William Washington Gray
Representing: Confederate
William Washington Gray
William Washington Gray marriage to Sarah Emily Pavy 1858 IN
William Washington Gray death record 1912 WA
Family History
On 4/21/12 one William Washington Gray aged 83 (b. ca. 1828 – ‘29) died in Snohomish, Snohomish County, Washington. Burial was in that community's Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery. Based on Mr. Gray's birth and death dates it is possible he served in either the United States or Confederate States military during America's War OF The Rebellion.
Two William W. Grays have been found with Civil War military service records. One wore blue. One wore butternut/gray.
Blue
Documentation on this William W. Gray's birthdate and parentage is not available. He enlisted on 8/19/61 in Spencer County, Indiana. He served in the 25th Indiana Infantry Co. "K", survived the war and was mustered out of the military on 7/18/65.
The William W. Gray buried in Snohomish was born in Kentucky. Both of his parents were from Kentucky. By 1860 he had married. His wife was Sarah Emily Povey (b. ca. 1836 KY). In 1860 they were residing in Center Boone Co., IN.
Emily would bear William five daughters: Margaret B. (b. 1861 IN), Martha “Mattie” J. (b. 1864 or ‘65 IN), Samantha A. (b. 1868 IN, Minnie L. (b. 1872 KS) and Sarah Emily (b. 3/25/75 Cherryvale Montgomery Co., KS).
Post war, in 1870, the Grays were residing in Jefferson which is located in Boone Co., IN. As noted by the birth date and location of daughter Sarah, by 1872 the Grays were in Kansas. Mrs. Gray is said to have died sometime between 1875 and 1880. As neither she nor daughter Sarah is mentioned in the U.S. Census for 1880, perhaps both had perished
during childbirth.
In 1880 widower William was residing in Cherryvale Montgomery Co., KS with daughters Martha, Samantha and Minnie. By 1892 he, with his occupation listed as “laborer”, was living alone in Shelton Mason Co., WA TERR. Eight years later, in 1900, he was residing with married daughter Martha (Mattie) Long in Martin Creek King Co., WA. In 1910 the Longs and William were in Snohomish, Snohomish Co., WA. (Mr. Long was likely employed by the Great Northern Railroad.) Although William is buried in the G.A.R. Cemetery, there is no documental evidence tying him to the man who served in the 25th. Finally, his obituary makes no mention of military service.
Butternut/Gray:
This William W. Gray was born in 1829 in Morgan County, Kentucky. His parents were from Virginia. He served in the 2nd Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles Co. "A". Based on parentage alone, this is not the William W. Gray of Snohomish.
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In summation, while there are tantalizing hints that point Snohomish's William W. Gray toward the American Civil War, there is no conclusive evidence of him having served either the north or the south. Unless more compelling facts come to light, we have to conclude that William Washington Gray buried in the Snohomish G.A.R. Cemetery is not a Civil War veteran.