John Grayson and Martha Wray

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Husband John Grayson ¹

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           Born: 1783 - ? Ireland 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 11 Mar 1871 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Robert Grayson (      -      ) 1
         Mother: Mary Murdoch (      -      ) 1

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       Marriage: 9 May 1816 - Baltimore, MD 1

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Wife Martha Wray ¹

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           Born: Abt 1790
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Apr 1865 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Wray (Abt 1750-1819) 1
         Mother: Mary Robinson (      -      ) 1

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Children

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1 M Thomas W. Grayson, Esq. ^{1 3 4}

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           Born: Abt 1817 - Baltimore, MD
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 May 1876 - Meadville, Crawford Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Mary Elizabeth Green (      -1892) 2 4

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2 M Stephen Grayson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in infancy 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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3 F Mary J. Grayson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in infancy 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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4 M John Grayson, Esq. ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah Ellen Scott (      -      ) 2

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5 M William Grayson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1893
         Buried: 

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6 F Martha Grayson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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7 M Dr. Wray Grayson ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Margaret Hazlett (      -Aft 1893) 2
           Marr: 1877 2

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General Notes: Husband - John Grayson

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Having a taste for the printing business, at a suitable age he commenced to acquire a knowledge of the same in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After close application for four years, he went to Philadelphia and entered the book office of William Duane, editor of The Aurora. From this time until near the breaking out of the war of 1812, Mr. Grayson was engaged in the printing business at different times, in Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. On June 18, 1812, news was received by express from Washington, D. C., of the declaration of war by Congress against Great Britain, Mr. Grayson being in the city of Baltimore at the time. He at once enlisted in a volunteer regiment, serving as a volunteer in the army until September, 1813, when he was honorably discharged; but immediately re-enlisted in the regular army, serving as lieutenant and adjutant in the regiment to which he belonged until the close of the war, participating in many of the prominent battles. After the close of the war he was appointed by President Madison to the corps of artillery to form part of the "New Seventh Regiment;" but, wishing to return to private life, he resigned his commission September 7, 1815. Returning to Baltimore, he entered the book office of James Kennedy as partner, and remained there until after his marriage.
In the year 1817, he purchased in Philadelphia a plant for the establishment of a newspaper. Traveling by stage, he proceeded to Washington, Pennsylvania, and issued the first number of The Examiner on May 28, 1817, of which he was sole proprietor and editor until 1833, when he took into partnership William Jack. This partnership continued several years, when Mr. Jack retiring, his son Thomas W. Grayson became his partner, Mr. Grayson, senior, retiring in 1840.
His ancestors were adherents to the Evangelical Church; and for many years he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Washington, Pennsylvania.
During his life he was appointed and elected to the following official positions: Register of wills by Governor Wolf in 1830; re-appointed by same in 1833. Appointed, by Governor Porter, prothonotary of Washington County, and in 1839 was elected to same office. In March, 1843, he was appointed associate judge of the courts of Washington county, by Governor Porter; in 1853 was appointed, by President Pierce, pension agent; in 1857 was appointed to same by President Buchanan, and continued performing the duties of that office in Pittsburgh, until August, 1861.
Although a large portion of Mr. Grayson's life was occupied with the public duties mentioned, he nevertheless took a deep interest in matters pertaining to the moral and educational improvement of the community in which he lived. He was the fast friend of educational institutions, and in connection with other venerated and spirited citizens, assisted in establishing the Ladies' Seminary of Washington, Pennsylvania, performing the duties of treasurer of the board of trustees for more than thirty years, when advancing age compelled him to resign-yet, as a trustee and stockholder, he continued to take a deep interest in the institution.
Mr. Grayson retained in a remarkable degree his mental vigor, and was interested in everything pertaining to the public welfare almost to the hour of his death. He pased with the full assurance of a blessed immortality, his last words being: "Passing, passing, entering through. Peaceful, peaceful, peaceful with God in Christ through all eternity."

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Notes: Marriage

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They were married by Rev. James Inglis, D. D.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 101.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 102.

3 —, The History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner Beers & Co., 1885), Pg 765.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 369.