She is described by Josephine Butler:

"Margaretta Grey showed from her earliest childhood signs of a powerful and original mind. I cannot look through the relics of her which have fallen into my hands without feelings of sadness. She became early conscious of mental power, and, even when a child, complained of the imperfect means of education open to her sex. Independent and courageous in thought, generous, affectionate, ambitious, and inquisitive, it was impossible that life could be serene for her ; her natural sense of injustice was very strong, and her speculations on the evils of society and the wrongs inflicted by bad governments were bold and clear, even in her girlhood. She possessed great natural eloquence, and wished to use it. There is evidence in her writings of some sore and secret rebellion at times against the limitations of her woman's estate, and the hindrances to the use of powers which she felt within her. In old age she wrote : I trusted much in my youth to what might be done by argument, demonstration, and eloquent persuasion, and knew not that truth needs none of these things." I have heard my father say he recollected that, when playing at marbles with her, when she was a very little girl, she would sometimes stop her game, and, standing erect, pour forth a stream of passionate denunciation of something which she deemed bad among mankind, he, her elder brother listening, astonished. Her sentiments at that time were revolutionary! Her desire to hear debates in Parliament was so unbounded, that, there being at that time no ladies' gallery, she had the hardihood to make her way into the House dressed as a boy. This girl of sixteen writes to her brother from school :-

Her brother John
Her sister Mary
Her mother Mary

"Flint House, 1803. " My memory, whenever she is at leisure, wanders by an involuntary attraction to the scenes of her earliest operations. My thoughts, in all their aberrations, turn to the place from whence at first they grew. I often amuse myself, when examining anything, in thinking what would be my mother's opinion on it, and what remark would my brother make. I read and, to my own reflections, add what I think would be made at home. I join you in all your occupations, see your manly form and sunburnt face, while busied in the simple, primitive employment of all men: Heureux, mon fils, de ne connaitre que les devoirs champetres ! I figure you with our sagacious uncles met in council, drawing down the lines of your faces, as if the address were to begin, Conscript Fathers !' or as if the speech would decide whether Bonaparte shall be Emperor of all the Gauls, whereas it is only, ' Shall not the wide-horned ox be felled ? ' or ' What's a wether but a sheep ? ' I daresay you go to see what they are doing with the sheep on the hill, or whether they are getting the stack in, as if you had done it all twenty years before, and look as auld-farrant as if you was not born yesterday. I intend you, nevertheless, my brother, to be a man of taste, and a man of honour as well as a man of business, and will have you to be a favourite with a great many people besides my uncles. You should not talk of stoicism and gloominess ; these may be terms convenient for the aged, the misanthrope, and Jean Jacques Rousseau, but a young man entering the world under favourable auspices may as well give way to the sensibilities of youth and hope. What a number of comfortable married people we shall have in our neighbourhood ! I think the state of society must be much improved by it. The social, domestic ties, well formed, are the best framers of the heart for all the more extensive communications of mankind in the collective body. We went yesterday a country walk to Hornseywood. The green fields, with a few frolicsome lambs, and the primroses among the underwood, brought to my mind the burn-side way to Cross Burn, one of my favourite walks at this season, which I remember to have taken this time last year, wondering, when I saw the moon rise, where I should be at the same time next year. (How do the plantations thrive ?) Joseph Turnbull desires to be introduced to you with compliments ; he is between eighteen and nineteen, of a serious temper, and complains (like some other young people whom you know) of a confined education, and the obscurity of unguided researches. . . . We have been at Covent Garden, seeing ' The Man of the World.' Cook has perfectly satisfied me in Sir Pertinax ; he tells us he rose in the world by 'parsevering industry, regid economy, and a pliability of body that wad ne'er let him stand streight in a rech man's presence a' his life.' He gives instructions to his son in the conduct of his life which a generous-hearted young man could not enter into nor understand. There are some very good sentiments in the piece, and I was pleased to observe that, whatever the practice of the world may be, they know what is good, and always bestow their plaudits on noble sentiments. Harry Siddons performed Egerton, Sir P.'s son. ... In London you choose your society because you like the people, not because they are your neighbours. Of course the company we see most of are generally agreeable people, who attend Tabernacle, and converse on last Sunday's discourse. I am often instructed and amused by our conversation. Mr. T. holds plays very wicked amusements ; the devil is fond of them. He once knew no better than to go to such places ; he has seen the players thump on their breasts, and call on the heathen gods in such a manner as quite shocked him. I suppose, if he knew that we had been there, he would think us all on the wrong road. I would be very grateful for a line from my dear brother, to let me know that I am not forgotten. I regret the Plain, where I have spent the happiest hours of my life ; but I can still climb dikes, and rin ower the plowed land. What stupid people you are not to dance ! Next winter the Miss Greys will have come out, and will take you all off. Give my love and duty to our dear mother. God bless you, my brother, is the fervent prayer of your " Margaretta."

From Memoir of John Grey, by Josephine Butler.


Margaretta Grey was born on 6 January 1787 and married on 12 October 1808, to her cousin the Rev. Henry Grey, minister of Stenton.

Margaretta and Henry had three children and more details on the family can be found here.

Left: 1808 The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany, Volume 70, Google books on line, page 797
Left: from "A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay. Vol. 2 Published in Edinburgh MDCCCLXXVII online. (1877)
Margaretta's Grey's signature from "John Grey, Exectr in a/c with the Heirs of the late Miss Burn". Dated 1835 Feby 4. Document in Berwick Archives. NRO 496 - Grey of Milfield. Miss Burn was her aunt Isabella Burn. Margaretta's brother John was executor of the will.