It is unknown what occurred after 1940 that resulted in the disappearance of all mentions of Thornton Gray from Land Tax records or any Fairfax County records. Where are his children? We know that at least 2 of them died before 1940, and at least one was local, but their names don't appear in any county records. What happened to his wife? What happened to his other 6 children (as indicated by the 1880 census)?

Most importantly, what happened to Gray's land? There was no record of direct sale from Thornton Gray to any other party, and no will transferring the land to any of his children or any other agent. It's possible Gray had a will, but not in Fairfax County; since he died in King George County, it may be there.  What is currently Gray's land? According to a 1981 Tax Map and Fairfax County Historical Imagery Viewer pictures which show the comparison, it was farm land, but was changed to a housing subdivision by 2022. 

It is very clear from the items presented and the many questions surrounding Thornton Gray, his family and his land, that further research is absolutely imperative in order to tell the full story. We can see from the records we have presented that Gray's story is mainly one of tax delinquency while having a fairly good life otherwise, but more research is required into what happened to the land. While this will require investigation into current land records and looking back until one reaches the era of Thornton Gray, wrapping up loose ends in this narrative will be absolutely crucial.

Works Cited

• 1870 US Federal Census - Thornton Gray. Ancestry.com, courtesy of Fairfax County Public Library Virginia Room. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• 1880 US Federal Census - Thornton Gray. Ancestry.com, courtesy of Fairfax County Public Library Virginia Room. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. 1860-1861 List of Delinquent Taxpayers. 1861. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. 1933-1942 General Index to Delinquent Lands. 1942. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. 1940 Colored Land Tax Record for Mt. Vernon District. 1940. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. 1941 Colored Land Tax Record for Mt. Vernon District. 1941. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. 1981 Tax Map, Tax Maps 91-1, 91-2. 1981. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. Deed Book 71, Page 64. 1852. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. Register of Free Negroes Book 2, Reg. No. 261; November 19th, 1834. 1834. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax County Circuit Court Historic Records Center. Term Paper Book 1835-1842, page 323; June 23, 1841. 1841. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Fairfax County Historical Imagery Viewer. Satellite Photos of Tax Map 91-1 and 91-2, 1937 and 2022, taken by author. https://fairfaxcountygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0612f9deb6bb4f0a9fa5cdce0cc75144. Accessed 6 October 2023.

• Fairfax Herald, Volume 10, Number 19, Page 2, 16 October 1891. Virginia Chronicle, https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=FHE18911016.1.2&srpos=5&e=------189-en-20--1--txt-txIN-thornton+gray-------Fairfax%2c+VA. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Laura Johnston Certificate of Death. Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1959. Published 1926. Ancestry.com, courtesy of Fairfax County Public Library Virginia Room. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Library of Virginia. A List of Colored Voters Voting of the Third Magisterial District of Fairfax County, Va. N.p., 1867. http://rosetta.virginiamemory.com:1801/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1438287. Accessed 13 November 2023.

• Robert E. Gray Certificate of Death. Virginia Death Records, 1912-2014. Published 1915. Ancestry.com, courtesy of Fairfax County Public Library Virginia Room. Accessed 6 November 2023.

• Thornton Gray Death Record. Virginia Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917. Published 1880. Ancestry.com, courtesy of Fairfax County Public Library Virginia Room. Accessed 6 November 2023.