An Elizabeth Grey married a James Aynsley of Shothaugh, (pronounced Shot-off), on 22 May 1794. Her death in 1837 is recorded on their grave stone in Longhorsley. If she was 77 her birth would have about 1760 and therefore she could be the daughter of William Grey of Horsleybricks. The Mary Grey referred to in the "green glass" at The Chirm in the fourth letter could also be a daughter of Williams. On the other hand she could be descended from the Old Felton Greys. Who may or may not be related.

"Sacred to the memory of James AYNSLEY of Shothaugh in the parish of Felton who died Augst 17th 1816 aged 69 years. Also Elizabeth his wife died April 12th 1837 aged 77 years. Also William their son died Novr 3rd 1857 aged 57 years. Ann their daughter died at Morpeth July 26th 1879 aged 83 years. Her end was peace. James their son died at Morpeth April 20th 1882 aged 89 years. On Side: Sacred to the memory of Lionel AYNSLEY of Swarland East House who died Octr 23rd 1862 aged 61 years. Also of James son of the above who died June 11th 1869 aged 18 years. Margaret the beloved wife of Lionel AYNSLEY died at Morpeth July 19th 1872 aged 48 years. Elizabeth their daughter wife of Robert BLACK died at Whalton May 25th 1889 in her 36th year."

28th of June 1926 Ewart Park, Wooler, Northumberland Dear Mr. Aynsley Smith Your letter is most interesting, and I send you this brief line to say that I have some details, and am working on at the Thomas Grey of Angerton descent, which I will presently be able to send you with a fuller reply to your letter. I have the late Mr. Neil Grey’s M.S. notes of the “Grey of Milfield” pedigree & a few other materials, together with what do you have kindly told me. Yours very Truly, George Grey Butler

When George Grey Butler was trying to revise the Grey family tree for the Northumberland Histories in 1926 he wrote to George Aynsley Smith, the son of Hannah Aynsley and John Smith, as they appeared to share a common ancestor.

The Aynsley tree is made from census records and some of the monumental inscriptions at Longhorsley.

Ewart Park, Wooler, Northumberland. 23 June 1926

Dear Mr. Aynsley Smith I have been recommended to write to you by my friend Mr. A Maxwell Wood, who has been looking up the history of the Greys of Milfield. As I am a member of this family on my mother’s side, and have been asked by the County History Committee to revise the Pedigree for insertion into the new volume soon to appear, I venture to ask you for any help you may be able kindly to give me. The death of my cousin Mr. George Grey of Milfield in 1915, was followed by that of his eldest son John Neill Grey in 1924; and I have had access to the volume of M.S. Notes which he had drawn up on the subject of the Greys of Northumberland. I enclose a copy I have made of a pedigree beginning with Sir Edward Grey of Morpeth. I could have added to this from other sources, but I have left it practically as he left it. I would specially ask you if you have any information of the Patience Anderson, wife of John Grey of Middle Ord (see 6th generation in the copy). In a work by Edmund Hepple published 1856, there is a Pedigree of Grey, where the following succession is shown- Sir Edward Grey, will proved 1631 sons 1. Philip 2. Edward 3. Ralph 4, John 5. Thomas Of these Thomas is stated to have "displeased his father by marriage” & to have died before 1658. His sons were “Thomas Grey of Angerton” 1656 and Edward Grey of Angerton Mill, 1656 from whom Grey of Milfield” This Edward was father of John of Lincolnsfield who was great grandfather of John Grey of Milfield (as shown also in the MS copy) This John Grey of Milfield (my grandfather) is also known as “ of Dilston” I believe that you have interested yourself in the Greys of Angerton: and I should be pleased to open communications with you on that subject, if you have the leisure and inclination for them. Believe me Yours Truly George Grey Butler.

Families in Longhorsley in 1700s. A number of local families married into the Grey family. Their names include Watson, Vardy, Burn, Bolton and Aynsley.

14 July 1926 Ewart Park, Wooler, Northumberland Dear Mr. Aynsley Smith I am much interested in your letter of 29 June & the enclosed pedigrees, and copy of the will of Thomas Gray of Blackheddon. I have not sent you a reply until now, for I wanted to have a good search of the Longhorsley Parish registers before doing so. This had to wait a while during the time when my car was under repair. Now however, I have looked through three of those Registers in search of matter which interests you and me in common. I enclose herewith all I could see in Register No. 1 called “The Old Longhorsley Register” containing Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from 1668 to 1723. I have still to examine Register No. 2 from 1739 to 1797 and a third, not numbered, from 1759 to 1815 being a record of Marriages & Banns continuous with the Marriages section of Register No. 2 which ends at 1759 tho’ Baptisms and Burials there go till 31st December 1797. These latter two Registers being of more recent date would be less likely to have matters relating to the period of the pedigree you send me: but I will keep a look out for the names which bear upon your family history and send you a note thereon. Meanwhile our two lines of search seem to me to meet, more or less at one point. My grandfather John Grey of Dilston had as his grandfather John Grey of Longhorsley, who married Margaret Grey described in the Ford register as daughter of Edward Grey her husband's cousin of Burgham in the parish of Felton, bapt at Felton 25th of Novr. 1715; married there 29 May 1743. John Grey of Longhorsley was son of John Grey of “Lincolmfield” So that the Edward Grey of Longframlington and of Burgham in your sketched pedigree, is identical with the Edward Grey described as her “husband's cousin” in my draft pedigree. Part of the difficulty is that I find no certain record of the earlier generation which should (if cousin means first cousin) show two brothers one being John Grey of Lincolnfield father of John of Longhorsley and the other - name unknown- being the father of Edward of Burgham At any rate to you and I seem to have a common ancestor in this Edward Grey, you through his daughter Margaret. If also the cousinship of John & Edward can be proved then we are both descended in the male line from one ancestor, the grandfather of these two cousins. As regards James Grey or Gray buried in Ford churchyard the name is spelt with a “e” or “a” indifferently: I often find this in records! But I want more information about this James. I will investigate further and write again Yours very truly George Grey Butler

Ewart Park, Wooler, Northumberland. 22 Decr. 1926

Dear Mr. Aynsley Smith Here are some notes on the subject of your letters of 3rd and 4th of December. You ask “Was Margaret Dobson the 1st wife of John Grey of Longhorsley” (john ii) I saw the Register of St. Nicholas in Newcastle which says “John Grey of the of the Parish of Longhorsley & Margaret Dobson, Spinster, married by License 1736 Oct. 23” & I have a letter from the then vicar at Longhorsley ?Daves in 1895, quoting Longhorsley register thus: “John Grey, widower of this Parish and Margaret Grey of Felton Parish, married by Banns May 1743” The word widower is significant I think. (The 1736 was misprinted in the final print by the County History Printer and none of the 5 or 6 members of the Committee who had ?revisers noticed it -including myself alas!) John Grey (ii) has no date of death in “my” pedigree, and I wish I had known it- e.g. Nov. 1778 as you give it. The will seems to have been signed almost at the last moment. George Grey (generation iii) according to my reference to Longhorsley Register was bapt. 15 of March 1754. while you give 6 May 1753. Is this possibly a date of birth? 10 months interval is not without example in burial records. James Grey. (Gener iii). The death at Milfield may be wrong, and the age 70 must be. These are Crawford Hodgson’s data which I accepted too trustfully. I had also however obtained a copy of the will of John Grey ii, wherein the testator says: - “I leave and bequeath to my three sons to wit, George Grey, William Grey, and James Grey, all my movable effects” etc and there is added (after probate) a note: “The above will was proved on or about 13 Jany 1779 by George Grey of Wingates Farmer, William Grey of Nesbit Farmer & James Grey of Longhorsley South Moor Farmer, the sons of the said deceased the Executors” And now I have your list of Extracts (which I return with best thanks) which gives the date of James’s birth 1761. Hence if the same James died at Milfield in 1813 he would have been 52 not to 70 years old.

On the map, Horsley West Moor and Blackpool are quite near the Chirm where Lionel Aynsley went to live about 1790 as you tell me. One would like to know more about the Mary Grey whose charms are in verse on the panel of old green glass. Respecting the uncertainty you feel whether John Grey was actually the son of John Grey and Francis Watson: - (i.e. was John ii son of John i in my table) I verified by reference to Longhorsley Register that on 28th May 1696 John Grey & Frances Watson were married 3 April 1697 John son of John Grey of Lincolnfield was baptised These two Johns are the first two in my pedigree: calling them John i and John ii and giving -Grey as the name of one or more ancestors, I do not know which of these three sketched tables to approve if any. - Ist cousins -Second cousins First cousins once removed I cannot fill in the blank Christian names here, but all three ?frameworks seem possible. You have pointed out that Grey's eldest daughter was called Elizabeth (not Frances) which was probably after his mother, as the second daughter was called Ann after his wife's mother and the wife of Edward Grey of Burgham. I was not quite sure which of the John Greys you intended but the allusion to his wife's mother shows that do you mean John ii. Though Ann is named in your “Extracts” as buried in 1760., there is no date of birth given. I had not myself researched further ? ….than 1754; and have inserted only Elizabeth and Margaret in the pedigree as sisters of John iii, daughters of John ii. I am so far unable to judge the probability, one way or the other as between the parentages of the two John Greys, one the husband of Margaret, the other of Elizabeth Aynsley.

I am glad to hear your recollections of the Revd. Henry Grey: I have heard about him since my boyhood, from older members of the family. I should much like to see any engraved portrait of him, such as you describe. I do not know the biography of him by his wife, my great aunt Margaretta Grey. But I have seen a short & well written sketch of his career in Welford, Volume II, “Henry Grey, an Evangelical Divine” pp 371- 376. He was grandfather on the maternal side of Augustine Birrell.

The Boltons. Yes, it is most interesting to read your remarks about them; & much that you tell me is new to me. It will give me matter for an Xmas letter to my Sister-in-law & first cousin Mrs. Stanley Butler, widow of my second brother. Her father was Jasper Bolton, land agent in the South West of Ireland, who married my mother's younger sister Emily. There were 2 sons and 3 daughters of whom Rhoda the eldest married my brother Stanley in the 1880s. She has one daughter & one son, the latter being an architect, and living in London. I well remember meeting Jasper Bolton at Killarney where my brothers and I held him to be the most delightful man we had ever met. I never knew much about the other Boltons, and I am glad to have your short account of some of them.

Yours of 4th Decr. Yes, it is a blunder to put Heton into Norham- it should be, Cornhill. For this the Vol XI pedigree must share blame ?with me. Yours sincerely George Grey Butler

The two men seem to have ignored evidence from the gravestones at Longhorsley church, which together with the parish records gives us this possible family. See below.

p588-590 17 January 1837
registered copy of will; Elizabeth AYNSLEY, widow, of Shothaugh in the parish of Felton in the county of Northumberland DPRI/1/1837/A15 29 November 1837
Elizabeth AYNSLEY, widow, of Shothaugh in the parish of Felton in the county of Northumberland [Felton, Northumberland]
Registered copy: DPRI/2/47 p588-590 DPRI/1/1837/A15/1-4 17 January 1837
will
with codicil, undated, estate value £600 Will and codicil of Elizth Aynsley late of Shothaugh in the Parish of Felton in the County of Northumberland This is the last will and testament of me Elizabeth Aynsley of Shothaugh in the parish of Felton in the County of Northumberland widow I give and Devise all that my messuage Backbuildings Stable hereditaments and premises situate and being in Oldgate street in Morpeth in the said County unto my son William Anysley and his heirs For the uses following that is to say to the use of my eldest son James Aynsley and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without impeachments of or for any manner of waste and from and after the determination of that Estate by any means whatsoever in his life time For the uses of the said William Aynsley and his heirs during the natural life of the said James Aynsley upon trust to support the contingent uses and estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entries and bring actions as occasion may require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said James Aynsley and his assigns to receive and take the rents issues and profits thereof for and during his natural life and from and after the deceased of the said James Aynsley for the use of the first son of the body of the said James Aynsley and the heirs of the body of such first son lawfully issuing and in default or on failure of such issue For the use of the second third fourth fifth and every other son of the body of the said James Aynsley severally successively and in remainder one after another according to the priority of their births and heirs of the body of each such son lawfully issuing every elder of the same sons and the heirs of his body lawfully issuing being always to be preferred to and to take before the younger of the same sons and the heirs of his and their body and respective bodies issuing and in default or on failure of all such issue for the use of all and every the daughter and Daughters of the said James Aynsley equally to be divided between or Amongst them if more than one share and share alike and to take as Tenants in Common and not as joint tenants and of the heirs of the body and respective bodies of all and every such daughter and daughters lawfully issuing and on the death and failure of issue of any one or more of such daughters then as well the original share or shares of such of them so dying and of whom there shall be a failure od issue as aforesaid as also such share or shares as shall accrue to her or them or her or their issue on the death and failure of issue of any others or other of them shall be for the use of the others or other of 2 them too be equally divided between or among them if more than one share and share a like and they to take as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants and the Heirs of their respective bodies issuing and in default or On failure of all such issue For the use of my said son William Aynsley And my son Lionel Aynsley as tenants in common and not as joint Tenants And their several and respective heirs and assigns accordingly forever I give and bequeath all my household furniture Beds Bedding Linen Woollen China Peale and other household articles unto my said sons William Aynsley and Lionel Aynsley and my daughter Ann Aynsley to be divided Amongst them in equal shares and proportions as Tenants in common for Their own absolute use and benefit I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Ann Aynsley the Legacy or sum of two hundred and fifty pounds To be raised and paid to her out of my personal Estate at the end of Twelve Calendar months next after my death. I also give to my said daughter All my wearing apparel I give and bequeath unto my said sons William Aynsley and Lionel Aynsley to be divided between them in equal shares And proportions as Tenants in Common for their own absolute use and Benefit accordingly all my farming Stock and crop and other farming Utensils and all other my personal estate and effects not herein before Given and disposed of subject nevertheless to the payment of the said Legacy of Two hundred and fifty pounds to my said daughter as aforesaid and to the Payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the Expense of proving of this will And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said sons William Aynsley and Lionel Aynsley Executors of this will And I give and devise unto the said William Aynsley and Lionel Aynsley and their heirs all such messuages lands tenements and real estates as are now vested in me by way of Mortgage or in trust the better to enable them to recover and get in the monies secured by such mortgaged Estates and to perform the trusts affecting such trust Estates And I do hereby declare that my said Executors and each of them their and each of their heirs executors and administrations shall be charged and chargeable only with such monies as they shall respectively actually receive by virtue of this my will and that the one of them shall not be answerable or accountable for the other of them or for the acts receipts neglects or defaults of the other of them but each of them only for his own acts deeds receipts neglects and defaults nor shall they or either of them be answerable or accountable for any Bank 3 Banker or other person or persons with whom or in whose bonds and part Of such monies shall or may be lodged or deposited nor for any other misfortune loss or damage which may happen in carrying into effect this my Will or in relation thereto unless the same shall happen by or through his or their wilful neglects or defaults respectively and also that they my said Executors and each of them and each of their heirs executors and Administrators shall and may by and out of the monies which shall come to their or either of their hands retain to and reimburse himself and themselves and allow to his and their Co Executor all costs charges and expenses to be occasioned by or relating to this my will I revoke all my former wills and declare this writing to be and contain my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the seventeenth day of January in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven Signed sealed published and declared by the testrix Elizabeth Aynsley as and for her last will and testament Elizabeth Aynsley X her mark and Seal In the presence of us who in her presence at her request And in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names as witness The words “ and their heirs” being first underlined Michael Mayham Humble James Melrose Isabella Richardson This is a codicil to my last will and testament I order and direct my Executors to pay to my eldest son James Aynsley the sum of five pounds yearly during the period of ten years next after my decease if he shall so long live As witness my hand the day and year aforesaid Elizabeth Aynsley X her mark Signed and published as a codicil to the above will in our presence Michael Mayham Humble James Melrose Isabella Richardson

The Elizabeth Aynsley whose maiden name was Grey, and who married James of Shothaugh, could be descended from the Morpeth Greys, as she owns property there, and leaves it in her will. But many people owned property in Oldgate Street. The land passed to her sons by 1841 and appears in James Aynsley's record for the 1841 election. The Greys at Old Felton are recorded as continuing to have property in the same street in 1841. She could be descended from them, or from the William Grey at Horsley Bricks. What is strange is that she cannot write, and signs with an X. This is unusual for Grey women who were all well educated.

By 1841 there are no Greys left at Wingates or the Chirm. James Grey said to have been of the Chirm and Wingates Moor died in 1785. Lionel Aynsley is connected with it after 1805, the John here may be his grandson. John Grey of Dilston is at Corbridge, with his son George Annett Grey at Milfield Hill. The John Gray with an "a" farmed at East Liburn and was born in Scotland according to the 1851 census; he is unlikely to be a relation.

George Anderson Grey is at Middle Ord, while his brother William , who later emigrated to New Zealand is at Barmoor. It could be William's eldest son John at Breakingside. George Anderson's other brother John is at Old Heaton.

James Grey at Kimmerston is the son of William Grey of Nesbit, as is his brother John at Berrington. No connection so far has been found with the Bacon Greys. A lone Robert Grey continues at Longhorsley. It isn't known if he is connected.

 

Above: the Poll Book of the Northern Division of the County of Northumberland for 1841 here:

" An old tradition in the family was that we, as well as the Greys of Milfield, Wooler, were descended from the Greys of Howick through Thomas Grey of Angerton, youngest son of Sir Edward Grey, Constable of Morpeth Castle (died in 1627) who displeased his father by marrying a miller's daughter at Angerton and was left little under his will. The relationship with the Greys of Milfield, and consequently with Augustine Birrell and Josephine Butler, does certainly exist, but the tradition as far as it relates to being descended from Thomas Grey of Angerton fails in strict proof."

From NOTES ON THE AYNSLEY PEDIGREE ​BY GEORGE AYNSLEY-SMITH 1866-1942 here.