Corp. Arnold F. Gray

Grave Marker for Corp. Arnold F. Gray

Corporal Gray was born in 1841 to Cyrus H. and Hannah E. (Avery) Gray in Readfield, ME. He was the oldest living of their children in the 1850 and 1860 US Censuses. The family was still living in Maine in 1850, but had moved to Pepperell, MA by 1860.

During the US Civil War Arnold served as a Corporal in Company L in the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. His occupation was listed as “sailor” and “seaman” on his draft registration. His father also served, and was in the 26th Massachusetts Infantry, Company B.

Arnold survived the war, and in 1871 married Mary Ann Phinney in Pepperell. They had six children, all of whom survived into adulthood. While the family lived in Pepperell, Arnold worked in a paper mill. In 1897 they moved to Worcester, MA. Arnold had various jobs in Worcester including belt maker, cooper, and carpenter at a factory on Bloomingdale Street. The Grays lived a few blocks away on Grafton Street and later Dupont Street.

I wasn’t able to find a death record for Corporal Gray, but according to the pension index he passed in 1921. This government-issued gravestone was placed in Hope Cemetery in Worcester, MA.