Papers of Harriet wife of Rev William Grey (1829-1880)

Scope and Content

The papers of Harriet Grey consist of the following series: correspondence (EGR4/9/1) and other papers (EGR4/9/2).

The papers of Rev William Grey obviously contain numerous references to his wife. In addition, there is a diary of Harriet Grey for January to July 1849 (EGR4/8/1/5), an account by Harriet Grey of the early years of her marriage (EGR4/8/1/19), and a letter from Harriet Grey to her husband (EGR4/8/6/31). The papers of Rev Harry Grey contain a letter from Harriet's father Rev Francis Henry White to Harry Grey discussing the negotiations over her marriage to William Grey (EGR4/6/1/1/17). There is a single letter from Harriet Grey to her brother-in-law George Grey among the latter's papers (EGR4/7/2/3). Among the papers of various members of the Grey family there is a letter from Harriet Grey to her sister-in-law Frances Charlotte Elizabeth (EGR4/10/25). The papers of the White family contain letters from Harriet to her brothers and sisters, both before and after her marriage, (EGR5/2/4/12-14, /34-35, /46 & /55), and two letters to her mother (EGR5/2/4/39 & /47).

Administrative / Biographical History

Harriet Grey was the youngest daughter of Rev Francis Henry White (1781-1864), vicar of Blakesley co. Northants. On 25 July 1849 she married Rev William Grey (1819-72), third son of Rev Harry Grey, and the couple immediately sailed for Newfoundland where William Grey served as a missionary with the SPG. On 18 April 1850 Harriet Grey gave birth to their only child, William (1850-1910), who later became the 9th Earl of Stamford. The severe climate of Newfoundland adversely affected Harriet Grey's health, forcing the couple to return to England in June 1853. From 1855 to 1860 William Grey was stipendiary curate at Moordown and Pokesdown near Bournemouth, and in 1860 he was appointed to the incumbency of St John's, Milford in Witley parish, Surrey. Ill health forced him to resign the living in 1865, and the couple moved to Exeter where William Grey died on 1 September 1872. His widow died on 27 May 1880 and was buried at Rustington co. Sussex: see manuscript pedigree at Dunham Massey Hall.