Their father, John Gray (1769–1859), served as a captain in Col. Samuel Whiting's 4th regiment of the Connecticut Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
[4] In 1827, he along with John Griswald and Haven Brigham went to Albany to petition the creation of the town.
[1][2] In 1832, he ran for New York State Assembly with Alvin Plumb on the Anti-Masonic ticket, running against Democrats ALbert Camp and Robert Woodside.
Gray and Plumb were elected and served in the 56th New York State Legislature in 1833, representing Chautauqua County.
Later in life, Gray left Sheridan and lived in Silver Creek and then Forestville.