Background
by Nev. Ramsden
The Grayson Family of Whitehaven
The only source giving details concerning the early 17th century merchant families, comes from the various legal documents held at both the National & Cumbria Archives, arising from disputes of ownership and rents to be paid for land or property in the new town of Whitehaven
The earliest reference to a member of the Grayson clan from such a source was a Christopher Grayson, with his wife Isabella, who negotiated with Sir John Lowther in 1632 for a plot of land on which to build a house. It was to be one of the ?rst new houses on the Sandhills at Whitehaven, along with adjacent property from which he could carry on his businesses. Also in 1632 Sir John and Christopher drew up articles to construct a new pier at Whitehaven with Alexander Osborne who had a lease of the nearby saltpans, but who seems to have resided in Dublin, having other business interests in Ireland. Work continued until 1636-7 resulting in a structure 300ft long, 30ft high and 30ft broad.
Snippets taken from:- Sir John Lowther and Whitehaven, 1642-1706, The Relations of a Landlord with his Estate. by Christine Churches
Edward Grayson – Master ropemaker
ln 1675, a ropery was set up by John Gale the elder along with Thomas Tickell and managed by Henry Addison, with David Hamilton and Thomas Addison as partners. The company invested £200 and then a further £300, hired workmen and a master roper, Edward Grayson. Henry Addison turned his customs position to good effect by coercing ship masters to buy their rope from him. However, Edward Grayson left the company and they engaged another rope-maker whose work proved faulty. Out at sea, the cables and ropes frayed and broke or became jammed in the pulleys, “so that if God had not abated the fury of the wind and seas, they all would have perished". The ships did make port safely and the vengeful masters sued the hapless partners.”
It was not unusual for the Whitehaven merchants to have members of their families acting as their trading agents in both the American colonies and the West Indies.
The following extract is typical of the information to be found within documents from the Archives at Richmond, Virginia:-
William Grayson, of St.Bees, Cumberland County, England married circa 1732, he was possibly the son of William & Mary (Gale) Grayson of Whitehaven, and who purchased land in Spotsylvania Co., Virginia, near to Fredericksburg. This land was confiscated during the American Revolution and after the war was over, John Grayson, then of Whitehaven, England applied for restoration of this property in 1782. All such attempts were unsuccessful.
The Whitehaven Grayson families followed in the footsteps of many West Cumberland families, by sending one or more sons to seek their fame & fortune in Liverpool, brought about by the fall in trade at Whitehaven as the trade in Liverpool prospered.
The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, list of members for 1774-96 included:
Anthony Grayson, Timber merchant, Ships Capt. and Ship builder (with Foster Cunliffe) born1719 - died 1785 and traded with America and West Indies. Anthony Grayson was also elected Mayor of Liverpool for 1756-57.
The Grayson families of Liverpool
The business of Grayson, Rollo and Clover started from a series of amalgamations which culminated in 1928. Its earliest incarnation was in 1747, when Edward Grayson, shipwright, a native of Whitehaven, was admitted as a Freeman of the City of Liverpool, and by 1752 was well established, not only as a shipwright, but with other business interests as well.
In this book there is no attempt to gloss over the Grayson family’s activities as slave-traders and privateers. The early Graysons were colourful personalities. One, remonstrating with his employees about their striking work, was hit on the chest by a stone thrown by someone who dissented from his opinions. Grayson charged into the crowd, grabbed the offender and knocked him to the ground. Unfortunately, the man hit his head fatally fracturing his skull. Mr. Grayson was charged with manslaughter, and while awaiting trial, got into an argument with a young officer whom he challenged to a duel. Grayson was killed at the ensuing encounter. Some said that he had “de-loped” – deliberately firing his gun into the air, giving his opponent a free shot.
taken from a review of the book:- Grayson’s of Liverpool, a History of Grayson, Rollo and Clover Docks Ltd., by Colin Brooks Henry Young and Sons, 1955
The most famous monument in St James Church, Liverpool is to Edward Grayson. His inscription reads:
Sacred to the Memory of; Edward Grayson; of Liverpool shipwright; an honest man an affectionate relative; and a sincere friend; whose zeal in the defence of insulted innocence; caused him to fall a sacrifice to the laws; of false honour; whereby the injured are unhappily compelled; to expose themselves to destruction; at the call of the aggressor.
He died March 4th 1804 in the 46th year of his age
Edward Grayson made ships, several of which were used in the sugar trade. He built the ship 'the Watt' for the firm of Watt & Walker in 1797. It was a 22 gun ship-rigged vessel weighing 564 tons. It was used to bring back sugar from Jamaica where Richard Watt had an estate. She was sold to Morrall & Boland (merchants) and the Scott shipbuilding family of Greenock in 1809 and continued carrying sugar until 1812.
In 1804 Grayson had a disagreement which would cost him his life. He was travelling in his carriage with Major Brooks, on their way to dinner. Grayson felt that Mr Sparling had behaved like ‘a villain’ in breaking off his marriage with a relative. Major Brooks repeated this conversation and Mr Sparling was very angry and demanded an apology. When none was forthcoming, the matter was to be settled by pistols at dawn on Sunday the 24th February at Dingle Glen.
Each man selected a second, a man to take their place should they not turn up. Grayson rather fortuitously took Dr McCartney (who brought the surgeon, Mr Park with him) and Sparling took Captain Colquitt of the frigate Princess. The four men disappeared from sight into the glen. Shots were heard and Mr Sparling and Capt Finchett returned informing Grayson’s servant that his master was gravely injured. The Doctor and surgeon hurried to help and found Grayson, his breeches covered in blood. They took him home, where he died the following Sunday. Mr Sparling and Capt Colquitt were found responsible for Grayson’s death. They were sent to Lancaster Assizes for trial where they were found not guilty of murder.
Edward Grayson is believed to be the last man in Britain to die as a result of engaging in a duel.
Oxford, England - Sept. 6 1843 — This morning died the Rev. Anthony Grayson, D.D., he died at his Lodgings, in Oxford, on the 6th inst.; the Rev. Anthony was the Principal of St. Edmund Hall, Vicar of Bramley, Hants. and formerly Fellow of Queen's College, in the University of Oxford. Dr. GRAYSON took his degree of M.A. April 15, 1801; B.D. March 5, 1824; and D.D. March 11, 1824, when he was elected Principal of St. Edmund Hall. He was a native of Whitehaven, in Cumberland, and in the 71st year of his age. He was the only surviving child of Thomas & Elizabeth Grayson of Roper St. in Whitehaven