Son of William Gray, Innkeeper.
He joined the Orange Order at early age, becoming Master of the Ballybay Lodge and District Master of the Castleblayney area.
His famous sign - board, which hung originally on the wall of his house facing on to the Main Street, showed King William III crossing the Boyne on a white horse on one side and advertised the Loan Bank on the other side. He managed a loan fund financed by Moses Bradford of Edenaneane.
In 1821 censu he was shown as High Constable and Tithe Proctor.
The "Pilot" reported on his death as follows:
"We have to chronicle this day the death of an individual who had gained for himself an unenviable notoriety. The following extract from a letter of a respected correspondent supplies us with the fact and also shows how Sam Gray, was in his last hours, deserted by his former patrons. This is not remarkable however, for Sam was not so much disliked as it might be thought, for he was remarkably hospitable and, although a man of fierce passions, was good - natured to those in need. Our obituary columns have often times recorded the demise of men more obscure and familiar to the public ear than that of Sam Gray of Ballybay. He died on the 1st, inst...at his own York Hotel, Ballybay. The only remarkable incident conected with his funeral was the total absence of his quondam patrons and attached votaries of that order with which his name has been so long and so conspicuously associated and idolised as an unconquerable hero. Notwithstanding his sufferings, for some years back mentally and bodily, and the agonising sickness of his deathbed, his daring manifesto "No surrender, King William 1688" has not yet been removed from the sign - post of the York Hotel."
The funeral passed off without colours or music or any attempt at display. The Breakey Memoirs, part 1, page 53, read:
"My father and William Todd were coming home from Sam Gray's funeral, when Father said to William: "What do you think of the Rector saying - this is our brother is gone to...heaven?"
Source: James & Peadar Murnane, "At The Ford of the Birches, the History of Ballybay , its People and Vicinity", published by Murnane Brothers, 1999, p. 475
He joined the Orange Order at early age, becoming Master of the Ballybay Lodge and District Master of the Castleblayney area.
His famous sign - board, which hung originally on the wall of his house facing on to the Main Street, showed King William III crossing the Boyne on a white horse on one side and advertised the Loan Bank on the other side. He managed a loan fund financed by Moses Bradford of Edenaneane.
In 1821 censu he was shown as High Constable and Tithe Proctor.
The "Pilot" reported on his death as follows:
"We have to chronicle this day the death of an individual who had gained for himself an unenviable notoriety. The following extract from a letter of a respected correspondent supplies us with the fact and also shows how Sam Gray, was in his last hours, deserted by his former patrons. This is not remarkable however, for Sam was not so much disliked as it might be thought, for he was remarkably hospitable and, although a man of fierce passions, was good - natured to those in need. Our obituary columns have often times recorded the demise of men more obscure and familiar to the public ear than that of Sam Gray of Ballybay. He died on the 1st, inst...at his own York Hotel, Ballybay. The only remarkable incident conected with his funeral was the total absence of his quondam patrons and attached votaries of that order with which his name has been so long and so conspicuously associated and idolised as an unconquerable hero. Notwithstanding his sufferings, for some years back mentally and bodily, and the agonising sickness of his deathbed, his daring manifesto "No surrender, King William 1688" has not yet been removed from the sign - post of the York Hotel."
The funeral passed off without colours or music or any attempt at display. The Breakey Memoirs, part 1, page 53, read:
"My father and William Todd were coming home from Sam Gray's funeral, when Father said to William: "What do you think of the Rector saying - this is our brother is gone to...heaven?"
Source: James & Peadar Murnane, "At The Ford of the Birches, the History of Ballybay , its People and Vicinity", published by Murnane Brothers, 1999, p. 475
Son of William Gray, Innkeeper.
He joined the Orange Order at early age, becoming Master of the Ballybay Lodge and District Master of the Castleblayney area.
His famous sign - board, which hung originally on the wall of his house facing on to the Main Street, showed King William III crossing the Boyne on a white horse on one side and advertised the Loan Bank on the other side. He managed a loan fund financed by Moses Bradford of Edenaneane.
In 1821 censu he was shown as High Constable and Tithe Proctor.
The "Pilot" reported on his death as follows:
"We have to chronicle this day the death of an individual who had gained for himself an unenviable notoriety. The following extract from a letter of a respected correspondent supplies us with the fact and also shows how Sam Gray, was in his last hours, deserted by his former patrons. This is not remarkable however, for Sam was not so much disliked as it might be thought, for he was remarkably hospitable and, although a man of fierce passions, was good - natured to those in need. Our obituary columns have often times recorded the demise of men more obscure and familiar to the public ear than that of Sam Gray of Ballybay. He died on the 1st, inst...at his own York Hotel, Ballybay. The only remarkable incident conected with his funeral was the total absence of his quondam patrons and attached votaries of that order with which his name has been so long and so conspicuously associated and idolised as an unconquerable hero. Notwithstanding his sufferings, for some years back mentally and bodily, and the agonising sickness of his deathbed, his daring manifesto "No surrender, King William 1688" has not yet been removed from the sign - post of the York Hotel."
The funeral passed off without colours or music or any attempt at display. The Breakey Memoirs, part 1, page 53, read:
"My father and William Todd were coming home from Sam Gray's funeral, when Father said to William: "What do you think of the Rector saying - this is our brother is gone to...heaven?"
Source: James & Peadar Murnane, "At The Ford of the Birches, the History of Ballybay , its People and Vicinity", published by Murnane Brothers, 1999, p. 475
He joined the Orange Order at early age, becoming Master of the Ballybay Lodge and District Master of the Castleblayney area.
His famous sign - board, which hung originally on the wall of his house facing on to the Main Street, showed King William III crossing the Boyne on a white horse on one side and advertised the Loan Bank on the other side. He managed a loan fund financed by Moses Bradford of Edenaneane.
In 1821 censu he was shown as High Constable and Tithe Proctor.
The "Pilot" reported on his death as follows:
"We have to chronicle this day the death of an individual who had gained for himself an unenviable notoriety. The following extract from a letter of a respected correspondent supplies us with the fact and also shows how Sam Gray, was in his last hours, deserted by his former patrons. This is not remarkable however, for Sam was not so much disliked as it might be thought, for he was remarkably hospitable and, although a man of fierce passions, was good - natured to those in need. Our obituary columns have often times recorded the demise of men more obscure and familiar to the public ear than that of Sam Gray of Ballybay. He died on the 1st, inst...at his own York Hotel, Ballybay. The only remarkable incident conected with his funeral was the total absence of his quondam patrons and attached votaries of that order with which his name has been so long and so conspicuously associated and idolised as an unconquerable hero. Notwithstanding his sufferings, for some years back mentally and bodily, and the agonising sickness of his deathbed, his daring manifesto "No surrender, King William 1688" has not yet been removed from the sign - post of the York Hotel."
The funeral passed off without colours or music or any attempt at display. The Breakey Memoirs, part 1, page 53, read:
"My father and William Todd were coming home from Sam Gray's funeral, when Father said to William: "What do you think of the Rector saying - this is our brother is gone to...heaven?"
Source: James & Peadar Murnane, "At The Ford of the Birches, the History of Ballybay , its People and Vicinity", published by Murnane Brothers, 1999, p. 475
Inscription
Erected Anno Domine 1874
by
James Gray late Acting Director of
Roads and Member of Parliament of
Tasmania, Australia in memory of
Samuel Gray
who died 2nd Sept. 1848,
Age 65 years
Agnes Gray
who died 26 January 1839
Age 48
and of their sons
Samuel who died in 1867
Age 45
William who died 11 June 1871
Age 50
Edward Warren who died in 1874
Age 49
Family Members
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