William managed to save the family firm from the poor position he found it in, albeit at the cost of working long hours.
They created evening classes so that the workers at a local hemp factory could learn to read there and at Sunday School each week.
[4] The school was staffed by women volunteers and the girls were taught to read and to spin and in return the student's were paid wages for their work and clothed.
Given this education, the students were able to apply for better paid work and avoid the options usually open to poor uneducated girls.
[2] After their success with poor girls, Gray was approached to become involved with the Grey Coat School in York which had lost its way.