The Gray story begins so far as this country is concerned, with the birth of one John Gray in England about the year 1762. Not a great deal is known about his early life except that he joined the Army and saw service as a private in the 26th Regiment.

When he was 32 he fell foul of the Law in a country which at that time was in a turmoil of social upheaval. Crime and poverty were both rampant. In addition there was a penal code which by no stretch imagination could be considered just or humane. The celebrated English jurist Sir William Blackstone pointed out in 1760 when John Gray was two years old, that there were no less than 160 felonies punishable by death. These ranged from the obvious ones of murder and rape to such minor misdemeanors as stealing a letter or being found begging if a soldier or a sailor. Whatever John Gray's crime was it saved him from the gallows but in march 1794 he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

By this time the Penal settlement at Botany Bay was already six years old and four years later, in 1798, John Gray was sent on a six months journey across the seas on the "Barwell" to serve out his sentence in Australia.

"JOHN GRAY found guilty of feloniously receiving a quantity of goods the property of Mr Samuel Doubleday in the Market place knowing the same to be feloniously stolen was made a Capital Offence for which he received Sentence of Death.

Ann Gray wife of the said John Gray and James Price charged as his accomplices were acquitted."

"A number of other prisoners were tried and sentenced on the same day. John Gray just happened to be first. Towards the end of the report was this one :- Richard Crop, convicted of manslaughter, in killing and flaying John Naylor, of the above city was fined one shilling and discharged." Interesting Priorities!

ELIZABETH KILLETT Many believe that Elizabeth Killett was the daughter of Robert and Mary Killett (nee Lighten) of Norwich, England and believe her to have been born on the 17th February 1775 and Baptised 18th February, 1775 at St. Andrews Church, Norwich.

However, in a letter written by Elizabeth on the 2nd May, 1867 she gives her date of birth as 28th April, and says it is her 89th birthday (1778). She makes reference to her age in three other letters, but as she is old and confused by this time the year of her birth is variously 1779, 1775 and two references which calculate out to 1778. Her daughter Jane who supplied the information on Elizabeth's death certificate believed her mother to have been born in 1779.

Back in England in the year 1800, two years after John had reached Australia, it is recorded at South Western Circuit, Suffolk "a young woman in her early twenties, Elizabeth Killett, single woman in the dwelling of John Crow, on the 27th day of April in the fourtieth year of the Reign of the Sovereign did steal and take and carry away seven Norfolk General Bank Notes and three Pound Notes from her master, Mr John Crow of Bradwell, Norfolk. She was was sentenced at Norwich to be transported for seven years for stealing and transported on the "Nile", sailing from Spithead on June 21st 1801 and reached New South Wales almost exactly six months later on 14th December 1801."

How John and Elizabeth met we do not know, but obviously they were both exemplary and well behaved convicts because they were free to marry in 1803 in St John's Church Parramatta, with the ceremony being performed by that pioneer Anglican clergyman the Rev Samuel Marsden.

The first record which connects Elizabeth to Australia is in the Assize Records, South Eastern Circuit, Suffolk. Indictments Assi 31/39. B in 1800.


1808    "Elizabeth Gray was last week ordered to Newcastle for theft." Sydney Gazzett

01/12/1810    John Gray – Creek Bridge Keeper (South Creek, Windsor).

09/02/1811    John Gray – Lessee of "The Creek Bridge, Hawkesbury".

13/03/1812    John Gray is witness to the marriage of Elizabth Ruse to John Wells. The other witness is James Ruse, Elizabeth's father.

20/06/1812    There are problems about a promisary note dated the 14th March, 1812 drawn by John Gray and payable to a Roger Twyfield for £55.0.0

12/09/1812    John Gray drew cattle on Credit from the Government.

03/07/1813    Auction Sale by the Provost Marshall... 4 stacks of wheat, the property of John Gray on the farm of John Gray immediately adjacent to the town of Windsor.

17/06/1813    John Gray in big trouble because he hasn't paid the yearly Toll of the Tollbridge and Roger Twyfield and William Aspinall advise no-one to pay Gray, but to pay John Howe, Chief Constable instead.

General Muster 1814 States Elizabeth Killett "Nile" arrived 14/02/1801 wife to Gray Constable, 2 children on stores and 3 off stores.

11/03/1815    Government and General Orders..."John Gray, to be stationed as Constable at the Public Market Place, till further orders."

05/09/1818    "Yesterday morning the body of John Gray, who was assistant to the Clerk of the Market was drowned in Mr. Fieldgates well. He was much respected as an old inhabitant of the Colony and has left behind a wife and seven children to lament his premature destiny."

1819    Mrs. Gray is Lessee of Tolls of the Sydney Market for 1819. (Evidence of D. Wentworth before Commissioner of Enquiry 1819.) Bigge J. T. – Report evidence p610 Mitchell Library B.T. Box 2.

1820    Elizabeth Gray applied for Renewal of Spirit Licence in Sydney for 1820. Bigge Report appendix p3932c B. T. Box 21.

1820    Elizabeth Gray petitioned Lachlan Macquarie with a Memoral for the renewal of the Licence of the Market House Sydney 1820. She states... "That she is the person who at present holds the Market at Sydney together with the Market House, Licenced for the Accommodation of Settlers and Others.." D'Arcy Wentworth Papers. M.L. A765 p27.

1820    January 1820 Sydney Gazzett. "Impounded, at Sydney, for Damages incurred Wednesday the 20th Ult, a white GELDING dappled with brown. The owner, on paying Expenses and describing Markes, etc. may by Application for Elizabeth Gray, Poundkeeper, Sydney, received the same.


19/02/1820    Elizabeth Gray is granted a Spirit and Beer Licence for the Maquarie Arms in George Street, Sydney.

31/05/1820    Mrs. Elizabeth Gray paid £157.0.0 into the Police Fund for Market Duties. D'Arcy Wentworth Papers DIP218 p183.

29/07/1820    "Notice - All Persons who stand indebted to Elizabeth Gray of Sydney, are desired to pay the same immediately either to the said Elizabeth Gray, or into the Hands of Mr. Norton, Solicitor, or coersive Measures will be immediatley resorted to, to recover the same without further Notice or Re.........Sydney Gazzett.

09/09/1820    "To be SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT, all that valuable PIECE of GROUND, with the Buildings erected thereon, situated and being No. 62 George Street, Sydney, the present Residence of Elizabeth Gray. The situation of these Premises are well known, being contiguous to the Market Place and in the Public Street and possessing the Advantage of a Licence. N.P.–– Should the above Premises not be disposed of by Licence for selling liquor from 21st February 1820 to 1821 - list of names, No.15 is Elizabeth Gray who is allowed the Freemasons Arms." Signed on the 13th November 1820. Bigge Report appendix P3932F B.T. Box 21.

05/05/1821    Grant of land given to Elizabeth Gray of 50 acres at Bathurst. Grant signed by L. Macquarie.

23/06/1821    Spirit licence for 9 months to Mrs. Gray cost her £22.0.0 - Sydney Gazzett.

04/11/1822    Elizabeth Gray married Hugh Wallace Hozak (spelling changes considerably as per the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages) at Windsor. V18223042 3B/1822

15/01/1823    A land deed (old register D book No. 84). Under the hand and seal of Elizabeth Gray of Sydney, Widow, bearing out 15th January 1823, whereby for the consos therein mentioned and the said Elizabeth Gray did bargain sell and deliver unto Simon Mould all that parcel of land cons 50 acres more or less situate in the District of Seven Hills ajoining Randells and Beckets originally granted to John Gray by Gov. Macquarie etc. (the bargain to commence after 5 years after the original grant.) Witnessed by Miles Fieldgate and John Limeburner.

11/10/1823    A daughter, Margaret is born to Elizabeth and Hugh Hossack and Baptised at Castlereagh. V18237432 1C/1823

05/09/1824    Elizabeth Gray, Widow writes a Memorial to Governor Brisbane saying she lives in a rented farm in the District of Evan with her 7 children whom she supports and is in very indigent circumstances.

30/06/1825    Hugh Hossack to be Constable at Evan.

General Muster 1825 States Elizabeth Gray "Nile 1801" Housekeeper, Jane Gray 17, John Gray 14, Ann Gray 12, Hannah Gray 11, Richard Gray, Family of Mrs. Hossack Esq. of Evan.

13/02/1826    Mary Ann Hosak born. V18267433 1C/1826

30/04/1826    Margaret and Mary Ann Hosak Baptised.

29/07/1826    Hugh Wallace Hosak to be Constable at Parramatta.

12/06/1827    Mary Ann Hosak died at Windsor. V1827383 11/1827

03/08/1827    Hugh Hosak to be Constable at Windsor.

14/07/1828    Hugh Hosak dismissed for improper conduct at Windsor.

Census 1828 Hugh Hosak working as a labourer at Evan. No record of Elizabeth Killett/Gray/Hossack on the Census or Richard, the youngest surviving child.

16/03/1830    Elizabeth writes from Windsor a Memorial to Governor Darling pleading clemency for her son William Gray.

18/03/1830     Margaret Hasok died at Cornwallis, burial performed at Windsor. V1830472 14/1830

02/07/1856    Death of Elizabeth's daughter Hannah, who had married William Jones. Richard Jones is the informant and states that Hannah's mother Elizabeth is a Dealer of Sydney.

01/11/1858    Hugh Hossack died at Bathurst aged 68 years.

27/02/1860    To 1869 Some 30 letters are written by Elizabeth giving family news. The earlier letters are written at Windsor while the later ones are written at Egan St. Newtown, Sydney where she lived with her daughter Ann Louise Atkins.

22/10/1875    Elizabeth Gray died at Myrtle Street, Darlington. Cause of death was given as exhaustion.

Elizabeth and John Gray ¦ Elizabeth Gray 1803 – 1836 ¦ William Gray 1805 – 1851
Jane Gray 1808 – 1880 ¦ John Gray Jr. 1810 ¦ Hannah Gray 1813 – 1856
Ann Louise Gray 1815 – 1874 ¦ Richard Gray 1817 – 1896

The Killett Family (NEW)

Letters from Elizabeth Killett Gray ¦ Trials ¦ Trips & Ships ¦ Letters from William J.B. Gray
Crest & Tartan ¦ Special Acknowledgements

In the Beginning

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