FOURTH GENERATION

14. John Frederick Gray ⁽¹⁾ was born on 21 Nov 1825 in High Point, SC. He died on 9 Jul 1904 in Bryceland, LA. He has reference number D007. Gray, John Frederick (D007)

1825: Born November 21 at High Point, S.C., first son of Thomas and Jemima Gray. His first sister, Jane Anderson Gray (who married Josiah Nelson), was born in 1827. His second sister, Elizabeth, was born in 1829. Jane Anderson Nelson's children were Gilly, Jamina, John, and Tommy. She lived and died in S.C.

John Frederick came to Louisiana when he was in his 20's and settled around Arcadia. According to family tradition, "He never saw his sisters again." Grays entered area (Township 14, Range 6) between 1848 and 1852.

1850: John C. Gray acquired land in Township 14, Range 4, under Swampland Act of 1849; also Henry Gray in T 15, R 4. The 1850 Census of Louisiana, Bienville Parish, lists: "J. Gray, age 21; Laborer; born LA(?)"

1854: On January 13, John F. Gray purchased from John C. Gray for $2, 000 the following lands: NW 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Sec. 17; SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec. 8; SW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec 8; SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec 7; SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec 7; SW 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Sec 17, all in Township 14, Range 4 West. (See copy of deed in file)

1857: John Frederick Gray was appointed Postmaster at Arcadia on Dec. 5.

1858: Married Chloey Ann Elizabeth Brantley (D060), aged 16 (born April 30, 1842) on January 7 (copy of license in file).
1859: Son, George Thomas, born Nov. 3; died Nov 12, 1861.

1860: Slave Census lists F.C. Gray with 10 slaves; Henry Gray, 52; R.F. Gray, 21; Annie Gray, 15.

1861: Jamimia Inmon, born Nov. 23 in Bryceland, La.; married Crawford Calhoun on April 25, 1880 (copy in file); 1880 Census lists: Crawford Calhoun as age 28, farm laborer, born in Ala.; Wife Jemima, age 18.Children: Joel Frederick Calhoun, born 1881, died 1962; Lizzie, born 1883; John Henry, born 1886; Floyd C., born 1890; Ruth, born 1894; James Crawford, born 1896; Gilly, born 1891 (Gilly married Frank Chandler and had Annie, Bessie, Frank Rasberry, Mary Grace and L.C. Chandler); Geneva (married Lewis). Jamimia died Jan. 1, 1925; buried at Bear Creek. Death certificate (copy in file) lists her as widowed, age 65 years, 2 months, 8 days; died of chronic ?nephistis.

1862: Successions in Bienville Parish: Dec. 30; James Russeau succession lists J.F. Gray rec'd $33.75 for coffin.

1863: Enlisted in Confederate Army on Jan 16, at Monroe, La. for period of "3 yrs or the war," as Private in Co. G, 28th Reg. of La. Vols. On April 27 he was captured as a prisoner of war at Bayou Teche, La. He was paroled at Port Hudson on May 11, 1863. Had served in Moutons Brigade.

Book on Confederate Soldiers in State Archives lists: Gray, John F, Pvt. Co. G, 28th (Gray's) La Inf. En. Jan. 16, 1863, Monroe, La. Roll for Jan and Fed 1863, Present. Transfd to this Co. Feb. 4, 1863. Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War, Captured Bayou Teche, La., April 14, 1863. Paroled Port Hudson, La. May 11, 1863. Forwd to New Orleans, La., to be exchanged. Roll for July and Aug, 1863, Absent on parole."

1864: Son, John Frederick, Jr., born July 20; died Nov 27, 1872.

1964: Oct. 19: See letter in file: "Taylor Hospital, October 19, 64...Private J.F. Gray Co G 28 La Bgd...Moutins? Brigade and Detached at attendant at this hospital has permission to visit his home in Bienville Parish, La for twenty days at the experation of which time he will promptly report at this office...James S. Fish... Approved JL Egan, Inspector Hosp D.W. La."

1866: Son, James (Jim) Harrison, born Sept 25; married Lillian Coker about 1902; Divorced about 1905, no children; died Sept 22, 1935; buried Bear Creek, La.

1868: Wife, Chloey Ann, died August 14; buried at Arcadia.

1869: Married Ann Smedley Mitchell Duty on Sept 28. Witnessed by Milton Duty. License issued at Sparta on 13 of Sept. (see copy in file). They had five children.

1870: Son, William Traylor (Bill), born Aug. 8; never married, died March 23, 1901. (Photo in possession of Bruce Evans)

1870: Census of Bienville Parish, Ward 7, made on July 10, Sparta Post Office lists: John Gray, age 44, farmer born in S.C.; Ann Gray, age 35, born Ala; Mary, 14; Caty, 12; John, 16 (note: these three from Ann's former marriage); Jamima, 8; John E; 6; James, 4.

1870: John F. Gray appraised estate of Wm. J. Taylor on 12/10; witnessed by E.G. Brantley.

1873: Jane Anderson, born at Bryceland on Feb. 20; married J.C. Coker, W.T. Coker's older brother, on Nov. 22, 1893. Had 5 children: W.J. (James); Annie; married W.P. Ball; Gordon, a son; and J.C. who married Marther Bell; died 1931. She was Baptist; had "nervous breakdown" in 1917. In 1923 family moved to Cotulla hoping her health would improve. Became invalid in 1930 and died March 15, 1932. Buried Cotulla, TX.

1875: Son, Henry Edgar, born Jan. 10; died Jan 23.

1876: Walter Leonidas, born July 31; married Alice Mumford; children: John T., Harper, Berter, Leon, Revis; died March 14, 1928; buried Bear Creek.Wife, Alice, died 1936.

1880: Census, Bienville Parish, La; June 2, Ward 2, Family 38:
Name Color Sex Age Occup, born F. M.
born born
"John F. Gray W M 55 Farmer S.C. S.C. S.C.
Ann W F 43 Housewife Ala VA Ala
Catherine DutyW F 19 Step-dau La La Ala
James Gray W M 14 Son La S.C. Ala
William " W M 10 Son " " "
Jane " W F 6 Dau " " "
Walter " W M 4 Son " " "
Elsy Mitchell W F 58 Mot-in-law VA VA VA

"N.M. Mitchell W M 27 La
Susan A W F 33 S.C.
Leanna W F 10 La
Charlie W M 8 "
Eddie W M 6 "
Thomas W M 4 "
Dallas W F 7/12 b. Nov "

1880: Agriculture Census lists: John Gray, owner 40 acres tilled, 1000 acres forest and wood land, value $1500, $10 implements, $375 Cattle; 1 horse, 1 mule, 8 milk cows, 27 others, 8 calves dipped, 100 pigs, 20 acres Indian corn, 140 bushels, 4 acres oats, 100 bushels, 20 acres cotton, 8 bales.

1880: Nina Ann, born May 29, at Mt. Lebanon (C4).

1881-2?: The Gray family moved, after 1880, to Lake Village in Natchitoches Parish.

1882: From succession of B.W. Glover on 4/28 John F. Gray bought 6 yards of ? for $3.

1886: The family moved near Bryceland, La. on a hill known in 1962 as the Printis Whitley Place. See Bienville Parish Tax receipt for $1.77 for 1886.

1887: John F. Gray sold for $230 the W 1/2 of the SW1/4 of Sec 28, T 17, R 6, 80 acres, to James Brice (Copy in file).

1888: John F. Gray homesteaded the Gray Place between Bryceland and Arcadia just north of where the road turns out to go to Bear Creek (owned in 1962 by Woodard Walker Lbr. Co, Taylor,La. Nina lived here until 1897.

1892: See receipt from Clerk of District Court, Bienville Parish, Sparta, La. on Nov 21 "Recd from Mrs. Gray $3.50 with which to pay J.H. & J.F. Gray's tax, J.C. Theus, Deputy Clerk."Also on 11/25, tax receipt for Ward 1, $1.53 and $1.95

1893: Tax receipt for Ward 1, Bienville Parish for $2.25.

1894: Letter from United States Land Office, Natchitoches, La. May 10 to Mr. John F. Gray, Bear Creek, La. "Yours of the 8th inst. in hand enclosing final...1895. Enclosed find your Patent from the government."

1896: Tax receipt for Ward 1, Bienville Parish, for $1.40.

1897: Tax receipt for Ward 1, Bienville Parish, for "State Tax,$.96, Parish Tax 1.60, Poll Tax, 1.00= $3.56.

1898: Voter Registration of Bienville Parish on 8/20 lists J.F. Gray, age 72, Farmer, residence, Arcadia.

1900: Census of Bienville Parish made on June 19, p 17, family #288: John F. Gray, Head; born 11/22; age 74, married 30 yrs, born in S.C., father and mother born in S.C.; Ann S. wife, born 9/37, age 62, 9 of 10 kids alive, born in Ala., father born in Tn, mother born in Ala.; Willie F., son, born 8/70, age 29, born in La.; Walter S., son, born 7/76, age 23, married 4 years, born La.; Allice L., Daug. in law, born 9/76, age 23, married 4 years, 2 of 3 kids alive, born in Tx, father born in Ms, mother born in Tx; John T., son, born 7/88, age 1; Glades L, son, born 2/1900, age 3/12.

1904: Died July 9 (or June 9); buried Bear Creek Cemetery, La.








He was married to Ann Smedley Mitchell on 28 Sep 1869 in Sparta, LA.

15. Ann Smedley Mitchell ⁽¹⁾ was born on 9 Sep 1839 in Alabama. She died on 9 Jun 1913. She has reference number D008.
Duty, Ann Smedley Mitchell D008

1839: Born Sept. 9, an only child, in Alabama.

1850: Census of Bienville Parish includes: Asa Duty, age 52,(born N.C.) carpenter; John W. Duty, age 29, carpenter; Littleton A. Duty (born LA.), 25, farmer; ?Permilia Duty, female, 21; Littleton S. Duty, 3/12. The 1850 Agriculture Census of Bienville Parish shows: "Asa Duty: 8 A improved; 123 A unimproved; Value of Farm: $3720."


1854: Married Asa Littleton Duty on Oct. 19; had 3 children:
John Mitchell; married Becky Jordan; died about 1930; buried at Holder Cemetary, La.; Mollie, born 1856; married W.E. "Doc" Jordan on Aug. 4, 1873; Died, Oct 26, 1937; buried Holder Cemetary; Kate, born 1861?; married Sylvester Streetman; Children: Lucy, Jessie, Guy, Charles, Sallie, Annie; died about 1910; buried Bear Creek Cemetary.

1859: Sept. 4: Letter from Asa Duty to his son "Lit" addressed to "A.L. Duty, Terryville, La. Dear Lit I have just received yours of the 14th and feel rejoiced to hear you are well. I think you are correct about the health of that countru and I am glad to hear you are going quit it for I do not think it will suit you and I do not think North Western Texas will suit you either there plenty of good land in it but I do not think it is healthy first the water is bad and last it is too far North but travel through it and suit yourself as I have said before I think there is a good country in Calcashu Parish in this state. But please your Self and when you Locate be sure and let me know whare and all...the receipt of this and let me know you plans and prospects. this leaves me well and tell Ann and them brats I may see them yet who knows. I shall stay whare I am until in March and then I will go to N. Orleans for a day or two and return. I will be 61 years old the 23rd...and do as mutch work as any other of my age and am thankful for good health and strength to do it. I should like to see you very mutch...I know Mr. Ladd very well and give my respects to him I mus conclude by subscrbeing your father until death, Asa Duty."

1866: Husband died before this date. She was listed alone on census of school children on 11/14, 1866 with and 2 female and 1 male school age children.

1869: Married John Frederick Gray on Sept 28.; had 5 children
(see D007).

1916: Died June 9; buried Bear Creek Cemetery, La.

Children were:

i. William Traylor Gray⁽¹⁾ was born on 8 Aug 1870 in Sparta, LA. He died on 23 Mar 1901 in Sparta, LA. He has reference number C086. He never married.
ii. Jane Anderson (Janett) Gray⁽¹⁾ was born on 20 Feb 1873 in Bryceland, LA. She died on 17 Mar 1932 in Cotulla, TX. She has reference number C087. She was buried in Old Cotulla Cemetery. She was a sister of Nina Ann Gray.
iii. Henry Edgar Gray⁽¹⁾ was born on 10 Jan 1875 in Bryceland, LA. He died on 23 Jan 1875 in Bryceland, LA.
iv. Walter Leonidas Gray⁽¹⁾ was born on 31 Jul 1876 in Bryceland, LA. He died on 14 Mar 1928 in Bryceland, LA. He has reference number C089.
7 v. Nina Ann Gray.