Caroline Gray
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 12:33 am
According to the 1860 census, Caroline Gray, age 19, b. 1841 in R.I., was a servant in the Borden household. The 1860 census was enumerated in June of that year.
As we know, Abby Borden’s father was Oliver Gray, son of Ellery Gray.
Is it possible that Caroline and Abby were related?
My research is preliminary, but this is what I’ve unearthed so far:
On Nov. 18, 1860, a Caroline Gray, age 19, b. 1841, married Freeman Nickerson, Jr. in Tiverton, R.I. Her marriage record identifies her parents as John B. Gray and Mary A.
Caroline Gray Nickerson, age 75, died Jan. 9, 1917 in Fall River. On the death certificate, her parents are identified as John B. Gray, b. in Tiverton and Sarah A. Sisson, b. in Portsmouth, R.I. She’s buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141 ... -nickerson
John B. Gray, was born in 1807 and died on Aug. 3, 1864 in Tiverton. On his death record, his father is identified as Ellery; mother’s name is unknown, but some sources identify her as Mary Pierce or Pearce. No birth record was located to substantiate it.
Oliver Gray’s marriage record to Jane Eldridge in 1862 identifies his father as Ellery and his mother as Rhoda Gray. Some sources give her the surname “Bailey.” To further confuse matters, Oliver’s death record identifies his mother as “Prudence.” Neither a birth record or first marriage record for Oliver Gray can be located through the usual genealogy sources.
It’s possible that Ellery Gray married twice, and John B. Gray was his son from a second marriage to Mary.
Though not definitive, the evidence suggests that Oliver Gray & John B. Gray were brothers or half-brothers. In Ellery Gray’s will, probated in 1858, he bequeaths his son, John B. Gray, “all my wearing apparel.” His other children, not named, were bequeathed $22 to be equally divided. His son, Oliver Gray, was named Executor of his will. Ellery’s wife, Mary,, was bequeathed the residue of the estate.
If this Caroline Gray who worked for the Bordens in 1860 was related to Abby, they were first cousins.,
If there was a familial relationship between Caroline & Abby, and Emma knew about it, did Andrew’s marriage to Abby create her disdain for the stepmother whose cousin was once their servant? Did Emma believe that Andrew married beneath him? Was this the root of the disdain toward Abby that Emma passed on to Lizzie?
As we know, Abby Borden’s father was Oliver Gray, son of Ellery Gray.
Is it possible that Caroline and Abby were related?
My research is preliminary, but this is what I’ve unearthed so far:
On Nov. 18, 1860, a Caroline Gray, age 19, b. 1841, married Freeman Nickerson, Jr. in Tiverton, R.I. Her marriage record identifies her parents as John B. Gray and Mary A.
Caroline Gray Nickerson, age 75, died Jan. 9, 1917 in Fall River. On the death certificate, her parents are identified as John B. Gray, b. in Tiverton and Sarah A. Sisson, b. in Portsmouth, R.I. She’s buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141 ... -nickerson
John B. Gray, was born in 1807 and died on Aug. 3, 1864 in Tiverton. On his death record, his father is identified as Ellery; mother’s name is unknown, but some sources identify her as Mary Pierce or Pearce. No birth record was located to substantiate it.
Oliver Gray’s marriage record to Jane Eldridge in 1862 identifies his father as Ellery and his mother as Rhoda Gray. Some sources give her the surname “Bailey.” To further confuse matters, Oliver’s death record identifies his mother as “Prudence.” Neither a birth record or first marriage record for Oliver Gray can be located through the usual genealogy sources.
It’s possible that Ellery Gray married twice, and John B. Gray was his son from a second marriage to Mary.
Though not definitive, the evidence suggests that Oliver Gray & John B. Gray were brothers or half-brothers. In Ellery Gray’s will, probated in 1858, he bequeaths his son, John B. Gray, “all my wearing apparel.” His other children, not named, were bequeathed $22 to be equally divided. His son, Oliver Gray, was named Executor of his will. Ellery’s wife, Mary,, was bequeathed the residue of the estate.
If this Caroline Gray who worked for the Bordens in 1860 was related to Abby, they were first cousins.,
If there was a familial relationship between Caroline & Abby, and Emma knew about it, did Andrew’s marriage to Abby create her disdain for the stepmother whose cousin was once their servant? Did Emma believe that Andrew married beneath him? Was this the root of the disdain toward Abby that Emma passed on to Lizzie?