Joseph Gray married after the Revolutionary War to a woman named Mary,
whose surname is not well known.
However, Joseph and Mary Gray’s daughter Jane adopted a very specific
naming pattern for her children that may shed more light on Mary's unknown
surname - Mary ?-Gray. Jane Gray Holt named
one daughter Charlotte Blackbourn Holt after her husband’s mother. She named another daughter Mary Hix Holt,
presumably after her mother (only a guess, and this is the focus of this site).
The known children of Joseph
Gray and Mary (Hix?):
Josiah Gray – born circa 1783
Docia Gray – born circa 1785
Mary Gray – born circa 1787
Sarah Gray – born 24 April 1791,
died 1875 KY
Jane Gray – born 2 May 1795,
died 4 July 1857 KY
Nancy Gray – born circa 1797
John S. Gray – born circa 1804
Elizabeth Gray – born
Lucinda Gray – born
The following is an attempt to add credibility to the postulation that
Joseph Gray married Mary "Hix/Hicks."
Joseph Gray was born in Hanover County in 1753 but moved to Goochland County with his father Henry Gray at an early age, probably near 1761. In 1761, Henry Gray bought land from William Johnson
on Dover Mill Creek in Goochland County.
In 1767 and 1772, information from land deeds reveal Henry Gray’s land
also adjoined Genito Creek in Goochland County.
Returning to the original Henry Gray land deed purchased in 1761, the
deed stated Gray’s land adjoined Joseph Johnson and John Hix. The proximity to John Hix gives a starting
point for exploring the Gray-Hix link.
So, who was this John Hix?
Date – 1
April 1761
County -
Goochland
Seller –
William Johnson
Buyer –
Henry Gray
Land amount
– 100 acres
Land location
– Along Dover Mill Creek adjoining Joseph Johnson and John Hicks
Land price
– 800 pounds
Date – 21
October 1762
County -
Goochland
Seller –
Daniel and Hannah Johnson
Buyer –
John Johnson
Land amount
– 100 acres
Land location
– Genito Creek bounded by Henry Gray, John Turner, and Samuel Richardson
Land price
– 40 pounds
Witnesses
– Isum Johnson, Joseph Johnson, David Johnson, Bartholomew Turner
Comments
– This land was believed to have been purchased by Daniel Johnson from David
Hix in 1758 (John Hix the elder heir) ***see below
Date – 20
August 1758
County -
Goochland
Seller –
David Hix
Buyer –
Daniel Johnson
Land amount
– 100 acres
Land location
– On branches of Genito Creek, bounded by Henry Turner, Samuel Richardson, and
William Johnson. This was the land and
plantation where John Hix formerly lived
Land price
– 30 pounds
Witnesses
– William Miller, John Laprade, John Woodall, William Woodall
Signed –
David Hix mark was “X”
Comments
– The same deed was enacted 18 April 1759 between Elizabeth Hix and William Hix
on one part and Daniel Johnson on the other part. The only difference were the witnesses –
William Miller, John Laprade, Samuel Perry, and Miller Doggett
Virginia county borders in 1758. The borders for Goochland County remained the same after 1749. The location of Genito Creek and Tuckahoe Creek (in red) are located in east Goochland County.
From these deeds, we see that there is John Hix, David Hix, William
Hix, and Elizabeth Hix that are alive around 1760. We also know that there is a John Hix who is
deceased. John, David, and William were
children of John Hix (died 1748).
Twenty five years prior to these deeds, John Hicks the elder teamed
with Joseph Johnson and Daniel Johnson in 1733 to purchase 300 acres on north
branches of the James River in Goochland County. More specifically, the land adjoined Michael
Johnson (father of Joseph and Daniel Johnson) and was on the north side of Mill
Creek (later Dover Mill Creek) and the south side off an east branch of Genito
Creek. Researchers believe that David
Johnson’s wife Agnes may have been a Hix.
It is also possible that this John Hix’s wife Elizabeth was a
Johnson. Joseph Johnson later left
Goochland County and was in Brunswick County and Lunenburg County by 1747. He passed away in 1761. David Johnson died in 1754 and left his Mill
Creek land to sons William and John Johnson.
Date – 20
June 1733
County -
Goochland
Seller –
Patent
Buyer –
Daniel Johnson, Joseph Johnson, John Hicks
Land amount
– 300 acres
Land location
– North side of the James River, north side of Mill Creek (Dover Mill Creek),
south side of east branch of Genito Creek adjoining Michael Johnson, Robert
Woodson, Benjamin Woodson
A better look at Goochland County. Genito Creek and Dover Creek (both highlighted in blue) flow parallel to each other south into the James River. The only way land on the north side of Dover Creek could border a branch of Genito Creek is near the creeks' headwaters (marked with a red circle).
The John Hix who bought the Mill Creek land in 1733 died in 1748. In his will, dated 1747, John Hix left the
land he lived on, presumably the Mill Creek land, to his son David Hix (after
his wife’s death or remarriage). John
Hix only mentioned two children and a grandchild in his will. However, he alluded to others when he stated
“…that if my said wife should die when the children being yet small that then
the children and also the estate to be and remain in the possession of my
executor until the children be raised able to maintain themselves.”
Over the next ten years, several additional John Hix children appeared
in Goochland records. Two are known
because of records revealing an association with their widowed mother Elizabeth
Hix. These sons were Gideon Hix and
William Hix. Then in 1758 and 1759, the
Hix family sold land on Mill and Genito Creeks.
In August 1758, David Hix sold 100 acres on Genito Creek to Daniel
Johnson. Eight months later, widow
Elizabeth Hix and her son William sold Daniel Johnson 100 acres. At the time, this land was adjoining Henry
Turner (who married Susannah Johnson), Samuel Richardson, and William Johnson
(son of Joshua Johnson and the man who sold land in 1761 to Henry Gray). These deeds were odd because Elizabeth Hix,
widow, was to keep the John Hix the elder land until her death or remarriage.
JOHN HIX the elder – born circa
1690, died 1748 Goochland County, Virginia
Son of John Hix
Brother of Marmaduke Hix,
Nathaniel Hix, Samuel Hix, Daniel Hix (all of early Goochland County)
May have married two times (1)
unknown, (2) Elizabeth ?
Known children:
1. David
Hix – born ca 1716, died after 1758
2. John
Hix - born ca 1718, died 1772
3. Thomas
Jolly Hix – born ca 1725, Goochland tithe 1746, disappeared after 1748
4. Gideon
Hix – born ca 1728, Goochland tithe 1746, soldier 1756-1763, died after 1779
5. William
Hix – born ca 1735, died after 1784
John Hix who was at Dover Mill and Genito Creek adjoining Henry Gray in
1761 is considered a son of John Hix the elder.
John Hix the younger is presumed to have been omitted from his father’s
will because he was likely born to a first wife. David Hix was also likely a son of this first
wife and probably the first born son because in 1748 a) he was an adult with
children, and b) he received his father’s land (law in Virginia).
This John Hix, herein known as John Hix the younger, apparently moved
away from his father’s family when he was a very young man. He was certainly in Hanover County before
1740 as he married Mary Harris, the daughter of David Harris and older sister
of Harrison Harris. These men were
residents of Hanover County in the area that became Louisa County in 1742. John Hix the younger was in Louisa County,
Virginia in 1756 (he was “of Louisa County" when he bought land in Goochland
County) and may have been in Hanover County (witnessed a deed with Thomas
Harris in 1734, later Louisa County) and Amelia County (paid taxes there with
Harrison Harris in 1747) previous to this time.
Louisa County borders Goochland County to the north.
Unfortunately, Louisa County court records have been lost (during the
Revolutionary War) and so we know very little about John Hix the younger’s
activities until 1756. His first known
connection back to Goochland County was in 1756 when he purchased a large tract
of 747 acres. At the time, he was a
resident of Louisa County, bordering Goochland on the north. This is what the deed reads:
Date - 16
November 1756
County -
Goochland
Seller -
John Henry, Gentleman, of Hanover County, VA
Buyer - John
Hicks of Louisa County, VA
Land amount
- 747 acres bordering Upshaw
Land location
- Deep Creek
Land price
- 130.15 pounds VA money
Witnesses
– John Hall, Harrison Harris, Robert Sharpe
Dowry release
- Sarah Henry relinquish dowry right,
Dowry witnesses
– Richard Johnson and John Boswell
Comments
–
o
Very little of Deep Creek is in Goochland County
so the location of this land can be more accurately pinpointed on county maps
o
John Henry had received this land when he
married John Syme’s widow in 1732
o
Colonel John Henry was born circa 1704 in
Scotland, came to Virginia about 1730, lived at Richmond, Hanover County, and
was colonel of the Virginia militia and magistrate (court judge) in Hanover
County. He was the father of the famed
orator Patrick Henry.
o
Colonel John Syme was born 1710 in Scotland, had
a royal commission, and was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He lived in Hanover and died there in
1732. This land was purchased by Syme as
a Virginia Patent in 1730 - 5829 acres on Deep Creek, Fork Creek, and Little
Creek on the dividing line between Hanover (which became Louisa County in
1742)and Goochland Counties
John Hix the younger sold part of the Deep Creek tract two years later
to his brother-in-law Harrison Harris. Though
the land was in Goochland County, John Hix the younger remained in Louisa
County.
Date – 19
September 1758
County -
Goochland
Seller –
John Hix of Louisa County, VA
Buyer –
Harrison Harris, overseer, of Louisa County, VA
Land amount
- 206 acres (which means Hix retained 541 acres)
Land location
- crosses Deep Creek two times, bordering John Symes
Land price
- 44 pounds VA money
Witnesses
– William Rutherford, David Parrish
Signed –
John Hix mark was “H”
Comments
–
o
David Parrish was the son of Humphrey Parrish
o
William Rutherford was the son-in-law of David
Parrish
The Goochland County map above shows the location of Deep Creek (highlighted in blue) in northwest Goochland (large red circle in upper left). This location would be the headwaters for Deep Creek that flows north and east into Louisa County.
During this 1750s, John Hix the younger’s brothers were living in
Goochland County. Brother David Hix
appeared as a 1754 Goochland County tithable along with his step-mother Elizabeth
Hix. David Hix's fate is unknown though he may
have moved to Louisa County (some deed records show a David Hix there). Half-brother Gideon Hix was at least 16 in
1748 and as the son of Elizabeth Hix, was allowed to be exempt from paying
county taxes in Goochland County. Gideon Hix would
serve in the Seven Years War during 1756 to 1763 and was found in various
records in and around the Dover Mill Creek area in Goochland County until 1779. Half-brother William Hix was not heard from
again after 1759 in Goochland County but may have gone to Louisa County or another county
nearby.
John Hix the elder’s widow Elizabeth Hix remained unmarried. She was the defendant in a court case with
John Carlyle, a merchant of Goochland County, between 1753 and 1755. She was also the plaintiff in a case against
Clayborn Rice of Goochland County between 1754 and 1755. Interestingly, she was compensated by the Goochland
County court in 1759 for providing care to Richard Wilborn before he died. Richard Wilborn made his home on the
Roundabout Creek in Louisa County, just a few miles northwest of Deep Creek, where her
step-son John Hix bought land in 1756 on the Louisa-Goochland County line.
John Hix the younger was mostly connected to the Deep Creek area in
northwest Goochland County. However, he
was tied in some way to his father’s land at Dover Mill Creek and Genito Creek. When Henry Gray bought his tract in 1761, John
Hix the younger was listed as living or owning adjoining land. His connections to the Dover Mill Creek area
did not remain consistent after this time.
John Hix the younger was in the Dover Mill Creek area according to
several records in and around 1761 (juror in 1761 Joseph Johnson estate case). In 1764, John Hix the younger joined northwest
Goochland County resident Thomas Adams as a witness for John Hix the younger’s
son Meshack Hix during a court case in Goochland County. John Hix the younger, along with his
brother-in-law Harrison Harris, was a witness in 1769 for Thomas Adams’ land
purchase from John Syme Jr for land on Mud Swamp (next to Deep Creek in Louisa
County).
John Hix the younger wrote a will in May 1772 and gave his son Meshack
Hix 100 acres, part of his 1756 land purchase on Deep Creek. He designated 300 acres (presumably out of
the same tract) to be split among his sons David Hix, William Hix, and Meshack
Hix. The remaining land (maybe about 141
acres?) was to be given to son Moses Hix.
He also names a son Harris Hix (who would have been named after John Hix
the younger’s wife Mary Harris), several married daughters, and Mary Hix, an
unmarried daughter. This is thought to
have been the Mary Hix who married Joseph Gray, son of Henry Gray.
Factors that have prevented ancestors from identifying Joseph Gray’s
wife Mary as Mary Hix – 1) Mary Hix, daughter of John Hix the younger, was not
married when her father wrote his will, and 2) there is no marriage record for
Mary Hix and Joseph Gray. Goochland
County has managed to retain excellent records, including some marriage
records, during the 1700s. These
marriage records do not include all Goochland marriages. A Goochland County marriage record does in
fact exist for a Mary Hix…it is just not with Joseph Gray. A Mary Hix was recorded in Goochland County
as having married to Charles Nuckolls.
Just because a Mary Hix marriage was recorded does not mean that it was
the Mary Hix, daughter of John Hix the younger (as many believe). Mary is probably the most common female first
name, similar to the first name John for males.
In fact, most families had a daughter named Mary. There are several factors that seem to
indicate the true identity of the Mary Hix who married Charles Nuckolls. First, Charles Nuckolls was from the Tuckahoe
Creek in the Goochland-Henrico County line, far from the John Hix the younger
family of Deep Creek in northwest Goochland County.
Second, most of the marriages of the John Hix the younger children were not
recorded in Goochland County. For
example, there was no marriage recorded in Goochland County for the following
John Hix the younger children:
1. Susannah Hix who married Thomas Adams, whose
family was known to be from around Deep Creek
2. Harris Hix who became an adult, married, and
moved his family to Kentucky with his siblings
3. David Hix (a David Hicks marriage was
recorded in 1772 to Sarah Lee but this is likely from the Nathaniel Hicks
family)
4. John Hix was believed to have married Mary ?
and died in Cumberland County in 1776 (a John Hicks marriage was recorded in
1795 but this John Hicks was born circa 1779)
5. Cary Hix married John Cochran, whose family
was from Hanover County (the Cary Hicks who married Sylvanus Stokes was not of
this family) Others report this to be
Cary Hix-Clark
The distance between Deep Creek (upper left red circle) and Tuckahoe Creek (on the east border of Goochland) in the Goochland County map above.
The compiled marriages that compose the Goochland County marriage
records came from different sources – different ministers who kept records of
marriages they performed. Many of the
Hicks marriages appearing in Goochland County marriage records seem to have
been for members of the Nathaniel Hicks family who lived at Tuckahoe Creek. For example, other Hicks marriages that took
place in Goochland County in the 1770s were Jesse Hicks (grandson of Nathaniel)
in 1770, David Hicks (grandson of Nathaniel) in 1772, and James Hicks (grandson
of Nathaniel) in 1773. Combined with the
knowledge of Charles Nuckolls origins at Tuckahoe Creek and the other marriages
in the 1770s occurring at or around Tuckahoe Creek, the Mary Hix who married
Charles Nuckolls was certainly the granddaughter of Nathaniel Hix.
There is one more piece of “evidence” supporting a Joseph Gray-Mary Hix
union. In an online search, one
researcher reports in his family history records that Joseph Gray, son of Henry
Gray, may have been married to Mary Hix.
The online site gives no source for the information. The researcher was also not focused on Joseph
Gray but was instead interested in compiling information on all of the Henry
Gray children. Therefore, there was no
intent to force a fit but simply a report of information he had acquired. No contact was able to be made with this
individual and so the source was not validated.
However, some record must exist that linked Joseph Gray to Mary Hix.
SUMMARY OF MARY HIX, DAUGHTER OF JOHN HIX THE YOUNGER
·
Mary Hix
was the daughter of John Hix the younger
·
Mary Hix
was single in 1772
·
Mary Hix
did not marry Charles Nuckolls
· Mary Hix
was connected to Dover Mill Creek and the Henry Gray family through her family’s
association with John Hix the elder’s land and the Johnson family
· Joseph
Gray was very active in the Revolution and would easily have had access to
travel as he was active from 1777 to 1781 during the Revolutionary War years.
· Mary Hix
likely married Joseph Gray about 1781
· Mary
Hix-Gray moved shortly after her marriage to Henrico County
· Mary
Hix-Gray lived with her husband Joseph Gray, the plantation manager for the
lower Tuckahoe Plantation for Thomas Mann Randolph by 1783.
However, after an exhaustive search for direct evidence of the Joseph
Gray-Mary Hix union, the primary supportive record remains the pattern that Jane
Gray, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hix?) Gray, used to name her children - using her grandfathers' and grandmothers’ names. Enough evidence has
been discovered to reveal a possible connection between Joseph & Mary Gray
and John & Mary Harris-Hix. John Hix and Mary Harris-Hix had a daughter
Mary Hix whose marriage was in the 1780 time frame (which matched the marriage
between Joseph Gray and his wife Mary) and whose husband is unknown. There is an obvious connection between Joseph Grady & Mary Hix (through Henry Gray) and John & Mary Harris Hix (through
John Hix the elder) via land ownership.
But to be clear, this Gray-Hix connection officially remains inconclusive. If someone asked me to bet $100 on Mary Gray,
wife of Joseph Gray, being Mary Hix, daughter of John Hix the younger…I would
not take it. But, I would take the bet for
$20. So for now, I have Joseph Gray having
married Mary Hix, tentatively. Someday, I
may see some evidence to either prove or disprove this (which would come from
county records I have not seen or unknown information from the public). But for
now, I believe I am as confident as I can be with the information that is
available to me (what I have collected, what is on the internet, and what
others have found and made available to the public). It must be mentioned that I have recently
seen an ancestry.com search return with a user pedigree announcing Joseph Gray
having married a Mary Camus. I do not
have access to contact that person nor have I found any evidence supporting
that connection, other than an unrelated Gray family (including a Joseph) from
Camus Parish in Ireland in the late 1700s.
It remains to be explored…
ADDITONAL INFORMATION
Mary Hix alive and compensated for contributing supplies to troops during
the Revolutionary War
She was also named in 1790 as “Mary Hix” in her father Benjamin Harrison’s
will and also mentions his granddaughter Elizabeth Hicks
Other Hix families in Goochland County
Joseph Gray info
JOHN HIX THE YOUNGER WILL
John Hicks will 5 May
1772, probated 17 August 1772
Goochland Co VA will book
10, p242
In the name of God, Amen, I JOHN HICKS of the County of Goochland being sick and weak but of sound memory Thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, but calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do Constitute make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testement Revoking all others by me formerly made Either by word or Writing &
First I commit
my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping that through the Merits of Jesus
Christ I shall have a full pardon of all my Sins and my body to the Earth to be
buried at the Discretion of my Exrs hereafter named and as touching such worldly
Estate as the Lord has been pleased to favor me with,
I give &
Bequeath the same in the Manner following: That is to wit
Item I give and Bequeath to my son MESHACK HICKS One hundred Acres of land joining the County Line and UPSHER’s line to him and his heirs forever.
I lend to my Beloved Wife MARY HICKS all the rest of my estate During her Natural life.
I give and Bequeath to my three sons, DAVID HICKS, WILLIAM HICKS, and MESHACK HICKS the rest of my Land and containing three hundred and ---- acres to be equally Divided Between when my son MOSES HICKS comes of Lawfull Age and my said son MOSES HICKS to have First Choice, which I give to them and their heirs for ever, and if Either of them should depart the Life before of Age, His part to be Divided between the Survivors and their Heirs, For ever.
I give and Bequeath to my Son SHADRACH HICKS one Negro--named John, to him and his heirs for Ever.
I give and Bequeath to my son JOHN HICKS one Negro girl Bet to him and his heirs forever, But if the said Bet should have any child or children before the Death of my said wife MARY HICKS such Increase I give to be Equally Divided between my three sons DAVID HICKS, WILLIAM HICKS, MOSES HICKS and their heirs for Ever.
I give and Bequeath to my Son HARRIS HICKS one Negro girl, Sarah to him and his heirs for Ever, but if she the said Sarah should have any Child or Children, before the Death of my said Wife MARY HICKS, such Increase I give to be Equally Divided Between my three sons, DAVID HICKS, WILLIAM HICKS & MOSES HICKS and their heirs for Ever.
I will that my Negro Woman Nan, likewise my stocks of Cattle, Hogs, Horses, Sheep, Household goods and other Estate after my said Wifes Decease, be Equally Divided Between my Children SUSANNAH ADAMS, SHADRACK HICKS, MESHACK HICKS, CARRY (COCHRAN?), MARY HICKS, HARRIS HICKS, DAVID HICKS and MOSES HICKS. To them and their for Ever and if any of my aforesaid Children should depart his Life Leaving no Lawfull issue, his or her part so departing to be Divided Between the Survivors and their heirs for Ever, but as to the Estate that any of my Children has had is to be all counted for as my Estate and Divided as aforesaid.
I Will who ever has the Care of my Son SHADRACK HICKS, at his Death shall have the Negro Boy John before given.
I further Will if my Negro Woman Nan should have any Child Children before the Death of my Wife MARY HICKS, said Increase I give to be Equally divided Between my three Sons, DAVID HICKS, WILLIAM HICKS and MOSES HICKS & their heirs for Ever.
I Leave unto ROBERT SHARP & to his heirs for Ever my Land in Hanover County Containing Eighty seven Acres joining the Lines of JOHN COCHRAN, DAVID ANDERSON, JAMES ANTHONY and the said ROBERT SHARP, He having paid me for the same. I Leave my Wife MARY HICKS Exectrix and my Sons MESHACK HICKS and JOHN HICKS Executors of the my Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of May 1772.
Sealed and Published
in presence of
BOOKER PARRISH his
RANDOLH HARRIS John H Hicks Se
HARRISON H HARRIS
mark
his mark
At a Court held for Goochland County Aug. the 17th 1772 BOOKER PARRISH and HARRISON HARRIS, proved the Writing to be the last Will and Testament of JOHN HICKS decd. wch was thereupon admitted to Record.
Teste. VAL WOOD CCCur
JOHN HIX THE ELDER WILL
John Hicks will dated 9
Dec 1747, probated 17 May 1748
Goochland Co VA will book
__, p ___
In the name of God amen I JOHN
HIX of ye County of Goochland calling to mind that all flesh must die and
at present being much afflicted with calamities tho of perfect sense and memory
do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say imprimus
I give and bequeath unto my wife ELIZABETH HIX my land & all my real and personal estate that I
am possess with during her life and after here my said wife’s decease
I give and bequeath unto my son DAVID HIX my land that I am now possessed with to him and his heirs
forever.
Item. I ordain and desire
that after my said wife’s decease then the remainder of the estate be divided
equally between all my children and my said wife’s children and grand son JAMES JOHNSON HIX each an equal part
also ordaining that if my said wife should die when the children being yet
small that then the children and also the estate to be and remain in the
possession of my executor until the children be raised able to maintain themselves.
Item. I appoint my son THOMAS JOLLY HIX executor to this my
last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I set my hand and seal this 9th day of
December anno domini one thousand seven hundred and forty seven.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us.
ISAAC JOHNSON JAMES TURNER HENRY TURNER
JOHN HIX [seal]
At a court held for Goochland County May 17, 1748. This will was proved by the oaths of ISAAC JOHNSON and JAMES TURNER and ordered to be recorded.