Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Edward Gray a Tottenham Boy?
Finding out much about Edward Gray is about as easy as coming up with a picture of Harringay House. However I have been able to root out a little about his family.
It seems he was a local boy. He had one sister, Mary. Their parents were Abraham and Rebecca. Both were devout Quakers by all accounts.
His father seems to have come of quite humble stock, being one of thirteen children born to John & Mary in Southwark. His father's profession was described as salesman.
Abraham seems to have made his way in the world, however. Apprenticed to a wine merchant and cooper in the City, he ended up running his own business as a wine and brandy merchant at 24 Newgate Street. He's reported to have made his fortune from that business.
Abraham moved out of Southwark and up to Tottenham High Cross. Though it is not clear at what point he moved out this way or if he and his wife were living in Tottenham when Edward and his sister were born.
As we know Edward went on to do very well, apparently as a linen draper, though I can find little on him other than about his art collecting and his passion for Harringay House.
His sister made an excellent marriage into a blue blooded wealthy banking family, the Harford's of Bristol. Of her four sons, her eldest, John Scandrett Harford, named after his father, became an abolitionist friend of William Wilberforce and a somewhat accomplished painter. He still found time to carry on in the banking business.
Edward's daughter and grandchildren also did well......but more of the another time.
As for his ma'n'pa, they lived on to a ripe old age for the time; his dad died at 82 in September 1794, two years after Harringay House was built. One month later his mum died at 76.
They were both buried in the Quaker church in Winchmore Hill. I was passing there the other day so stopped to take a couple of pics of their final resting place. And, what a jolly fine one it is too. Originally built in 1688 and rebuilt in 1790, it's the sort of place you'd want to think of your loved ones resting.
It seems he was a local boy. He had one sister, Mary. Their parents were Abraham and Rebecca. Both were devout Quakers by all accounts.
His father seems to have come of quite humble stock, being one of thirteen children born to John & Mary in Southwark. His father's profession was described as salesman.
Abraham seems to have made his way in the world, however. Apprenticed to a wine merchant and cooper in the City, he ended up running his own business as a wine and brandy merchant at 24 Newgate Street. He's reported to have made his fortune from that business.
Abraham moved out of Southwark and up to Tottenham High Cross. Though it is not clear at what point he moved out this way or if he and his wife were living in Tottenham when Edward and his sister were born.
As we know Edward went on to do very well, apparently as a linen draper, though I can find little on him other than about his art collecting and his passion for Harringay House.
His sister made an excellent marriage into a blue blooded wealthy banking family, the Harford's of Bristol. Of her four sons, her eldest, John Scandrett Harford, named after his father, became an abolitionist friend of William Wilberforce and a somewhat accomplished painter. He still found time to carry on in the banking business.
Edward's daughter and grandchildren also did well......but more of the another time.
As for his ma'n'pa, they lived on to a ripe old age for the time; his dad died at 82 in September 1794, two years after Harringay House was built. One month later his mum died at 76.
They were both buried in the Quaker church in Winchmore Hill. I was passing there the other day so stopped to take a couple of pics of their final resting place. And, what a jolly fine one it is too. Originally built in 1688 and rebuilt in 1790, it's the sort of place you'd want to think of your loved ones resting.
Tags for Forum Posts: Edward Gray, harringay house
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Angela on
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I've found out a bit more information re Edward.
He was born on 10th August 1751 in Newgate Street, and on the 15th April 1784 he married Lydia Bowly in Cirencester (her father's occupation is stated as Wool Stapler)
I'll try to upload images of the various documents later if anyone is interested. -
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I thought I had a complete family tree going back to his grandfather and his grandchildren, but we have some slightly differing info on his wife. What I haven't been able to find is his dob. I'd love to see your docs. Please do upload them.
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Great documents Angela. Brilliant work., Where did you find those?
But they leave us with a mystery since in his will he refers to Benjamin and Margaret Satterthwaite as his late wife's brother and sister. And I have him marrying a Rachel Satterthwaite. To make matters worse one of his grandaughters was called Lydia Rachel - the names of both women! Mmmm.....I wonder if Lydia, his first wife died young?
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Angela,
I have attached where I've got to from grandfather to grandchildren. (I've left it as an Excel sheet since there are a number of "comments" which would not appear in a pdf).
I have added your new data and I'm assuming for the time being that Gray was twice married. There are some great stories attached to some of the people on this tree - a real set of blue bloods for the most part.
Any more contributions welcome. Each new piece of info makes it easier to track down the next. -
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He did indeed marry twice. He married Rachel Satterthwaite on 6th May 1794.
His first wife, Lydia, died on 23rd February 1791 and was buried in the Redcliff Pit Friend's burial ground in Bristol. I'll post or email images/documents later.
I've managed to find this out because you gave me the big clue! You said the Grays were a Quaker family so that reminded me to look at Non-Conformist BMD records which I'd come across earlier this year when researching my mother's family tree.
I've also come across a Gray, Freeman & co., Linen Drapers of 71 Cornhill, and another address at 147 Leadenhall Street. -
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Wonderful. This is how the internet is supposed to work, innit. Collaborative stuff an' al that. So you've tracked down his City lair. Would they have any other records on him do you think?
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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10th August 1751 in Newgate Street
You mean Newgate Prison? -
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