JONES COUNTY, GA - BIO Gray, George (1795-1855) ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Brenda Felder grannyfelder@bellsouth.net and Virginia Crilley varcsix@hot.rr.com GEORGE GRAY George Gray was born in Hancock County Nov 7, 1795, the son of George and ? Gray. The family moved to Jones County by ca 1818 and eventually to Alabama. George Sr's sons included John, Francis, George, Samuel, Jesse and perhaps other children. George served in the War of 1812 for six months, serving under Capt. James Saffold ---his rank--private--Ga. Militia commanded by William Jones. [Capt. Saffold's was an artillery company, furnished arms and provisions by the U.S. contractor, Farish Carter, at Camp Hope. They joined Gen Andrew Jackson's forces at Mobile to control the Indians in Nov 1814. The exposure of western Jones County to the Indians incited by the British was an incentive to rally to this first War since Independent America] On his wife's pension application, Piety said he joined in 1812 but another paper said, he served from 21 Nov. 1814 until 3 April 1815---89 days. Volunteered at Camp Hope near Fort Hawkins ---honorably discharged same place. Description per Piety's application: he was 18 at time of volunteeering and 6 ft. tall, light hair, fair complexion, spare build, blue eyed, born in Hancock Co. Ga. Georgia Journal (Milledgeville) 19 Jan. 1814;Jones Co.--Apple trees for sale'' 61/4 cents per tree.On Hog Creek..signed George Gray.. He married Piety Loyd, Dec 23, 1821 in Jones County. She was quite young at the marriage, although her age on census/pension records also varies. She was 72 [1806?] when she gave this pension info in 1878. Census 1850 [1810?] Her youngest child, Daniel Pratt, was born in 1847. In the 1827 Land lottery George was living in Mullins Militia Dist. of Jones county and drew land in District 28 Land Lot 169 in original Lee County later to become Sumter County. We don't think he actually lived on the land, and perhaps sold it. Their first children were born in GA (based on the 1850 census) but there may have been an earlier child. Harriett 1827; Franklin [1832]; E Shorter? Eli? [1837] and Elizabeth [1837]? By the 1840 census they were living in AL, and the later children were born. Jeremiah [1840]; Raymond B [1841]; George A [1843]; Daniel P [1847](Pratt) In 1851 George applies for bounty land due him for his War of 1812 service (160 acres). Living in Butler, AL, gave his age as 55, [1796?] and signed his own name. By the second bounty land application in 1855 he says his age is 65 [1790?]. "he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of Sept. 28, 1850. Received a land warrant #30232 in which he refers to particulars of his service for 80 acres which he has since legally disowned of and cannot now return." We believe George died 28 Dec.1855, and Piety returned to live in GA (Jones Co) where her family had remained. We find her there in both 1860 (with sons, Eli S., George and Pratt) and 1870 census. Sons, George and Pratt living with her in 1870, and next door to probably her mother, Lina Loyd. The War Between the State 45th GA Co F (outfitted by James M. Gray ) Gray, Elijah S.- private March 4, 1862 . Wounded at Mechanicsville, Va. June 26, 1862 . Died of wounds July 28, 1862 As late as 1883, Piety is listed as receiving a pension in the Census Records. ===== NOTES ==== 1830 United States Federal Census > Georgia > Jones image 35 Gray, George 010001000000 2101 1 male 5-10 1 male 30-40 2 females under 5 1 female 10-15 1 female 15-20 1830 United States Federal Census > Georgia > Jones image 47 Gray, James (might be George Sr son) or James M. 1 male 15-20 1 male 40-50 1850 United States Federal Census > Alabama > Autauga > Prattville image 10 211 Gray, George 56 [1794] Born GA Piety 40 [1810] born GA Harriett 23 [1827] GA Franklin 18 [1832] GA Operative (Gin?) E Shorter? Eli? 13 GA [1837]Operative (Gin? Jeremiah 10 AL [1840] (handwritten above this name, see 176? below) Elizabeth 13[1837] living with household of a "miller" Wm ? Gym? Raymond B 9 AL [1841] George A 7 AL [1843] Daniel P 3 [1847](Pratt) AL named for Prattsville? Pratt owned a Gin near them. 1860 United States Federal Census > Georgia > Jones > Hammocks image 1 114 Gray, Piety 50 [1810] Eli S. 22 m grocer [1838] ? George 15 Laborer [1845] Pratt 13 m [1847] Elizabeth 20 F [1840] *not on 1850 census **all say born in GA, but we know this isn't true 1870 United States Federal Census > Georgia > Jones > Whites image 32 152 Loyd, Lina 100? f w GA (Mother of Piety?) 153 Gray, Piety 65 [1805] GA George 26 farm laborer AL Pratt 21 AL 1812 pension George Gray:Piety said George enlisted in 1812 for six months ---he was 18 and 6 ft. tall, light hair, fair complexion, spare build, blue eyed, born in Hancock Co. Ga.She was 72 when she gave this info in 1878. When George applied in 1851 from Butler Co. Al. he gave his age as 55. He signed his name. I have copies of all this if someone needs. In 1855 he says he's 65 It seems in 1851 he is applying for bounty land. He had never applied before. He said he was 55. In 1855, he applies again and I quote, " he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of Sept. 28, 1850. Received a land warrant #30232 in which he refers to particulars of his service for 80 acres which he has since legally disowned of and cannot now return." He says he is 65 now. *The War of 1812 brought the need for enticed enlistments. The Revolutionary War was still fresh in the memories of everyone, and the new war had resulted in a British embargo which created hardships for all. Congress responded by creating three new military districts for the exclusive use of new enlistees: one in the Michigan territory, one in Illinois, and one in Louisiana (later became Arkansas). Six million acres were allotted for this purpose, and claimants were required to pre-select the district they preferred. A lottery was then held to determine the precise parcel of land, which could not be assigned or mortgaged until the patent had been issued." One hundred sixty acres and $16 in cash were given to each man who would enlist for five years or the duration of the war. I think he was in Autauga in 1850 where his dad had died and some brothers may have still been living and received the bounty land in Butler. This may explain why he was on the two censuses in 1850. He packed up and left Autauga and moved to Butler but why did he lose his land. He died in 1855 not long after he applied again for more land. He served under Capt. James Safford ---his rank--private--Ga. Militia commanded by William Jones. Piety said he joined in 1812 but another paper said, he served from 21 Nov. 1814 until 3 April 1815---89 days. Volunteered at Camp Hope near Fort Hawkins ---honorably discharged same place. ====Pensions 1883============ 8579 Gray Piety Clinton widow 1812 8.00 Feb. 1879 Jones NOTE:Gray, George - Loyd, Piety 23 Dec 1821 son of George Gray Piety started receiving a pension 1 Feb. 1879 ----$8 a month. Son Eli died in Civil War. Son Francis in war --died 1918 in Fla.--m. Isabella Smith--16 Sept 1856 1827 Land Lottery 1 28 169 Gray, George Jones County Mullins Lee County Researcher: Brenda