Charles Gray

Claimants under the will of Charles Gray were awarded part of the compensation for the Observatory and Charlotteville estates in Tobago. His connection - if any - to the Charles Gray who claimed as owner of Francklyns and Highlands estates on Tobago has not yet been established.

1. Will of Charles Gray Planter of Tobago now of Cheltenham proved 14/08/1827. Under the will [made in 1826] he made a series of bequests to family members totalling £17,410, including £4000 to his brother James of Kensington Gore, £3000 and £2000 to his nieces Mary and Ann (daughters of James), £2000 to his brother Robert Gray of 39 Holborn Hill and £2000 to Robert's daughter Mary, and made provision to free his [unnamed] woman house servant on Observatory, 'this to be my thanksgiving for her attention to me in repeated sickness', as well as providing for a second enslaved woman Maria to be able to buy her freedom for £50. His brothers Robert and James, both 'seedsmen' were his residuary legatees. In a codicil of 1827 he explained that he had bought the property of Miss Lucy Campbell (Charlottesville and Anse Fournie), and that in consequence he reduced the legacies to his nieces to a quarter and left them instead annuities of £100 p.a. each, and reduced the legacies to his brothers by one half and left instead annuities of £200 p.a. to his brother James and £150 p.a. to his brother Robert, and made his nephews William Gray, Richard Gray of Demerara and Robert Gray his residuary legatees instead of his brothers.

1. PROB 11/1729/288