Very little is known about George Grey. He is mentioned in one of his brother John's letters in 1816.

" Milfield Hill. I was on the far hill this morning before sunrise, and not within doors again till six this evening. George came here early on Saturday morning, and we rode together to West Ord, where he boated across the river, and went to see his sheep and cattle on turnips on the other side, while I took advantage of the delightful day to mark off the new fences and plantations that are to be done this season. Philip has had hard work to bring the ‘Unity’ sloop to her moorings. She is now tied with cables to the plantation below the house, and I have let her to some men to take to pieces. They had to caulk her to keep out the water, and then fix a row of empty casks along each side to make her float over the shallows. After all she grounded often, and took three tides, and the help of both men and horses to get her home. I suppose there never was so large a vessel as high up the Tweed, and perhaps none whose voyage excited so much observation and amusement since the days when St. Cuthbert’s Stone boat scudded up the tide. I had two offers for my fishing on Saturday- one of £100 and another of £150- but have not resolved to take either. It is poor doing; but these industrious Dutchmen send so many fish to our markets now, that they are little worth” Memoir of John Grey of Dilston by Josephine Butler, 1874, page 28.

George's brother John Grey of Dilston

It isn't known if George moved to Surrey after 1816 when he was farming West Ord, or if he was there as a visitor when he broke his leg. It seems likely that he moved to farm there, but no mention is made of his wife being there with him in his brother John's letter. (See below) Perhaps this is the meaning behind the use of " careless and wayward" by his niece Josephine.

George's mother Mary Burn

The first census for West Ord in 1841 records George's widow living there: Jane Grey 55 Independent and Elizabeth Gregson 82 Independent with their servant Margaret Cleghorn aged 23, and John Dods , farm steward with his wife and young daughter. The enumerators schedule covered East Ord, Ord Mains, Middle Ord, West Ord, Garden House, Tweedmouth Cottage, Ramsays Garden House, Mill House and the The Meeting House. Over 400 people lived there, including agricultural laborours, and a number of fishermen. Jane Grey's neighbours included: Adam Bell at East Ord, Alexander Laing, Harriet Grieve at Ord House, Henry Lindsay at Ord Cottage, Stephen Rankin at Ord Mains, Alice Burn at Middle Ord aged 50, with John Burn 20, and Mary Burn 17, ( who may have been relations), and James Cameron an Iron founder at Mill House.

Jane Grey was born in Kyloe. She can be found on the 1851 census "Annuitant" aged 66 living at Calf Close in Berwick with Isabella Darling her neice who is a " House Proprieter"and one servant Agnes Marshall. Her neighbours included two civil engineers and a curate. Ten years later in 1861 aged 75 she lived at Ravensdown in Berwick with her sister Elizabeth Darling, 73, a widow born in Kyloe, as well as Isabella Darling, 41, born in Embleton, and two great neices Anne D. Robertson, 11 and Euphemia Robertson, 9 both born in Scotland. In 1871 aged 86 she was at the same address with Elizabeth Darling 84, Isabella Darling, 50,(income from interest on money), great neices Anne Darling Robertson 21, and Euphemia Robertson 19, also living on interest from money, and domestic servant Ann Patterson 18. Jane Grey died in Berwick in 1872 at the age of 87. No children of the marriage are recorded.

George Grey of Sandyhouse and Milfield Hill, & Woodcot.

Born 28 June 1790 at Milfield, Married Jane Trotter Gregson on 22 March 1813 at St Cuthberts in Edinburgh, Died 7 Oct 1824 at Woodcot, Surrey at the age of 34 of a broken leg.

"He was fair-haired, with sweet hazel eyes, and a countenance full of candour. He was of a generous, affectionate, and winning nature, but sometimes careless and wayward, and deep in his heart, perhaps, there lay hid some sorrow which was the key to the discordance." Josephine Butler's memoir of her father. p.77

The grave of Jane Grey with her sister and mother.

"Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth widow of the late John Gregson of Warkworth. Who departed this life on the 8th of June 1842 aged 83 years. Also in memory of Jane Trotter second daughter of the above and widow of George Grey Esq of Sandyhouse Northumberland who departed this life on 27th day of February 1872 in her 88th year. And also in memory of Elizabeth third daughter of the above and widow of George Darling Esq of Embleton who departed this life on the 7th day of November 1881 in her 96th year."

 

Jane's father John Gregson is said to be of Belchester on the Milfield family tree but of Warkworth on his wife's grave. Belchester farm is north west of Coldstream. His daughters were born in Kyloe. Trotter is also the name of James Grey of Sunderland's wife. James was George's first cousin once removed. His wife Helen Trotter was born in Kelso so there may be a link.

Extract from letter by Hannah Grey to her son George Annett Grey from Dilston 20th and 22nd Jany 1838 Sat.y & Monday "Papa bro.t such a splendid waistcoat for you ?worked by ?Mrs Darling, it is beautiful flowers embroidered on scarlet, when will you wear it! I sent the little darlings some ?dissected ?picture scraps & toys by Papa."

 

In the autumn of 1857 John Grey lost his money when the Newcastle Bank failed, and he had to sell “the much loved paternal estate on Tweedside” Writing to his daughter Josie on Christmas day 1857 “ I have not yet disposed of Ord. You are right in thinking of my feelings in regard to it. I often find it presented to my mind’s eye as formerly, in walking by the silvery Tweed, gliding along its shores, covered in parts by trees of my own planting- which I may never look upon again; but I have made up my mind.” Memoir of John Grey of Dilston by Josephine Butler, 1874, page 204. By this time his brother George's wife had already moved to Berwick.

Both a James and a Ralph Carnaby appear in records of Longhorsley connected to the Grey family. One of Jane Trotter Gregson's brothers was called Edward Carnaby Gregson.

Anthony, father of John Gregson, and great-grandfather of John Gregson, who purchased the estate of Lowlinn in North Durham, and d. 1779: he was grandfather of Anthony Gregson, Esq. of Lowlinn, high sheriff of Northumberland 1825, who dying unm. 23 NOV 1833, devised his estate to his cousin, HENRY KNIGHT, Esq., eldest son of the Rev. Henry Knight, rector of Ford, in Northumberland. Mr. Knight assumed in consequence the surname of Gregson, and became of Lowlinn, J.P. and D.L. Northumberland: he m. 1844, Eliza-Mary, dau. of J.-S. Donaldson Selby, Esq. of Cheswick ..."See here

There is a Reassignment document from Milfield Hill held at the Berwick archives NRO 496 - Grey of Milfield "John Grey Esq and the Revd Thomas Knight by the direction of Mary Norris to William Lowrey Esq. Assignment of Trust Monies in Mrs Norris' marriage -- Settlement In Trust to reassign to Mr Knight and R. P. Beddeck Esq. Dated 25th Jany 1844 Mr Lowrey to Mr Knight and Mr Beddeck."

It contains references to Thomas Knight of Ford Rectory, Richard Beddeck of Tweedmouth, William Lowrey of Barmoor, and refers to an agreement between Edward Gregson, Mary Norris, John Grey of Milfield Hill and Thomas Knight. Also mentioned is a settlement by David Pratt on Mary, Anthony, John the younger and Thomas Gregson dated 1777 for large sums of money if Mary married him, which she did.

Wm Lowrey was a gentleman landowner in Bowsdon (but lived in Barmoor) and was listed as such in Whellans Directory of 1855.  Also a John Lowrey was listed as a Land Agent.

 

Above: Lowlyn from the ordinance survey of 1864-1867. Map number 001 here. As it is near Kyloe is seems possible that Jane was born there. It is now a ruin.

Below Left: Gregson family tree from the Northumberland Histories shows that the Trotter name came from Jane's paternal grandmother Jean Trotter, daughter of George Trotter of Belchester, co. Ber. Esq. which explains why Jane's father John Gregson is said to be of Belchester on the Grey family tree. Here he is said to be of Holy Island and Buckton. Her mother's family were called Proctor.

Above left: Proctor tree from Northumberland Histories. Elizabeth Proctor, born 21 July 1759, is married to John Gregson in 1772, which may be incorrect as it would make her 13 years old.

Left: Strangeways tree. J. S. Donaldson (John Strangeways) married Mary Dorothy Grey of the Shoreston Greys. The Rev. Henry Knight, rector of Ford, in Northumberland assumed the surname of Gregson, and became of Lowlinn, Northumberland: he married in 1844, Eliza-Mary, dau. of J.-S. Donaldson Selby, Esq. of Cheswick

John Gregson, who made his fortune from his innovative farm husbandry , was the first to buy half of the property which was called Lowlinn. He was a tenant of Sunnilaws as was his father before him - Anthony (1655-1711). Anthony had moved from Co. Durham where the Gregsons lived in Murton, to start farming in Sunnilaws nr. Carham. His marriage to Jane Robson is dated 1689. His tenancy must have started about 1680-85. Anthony had a brother Thomas (who it is said was of also of Sunnilaws) and two sisters Elizabeth and Mary who married Forsters. His son John (b.1691) carried on the tenancy. It is also said of John that he was of Learmouth and Wark. There is a tenancy agreement between Thomas and Sir Henry Grey and with Anthony the younger. John had the following children: His eldest Anthony (1720-1806) (who purchased the second half of Lowlinn), Edward of Stonerigg, John, Thomas and five daughters viz Frances, Jane, Mary, Margaret, Jean. John was said to be of Moneylaws and died a bachelor. Mary (d 1798) and Jane (1795) Margaret (d1751) all died at Moneylaws as spinsters. No marriages are named for them. They are buried at Cornhill. Frances married a J. Wood. On a Gregson pedigree by Hodgson held by the Northumberland archives, nothing is said of a Jean other than she was born in 1727.

Thanks to Valerie Edwards for the above information.

More on other Gregsons. "Jane Trotter Gregson's younger brother, Thomas George Gregson emigrated to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) and became a politician and was for a short time the 2nd Premier of that island. Much is written of him on various websites including Wiki. According to his birth certificate, he was baptised in Kyloe on 7 February 1796 and his father, John, is said on the birth record to be of Buckton (a village near Lowlynn). The births of Jane and Elizabeth Gregson may be of Buckton also. Mary Gregson (b 1760) married firstly David Pratt. (In 1775 he was Mayor of Berwick, source: 1806 Directory of Berwick upon Tweed . Their marriage in 1777 was only of two months' duration. Mary subsequently married James Valentine Norris in 1780. Their daughter, Sarah married the Rev. Thomas Knight of Ford. Their son, Henry inherited Lowlynn. Hence Mary Gregson was maternal grandmother to Henry (Knight) Gregson the progenitor of the Knight Gregsons of Lowlynn. Mary was first cousin of Anthony Gregson of Lowlynn, who dying unmarried and childless, willed his estates to the son of the Rev. Thomas Knight of Ford - Henry. Anthony's father another Anthony married late and hence there is a 20 year gap between the birth dates of Mary and Anthony junior. Anthony junior's mother Elizabeth Kerr died the same year as her only son was born. Mary and John Gregson's father was Edward Gregson of Stonerigg ( b. 1724) Co. Berwickshire, Scotland. Their mother was Jean Trotter of Belchester. Their marriage date would have been c 1759). Edward died in 1773 when his eldest son John (who married Elizabeth Proctor) was only 11. On Hodgson's Pedigrees of Northumberland, John is said to have been "successively of Holy Island and Buckton". It states that he inherited "his mother's share of Belchester." He is said to have died in Warkworth. On the Wiki account of Thomas George Gregson's biography, it states that his father John Gregson was the 'Squire of Lowlynn". John's uncle - Anthony senior was the owner of Lowlynn until his death in 1806. Thereafter Anthony Jnr became the owner at the age of 26. " Thanks to Valerie Edwards for the above information.

The Darling family lived at West Ord in the 1840s and are referred to in John Grey of Dilston and his wife Hannah's letters. Jane Grey nee Gregson, George's widow, lived with her sister Elizabeth Darling nee Gregson in Berwick on Tweed with their niece Isabella and their two great nieces Ann and Euphemia. The group can found on the 1861, 1871 and 1881 census.

George Grey's death from Josephine Butler’s book on her father: Memoir of John Grey of Dilston.pps 77-78

"But the autumn fell clouded with sorrow. My father's brother George was beloved by all who knew him. He was fair-haired, with sweet hazel eyes, and a countenance full of candour. He was of a generous, affectionate, and winning nature, but sometimes careless and wayward, and deep in his heart, perhaps, there lay hid some sorrow which was the key to the discordance. In the month of October, his brother received the following letter from a friend in London ; it was the sequel of an announcement despatched about the same time that George had been thrown from his horse or carriage : —

"My dear Friend, — Your brother's increased illness presses me to write to urge you to be here as soon as possible. I only heard of the accident by mere chance on Saturday afternoon, and I thought by the answer to my inquiries that all danger was past, and was therefore the less prepared for the intelligence of yesterday. "I will go out again this evening and do all I can — would it were a thousand-fold increased — to supply your place till you arrive. He has every attention. " God grant His blessing to him and all of us with this dispensation ! How true it is that our present lives are but shadows, of which the enduring substance is beyond the grave. — You know how much you are loved by your affectionate friend, Robert Selby. P.S. — Ten minutes before five. His struggles have ceased exactly an hour. I cannot say more." *

The bitterness of grief conveyed by this short postscript may not be told. My father had been to Edinburgh, and was returning by coach. They met the coach going the other way. The one guard whispered to the other that George Grey was dead. He did not know the meaning of the grave look and shaken head until he reached Kelso, where he learned the tidings. He restrained himself in the presence of his mother, that he might not add to her grief, but when she left him he flung himself on a sofa, and beat his breast, and cried out in a voice of woe, " O my Benjamin, my Benjamin ! " He was usually very restrained in the expression of his feelings. He took a tended leave of his mother, with words as brave as might be, and hurried to London. The journey was long in those old coaching days, and his feelings were bitter. He wrote to his wife on his arrival: —

“WOODCOT, Wednesday, Oct 20, 1824. " My dearest Hannah, — I wish I could at this moment press you to my heart, and mingle my tears with yours, instead of claiming only the cold sympathy of 300 or 400 miles' distance. O what a dreadful thing is death ! how summary and imperative in his call — how undeniable his demands — what a breaking up of all our cherished ties and connections in those that are left — and what a journey to an unseen world for those that are taken ! What enjoyment should I have had in a visit to this place, had the dear active form which is ever present to my mind's eye, and the blithe countenance that was ever the index of the kind heart, been here to animate the now deathlike, desolate scene ! I always loved my dear George, but I think now I love him a hundred times more — for I did not know how deep a hold I had of his affections and esteem ; the mention he made of me in his intervals of suffering are most touching to my heart, and at every recurrence to them fill my soul with sorrow and my eyes with tears. ‘ His poor mother and his dear brother,’ were often on his lips, and the last articulate words he spoke, were ‘ O my John, my dear, dear brother.’ I have many affecting things to tell you of him, which I cannot endure to do now, or I should not get through this letter, but one thing I must say : Isaac was the only person about who could endure the watching and the evidence of the pain he suffered when the spasms affected him, and yet show him the tenderness of a brother. R. Hook was taken one night to let Isaac rest, but he fainted and was carried out — it being necessary to hold the leg hard whilst the spasms lasted. Isaac tells me that he was much engaged, he thought, in secret prayer, and sometimes would utter ejaculations half aloud, though not intending them to be heard. On the day before the last of his dear life, he said when alone with Isaac, and after some minutes of composure, which was not sleep, ‘ Isaac, it will soon be over with me now.' ‘O sir, I hope you may yet enjoy many happy days ' (for such was the language the doctors held to every one till the very last day). ‘ Yes,' he said, ‘ I do hope for brighter days than I used ever to think of,' and he fell again into a quiet frame. How fruitless are our regrets — had I known at the time the fatal accident happened, and been with him at the earliest day, I might never have been allowed to converse with him, for the doctors did not wish me to come — ‘ That brother he speaks so much of must not come, composure is everything ; ' they spoke of certain nerves being wounded that caused great irritability and pain, and evidently from the first considered amputation necessary, if his constitution could be reduced to a fit state."

* Robert Selby is likely to be the wine merchant in Covent Garden, born 1798, who had inherited North Earle farm, south of Wooler. He sold it in 1828. His mother was a Christian Grey but so far it has not been possible to establish if she was a relative of the Milfield Greys. John Grey of Dilston's son George Annett Grey later went into a partnership with Robert in the wine business.