Return to Hyde County

According to the Gray Family Papers in the Little Compton Historical Society Archives, Arnold Gray and his twin brother, Edward, were born at 7 o'clock Sunday Morning 28^th December 1790 in Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island to Job and Judith (Briggs) Gray.  Arnold was raised in a 17th century farmhouse on a 100-acre farm known as the Betty Alden Place.  He received his college education at Brown University in Providence, R.I. and, armed with a bachelor's degree, he secured teaching positions in and around Hyde County, first at Washington Academy, and later Lake Landing School where he taught from 1825 to 1840.  The 1850 Mattamuskeet Dist. of Hyde Co., shows him as age 58 and listed as a "school teacher" from Rhode Island.  Arnold married Elizabeth Spencer circa 1840 and had a son, William Arnold Gray, in 1841--both mother and son died within months of each other in 1843.  He had purchased land and slaves in Hyde County starting in 1821 and at one point went into business with his brother-in-law, William Warren Spencer.  Arnold died circa February 1857 with W.W. Spencer administering on his lengthy estate.

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Letter from Samuel Gray to Brother Arnold Gray while at Brown University. From Wiscasset, Maine, Oct. 25^th, 1808 - Advice on his studies at Brown to teach during winter vacation and to think about practicing law after graduation.

As it respects the spending your time in the winter vacations, I think it advisable to take a school, a least for the vacations perhaps a few weeks long as occation may offer – And if you take one, it will be necessary, above all things that you keep good order, and exact strict obedience without severity. Let your rules be known, & cause them to be closely adhered to----

With respect to your future occupation, I shall continue to advise you to resolve upon the (hole in paper) both for profit & conveniency, and for respectability, usefulness and honour. This study will be most convenient because I can secure procure your admission to the bar with much less expense than what it will be to me—for by the time you will be ready to enter upon the study, I shall be in a situation to give you all the assistance you would have in any office.

Letter from Arnold Gray to his sister Mrs. Sarah Bailey of Little Compton
         Washington, North Carolina, March 9 1817 [1] 

I did not mean to continue in the Academy here more than one quarter more. But I am not sure that I can get away so soon as I contemplate. The climate has had no effect of my health that I know of. It has been remarkably healthy here the year now and remarkably cold….I do not contemplate returning home at least this Summer.

[1] The year written on the letter is difficult to read. The letter indicates that Arnold’s niece Caroline has been born but just now learning her letters. Caroline was born in 1811.  1817 is a reasonable match for the date on the letter and would make Caroline six years old when this letter was written, an appropriate time to be just learning to read.

Letter from Arnold Gray to brother Mr. Edward Gray, Little Compton, March 17^th, 1828
          Lake Landing, Middleton Post Office, Hyde County, NC

I arrived here about the last of October 1827 without any accident from Philadelphia where I had been since leaving you, to that City from Newport I had a very agreeable passage being on the road about 34 hours. You speak of the mildness of your winter, we too have had a remarkably mild one, there scarcely having been any frost here during the winter, last night was one of the coldest we have had, wheat’s heading out and garden peas hanging on their vines. I observed some very nice apples of a 2^nd growth hanging on their trees in February which had not cold enough to hurt them…..People here experience what they call hard times, being much in debt and their produce worth very little—trade is very bad & it is a question whether business or no business here is best.  I shall hardly make as much this year as I spent in visiting you. I do not expect to neat 450$ clear of expense though I may do it. Do let me know when you write

Letter from Arnold Gray to his Sister Sarah Gray Bailey of Little Compton
April 11, 1830 Warrenton, N.C.

 

Dear Sister
     Be so kind as to relieve my anxiety by writing me soon and directing to me at this place where I shall remain if well for some three or nine months, being in an high and generally esteemed healthy country.  I have not yet been able to close my affairs in Hyde so as to leave it yet altogether nor am I certain I can in the course of the year.  I make my arrangements as fast as I can conveniently to get into a healthier country. But it is difficult to sell or to collect any thing at present owing to low prices of produce and innumerable failures repeatedly occurring. And it would be almost certain loss to go far, any length of time. I enjoy tolerable health at present and could were I disposed partake of many pleasures of this World But I have no desire for them. You are all alive in my memory and rooted in my affections. There are no attachments here which I think can ever rival you. There is abundance of fraud plundering theft and deceit every where manifested. The vices are more glaring and less odious is seems to me in the slave-States than in the others and of course their friendships are less durable and less desirable. I have ceased to wish for any and therefore from none.  Having stayed here so much longer than I ever intended I am yet unable to ascertain any determinate period beyond which my stay may not be protracted. Nor do I know which way my interest or my nescesities may carry me. Let me hear from you all particularly I want an account of my Mother, if alive which I can hardly hope,…  A Gray

Letter from Arnold Gray to his sister Sarah Gray Bailey and niece Caroline of Little Compton
Undated but before Caroline’s marriage in 1835; Postmark says Feb. 2 but there is no date on the letter.  Half of the letter is missing
Hyde County, N.C. Middleton Post Office, Mattamuskeet

Dear Sister & Niece,
…. Thank you for letters etc….  We seem to be born to suffer & to die. Such is the lot of Mankind. Well might the heathen poet sing ‘happiest he, who earliest dead, rests in deaths eternal sleep.’ But in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, must give us fears, if we think the soul immortal, and are not assured of happiest dreams. Try to guard yourself Sarah against a recurrence of Your disorder of the head.

...“Morbid indolence in me” is the excuse for not answering letters….My health is as good as usual. Symtoms of age and decay mark me a little more, than when, I saw you last. My feet are troubled with Corns very badly and pain me in walking. By Bodily health I think is better than formerly though I have some inclination at time to that dizziness of head, of which you complained, & my eyesight fails me, so that I do not see to write a straight line & very often do not see the letters while making them. I hope nevertheless, that I shall never be blind. I see to a little farm for the support of my blacks at present, and have moved a little nigher to it, boarding this Year at a Col. Peleg Wm Spencers whose plantation nearly touches mine. This change saves me much walking, say half or more. I have one Man hired out at $75 per year , clothed and furnished by the hirer, And six on my farm, 3 Males and 3 Females, whom I feed and clothe or try to do so, out of their labor. These I see once or twice a day, when not hindered by any one or any thing else. I am plagued at present with the settlement of two estates of Deceased acquaintances, besides my own affairs, all of which, I am trying to wind up with a little loss as possible. So much of myself perhaps too much. Let me hear from some of you.

Letter from a stranger assuring them Arnold is OK
To Peleg Bailey Esqr from Thomas M. Scott Middleton, Hyde County 14^th Oct. 1832

Sir – By accident a few days since I saw your letter of the 30^th August to the Post Master at Middleton making inquirys after Mr. Arnold Gray. Having understood that it remained unanswered (the P.M. being absent) and having myself been intimately acquantied with Mr. Gray for the last four years – I take the liberty of giving his friends and Relatives thro you the following information. Mr. Gray retuned from Warrenton to this place (I think) in December 1830 and remained here until the later part of June last when he and myself went to Warrenton on account of bad health. He boarded in the same house with me (at my Brother ???  W???  W?? Hill’s) until about the middle of Sept. when Mr. Gray set off upon a tour thro’ the upper part of this State and he will probably travel into some of the Western States before his return. His health was very good when I left him having perfectly recovered from the effects of his residence in this low country. He stated to me when we parted that he expected to be at Middleton by the first or middle of November when his friends can address a letter to him and if his should not return here by that time I will forward their letter to him at Warrenton. Mr. Gray has been teaching most of his time and by prudence Care and Economy has amassed sufficient funds to make his situation in life entirely easy and comfortable. I am not fully acquainted with his designs in future, but I think he intends to purchase a farm in some healthy part of the State or West of this State, and settle himself. I believe that is the object of his present Tour. He resided several years in my Brother’s family, before his removal from this County to Warrens, and boarded with him at Warrenton during the year 1830. Mr. Gray is still unmarried, nor do I think he intends to Marry. Having shared in the friendship of Mr. Gray I hope his friends and family in Rhode Island will accept my officiousness as a proof of my desire to oblige him.
        I am, Sir, with Respect your and their Obt Servant.  Thos M. Scott

Letter to sister from Arnold Gray – (I think this is his brother Job’s wife in Maine.)
         Germantown, Hyde County, N.C. 1841

Dear Sister, Your letter of the 21 Ult. Came duly to hand. I obtained it last Mail day. It afforded me much pleasure to hear from you and George, Your welfare is an object of much solicitude with me. It would be a very great mistake to infer from my not writing you, hat I do not wish to hear from you, or that there is any diminuation of regard or anxiety for your happiness or your Son’s….I feel much interested in the welfare of all my relatives, especially those at Bowdoinham. My health is tolerably good at present, but the sickly season is approaching & I cannot expect wholly to escape sickness in the latter part of the Summer & the beginning of the Fall season.  I had a very sever attack about 15 months ago & was, I suppose, given over, as I found, on recovering, preparations made for my burial. You did me a great favour in letting me hear from my Newport & Compton Relatives, from whom I have not heard in a long time except what I may have gathered from Horace.

We have in this country at present no religious societies except a few Baptists & Methodists. I prefer attending the last mentioned tho I belong to no sect. My time is spent very idly. I have sold out most of my land in this county & have not yet purchased again. The hire of a few Servants bring me in a small income. I manage to live on that I the Interest from the sale of my land & Rents of that unsold. I was much {happy to hear about her son George … Give my best too etc. & to all my Relatives with who you communicate and Accept my best wishes for your happiness. June 11^th 1841.  

Arnold Gray     (Does not mention his wife)

The Traveling Letter 1844
Letter from Arnold Gray to sister-in-law Hannah Gray, Bowdoinham, Maine - Hannah sent it on to other Gray family members who added notes.
Far Creek, Hyde County North Carolina

Dear Sister, Your letter of 30^th Ultimo came duly to hand and I should have answered it last Mail, but I was unable to write by sickness. For a day or two past, I have been able to ride out in a walk on horseback & I hope I am mending now. To day & Yesterday evening I have been confined to the house by damp and rainy weather & yet see no prospect of any alteration of it to fair. Except now and then a call from a Neighbor, who can have but little Interest in my welfare I see none but negroes to speak to. There are none else with me. I have a family at present of some 6 or 7 Blacks, but, besides myself there is not a white person on the Land, indoor [or] out. I lived with a wife 2 yrs. And 3 mos. She died in my Arms 31^st March 1843, left a son by the name of William Arnold, who died Oct. 8^th 1843 the fall of that year was very sickly here, fatally so. Death has bereaved me of my last earthly stay. He was a fine, handsome intelligent Boy of 2 years, wanting a few days. Should I have idolized him too much, think you? He was my delight, could run about after me, and began to entertain me with his talk. He is gone after his mother, & both gone & gone forever! Our family of servants are to be & clothed by me, Smok-house, Kitchen, Fowl-houses, Granaries and Dwelling-house to be watched by me. The farms, of which we each had a small one, to be overseen by me. And finally the few Labourers, in doors and out, to be tasked and watched by me alone. It is some consolation, that I shall follow the departed Ones, that I shall see them again in a World of Spirits, behold them as they now are. But let me advert to your Letter, I don’t find Willards name, or any one’s of his family in it. What has become of him and his Children & Edward, I know not. I presume Edward is alive, from your speaking of his Wife and Daughter. You did not inform me where they live. I am gratified in hearing of George’s welfare & feel grateful and thankful to that Providence that has preserved and cherished him thus long. May God still guard your Son, and make him a light in the word, a pillar of society an Instrument of much good.  You will remember me to my Brothers & Sisters & their families, every where, as opportunities for doing so occur to you. Tell George I feel mush interested in his wellbeing & well-doing too. I have a lock of his hair by me yet, as a memorial of himself & a lock of the head of his Deceased Cousin William Arnold, and think them very much alike. ….(Harriet and her husband are on the banks of the Hudson)

Tell sister Sarah, her silent Brother can hear & read too, by means of glasses; and that she must write me a history of family events & give me a biographical sketch of every Individual of her Ancestors family if not of her Grand-Ancestors.  [Asks for letters from all]

My affairs are so situated, that I shall be unable, for some time, to leave my farms. They want a great deal done to them having been rented out from 15 to 25 years past to tenants, who did little for their improvement. They both need fencing, ditches and some buildings. All which cannot be done economically in a hurry. I try to do as much as possible with my own force, without hiring work.  This kind of Labor employs my hands when no pressing or profitable work can be done during the winter months and out of Crop time? When there is no ingathering, nor Reaping etc. You might ascertain from Job or Samuel what they think Corn, say Southern White, would probably be worth by the 500 or 1000 Bushesl or Cargo in Portland, Topsham, Bath or Augusta, next May or June.  But perhaps you use only the Northern Yellow.

On same letter Sarah Bailey wrote - “Our Dear Brother has seen a great sight of Affliction – I am grieved for him.”

Unknown author - “We were all very glad to hear from Uncle Arnold it had been so long since we heard we were fearful he was not living.”

Letter to Sister Sarah Gray Bailey of Little Compton from Arnold Gray

Middleton , Hyde Country N.C. July 24^th, 1845  (Post Office Lake Landing July 26)

Dear Sister,

[Apologies for not returned letter he was sick with a “Lung affected, & a bad cough with some fever attending them”]

I am retired on a little farm, at present, and have to provide for a small family of servants. Besides being in sorry health, I have to overseer outdoors, and watch in doors. With all my attention on the farm, my work is sometimes neglected, or very badly done. With all my watching within, my provisions are sometimes wasted or stolen. Provisions must be kept under lock, Poultry and Eggs must be locked and unlocked, & counted, every day. Horses & hogs Etc. must be watched as well as their food. The mind of him who would not be plundered overmuch must be on the alert, continually. My family consists now of 2 men, 1 woman & her child, a boy and a girl 12 or 15 yrs old. There is no white person, except myself in it. I have about 15 or 16 Acres in wheat, just reaped, 2 in Oats, a good crop of Flax taken in, 37 or 40 Acres in Corn outstanding & lately hilled up, a small potatoe patch & a little cotton for my own use. The Corn has roasting Ears, and is, at present, very promising.  My potatoes and cotton look well and seem very thrifty, so also are my Beans and peas. Of the two last named I have some 20 or 30 acres. But I do not expect to save one half of the two last. I have been trying to make a living by farming now 4 years, rather , this will be the fourth year. And though my Wheat Crop was better last year, than is the present one; yet,  when I look at my whole Crop, especially my Corn, the present Crop is by far better than anyone, I have yet raised; at least, is has the appearance, now of affording me more than any one of them all.  But one storm may yet sweep away the whole of it, & blast the prospect of ingathering promised by the year.  You have enough said, I suppose, to induce the belief, that my attention is required here throughout this year; should my health permit me to attend to my little concerns in & out of doors. A year or two ago I was very sick 2 or 3 month, I could see to nothing. On Recovering, perhaps early in May, my little family had used up, given away, wasted or sold all the Bacon pork & corn provided for the year; at least 1500 pounds of pork & 100 or 150 Bushels of Corn. I live on the smallest tract of land, I possess; and there not being enough of it, I use the most part of another tract, half a mile distant from my house. This circumstance adds a little to the labour and trouble of oversight. The Land would take less of my time, to superintend it, if it were all in one tract, and contiguous to my house. The Cock as struck ten, and warns me to bed, as well as relives you from looking longer in my cares and little vexations. But I must stop to thank you for the information given me, in your last letter of my friends & relatives.  Besides what I have from you, & once in a long time from Harriet or Hannah, I can learn no particulars of them. I know not who lives or dies.  To you, principally am I indepbted for what I hear of them. I know not whom Willard married.  Neither do I know where or how Edward is & his family are. I do not think you said any thing about Job and his family in your last letter.  I feel a deep interest in the welfare of them all. I suppose your place, its society, Customs and manners have undergone many alterations since I had an opportunity to observe them.