1781 Anna Catharine, daughter of Henry Wolf, was born on October 16, 1781. She was baptized on November 18, 1781 at the First Reformed church in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [1] Her grave marker reports a birth date of October 16, 1781. [2]
1803 Justus Gray, carpenter of Cocalico Twp, purchased land from Joseph Heffly. The land was in Cocalico Twp adjacent to lands of John Bear now Jacob Brubacker, John Meyer, Christian Rohrbach now Jacob Kimmel, Daniel Sweigart, John Nees, Daniel Terfals now John Gerber, containing 113 acres. The tract was previously owned by Jacob Koffroth and his wife Elizabeth [Gerber]. The purchase price was 1580 pounds. The deed was dated April 16. [3]
1803 Justus Grau, of Cocalico Twp, & Catharine Wolf, of town, were married on September 1, 1803 at the First Reformed church in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [4]
1804 Elizabeth Grau, daughter of Justus and Catharine Grau, was born on August 4. She was baptized on November 14, 1804, at the First Reformed Congregation in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with her parents as sponsors. [5] [6]
1805 Justis Groe was taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for 123 acres, 2 horses, and 1 cow. He was not taxed in Cocalico Twp or in Lancaster Borough in 1802 or 1803. [7]
1806 Justis Groe was taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for 123 acres, 2 horses, and 1 cow. [8]
1807 Justis Grey was listed as a farmer in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [9] [10]
1808 Justis Grey was taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [11]
1810 Justis Groh was taxed in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [12]
1810 Justus Grave lived in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 2 (under 10) and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). The adjacent listing was for Christian Woolf, Catharine's brother. [13]
1820 Justass Gray lived in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 2 (10 thru 15) and 1 (45 and over); and females: 1 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), and 1 (26 thru 44). Christian Wolf was listed nearby. [14]
1830 Justice Gray lived in Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (10 thru 14), 1 (20 thru 29), and 1 (70 thru 79); and females: 1 (20 thru 29) and 1 (50 thru 59). [15] Christian Wolf and Justus Gray Jr were listed nearby.
1833 Justus Gray died on February 9 and and was buried at Bethany Cemetery, Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The findagrave memorial states that he was born August 9, 1757. [16]
1833 Philip Bushong petitioned the Lancaster County Orphans Court March 4 to appoint him as guardian for the estates of his four minor children (under the age of 14) by his first wife, which descended from their grandfather Justus Gray, deceased. The children were named Jacob Bushong, Henry Bushong, Elizabeth Bushong, and Maria Bushong. The appointment was approved by the court. On the same day, Catharine Gray widow and Philip Bushong and others petitioned the court for a partition of the estate of Justus Gray, who died intestate in February, 1833 leaving a widow and 3 children and 4 grand children. The grand children were named Jacob, Henry, Maria, and Elizabeth Bushong, with guardian Philip Bushong. The children were named Henry and Justus Gray and Ann married to Daniel Bowman. One 113 acre tract of land was in Cocalico Twp with a log dwelling and barn. It was adjacent to lands of Christian Brubaker, Daniel Markley, Nicholas Lutz, David Martin, and Christian Wolf. Another tract of 130 acres was adjacent to lands of Christian Wolf, widow Breneisen, widow Bower, John Weaver, widow Shirk, Samuel Smuck, Christian Meyer, Jacob Stahl, and the first tract. [17]
1833 The Orphans Court made the partition of the lands from the estate of Justus Gray. March 18. [18]
1833 Henry Gray, oldest son accepted the value of tract B (the second described tract) and Justus Gray second son of Justus Gray deceased accepted the value of tract A (the first described tract). Justus Gray, George Geta, Henry Gray, and Jacob Hillsman were listed "tent: with a dollar amount in records of the Orphans Court on September 16. [19]
1833 Henry Gray and Justus Gray, administrators of Justus Gray, late of Cocalico Twp, gave their final account to the Orphans Court on December 17. [20]
1850 Catharine Gray (age 68) lived in Ephrata Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Daniel B Bauman (age 43), Anne Bauman (age 35), Catharine Bauman (age 17), Sarah Bauman (age 15), Daniel Bauman (age 10), Anna Bauman (age 5), and Ammy Bauman (age 8). [21]
1850 Henry Gray (age 44) lived in Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Elizabeth Gray (age 46), Mary Jane Gray (age 16), Anne Eliza Gray (age 14), Louisa Garner (age 9), and Henry Smith (age 15). [22]
1857 Catharine Gray, spouse of Justus Gray, was buried on October 17 and was buried in Bethany Cemetery, Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The inscription states, [23] [24]
Sacred
to the memory of
Catharine Gray
Wife of Justus Gray
Born October 16th 1781
Died October 17th 1857
Aged 76 years 1 day
1857 An obituary was published for Catharine Gray in the Lancaster Examiner And Herald Newspaper on November 11 [25]:
On the 17th uit. at the residence of her son-in-law, Daniel Bauman, in the borough of Lebanon, Mrs. Catharine Gray, widow of Justus Gray, deceased, formerly of Ephrata township, this county, aged 76 years and 1 day. Her mortal remains were conveyed to the residence of her son Henry Gray, Esq., and from thence to the Reformed Church in said township, where they were interred, attended by a large assemblage of mourning relatives and sympathizing neighbors.
A biosketch of grandson Samuel Gray reports [26]:
Samuel G. Gray, M. D., a prominent physician of Landisville, is in the enjoyment of an extensive and lucrative practice. He is the son of Justus and Barbara (Getz) Gray, and was born in Ephrata, this county, May 19, 1838. On his paternal side our subject is of German descent, while his mother's family came originally from Switzerland.
Justus Gray, the grandfather of our subject, was an agriculturist of Ephrata Township, owning two valuable estates. He was active in the affairs of the German Reformed Church, with which he was connected for many years. The lady whom he married bore the maiden name of Catherine Wolf, and to them were born two sons and two daughters. The elder son, Henry, served in the Legislature from 1852 to 1854 on the Whig ticket; the father of our subject was the next in order of birth; Elizabeth became the wife of Philip Bushong, a wealthy distiller of Reading, this state; and Anna is Mrs. Daniel Bowman, of Ephrata. The grandfather departed this life in 1837, at the age of seventy years.
Justus Gray received a fair education in the schools near his home, and when choosing an occupation in life became a farmer and miller, owning one hundred acres of well tilled land in West Hempfield Township. In financial matters he was more than ordinarily successful, and became one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of his community. He was first a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and was an official member of the Presbyterian Church. December 2, 1828, he married Miss Barbara, daughter of George Getz, a native of Reading, this state, who later removed to West Hempfield Township, and turned his attention to farm pursuits.
Our subject was one in a family of four sons and two daughters. Henry W., President of the Schomacker Piano Company, of Philadelphia, is very prominent in political affairs, and was elected State Senator on the Republican ticket; Albert, the second son, is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. H. B. Parry, of Lancaster; Samuel G. was the next in order of birth; and Alice, Mrs. William Elmer, of Trenton, N.J., is deceased. The husband and father died March 7, 1887. His good wife is still living, and is now in the eighty-fifth year of her age. She is a most estimable lady, and a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church.
The subject of this sketch received his primary education in the common schools, after which he attended the State Normal. In 1860, when determining to follow a professional career, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. A. K. Roxoer, of Mountain ville, Lancaster County, and in the fall of the following year entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia. Soon thereafter he was appointed Medical Cadet of the United States army for one year, and on the expiration of his term returned to college, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1863. Dr. Gray was then appointed Assistant Surgeon in different regiments, serving from March of the above year until February, 1865. During that time he was Examining Surgeon at Camp Curtain, Surgeon of Cavalry in the Department of the Monongahela, Assistant Surgeon to the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Emergency Corps, and Surgeon of the Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was present with a regiment during the raid through the Shenandoah Valley, and was with Sheridan's command at Lynchburg.
On the close of the war Dr. Gray located in West Hempfield, where he was engaged in practice until 1875, when he received the appointment of surgeon of the ship "Pennsylvania," sailing between Philadelphia and Liverpool. After being thus employed for two years, he located in Landisville, where he ranks among the leading physicians in the county. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and is Vice-President of the former. He likewise belongs to Post No. 118, G. A. R., at Columbia.
July 5, 1885, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Lila B., daughter of John H. Speese, of Shippensburg, and to them have been granted three children: Henry W., Walter E., and Warren, the latter of whom died in infancy. In politics the Doctor is a true blue Republican.
Research Notes:
A descendant reports:
[Justus Gray] may have been a Hessian prisoner captured at Trenton, who signed a three-year indenture agreement with Emanuel Carpenter of Lancaster on September 7, 1782 (document reproduced in A Generous and Merciful Enemy: Life for German Prisoners of War during the American Revolution, Daniel Krebs. Figure 6, Hatcher Graduate Library E268.K74 2013, not yet seen), and later married a girl said to be the daughter of his regiment buddy, Henry Wolf.
1793 Peter Gray and Richard Gray were taxed in Lancaster Borough. [27]
1797 Peter Gray, laborer, inmate to widow Tiebeck? was taxed in Lancaster Borough. [28] Richard Gray, shoemaker, inmate to An'd Richs? was taxed. [29]
1797/8 Peter Gray and Richard Gray were taxed in Lancaster Borough. [30]
1799 Peter Gray and Richard Gray were taxed in Lancaster Borough. [31]
[1] "Birth and Baptismal Register of The First Reformed Church, Lancaster, PA.," Pennsylvania German Society Proceedings and Addresses 5 (1894), (continued) 202-266 at 225, [HathiTrust].
[2] Find A Grave Memorial 26538868, [FindAGrave].
[3] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Q3-360 to 364, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[4] William J Hinke, transcription, Church Records of The First Reformed Congregation at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1736-1806, 341, [FHLBook].
[5] William J Hinke, transcription, Church Records of The First Reformed Congregation at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1736-1806, 264, [FHLBook].
[6] Pennsylvania Church Records, Adams, Berks and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881, [AncestryRecord].
[7] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[8] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[9] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[10] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, Justus groe, left, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[11] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[12] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[13] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[14] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[15] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[16] Find A Grave Memorial 26538846, [FindAGrave].
[17] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Miscellaneous Book 1833-409, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[18] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Miscellaneous Book 1833-426, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[19] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Miscellaneous Book 1833-13, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[20] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Miscellaneous Book 1833-100, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[21] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[22] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[23] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, Bethany United Church of Christ, Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[24] Find A Grave Memorial 26538868, [FindAGrave].
[26] Portrait and Biographical Record of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: Chapman Publishing, 1894), 124, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks].
[27] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[28] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[29] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[30] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[31] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].