As of August, 2024
Francis Pinkney Gray was the son of Francis Marion Gray (1844-1930) and Amanda Veach (1844-1884). The following photographs (some colorized by MyHeritage) are from the extensive family collection.
The Gray men: Marion Gray, Luther Gray, Charles Allen Gray, Francis Pinkney Gray, with their father Francis Marion Gray
The Gray women: Amanda Gray Cartwright, Sidney Elvira Gray Hibbard, Mattie Lee Gray Russell, with their father Francis Marion Gray
The whole clan: Sheridan & Amanda Gray Cartwright + Lester & Nina, Luther & Fannie Ashton Gray + Artelia & Lena, Francis Pinkney and Bertha Thompson Gray, Fred & Mattie Gray Russell + Everett, Charles & Edna Dunham Gray + Percy & Almeda & Gay Dunham, Ed & Sydney Gray Hibbard + Julieka Hibbard, front: Marion Gray & the patriarch Francis Marion Gray
Here are more photographs and information about Pinkney’s siblings and their families.
The five youngest of the eight siblings, circa 1945.
Back row: Luther, Marion Pinkney; Front row: Amanda, Mattie
Charles Allen Gray
(1871-1907)
Charles Allen Gray was born 27 Jun 1871 in Illinois. He married Edna Marie Dunham (1873-1960) in Fresno, California in 1896. They had three children: Kate Almeda (1897-1993), Percy Allen (1899-1957) and Lillian Beatrice (1902-1984), who had 11 children between them. Charles died 28 Jul 1907 in Palo Alto, California.
Twins
Marion Gray
(1878-1966)
Marion Gray was born in Clay County, Arkansas on 28 Feb 1878, along with his twin sister Amanda. He married Martha May Wilkin (1880-1968) in Morrow County, Oregon in 1916. They had no children, but Martha had three from a previous marriage. Marion died 20 Feb 1966 in Fresno.
Gray Cousins
Laurel and Lowell’s Gray line traces back from their maternal grandfather Francis Pinkney Gray, who married Bertha Elizabeth Thompson on 12 June 1901 in Fresno, California.
Cousin Chart
The following chart shows Francis Pinkney Gray (red box), his parents Francis Marion Gray and Clarinda Baker, and his seven siblings. Pinkney and five of his siblings had descendants, which are carried down two generations in the chart.
Photographs from Christmas Day, 1901
Gray Siblings
George Washington Gray
(1865-?)
The firstborn son of Francis and Amanda Thompson, George Washington, was born in Johnson County, Illinois on 19 Oct 1865. George married Harriet Elizabeth Sharp (1867-1956) in Johnson County, in 1886. They raised eight children, moving to South Dakota and then to Fresno County, California by 1920. We unfortunately do not have a photograph of him, nor do we know his date (though likely between 1920 and 1930) and place of death.
Amanda Susannah Gray
(1878-1964)
Amanda Gray was born in Clay County, Arkansas on 28 Feb 1878, along with her twin brother Marion. She married Rueben Sheridan Cartwright (1867-1924) in Fresno, California, in 1898. They raised seven children: William Lester (1899-1917), Nina Susanna (1900-86), Marion Alva (1902-03), Charles Gifford (1905-22), Leona Elizabeth (1907-89), Emma Evelyn (1910-63) and Ada Luella (1912-71). After Reuben died, Amanda married Francis S Lull in Fresno in 1930. Amanda’s children had nine offspring between them. Amanda died 15 Mar 1964 in Fresno.
Gray Clan Photographs
The Gray siblings: Marion Gray, Amanda Gray Cartwright, Luther Gray, Mattie Lee Gray Russell, Charles Allen Gray, Sidney Elvira Gray Hibbard, Francis Pinkney Gray (my grandfather) and their father Francis Marion Gray (in front) .
Sydney Elvira Gray
(1863-1941)
The firstborn child of Francis and Amanda Thompson, Sydney Elvira, was born in Illinois on 22 Oct 1863. “Siddie” married Edwin J. Hibbard (1844-1924) in Fresno, California, in 1893. They raised a daughter Zulieka (1897-1989) and a son Armand (1902-1975) who both had children. Sydney died 22 Nov 1941 in Los Angeles.
Luther Gray
(1874-1966)
Luther Gray was born in Illinois on 4 Mar 1874. He married Frances E. Ashton (1879-1920) in Fresno, California, in 1897. They raised four children: Mattie Artelia (1899-1969), Lena M (1901-?), Mildred (1909-84) and Luther Ashton (1912-2000). Mattie had 12 children with two husbands, while Luther Ashton had a son and a daughter. Luther Sr. died 5 Feb 1966 in Clovis, California.
Mattie Lee Gray
(1880-1963)
Mattie Lee Gray was born in Oak Bluff, Arkansas on 226 Jun 1880. She married Fred Milo Russell (1878-1957) in Fresno, California, in 1900. They raised five son: Everett Joseph (1901-60), Clarence Lee (1905-64), Fred Milo Jr. (1911-99), Earl Woodrow (1913-58), and Leslie Ray (1916-61). Mattie’s sons had two offspring (that we know about) between them. She died 12 Apr 1963 in Auberry, California.