Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet, of Denne Hill, East Kent
, (1667 - October 27, 1722), was an armiger
, and a merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, who later managed the affairs in London of James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
.
James Gray was a trader in leather, wine, wool and grain. He is said to have also been a "boxkeeper" and then footman
to King James II
. From a packet of letters in his own hand (now in the National Archives of Scotland
) he managed the affairs in London of the Duke of Montrose
, amongst others. In one letter dated 1701 he wrote to the Duke of being kept busy by having to attend Parliament (House) "every morning and every evening".
He was created a Baronet by Queen Anne
at Kensington Palace
on March 5, 1707, the day before the Act of Union
was given Royal Assent
A week later he was made a Burgess of the City of Edinburgh by Act of that Council dated March 12, 1707. The Political State of Great Britain, when reporting his death, stated that he had "played a geat hand in the peaceful Union between the two parliaments." Sir James's Arms
appear on a brass stall-plate in Westminster Abbey
.
In June 1707 Sir James Gray married at St. Nicholas Church of England
, Chiswick
Hester née Dodd (1685 - October 31, 1781) from Kensington
, London. They had nine children between March 1708 and July 1718, only four surviving to adulthood, and three of those had no issue:
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, (1667 - October 27, 1722), was an armiger
Armiger
In heraldry, an armiger is a person entitled to use a coat of arms. Such a person is said to be armigerous.-Etymology:The Latin word armiger literally means "armour-bearer". In high and late medieval England, the word referred to an esquire attendant upon a knight, but bearing his own unique...
, and a merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, who later managed the affairs in London of James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke and 4th Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish aristocratic statesman in the early eighteenth century....
.
James Gray was a trader in leather, wine, wool and grain. He is said to have also been a "boxkeeper" and then footman
Footman
A footman is a male servant, notably as domestic staff.-Word history:The name derives from the attendants who ran beside or behind the carriages of aristocrats, many of whom were chosen for their physical attributes. They ran alongside the coach to make sure it was not overturned by such obstacles...
to King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. From a packet of letters in his own hand (now in the National Archives of Scotland
National Archives of Scotland
Based in Edinburgh, the National Archives of Scotland are the national archives of Scotland. The NAS claims to have one of the most varied collection of archives in Europe...
) he managed the affairs in London of the Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke and 4th Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish aristocratic statesman in the early eighteenth century....
, amongst others. In one letter dated 1701 he wrote to the Duke of being kept busy by having to attend Parliament (House) "every morning and every evening".
He was created a Baronet by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
on March 5, 1707, the day before the Act of Union
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
was given Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
A week later he was made a Burgess of the City of Edinburgh by Act of that Council dated March 12, 1707. The Political State of Great Britain, when reporting his death, stated that he had "played a geat hand in the peaceful Union between the two parliaments." Sir James's Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
appear on a brass stall-plate in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
In June 1707 Sir James Gray married at St. Nicholas Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
Hester née Dodd (1685 - October 31, 1781) from Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London. They had nine children between March 1708 and July 1718, only four surviving to adulthood, and three of those had no issue:
- Sir James Gray, 2nd BaronetSir James Gray, 2nd BaronetSir James Gray, 2nd Baronet PC, KB was a British diplomat and antiquary.He was the elder son of Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet and his wife Hester Dodd. His younger brother was General George Gray. He completed his education at Clare College, Cambridge, being awarded M.A. in 1729...
, a diplomat and Privy Councillor. Left two 'natural' children. - Sir George Gray, 3rd Baronet, a Lieutenant-General. No issue.
- Elizabeth, married October 21, 1747, in MayfairMayfairMayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, John Luke Nichols. Issue unknown. - Caroline, a Maid-of-Honour to the Princess of Orange, and married Richard Wright, M.D. No issue.