individual record
id | first | middle | last | dob | dod | cod |
| 89 | Harriet | "Hattie" | Gray | 1/31/1859 | 8/25/1878 | suicide |
veteran | exhumed | purchaser | cemetery |
| FALSE | Adams Street |
lot | plot | ||||||
| R2 G10 in Gray family lot |
relations |
| Morgan Gray (father, 27 Oct 1818-24 May 1889) William Gray (paternal grandfather) 5 paternal uncles, 3 paternal aunts Helen White (father's 1st wife) Varnum R. Gray (half-brother, b. Sep 1845) Mary A. (half-sister, b. c1848-d. before 1860) Emeline Gray (mother, b. c1828-d. 31 May 1870) Marion Gray (brother, b. 28 Jul. 1855-d. 18 July 1876) Harriet "Hattie" Gray (self, b. 31 Jan 1859-d. 25 Aug 1878) Infant Gray (d. 18 Nov 1865, aged 1 mo.) Lavinia Patterson (maternal grandmother) Catharine "Kate" Rush Gray (father's 3rd wife, b. c1853-d. c1882) Clara F. (half-sister, b. c1872) Ida M. (half-sister, b. c1874) Freddie Gray (half-brother, b. 14 Sep 1875-d. 2 Sep 1876) George F. (half-brother, b. Sep 1876) For more genealogy, see entry on Morgan Gray |
comments |
| The Grindstone Advertiser reported on 29 Aug 1878: "BY HER OWN HAND. A Young Lady, Weary of This Life, Plunges into the Next, by Shooting Herself with a Revolver. Miss Hattie Gray, whose age was about nineteen, daughter of Mr. Morgan Gray of Middleburgh, committed suicide last Sunday morning, about half-past five o'clock, by shooting herself with a revolver. It seems she came down stairs Sunday morning, and asked the consent of her father to marry a young man named Richmond, who was a stranger to the family, except that he had been employed on the farm by Mr. Gray for a few months, as a common laborer. Her father, being much surprised at her request, suggested to her the fact that their acquaintance had been short, and advised her 'not to be in a hurry about it'. Chagrined at what she took to be her father's refusal to permit her to marry the young man, Miss Gray immediately returned to the chamber; soon after which the report of a pistol was heard below; on ascending the staircase, Mr. Gray found his daughter in Richmond's room, making the bed; the room was full of smoke, which Mr. Gray supposed was dust, caused by putting the room in order. He inquired of her about the noise, but received no answer, thinking it was caused perhaps by the falling of the window, he returned below; but when he reached the foot of the staircase he heard another pistol-shot, and going back found her lying upon her face on the floor, already dead: the revolver lay near and the blood was flowing from her mouth. Terrified at the sight before him, Mr. Gray lifted the lifeless form from the floor, and laid it upon the half-made bed. Dr. L. Kirkpatrick and Justice J. M. Watson of Berea, were immediately summoned, who on their arrival decided, from statements made by Mr. Gray and his family, that an inquest was unnecessary, being fully satisfied that the young lady died by her own hand. On examination it was found that the ball entered the left breast and penetrated the heart, and death must have ensued instantly. The first ball fired was found lodged in the window casing, having slivered the bed-post in passing. We visited the stricken family on Monday, to learn if possible the cause of the rash act, it seeming strange that a young lady who was of age, should commit suicide for the reasons stated. In conversation with her father we learned that she was the idol of his heart and the light of the household. The affection existing between the father and daughter had been intensified by the death of her brother a few months before; it was her delight to gratify his wishes, and it is supposed that she preferred death to offending her father in marrying Richmond. Mr. Gray stated that he had noticed a growing attachment between Richmond and his daughter some two weeks ago, and that he then indicated to her his displeasure at what seemed to him a very unwise step, since which she appeared sad and melancholy. The revolver was purchased by Richmond during the week previous to the tragedy and left in his room, but the family were not aware that such a thing was in the house. The young man, who was in the barn at the time of the suicide, appeared very much affected when informed of her death, and said he supposed Mr. Gray would rather she would die than marry him." Berea's records of burials for 1878 say only "Hattie Grey Aug 25". Morgan Gray bought lot 156. A 1904 transcription of her tombstone said "Hattie, died Aug 25, 1878, age 19 yrs, 6 m, 25 days". A 1934 transcription demonstrates some wearing "Hattie Gray, died June 25, 1878, age 19 yrs, 6 m, 25 d". In 2007, her tombstone was found to have been broken, repaired, and so worn as to be virtually illegible. Hattie's stone is the middle one in this photograph. See entry on Morgan Gray for more information about Hattie's family. Hattie Gray's tombstone was a marble tablet. It was broken in 2 places. The severity of its condition was from weathering and vegetation. There were previous repairs using cement and adhesive. In 2009, epoxy and mortar. |
sources |
| "List of burials and names," City of Berea Records "Number of burial lots and price," Adams St Cemetery folder, Berea Historical Society E. S. Loomis and D. T. Gould, "Inscriptions from the Old Berea Cemetery," 1904, Berea Historical Society "Cuyahoga Cemetery Inscriptions," Vol. I, compiled by the Western Reserve Historical Society, 1934 1850 US Federal Census, Morgan Grey household, series M432, roll 673, p. 191. 1860 US Federal Census, Morgan Gray household, Series: M653 Roll: 954 Page: 89 1870 US Federal Census, Morgan Gray household, Series: M593 Roll: 1193 Page: 396 1880 US Federal Census, Morgan Gray household, Series: T9 Roll: 1009 Page: 216 1900 US Federal Census, Varnum Gray household, Robert V. Gray household, George F. Gray household, Series: T623 Roll: 1261 Page: 53 Morgan Gray-Helen White marriage license, vol. 4, p. 247; Morgan Gray-Emeline Patterson marriage license, vol. 5, p. 52; Morgan Gray-Catharine Rush marriage license, vol. 16, p. 112; Varnum R. Gray-Emma Pilgrim marriage license, vol. 14, p. 204; Morgan J. Gray-Stella Castle marriage license, vol. 52, p. 358; Cuyahoga County Historical Marriage License Index online; Marriage License collection, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Fairview branch. Gray child death notice & Freddie Gray funeral notice, Grindstone Advertiser, 7 Sept 1876. "By Her Own Hand," Hattie Gray obituary, Grindstone Advertiser, 29 Aug 1878. Morgan Gray obituaries, Berea Advertiser, 31 May 1898. Gray family tombstones photograph, Jeremy Feador, 2006. Sample Survey Sheet for Individual Burial Markers, |