De Grey: Henry de Grey of Thurrock (11 S. viii. 107, 190).—In reply to Mr. Patrick Gray, although I am unable to say how Henry de Grey was related to Anschitil de Grai of Rotherfield, co. Oxf., who married Eva de Redvers, I can safely assert that the latter's grandfather, Anschitil de Grai of Domesday Book, was not a son of Rollo or Fulbert, Lord of Croy in Picardy, for that is a baseless fiction, not of Tudor heralds, but of some much later reckless romancer, M. de Belleforest, quoted by Collins as his authority.
The undoubted Norman origin of the De Gray family was first made known so long ago as 1842, in a work of which only one volume was ever printed: 'Recherches sur le Domesday,' by M. Lechaude d'Anisy, one of the most learned antiquaries of Normandy. From this work I made this pedigree many years ago, adding two or three generations:
Turstin, presumably sire de Graye.
Turstin, sire de Graye and Luc.
Gisla, dau. of Turstin, gave lands she had in Graye and Dounville to Holy Trinity, Caen, with the consent of Turstin her nephew, lord of the fee, 1082, and became a nun.
Turstin, sire de Graye 1082, "Turstin son of Turgis, provost of Luc" 1096.
Anschitil de Grai of Rotherfield, co. Oxford, 1086.
Richard de Grai of Rotherfield, donor to Eynesham Abbey 1109. = [Mabel his widow had dower in Rotherfield.]
Anschitil de Grai of Rotherfield = Eva de Redvers.
Turgis de Grai = Matilda de Scures, s.p.
Thomas de Grai.
No reliance can be placed on many statements in an anonymous work called 'The Norman People,' printed in 1874, wherein "Anchetil" is called "son of Turgis." For this there is no evidence, though most probably he was. Again, "Columbanus de Grae," who witnessed a charter temp. Hen. I. (' Mon. Angl.,' i. 332), is made "son of Anchetil" and to have issue (1) Robert, (2) Roger, &c. Richard and Anschitil II. are omitted!
The charter of King William and Queen Matilda, dated 1082, confirming to the Abbey of the Holy Trinity of her foundation the donations already made, including that of Gisla, was printed in the great French work, 'Gallia Christiana,' vol. xi. Inst., p. 71, longer still ago.
Graye is a village of some 500 inhabitants on the seacoast of Calvados, about equi-distant from Bayeux and Caen It is at the mouth of the River Sculles, and has a church, some portions of which are of the thirteenth century.
Gray as a surname ought never to have been written with an e. Henry de Gray (of Thurrock, &c.) was Bailiff of Verneuil in Normandy, 1198. He had a nephew and a son named Richard, which looks as if he himself were a grandson of Richard of Rotherfield ('Rot. Norm.,' Introduction by Thomas Stapleton, ii. lxxxi).
The best account of Walter de Gray, the great Archbishop of York, is that by the late Canon Raine ('Fasti Ebor.,' i. 279). A. S. Ellis.
I wish to thank your correspondents, including G. H. F., for their replies to my query, particularly Mr. Francis H. Relton and Mr. Harry Quilter—the latter also for his offer to supply further data should I wish it.
As to Mr. Relton's able search-notes, I am not able to endorse the sketch pedigree given by him in the point of taking Raynald (Sir Arnold de Grey) as the brother of Arlette (mother of William the Conqueror), instead of John, Lord de Croy, or Gray, only son of Fulbert, the French progenitor of the English and Scottish families of Gray.
Although John, Lord de Croy, or Gray, is not mentioned in any of the ten anonymous lists extant of men who are said to have come over to England with William the Norman, I think that is no reason for supposing that he was not present at the Battle of Senlac, for it should be borne in mind that no authentic record has been handed down to us of the "knights and men who formed King William's army."
Mr. Quilter, on the other hand, gives John, Lord de Croy, or Gray, as the son of Rollo or Fulbert, and with the construction
