The Gray families appearing at right are taken from the 1860 Columbia county census. They are all living in very close proximity to one another. They all appeared after 1850 and disappeared by the 1870 census.
E. William and Emeline would appear to be the parents From the childrens birth states we can deduce that this cluster originated in Tennessee about 1821. They removed to Mississippi about 1845 And again moved to Arkansas in 1855.
Researching Jessee and Matilda, I found they were living and probably married in Ripley, Tippah Co. MS during the 1850 census. Their only daughter at the time was Eliza. (this discounts the ready theory that Sarah, Jesse, and Matilda are also their children.)
Columbia County land records indicate that a William H. Gray purchased 80 acres in July of 1859. William J. Gray purchased 40 acres in July of 1860 and 40 more in 1861. Both transactions were in section 11 of 19S 22W.
Jesse Gray purchased lands in 1859, 1860 and 1861 in section 2 of 19S 22W. These lands are all contiguous.
Emeline 46 NC
Andrew 16 TN
Source: 1860 Census pg 332
Eliza 18 MS
Source: 1860 Census pg 329
Sarah Gray 15 MS
Jesse 12 MS
Matilda 11 MS
Source: 1860 Census pg 329
Matilda 22 TN
Eliza 10 MS
John 9 MS
Thom. 8 MS
Owen 7 MS
Margarite 6 MS
Robt. 5 AR
William 3 AR
Jackson 1 AR
Source: 1860 Census pg 329
GRAY, Andy Owen 26 MS Farmer
Amanda A. 27 MS
Martha A.(dau) 3/12 TX
George W. (bro) 17 MS WOF
David K. (bro) 15 AR WOF
Virgil S. (bro) 13 AR WOF
253/257
GRAY, John S. 28 MS/AL/MS
Jesse J.(bro) 22 AR WOF
256/260
GRAY, Jesse S. 34 MS/KY/TN
Nancy 33 AL/SC/SC
Nancy E. (dau) 11 AR
Hattie H. (dau) 4 TX
257/261
GRAY, Wm. H. 74 SC/SC/NC
Wm H. Jr. (G.S.) 16 AR/TN/-- WOF
Kissen~~bany F. 32 AR/GA/AL
Mattie D. 2 TX/TX/AR
304/348
GRAY, Thomas 26 AR/SC/AL
Elizabeth 18 AR/SC/AL
Source: 1880 Johnson Co, TX census