TheGrays of Mt. Pisgah

By KENNETH GRAY

Jesse Franklin Gray settled at Mt. Pisgah before the CivilWar. How he got here is described inthis excerpt from Gray family research material that was published and archivedin the Arkansas History Commission in Little Rock following the death of theauthor in 1998. Kenneth Gray, wholived in Cabot, was the great grandson of Jesse Franklin Gray.

TheGrays came to America early. They were at Plymouth, Boston and Salem among thefirst settlers. It is said that Mrs. Desire Kent, daughter of Edward Gray, wasthe first woman ashore at Plymouth Rock.   Benjamin Borden so pleased Governor William Gooch of the Colony ofVirginia he authorized a grant to Borden for 500,000 acres of land on theShenandoah and James River on condition he locate 100 families within 10 years.Borden lost no time in returning to England for settlers and in 1737 returnedwith more than 100 required families. Supposedly our ancestors John and Agnes Gray of county Antrim Irelandwere part of the 100 families that came to Augusta County, Virginia, in1737. William Gray, son of John andAgnes, was born in 1732 in Antrim, Ireland. He came with his parents [and siblings]… William Gray received a stategrant of 640 acres November 13, 1779. His will named the following children:James "eldest son", William, Issac, Jesse, Joseph, Thomas, Samuel,Mary Brown, Elizabeth Raper and Lydia… William Gray, son of William Gray, was born September 17, 1755, inGuilford County, North Carolina. He wasa Captain in the Revolutionary War and served with Gov. Jesse Franklin at thebattle of Guilford Courthouse. For hisservice he received a grant of 600 acres of land in Ashe County, North Carolina. He married Ann Thornberry around1777. His issue: Samuel, William J., Ann and Others. William J. was born in 1780 in GuilfordCounty, and on November 19, 1799, he married Phoebe Martin of Guilford County. Hemoved to Ashe County to be close to his father where he had received a landgrant for his Revolutionary War service. Phoebe Martin Gray died in 1825. William and most of the family moved to Tennessee and then on toMissouri, where he died around 1850. Issue: Jonathan, Daughter Martin, John, Martha,William, Alfred, JesseFranklin and James.
             Jesse Franklin Gray, son ofWilliam J. and Phoebe Martin Gray, was born May 02, 1823, in GuilfordCounty. He was living with his parentsin Ashe County when his mother died. At age 9, Jesse was apprenticed to learnthe machinist trade. He did not like the man he was apprenticed to and ran awayto Scott County, Virginia, and lived with the Stephen Epperson Family. On December 10, 1846, Jesse married Mary AnnEpperson, daughter of Hopson and Anny Agee Epperson, niece of StephenEpperson.   After the death ofHopson Epperson, Jesse, his wife, two children and brother-in-law HarrisonEpperson floated down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, Arkansas, White andLittle Red Rivers to his home at Mt. Pisgah in White County, Arkansas. Jesse received a state land grant in 1851of120 acres. He owned slaves, operated alumber mill and a remount station for stagecoaches that traveled the oldMilitary Road through Mt. Pisgah. Hisslaves dug a huge well which furnished water for the stage passengers, teamsand surrounding settlers. This well isstill visible near Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, for which Jesse donated land in1856. Jesse was active in Arkansaspolitics and was considered a radical in association with Thomas Hindman andothers. He was active in the 1860presidential election (Confederate Arkansas by Michael B. Gougan). MaryAnn Epperson Gray died December 12, 1860, and is buried at Mt. PisgahCemetery. Jesse then married MarthaJane Parks, who was born September 1, 1834, in Shelby County, Tennessee. She died May 11, 1902. Jesse died March 15, 1907, and was buried  

at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. His issue: Martha Ann Gray,William Hopson Gray, Harrison Thompson Gray, James Franklin Gray, Robert W.Gray, (second marriage) Walter Alexander Gray, Margaret S. Gray, Louella A.Gray, Joseph Gray - who died young, Idomin Gray - who died young, Rufus B.Gray, Sarah Jane Gray - who died young, and John Andrew Gray.

Thisarticle and photo are courtesy of Ron Strong, a member of the White CountyHistorical Society, who lives at 230 W. Nicolet, Marquette, MI 49855, res37352@chartermi.net He is a great grandson of Walter AlexanderGray, who “died of a drowning accident (or murder) in the White River nearGeorgetown (I think) on July 7, 1895.” The “Dry Goods – Notions” advertisement postcard is courtesy of EddieBest of the Historical Society. [SeePictures of Yesterday – Mt. Pisgah on this website.]