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Author Topic: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700  (Read 3170 times)

Offline da Shetland

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Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« on: Monday 25 February 13 16:13 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

Robert Gray attended Glasgow University in 1694, in the Fasti he is recorded as licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton on 20 June 1700 and was ordained and appointed Minster of Nesting (Shetland) on 29th July 1703. He married Margaret Sinclair and is the ancestor of many Shetlanders. The problem is that we don't know when/where he was born or who is parents were.

1.  Would the Presbytery of Hamilton have records to show who his parents were?

2.  If so, where would I be able to locate them?

Kind regards,
John Robertson
www.shetlandroots.org

Offline mhomac

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Re: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« Reply #1 on: Monday 25 February 13 21:55 GMT (UK) »
Hello John
This is the website address for Hamilton Presbytery and I'm sure you will find contact details and some info that will be of help to you.
http://www.presbyteryofhamilton.co.uk/

Regards
Morag
Fraser, McNay, Maxwell, McKnight, Gray, Greenshields

Offline Forfarian

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Re: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« Reply #2 on: Monday 25 February 13 21:59 GMT (UK) »
If he is the Robertus Gray who graduated MA in 1695, the University of Glasgow Archives may have some information.

http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH6262&type=P
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Skoosh

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Re: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« Reply #3 on: Monday 25 February 13 23:08 GMT (UK) »
John,   Robert Gray was brought up during the "Killing Times" in the late 17th cent'.  This site "Jardine's Book of Martyrs", has some Gray's who might be connected,

http://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/

Try a post to Dr Jardine and see if he can come up with anything.

Bests,

Skoosh.

Offline GR2

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Re: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« Reply #4 on: Monday 25 February 13 23:49 GMT (UK) »
Check the on-line catalogue of the National Records of Scotland [their catalogue still refers to itself as the National Archives of Scotland]. That should give you the dates of holdings from the Presbytery or the synod. Other sources might be the Register of Deeds, wills, or the Register of Sasines.

Offline da Shetland

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Re: Rev. Robert Gray, licensed in the Presbytery of Hamilton 1700
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 26 February 13 04:37 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

Thank you all for your prompt responses.  My last attempt to trace this Robert Gray was three or four years ago.  I am planning a trip to Shetland, then Edinburgh and thought I would try again.

1.  I have been in correspondence with Glasgow University, also spoken to a librarian at the Mitchell Library.  However this Robertus Gray throws up another possible spelling that I haven't come across.  I was led to believe that he didn't graduate.

2.  During that time I read his entry in the Fasti, corresponded by email to Presbytery of Hamilton, the Church of Scotland and eventually the National Archives - all without success.

3.  I understand that the National Archives have digitised the Presbytery Records and these are available to view in certain libraries throughout Scotland.  I  have located the reference number for the Presbytery of Hamilton which is CH2/393.  Problem is that I live on the South Coast.

4.  I have sent a request to the Shetland Archives since they are one of the Archives that have such access.  I will post details of anything I receive.

A question - what would I expect to find in Presbytery records for that period?  I am hoping that it might give the names of his parents.  He is a 6th great grandfather on the paternal side of my maternal tree and a brick wall for many descendants.

Thank you once again.

Kind regards,
John Robertson
www.shetlandroots.org
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