Ellen Gray’s Letter to Her Father Judson Gray-Civil War (MIL.3)

This partially dated letter from Ellen Gray to her father Judson was written at some time during the Civil War.  The scan of the original is followed by a transcript of the letter and some information about Ellen, Judson and their family.

Information related to Ellen and Judson Gray compiled by David Anderson, Sargentville, Maine

Ellen Huldah Gray was born March 8, 1851, daughter of Judson A. Gray and his wife Rachel (Billings). Although the letter is not dated it is clearly contemporary with the Civil War. See my attached bio on Judson, which I prepared several years ago.  I have not determined what became of Ellen (just never tried).  Snow and Gray and subsequent researchers have not determined how Judson’s father Abner Gray fits into the Gray line. Snow and Gray (and Sedgwick VRs) were unaware that Judson had any siblings but Judson’s wife Rachel Billings (daughter of Reuben) had a sister Lovina about the same age. I would think she is the letter writer. I don’t know T.P. Sargent. Thomas C. Sargent b.1821, was was a contemporary of Judson’s, maybe it’s a “C”?

Anyway, this is all fairly close family stuff typical of Civil War correspondence.  I can’t say whether it’s worth it to transcribe. Personally, I ignore all transcriptions if the original is available to read.

Note: 

Judson is identified simply as Judson Gray in all records we have seen except for the 1880 census entry which has him as Judson A. Gray.  The cemetery stone transcription for his wife Rachel identifies her as the wife of “Adamaram J”, and the stone inscription for their daughter Wilomena (Gray) Estabrook identifies her as a daughter of “Rachel and Adomiram”. Possibly his actual name was Adomiram Judson Gray after the well known Massachusetts ministers, father and son, named Adoniram Judson.