I'd appreciate some comments on my thoughts (such as they are!)

[Nell]

Long-standing brick wall with my gt x 4 grandfather John Grey/Gray. Link to his profile on GF here:

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/f...p?t-11159.html

I can't find a definite baptism for him he first appears in marriage 1783to Elizabeth Webb & in Hempnall, Norfolk.

1841 gives John's age as 90 which I would have taken as an error/rounding up issue, except that his death cert 1848 says he's 97 which tallies with census.

I don't know he was born in Norfolk, but think it likely. I've found a baptism for John Gray, son of John & Mary Gray at Alburgh, 04 Sep 1747. This isn't very close to Topcroft, where John junior & Elizabeth had elder children baptised, but it's not impossibly far away either. It is the likeliest area I've found and the date fits -ish. John junior & Eliz's eldest daur is called Mary which seems likelyish too (Elizabeth's mother was Elizabeth) but names are so common I can't be certain.

Am I clutching at straws? Have I missed something?

[Nell]

I also mentioned in Take 4 x Gt Grandparent that there's an age gap between John jun and Elizabeth and wondered if she was his 2nd wife. I've also only just noticed that John & Elizabeth did not name any of their sons John, which I thought a bit odd. It's true the marriage says John is single, but not sure that is gospel!

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch lists the marriage 9 Dec 1783 at Hempnall, Norfolk: John Gray and Elizth Webb. And handily, their index links directly to the PR image:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3....-91?cc=1416598
(Third entry on left-hand page.)
John is a "single man" but I don't know whether that rules out widower?

[Nell]

Sorry KiteRunner, I discovered I already had that info after I'd posted! I have found other marriages where the groom was definitely widowed but has stated he was single - in one case I think it's because he was marrying his dead wife's sister.

[kiterunner]

There is a John Webb baptised 24 May 1782 at Hempnall, mother Elizabeth Webb.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3....-79?cc=1416598

[kiterunner]

Alburgh looks pretty near to Hempnall and Topcroft on the map. (Google says 5 miles between Alburgh and Hempnall.)

[Phoenix]

Norfolk has more parishes to the square inch than any other diocese in Western Europe.

Lots of the registers have scribbled sums in the margins where they have worked out the age. If he wasn't born in the parish, then they would have to rely on people's memories. People who were probably a generation younger than John. If not younger.

Could he write?

My gut feeling is that he is probably a decade younger than the man you have found and that the register has either not been deposited or not yet transcribed that contains his baptism. (I have to rely on ats for my favourite parish of Edgefield and of course half the crucial events are in the bts, or that year is lost.)

[kiterunner]

These are the Alburgh 1747 baptisms in the parish register and there is no John Gray.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3....58102,29444001

Edit - never mind, found him in 1748:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3....58102,29444001

[kiterunner]

There is a John Grey baptised 5 Aug 1758 at St Margaret, Topcroft, age 2, parents Robert and Mary.

Also there is a Mary Gray who married William Burk 5 Oct 1772 Hempnall, who may or may not be related to your John. I haven't figured out what happened to her afterwards - was hoping to find a burial with her age on to see when she was born.

[kiterunner]

Oh, there is a Mary wife of John Grey buried at Topcroft 26 Nov 1755 (from FreeREG).
And another Mary wife of John Gray buried at Alburgh 27 Feb 1772. This is getting confusing!
Also John Gray buried 1 Oct 1772 at Alburgh.