James Gray was an officer in the British Army. He was born in Scotland in 1731. He migrated to the United States in 1763, settling in Albany, New York. During the American Revolutionary War, he fought in the King's Royal Reigment of New York. In 1777, he relocated near New Johnstown (now Cornwall), Upper Canada along with a number of other loyalists. He attained the rank of Major and continued to fight during the remainder of the war. Gray was married to Elizabeth Low, and they had several children together, including the judge Robert Isaac Dey Gray. He died on 11 May 1795 in Cornwall, Ontario.

Jonathan Abraham Gray was a notary who lived in Montreal. He was born in London, England on 29 July 1746 to John and Mary Gray. He emigrated to Lower Canada sometime before 1787, and obtained a commission as a notary for the District of Montreal in 1796. Gray was a member of the Montreal Militia, rising to the rank of captain in 1803. Though Gray's parents were Quakers, he was also an active member of the Anglican community of Montreal, sitting on the committee for building Christ Church. He died on 31 July 1812.