Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Thomas Greswold

Male 1395 - Bef 1458  (~ 68 years)


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  • Name Thomas Greswold 
    Born From 1390 to 1395  Solihull, Warwick, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Bef 10 Oct 1458  Kyneton, Solihull, Warwick, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3257  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father William or Thomas Greswold,   b. of Solihull, Warwick, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Isabell Grange,   b. of Grange Green, Solihull, Warwick, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1636  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Christian Birches 
    Married From 1425 to 1429  of Solihull, Warwick, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1634  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. FHL book 929.242 G868f "The Greswold Family, 12 Generations in England," researched and edited by Robert L. and Esther G. French, comp. by Coralee Griswold [Wethersfeld, CT; 1999]. The authors standardize spelling as Greswold for England and Griswold for America. As of 2012, it appears that this book is the most current evolution of the Griswold ancestry and includes all previous research up to 1999 when it was published. (It also supersedes the author's own work in 1990 for the later English generations). See notes in this database of the original Griswold for a more detailed explanation of the various sources and a bibliography of previously published books that the authors include in this genealogical compilation.
      "Thomas5 Greswold (William4, Richard3, Ralph2, John1) was born about 1390/95 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England. An alumnus check may set his birthdate more accurately. He married Christian BIRCHES about 1425/1429. She was the daughter of John BIRCHES. Thomas was King's Sergeant and clerk of the King's Bench when, on 1 Oct 1422, he was appointed Coroner and King's Attorney ["Calendar of Patent Rolls"] (this date would put his birth prior to 1400 or about 1395). Philpott (p.30) quotes Calendar of Fine Rolls 12 Jul 1423, "The King granted lease and custody of the Manor of Solihull to Henry Bromley and Thomas Greswold for 15 years." On 25 May 1438, "as last, to Thomas Greswold alone for 7 years." Since the King was born in 1421, it was one of his uncles, brothers of Henry V, either John, Duke of Bedford or Humphrey, Duke of Somerset. John, the Regent, was in Normandy so it probably was Humphrey, Protector of the Realm, who granted the lease in the King's name.
      Philpott also quotes "Ancient Deeds," C 212, Friday after Christmas, 9 Henry VI, 1431: "Grant by Richard, son and heir of John Birches of Solihull, to Thomas Greswold, John Greswold and William Birches, his brother, of all his estate in Solihull and elsewhere in the County of Warwick." This seems a strong indication that Richard Birches, William Birches and Christian, the wife of Thomas Greswold, were the children of John Birches. Woodall suggests that the marriage of Thomas to Christian Birches, (c. 1425/29) indicates the acquisition by Thomas of Solihull Hall, a Birches property. Thomas succeeded in taking over "both halves" of the Hore/Hawes inheritance in two successive generations." [Carpenter, pp.118, 183.] Apparently what came to his brother, John, through his mother-in-law, Alice (Hawes) Bromley, probably as a dowry, and what was to come to his niece, Anne, from her husband, Thomas Hawes. Thomas Greswold was a lawyer and his "coup" may have occurred when his joint lease with Henry Bromley was changed to one for him alone in 1438. Presumably, Henry Bromley had died. before that date.
      Meanwhile, the English leaders in France, Bedford, Salisbury and Suffolk suffered a series of reverses beginning with the appearance of Joan of Arc in 1429. Salisbury was killed, Suffolk was taken prisoner by Joan of Arc who was in turn, captured by the French and turned over to the English. Then Henry VI was crowned King of France at Paris in 1430 and Joan of Arc was burned by the English in 1431. Peace came in 1435 with Cardinal Beaufort and the Earl of Suffolk promoting it and Humphrey of Gloucester in opposition. In 1447, Humphrey of Gloucester died, France was lost for good and Suffolk became the leading advisor to King Henry VI. He had rewarded his follower, Sir James Fiennes, by granting him the Manor of Solihull in 1445 and making him 1st Lord Say & Sele in 1448.
      Thomas certainly owed much to King Henry VI because, when the support of the Chantry Priest gave out in 1438, Thomas Greswold gave 3₤ yearly rent [Pemberton, p.83] so the gPriest officiating there should say Mass every day for the good estate of King Henry VI, and of the said Thomas Greswold and for their souls after their departure hence, as also for the souls of the Father and Mother of the said Thomas and all the benefactors thereunto.h [The chantries were suppressed under King Henry VIII in 1547.]
      In 1443, the King granted the manor (two years before the expiration of the lease to Thomas) to John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who committed suicide in the Spring of 1444 after the failure of his expedition to France. The lease to Thomas Greswold was not disturbed, apparently, as Pemberton quotes the Parish Magazine of 1885, "Among the names of the gentry of the County of Warwick returned by the Commissioners in 12 Henry VI (1443/44) are the following Edw Odingsells, Miles, Bald Montford, de Hampton; Thomas Hugford, arm.; Thos. Grene de Solyhull, arm.; Tho. Greswold de Solyhull; Rich Briches (Birches) de Longedon." The next year (1445) the manor of Solihull was granted to Sir James Fiennes, a supporter of the Duke of Suffolk, favorite of the King. [Pemberton's chart shows Thomas as the 25th Lord of the Manor from 1437-1443, so apparently he did not stay as tenant beyond the expiration of his lease although he did remain as Coroner and King's Attorney.]
      In 1448, Sir James became Treasurer of England and was created 1st Lord Say & Sele. Next came the military debacle of 1449, resulting in the loss of France. This precipitated the downfall of Suffolk in 1450 when he was blamed for everything, the loss of France, the bankruptcy of the King and Cade's rebellion. He was sent into exile but the ship was overtaken, Suffolk was taken off and killed in July 1450. Very soon afterward, Lord Say was taken from the Tower by the rebels and beheaded.
      There is not yet enough information, at this time, to determine whether Thomas or his possible son, Richard, may have played a larger part in all this turmoil but Thomas kept his positions as coroner and attorney to the King until just before his own death in 1458. The successor to Thomas as coroner and attorney was appointed 1 May and 11 Jun 1458, and Thomas Greswold had died before 10 Oct of that year in Solihull, Warwickshire, England. [Justice of Peace 1442-1458, Glenn Griswold quoting Dugdale, "Antiquarian." Confirmed in Carpenter, p. 655.] In 1458, apparently from an inquisition Post Mortem at his death or from the "Writ of diem clausit extremum" dated 10 Oct 1458, he had £5 in gold, 10s in silver and £100 in goods. [Philpott, p.30, "Calender of Fine Rolls."] He had moved his family into the gentry in ways which Carpenter suggests were somewhat unscrupulous. [I am reminded of a story I once read about an English solicitor whose colleagues were discussing how he "managed" an estate. He was so ineffective that "the entire estate was frittered away among the heirs."]
      Philpott says that Pemberton "does not mention any issue, probably because such were irrelevant to the succeeding pedigree." It seems more likely that there weren't any living when Thomas died. It is unlikely that Thomas would have made the property over to his nephew if he had any surviving children of his own.
      It seems quite possible that Thomas and Christian (Birches) Greswold had a son; 1 Child:
      i. Richard Greswold, born 1430, admitted to Eton, age 14 in 1444, also King's College. Both of these schools were founded by Henry VI who surely had an influence on those admitted in those first few years. According to the record, Richard Greswold left before 1456 (i.e. apparently died without issue before his father, in 1458). [Philpott, p.31, quotes Emden, "Cambridge Register before 1500" which records Ricgard Greswold/Griswald/Gryswold/Grysoll who was of Solihull.] He may have been a victim in the early days of the struggle which eventually drove Henry from his throne in 1461."

      2. FHL book 929.242 G868f "The Greswold Family, 12 Generations in England," researched and edited by Robert L. and Esther G. French, comp. by Coralee Griswold [Wethersfeld, CT; 1999]. The authors standardize spelling as Greswold for England and Griswold for America. As of 2012, it appears that this book is the most current evolution of the Griswold ancestry and includes all previous research up to 1999 when it was published. (It also supersedes the author's own work in 1990 for the later English generations). See notes in this database of the original Griswold for a more detailed explanation of the various sources and a bibliography of previously published books that the authors include in this genealogical compilation.
      Of the four emigrants, my Sadler genealogy has the immigrant Francis Griswold as an ancestor and my Petersen genealogy has the immigrant Edward as an ancestor. This is the only example I have found where both my and my wife's family descend from a common ancestor, who is John7 in this case. This same book also ties the immigrant Michael back to the same ancestry through several generations; however, I do not transcribe that part of the book since he is not a directly ancestor. The fourth immigrant, Matthew, was step-brother to the immigrant Edward.
      "John7 Greswold, Esq. (John6, John5, William4, Richard3, Ralph2, John1) born about 1440, is a critical link in the family because his parents, John and Elizabeth (Beynham) Greswold were born too early to be parents of Richard8 who died at Solihull in 1537 and who is buried in St. Alphege at Solihull. John7 was the chief beneficiary of the maneuvers of his father's uncle Thomas5. John is not mentioned in Pemberton but is given in Philpott (p.31) as, "John Greswold, Esq., grantor of a release to Robert Greswold of Solihull." This 1481 transaction was just prior to the issuance of the writ on 5 Feb 1482. Part of the Hawes estate which his father, John6 inherited from his grandfather, John5 went to Richard6, the Vicar of Tanworth in 1459. What John7 inherited from his grandfather, Thomas Beynham of Henley was conveyed to his son Richard8 in 1472. [TAG 40:44 quoting "Descriptive Calendar of Ancient Deeds" II:3376 (this source was unknown to me and there is an additional reference to #3378. It appears that the Descriptive Catalogue, published in 4 Volumes by UMSO is available at Chancery Lane and was consulted by John G. Hunt, who quotes it in TAG. It is also cited by Pemberton p. 41 and by Philpott p.30. All three cite it as "Calendar" which made it difficult to find).]
      This 1472 deed referring to what he inherited from Thomas Beynham provides additional support for the identity of his mother, Elizabeth, wife of John6. In 1473, "John7 Greswold, son and heir of John6 Greswold of Rowington, and Richard8 Greswold, his son, released to Robert7 Greswold of Solyhull all their rights to messuages, etc. in Olton." [Patent Roll, Nov 12 Edward IV (1473).]
      Further, at "Feast of St. Catherine 20 Edward IV, 25 Nov 1481, grant by John7 Greswold of Solihull, the elder, Esq. to Robert7 Gresweld of a croft in the same." This looks like a deed in anticipation of his impending death. [Philpott, p. 30, cites "Calendar of Fine Rolls," "5 Feb 1482, Writ of diem clausit extremum following the death of John Greswold, Esq. of Warwickshire."] John7 Greswold lived in Rowington in 1473 and 1481, but not late enough to live at South Rookery Farm in 1548. John died 1481 in Rowington, Warwickshire, England.
      His spouse has not been identified but they were married about 1465/68.
      They had 2 children:
      i. Richard Greswold, born about 1470, oldest son and heir. His birthdate has been a problem because he has to be the oldest son. He died 17 Sep 1537.
      ii. John Greswold, of Rowington born about 1472, died 20 Jun 1515."