Hi Janet, not a clue. GRAY is common in Ireland since the Statues of Kilkenny in hmm... 1400s? earlier? Whatever, decreed that Irish living in the Pale had to take an English-style surname. Among those allowed were colors. Mine aren't mine, they are my ex's. The immigrant is a Thomas GRAY who emigrated around 1830 from Kings County, where the GRAYs were middle class and inveterate supporters and defenders of the Catholic faith. He fought with Lincoln in the Black Hawk War in Illinois and eventually settled in Oakland, CA, where he started the first ferry to cross the bay. he became a California state senator. His daughter Mary Dora entered a scandalous marriage with the Episcopalian wag and white collar criminal Joseph Duncan. They had four children including Isadora Duncan. After ruining her life Joseph moved on to found a 3rd family in Los Angeles but they all perished in a ship wreck off Wales. My ex's GRAYs were most definitely not Scotch Irish. I can see them wiggling at the suggestion that they'd ever marry a BOYD!! Nope, not even Ulster people. Leinster men they were. However Raymond Duncan (my ex's granddad and brother of Isadora) did invent a sandal and the children of his first wife may still have a shop on the Cape where they sell them. Used to be there in the 1970s. They refuse to believe Raymond was the father of my ex's mother so 80 years later they are still feuding in the Duncan family. Colorful lot but not too Scotch Irish. Possibly money could have got them to Scotland but I suspect they were not too fond of any but the Jacobitie ones. I sure do hope this year is better than last. Don't recall a worse year than last! Linda Merle ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: JustJanet223@aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 11:31:41 EST >Hello Linda, > >Hope you are enjoying your new life in Pa. Saw on the latest E-mail that >you have GRAYS in your family, so I am taking a long s hot to see if there is >any connection with mine. > >The 1841 census showed that JAMES GRAY & wife, MARY BOYD were born in >IRELAND (don't know just where) They showed up in Glasgow in 1841 census. Most >of children were born in Ireland except two youngest ones, MATILDA born in >RFW & JAMES born in GLASGOW. JAMES was a shoemaker (as were some of the >daughters' husbands). > >I understand from family that some of the Grays & Boyds migrated to Canada, >but so far have not been able to put my finger on which ones. > >Could there be any connection with yours? > >Wishing you a happy, healthy & prosperous 2006. > >Janet >New England USA > > > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net