some UNRESOLVED ALEXANDER GRAY QUESTIONS
- Was Alexander married before he came to New Zealand in 1826 then 30 years old.
- Was Alexander GRAY possibly older than aged 43 when he died in 1839?
- Father a Goldsmith? Research has drawn nothing. Watchmaker or Smith/ Blacksmith have drawn possibilities.
- Left from the Port of Leith near Edinburgh to head for NZ. Hired from this area because he was working / living there up until 1825?
- Was GRAY on the Captain Herds previous ship the "Providence" and embarked at Sydney before ship continued onto New Zealand arriving in 1822? DNA shows possible descendants that live on Islands where this ship stopped at before arriving in Australasian waters.
The parents of Alexander Gray are a mystery.
The parish registers provide possibilities but no definitive proof. There are speculative Whakapapa on MyHeritage.com which are 150 years between Alex's birth and his father's birth. Ancestry.com has a members family tree with Alexander Gray baptised 8 Aug 1797 in Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen Scotland. Looking good so far but the parents names are an issue which don't seem to fit. eg John Gray and mother Charlotte Innes. Other siblings are Ann and Robert Gray. None of these names gel with the naming of offspring in Alexander Grays NZ family. James 1828 - 1829,
Alexander Gray Jnr b. 1828,
Margaret Elizabeth b. 1830,
Mary Sophia b. 1832
Jane Maria b. 1834.
When one searches wider in Aberdeen-shire there are many more likely candidates that seem to match name wise. The real proof will be via DNA.
DNA TEST PRODUCTS tried
23 and Me, My Heritage and Ancestry DNA, have not currently produced a DNA link back to Scottish Heritage. However there is a link to another NZ child born c.1834 of which Alex Gray 1796-1839 fathered to another woman (Te Nao Wheoki}.
Is this why Kotiro (Mary) had no more children to Alex. Gray after 1834?
Alexander GRAY Jnr 1828 - ? His connection with the family in New Zealand, was lost after 1859 when he was reported by his sisters below as living in NSW Australia. From about 1834 he was brought up by Rev Chapman and wife whom were childless. Before moving to Australia 1848, Alex lived with the Chapman's in Rotorua .
Margaret Elizabeth GRAY 1830-1904
In 1839 Margaret came under the care of a Missionary family as a pupil and then with residence up until she left New Zealand.
In c. 1842 Margaret was escorted to Australia by associates within the CMS and Wesleyan communities. Margaret married William Gourlay in 1845 but he tragically died in 1853. In 1854 she married Edward Cregan.
Mary Sophia GRAY 1832 - 1911
Better known as TePaea Hinerangi or Guide Sophia. "The Mother of Tourism Guides" in the Bay of Islands, TeWairoa (Pink and White Terraces) and Whakarewarewa Rotorua.
Husbands:
Koroneho (TeHakiroe), Hori Taiawhio
Jane Maria GRAY 1834 - 1922
Husbands and partners:
Sedborough MAYNE 1829 - 1852
Charles Rowe YEELES 1834 - 1870
Fredric Stansfield HERRIES 1833 - 1917
William Sidney SMITH 1832 - 1867
George William Smith PHILLIPS 1849-1936
