Lisburn man shares the story of his ancestor Royal Navy surgeon John Gray

John Gray (c 1772-1847) came from the townland of Ballynacross, Maghera and was a surgeon in the Royal Navy from 1799-815, serving on seven ships.

The last ship he served on was HMS Majestic that was involved in the blockade of the Eastern seaboard of the States including Boston Bay and keeping the American USS Constitution ship from getting out of the harbour.

His telescope was passed down through the generations and Alistair recently visited Boston Bay, recreating the moment his ancestor used the telescope to spy on the USS Constitution.

Alistair was delighted to find out more about his ancestor’s service in the Royal Navy, as he himself served in the RAF for 35 years, retiring in 2013.

Following his retirement he decided to put pen to paper and share the life of his ancestor.

"In 2018 I eventually got round to writing his life story in a book called 'A Biography of John Gray MD (c 1772 - 1847: Royal Navy Surgeon',” explained Alistair.

"This was after the result of one and a half years research at The National Archives (TNA), Kew, London a few years earlier from when I lived in West London.”

Alistair is a former student of Wallace High School and grew up in Lisburn, retiring again in his hometown after his retirement from the RAF.

“John Gray was born in the townland of Ballynacross, Maghera,” Alistair continued. “The Gray family had been in Ballynacross since at least 1734.

"He attended the University of Edinburgh from 1796-1798. On October 17, 1799 he attended Surgeon's Hall, Royal College of Surgeon's, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London to take his Royal Navy exam.

"He passed and was assessed as a 2nd Rate surgeon - this is not the meaning we have today but his qualification was linked to the rate of ship he could initially serve on - for example HMS Victory was a first rate ship.

“He served in the RN for 14 years, four months, one week and three days on seven ships: HMS SCOURGE - gun vessel 4 guns; HMS L'ANACREON gun brig 16 guns; HMS LA SOPHIE sloop 8th rate 18 guns; HMS REVOLUTIONNAIRE frigate 5th rate 38 guns; HMS ENTREPRENANTE frigate 3rd rate 10 guns; HMS ALFRED frigate 3rd rate 74 guns; and finally HMS MAJESTIC razee 4th rate 58 guns.”

Alistair continued: “This was during the Napoleonic Wars and finally the 1812 War with America.

"John Gray would have met Lord Nelson while sailing in the Med Ocean when he had to go on board HMS Victory to get medical supplies for his own ship.

"In addition, he sailed in the Baltic and met Tsar Alexander I when his ship was moored at Kronstadt, Russia. On several occasions his ship were near to being ship-wrecked but of course he survived.

"At the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the 1812 War when he finished his active service in 1815 and then and went onto Half-Pay.

"He returned to Edinburgh Uiversity to eventually gain his medical degree in 1816 and returned to Ballynacross but never practiced as a doctor but returned to farming. He had two children - a boy and a girl – and the family line was continued down to myself.”

Alistair, who has written other books about notable characters from Northern Ireland, was keen to learn as much as he could about his ancestor, and had a deep rooted desire to travel to the United States of America to use the telescope once used by John Gray.

"It had been for a long time ambition of mine to recreate the family history event when John Gray MD was on HMS Majestic when he was spying though his telescope at the USS Constitution while in Boston Bay,” he continued.

"The telescope, along with his sword, which is now a rusty piece of metal, had been passed down the Gray family to me as its custodian today.

“I visited USS Constitution, Museum and Visitor Centre and took a Boston City Harbour boat cruise that sailed past Charlestown Navy Yard where the USS Constitution is moored.

"The experience was beyond all expectations. The tour guide on board the cruise ship actually mentioned my story during his commentary and I was subsequently photographed by many of the people on board the boat.

"Just to think that my ancestor did this 213 years ago made the hairs on the back of my neck rise when I looked through the telescope.

"HMS Majestic's mission was to blockade the Eastern Seaboard of America and to keep the USS Constitution in Boston Harbour and the Charles River.

"HMS Majestic actually captured over 40 American vessels during this period where the American sailors were either impressed into the Royal Navy or sent to the Bahamas where they would be imprisoned on old ship prison hulks.

"The goods on board the ships were then sold off and became prize money for the Majestic's crew with the Captain getting the biggest portion.

"My ancestor would have got some of the prize money, which during his entire Royal Navy service would have been quite considerable. Unfortunately that family money has long since gone!”

Alistair also recently published a book about another ancestor, The 'Magherafelt' Maverick Lieutenant John Bodkin Henry (1893-1954)'. He was the only member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers to have been awarded the Air Force Cross.