Dingley Gray ¹

Dingly Gray was a Quaker and spent a lot of time traversing between Somerset Co., MD and Northampton Co., VA during his life.

In Whitelaw, Richard Teague was assigned 350a in tract N101 by Nicholas Waddelowe in 1656. Waddelowe had received the patent for the land that same year. This is the same land Richard Teague leaves to son Gabriel and Richard in 1660. This land in the modern day (2017) is on the north side of Nassawadox Creek and adjacent to and east of the hamlet of Jamesville, VA. Gabriel Teague deeded his interest to John Custis representing Col. Francis Yardley's interests in 1673. Francis and Argoll Yardley sold the entire 350a to Obedience Johnson in 1675 and Johson deeded it back to Custis alone for life and his son John a storehouse and one acre. In 1696, Johnson gift-deeded the land to his daughter Temperance and her husband Jacob Johnson - by 1716, the land was in the possession their daughter Mary who had married Dingley Gray. Mary Gray, in her will, mentions Jacob Johnson Gray and Benjamin Dingley Gray. Jacob J. Gray must have died or moved as Benjamin D. Gray ends up with the land in 1750.

Dingly Gray was security on the administration of his father Joseph Gray's estate on Nov 1 1724 in Somerset Co, MD. Administration on the estate of Joseph Gray was granted to Elizabeth Gray with Thomas Gray, Wescott Gray, William Gray and Dingley Gray as securities.

Dingly Gray wrote his will on Aug 23 1742 and it was proven in Northampton Co., VA on Feb 8 1742/3:
- I have already given my sundry good to my two daughters Johnson Violata Laws (as Louse) and Jemima (as Jemina) Pitts, my other children to have part of mmy estate equal to that already given to my daughters.
- To son Benjamin Dingly Gray, my man slave Kitts provided my wife Mary approves, and said Benjamin to have no other part of my other negroes
- Remainder of estate to be divided equal between my wife and children
Witnesses: Nicholas Campbell, John Smith, Rebekkah Smith (NoVAW-XXVII-R-19:78)

Dingley married Mary Johnson, daughter of Jacob Johnson and Temperance Johnson, about 1716. (Mary Johnson was born about 1696 in Northampton Co., VA and died before 11 Dec 1750 in Northampton Co., VA.)