John Gray, Mariner married Margaret ?

[Rowe]

Dear Folks

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me shed some light on this fellow and his family. The information below was supplied by a descendant of his son in South Africa. I'm hoping to find where he came from, his marriage, and parents.

John Gray married a Margaret (maiden name possibly Threadgold from daughter's death certificate). They had 3 children: Margaret bapt. 10 Sep 1824 Sth Africa, Mary (known as Elizabeth) bapr. 30 Apr 1826 Sth Africa, and John (changed his name to Jan Grey) bapt. 22 Oct 1828, Sth Africa. Working backwards, it's likely that he married a Margaret (or possibly Mary or Elizabeth) between 1820 - 1824. If he was about 28 at the time of marriage then he would have benn born circa 1794. No conclusive proof that he was Scottish, but it is part of the family oral history.

John Gray was a ship’s master and visited the Cape between 1819 - 1838. In 1818 the barque Amity (368 tons) was built and registered by Clyde Shipping Co. Ltd. Whitby, with a John Gray listed as Master. I've posted a more detailed version of the shipping history on the Mariner's section of the Forum. According to family oral history, both Master John Gray and his wife Margaret died in an accident onboard a ship (likely the Mary Sharp) during a hurricane, when they were burnt by pitch. The three children who were onboard returned to Cape Town where John (jnr) aged nine years, was placed in foster care with the Stagman family. The two daughters went back to the UK. One of the daughters Elizabeth, was recorded marrying in Cape Town in 1852. She and her husband William Shugg emigrated to Australia where they settled with their family, in Sydney. I will also post this on a genealogy section of the forum.

Hoping someone can shed some light, or direct me in a particular direction. I'm limited to searching online. Many thanks for any help or advice offered.
Kind regards,
Rowena
in Melbourne

[LesleyB]

Please post any replies on the earlier thread, so as not to duplicate effort, and keep all information together
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15276