Gradient fill with history?

So with the gradient tool (shortcut "G"), you can click and drag to draw out a gradient, and it allows you to edit color as well as transparency of the gradient you are drawing. For example, you can choose a gradient of 'black to transparent', and you can then use this to edit a raster mask to gradually hide an area of any given layer.

My hope is to - instead of using a solid color gradient (in my example, the color black) - find a way to use a history state selected from the History panel, and draw out a gradient of 'history to transparent' that uses the chosen history state information for the pixels it draws, rather than a solid color.

When using the history brush, you are able to select a history state from the History panel and then draw onto the canvas the pixels that existed in the selected history state. As you brush, you are able to see the history brush tool replacing pixels as you go. My hope is to be able to do the same with the gradient tool, with the ability to click and drag and see the result of my history information being placed as I continue working.

Does that make sense? Thank you!