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1. "Two Jane Grays--ETC."
Posted by Kat on Feb-2nd-02 at 9:46 PM

In the new issue of the LBQ, "The Whitehead House Discovered", by Leonard Rebello, pg. 21 there is reference to Jane Gray's witness statement, page 21 (W.S.) (that's a coincidence...), that refers to her living at "No.215 Second Street.".  Her statement under that citation is the "Dr. Bowen's character is at least suspicious.."
According to the Knowltton Papers, page 436, and Hoffman's Yesterday In Old Fall River (which follows the transcription of the Knowlton citation), There was another "Jane Gray"--THIS one Jane B. (Negus) Gray, who resided at 188 1/2 Second Street.  This is so close to #215 in numbers, that I had believed this Mrs. Gray to be the (Negus) Gray, NOT the Step-mother Gray of Abby Borden.

Knowlton:
"Gray, Jane B. (Negus)  1829-1917  born in Massachusetts, daughter of Benjamin and Betsy Negus.  She married Ellery Gray, a mariner in Fall River, Mass., and was widowed in 1865.  In 1862, she resided at 188 1/2 Second Street.  She lived in Fall River for the rest of her life.  SHe PROVIDED A STATEMENT TO THE POLICE regarding INCIDENTS in the LIFE of Miss LIZZIE A. BORDEN, prior to the murders.  Summoned as a WITNESS, she was not called upon to testify."

--This sounds like the "gossip" about Lizzie and Bowen attending church together while her family was away...

Hoffman has a citation for "Gray, Jane E. D. (Baker) Eldridge (1826-1916)...the widow of Oliver Gray and the (sic) mother of Abby's half-sister Sarah (Gray) Whitehead.  It was to Jane Gray that Andrew gave $1500 in exchange for her QUARTER SHARE of the Fourth Street house where she lived.  Andrew then gave his share to Abby, who also inherited a QUARTER SHARE when Oliver Gray died.  Sarah Whitehead, who had her own 1/4 share, LIVED IN THE HOUSE WITH HER MOTHER.  The LAST FOURTH was OWNED BY PRISCILLA (Gray) FISH of Hartford, Conn. (Sic-Andrew and Abby gave their shares to Sarah Whitehead)  Andrew did this at Abby's urging in 1887 so that Sarah, beloved by her older sister (sic) Abby Borden, would always have a home.  This caused strong resentment of Andrew and Abby by his two daughters, Emma and Lizzie.  Many people, then and now, see in this act of benevolence on Andrew's part a motive for murder (see Sarah Gray Whitehead)."

--In Mr. Rebello's article I was brought to believe the "1/2 A House" story--that Oliver left ONLY to his wife and 3rd daughter each a 1/2 share in the house, as he gives footnotes referring to   #9 will of Oliver Gray. and several #'s = Registry of Deeds...BUT, then on page 22 he refers to "...and Mrs. Fish owned one-quarter share."  I'd like to know where this came from if the original distribution of the house was in HALVES.  This is in contradiction of the Hoffman quote, and also doesn't make sense.  I have an interest in this, as my Chronology on the web-site goes into a little detail of this whole land transaction.  Author's Lincoln(40) and Sullivan(217) mention the deal, but in different terminology.
So what IS THE deal?

Clarification would be nice on this.  Geez, with all the other contradictory stuff in this case we didn't need two Jane Grays popping up.