Gray was the orphaned child of a Revolutionary war veteran. His childhood was less than comfortable and only got worse when his father was killed in Boston in 1777. He withdrew into himself and went quietly when his mother re-married to a wealthy Virginian and left New York. His new father raised him as his own, but it just was not the same. The death of his father had stolen the boy's childhood at seven years old.
One day, when John was thirteen, he was helping the overseers watch the slaves. Suddenly one of the slaves keeled over, bitten by a venomous snake while he carried a load of cotton. The overseers did what they could, but the large man died with a look of terrible pain on his face. As he passed, Gray watched intently, amazed by the power of the snake. Later that night, he snuck out and found a snake, similar to the one that had killed the slave and caught it with a forked stick. For the first time since he could remember, he felt a kinship with the cold-blooded creature.
In the weeks that followed, Gray came more and more out of his shell. The house slaves found this to be a relief if a little unnerving.
It was a week to the day that Gray announced he wanted to go to New York to study law like his father had. Indeed, many years of success followed. John excelled at law school and soon opened his own practice. However, his favorite times were when he could spend time with his snakes. He kept many in his home as well as a couple in his office. He secretly felt more akin to them than other men, but he made certain that no one EVER learned that. Then one night, he simply vanished from his former life, leaving everything to the snakes who lived in his home.
In truth, he had suffered an epiphany, realizing that his success had made him a target for his "Secret Enemies" He knew he had to become lowly, like the serpent that slide on their bellies through the wake of their enemies. He sold his services as a manservant to a woman named Alicia, who he could tell was really a snake hiding in a woman's body. Secretly he desired her, this beautiful serpent-woman, and gratefully took her venom when she offered it. He knew it was venom by the sweet way it burnt in his throat as he drank it. Soon, he was hers completely.
Indeed, his beloved left him instructions to protect her as she hibernated, allowing him to partake of her life-extending venom. Gray served her graciously, protecting her for many years, until he was wounded horribly by a stranger who wanted to slay Alicia. Indeed, the only thing that saved both of them was the arrival of Sigfried, another of Alicia's kind. The reptilian monster rent the man asunder, saving Alicia and rescuing Gray from death, by awakening his Inner Serpent.
The three fled New York together, but Alicia soon came to him, confiding her fear of Sigfried and bidding the Neonate to take his venom as he lay. Gray did, and happily shared vitae with Alicia afterwards. This is a memory he regresses to occasionally, as it stands out in his mind as one of the few times in his life he was actually truly happy.
After being brought into the Sabbat officially, he never left Lisa's side. the two travelled constantly. Eventually, they were joined by Solomon, much to Gray's chagrin. However, as part of the pack, Solomon became essential quickly and a rivalry developed between the two Cainites for Alicia's affection.
However, another event that Gray remembers clearly is just previous to coming to Milhaven, when he met Monique, a Serpent of the Light and probably the most beautiful woman he had ever met. (In truth, Monique remembers Gray from living on his plantation. She was the daughter of the man who died from the snakebite.) However, the pair shared a Vaulderie and Gray is beginning to question Alicia's feelings toward him. However, for now, the two are still inseparable, though Gray sometimes thinks of taking Alicia's venom while she sleeps.
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