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GRAY Lord GRAY.
BOTH Scotch and English antiquaries agree, that the noble and antient sir∣name of Gray is originally from France; and that Fulbert, great chamberlain to Robert duke of Normandy, got from that prince the castle and honour of Croy, alias Gray, in Pi∣cardy, from which he assumed his sirname.
This Fulbert had a son,
John lord Gray,* 1.1 who succeeded him,—and a daughter,
Arlette, who was mother of William the Conqueror.
Certain it is there were several of that sir∣name came from France to Britain with that great prince, anno 1066, and had considerable commands in his army; and as he divided the lands of England amongst his brave officers,* 1.2 we find that the Grays got a large share, made a great figure, and became very numerous soon after William was master of the country. They were progenitors of several noble families that have flourished with great lustre in that kingdom ever since,* 1.3 viz. the dukes of Suffolk, and Kent, the marquis of Dorset, the earls of Tankerville, and Stamford, the barons Gray of Codnor, Ruthin, Wilton, Roleston, Wark, and Chillingham, &c. from which last is de∣scended the lord Gray in Scotland.
In the northern counties there are still ma∣ny antient families of that name, which en∣joy considerable estates, as appears from the acts of parliament, nominating the justices of the peace, commissioners of supply, &c. in those parts.
And it is observable, that the Grays in Scot∣land carry the same armorial bearings with those in the north of England, which may be seen in their churches, tomb-stones, and other monuments of antiquity: and as Northum∣berland formerly belonged to Scotland, it is the general opinion, that lord Gray of Chil∣lingham of that county, (whose predecessor came over with William the Conqueror,) gave the lands of Browfield or Broxmouth, in the county of Roxburgh adjoining to it, to a younger son of his family, of whom all the Grays in Scotland are said to be descended.
But both Scotch and English historians, who assert, that the Grays came first into Scotland in the reign of king James I.* 1.4 are in a mistake; for we have undoubted proof, that they were settled and making a figure in this country near two hundred years before that aera; or, above five hundred years ago.
And though we cannot six the precise time of their coming, yet we shall deduce the de∣scent of this noble family, by authentic docu∣ments, in a direct line from
I. Sir HUGH de GRAY, a man of consi∣derable rank and figure in the reign of king Alexander II. (who succeeded to the crown, anno 1214;) was then proprietor of the lands of Browfield or Broxmouth in Roxburgh∣shire,* 1.5 and is particularly documented by a charter of Walter de Lundin to his kinsman Philip de Feodary, ancestor of the Meldrums of that ilk, of the lands of Balcormack in Fife, in which sir Hugh de Gray, Alexander earl of Buchan,* 1.6 William lord of Brechin, sir Philip de Melville, and several others were witnesses; and his being therein designed do∣minus Hugo de Gray, and inserted before some other honourable persons, is a sufficient proof, that he was a man of the first rank; and it is not to be imagined he was the first of this fa∣mily that was settled in Scotland. This char∣ter is without date; but, by the witnesses, must have been before 1248.
He left issue three sons.
1. Sir Hugh de Gray.
2. Henry de Gray,* 1.7 who swore fealty to king Edward I. of England, anno 1296.
3. John de Gray, who was senescallus to the earl of March, and is witness to many do∣nations to the monastery of Coldstream;* 1.8 par∣ticularly to one of Patrick earl of March, to∣gether with Philip de Halyburton, Adam de Gordon, William de Home, &c. tempore A∣lexandri III.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. Sir HUGH de GRAY, dominus de Brox∣mouth, who flourished in the reign of king A∣lexander III. and survived him many years.
He was one of the Scotch barons that swore fealty to king Edward I.* 1.9 of England, anno 1296, and is then designed Hugo de Gray, miles.
He died about 1300, and left issue a son and successor,
III. Sir ANDREW de GRAY, third baron of Broxmouth, who was a great patriot, a firm and steady friend of king Robert Bruce,* 1.10 by whom he was highly esteemed. He was joined with sir James Douglas, and sir Alex∣ander Fraser, in the command of a detach∣ment against the lord Lorn, where he per∣formed the part of a brave and gallant officer, anno 1308. He afterwards obtained from king Robert, for his good and faithful servi∣ces, a grant of several lands, domino Andreae