Samuel James Gray

Sammy Gray as in my Mum's wallet02 samuelandfrancesgray Samuel Gray SammyGr1 samuelgray SammyGr32 Irene's Christening Sammy Gray Medals Samuel Gray Death Notice 1961 Samuel James Gray Birth Cert 1911 Death Cert Samuel Gray 1961 Samuel Gray Grave Flowers

• Birth Notes

  His civil birth record from Letterkenny Local Registry Office says he was born on 11th September 1911 at Garvagh, Errigal, called Samuel James Gray, to William John Gray of Garvagh, Mason, and his wife, Janie Gray, formerly McClements; his father registered the birth on 23rd September 1911.  I also have the original certificate in my parents scrapbook.
  
  From Emerald Ancestors:
  Record Type Parish Baptism
  Date of Birth Sep 1911
  Name Samuel James Gray
  Gender M
  Fathers Name William Gray
  Mothers Forenames Jeannie
  Mothers Maiden Name 
  Date of Baptism 23 Oct 1911
  Church Garvagh First Presbyterian Church
  Civil District  Coleraine
  County Londonderry
  

• Death Notes

  Forename of deceased    Surname of deceased    Date of death    Age at death    Date of birth    Sex of deceased    Registration district    
  D/1961/138/1017/23/200    Samuel    Gray    4th December 1961    50        Male    Limavady(pre-1973 Q4)
  
  Date: 25th July 2005
  Source: Aunt Moira to me by telephone, relating the sequence of events leading to the death of my father.
  October 1960, my father had an operation for oesophageal cancer but was NOT told that he had a year to live.  My mother WAS told.  This was standard procedure in those days.
  December 1960, my grandmother was upsetting my grandfather by pressing him to tell my father that his time was limited so that he could "be saved" (a Presbyterian doctrine that you only go to heaven if you "take the Lord as your personal saviour").
  December 1960, Moira told my tearful grandfather that it was up to my mother to decide what and when to tell my father and that it should be left in the Lord's hands.
  April 1961, my grandfather died suddenly partly due to the worry over my father's illness.
  June 1961, my mother and father visited Moira and Dick in Surrey and went to Westminster Chapel, where the sermon began with the words, "What would you do if you only had 6 months to live?"  Moira believes this inspired my father to decide to become saved.
  November 1961, my mother rang Moira to say that my father had been further inspired by the text, "Whosoever will, may come," and was "saved".
  4th December 1961, my father died, aged 50.