Person Page 276

He worked as a compositor for the Leinster Express. He is thought to be a brother of James Gray who also worked at the Leinster Express in the 1840s, but there is no documentary evidence for Thomas being a son of James Gray Sr and Elizabeth.

This is not a single person, but a device to connect the various branches of Merediths from Co. Sligo whose ancestry is uncertain.

Francis is the earliest-known Meredith to be born in Co. Sligo. He is believed to have been the son (possibly illegitimate) of Richard Meredith, recorded in the 1659 Census of Ireland as a titulado of Ballylonaghan, and a Miss French, daughter of Francis French of Sessuecommon, after whom he was named.

His will was proved in the diocesan court of Killala and Achonry in 1719.

Lex Johnson has provided strong circumstantial evidence that Richard Meredith was from the Welsh line of Merediths, being a grandson of Sir William Meredith of Stansty near Wrexham. He would thus be very distantly related to Richard Meredith, Bishop of Leighlin and a descendant of Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales. The following chart shows this distant relationship between Bishop Richard and Sir William:
http://winters-online.net/bishopmeredith/up/common-ancestor.htm.^1,2

For further information see the citations below.^3,4,5,2

Henry Meredith of Pakenham owned SE1/2 Lot 5 Concession 8 in Pakenham Township and the log house and barns which he built were still standing early in 2006. His 4th son, Thomas lived on the Meredith homestead in Cedar Hill near Pakenham.?Name probably Henry? listed in Pakenham, Lanark county, Canada West (Ontario) in the 1851 census (recorded as of January 1852) as head of household, age 60--only first intitial given. Others in the household were: wife E. age 45, daughters E. 17 and I. 5; sons R. 15, M. 13, H. 11 and T. 8, all born Ireland, and daughter A. 3, born Canada, indicating the family came to Canada about 1848. The family was Church of England. The 1871 online heads of households find the sons: Robert 40, in Marlborough, Carleton county; Matthew 30 in North Gower, Carleton county; Henry 26 and Thomas 22 in Pakenham (some discrepancies in ages, but not a concern?); all were farmers and Church of England.?Tombstone indicates Henry was born County Sligo in Ireland. The 1851 agricultural census provides a fascinating glimpse into farm life at the time: Henry held 100 acres on the 9th Con., Lot E5 in Pakenham tp; he had 20 acres under cultivation; 9 acres under crops in 1851; 10 acres under pasture in 1851; 1 acre garden/orchard; 80 acres wild or wooded. In 1851 2 acres yielded 20 bushels of wheat; no barley or rye; 1 acre - 10 bushels peas; 3 acres - 3 bushels oats; no "B. Wheat" [buckwheat?]; 1 acre - 8 bushels Indian corn; 2 acres - 20 bushels potatoes; no turnips; 20 bundles or tons of hay; 20 lbs wool; 15 lbs. maple sugar; no cider; 8 yards fulled cloth; no linen; 12 yds flannel were produced on his 20 cultivated acres.