Jackson Maynard

Jackson Maynard, my great-grandfather, was born September 22, 1844 in Monroe County, Tennessee.  He is first mentioned on the 1850 Monroe County Census with his mother Matilda Maynard (Manor) born about 1823 in Tennessee and a sister, Susan Maynard born September 22, 1846.  They are recorded as living with the William and Frances LAND Gray family that was originally from Wilkes County, NC.  Thanks to my cousin Lynette for sending me this great copy of Jackson's picture that hung in our grandparents house forever.

We do not know the real reason that Matilda is living with this Gray family; but, Debbie Lee, a descendant in California, shared with Colleen Murphy Paggi, another descendant, in an email January 2011:

"Speaking of memories.
 I don't know the validity of this but I clearly
remember Grandma Mae telling me a "family legend" about a Maynard female
getting pregnant by and having a shotgun wedding with a male from another
family. She thought the last name was Grey. Then for some reason the Maynard
female came back to the Maynard family and raised her son as a Maynard.
Grandma thought the husband (Grey) died ether before or just after the baby
was born. Again I have no proof but I remember asking Grandma to retell the
story when I had a family history project in high school."

We have not been able to validate this story or of a marriage between Matilda Maynard and a Gray.  But, Debbie told us this before she knew anything about her ancestry.  Therefore, could this be the reason the Maynard's are living with the Gray family?  We have researched into the Gray family and can not figure out which of the Gray brothers could have been the father - even if the story is true.

We have been not able to find Matilda, Jackson or Susan on the 1860 Census; as a matter of fact, we are unable to find any other information on Matilda Maynard after the 1850 Census - but, I do have theories.
We have also not been able to determine who Matilda's parents were.