Alexander, the oldest son of John and Margaret, didn't like the fact that Mom left all of her money divided equally amongst her children, including her 4 daughters. Back then, it was more customary to leave the estate to the oldest son.
So Alexander sued the executors of his mother's estate soon after she died in 1563. Evidently he wanted to keep control of the lands in Loose where he lived, also in Cranbrook parish where the manor "Bettenham" was located.
Go ahead and Google Bettenham Manor. It still exists.
Margaret Sharp Grigby willed to her daughter, Catherine Lamb, the manor called "Hale". She died in 1590. It was in possession of Issack, son of Alexander, when he died in 1604. Justinian, another of Margaret's sons, was willed lands in Cranbrook and Bennenden parishes. Whether he lived in the manor of "Bettenham" is not known. He was in Cranbrook in 1564 when his daughter, Margaret, was bom and when her death was recorded in the parish register on 10 Jan 1565. It is presumed that Justinian died in Cranbrook.
Alexander married someone named Anna (last name unknown) in about 1552. He didn't leave a will, and it's presumed that he died of a "pestilence" at around the age of 45. A pestilence may have been the plague. Although he didn't leave a will, this was written:
"The goods of Alexander Grygbye, gentleman, late of Mersham, deceased.... Administration granted to Anna, relict (wife) and Isaac Grigby, legitimate sone of the deceased."
Isaac, or Isaak (1553-1604), inherited quite a lot from his father, including a manor called Hale, or Hales. He married Joane Finch on the 21st of December 1598, and had 3 sons by her. By all accounts Isaac lived a nice life, with a big house, servants, and land.
In August of 1604, the plague hit England again. Royalty and the rich would escape London and flee to the countryside, where it was considered safer. But sometimes, the plague extended its reach outside the city, and affected entire households, which it did to Isaac.
Two servants died, followed by Isaac. Probate court after his death shows that Isaac left a few debts however left his wife quite a sum of money:
Whereof this accomptant hathe paid and disbursed and prayeth to be allowed these
payments following, videlicet.
item Inprints paid for funerall charges of the said deceased Isaack Grigsbie, as it is supposed died of the Plague or pestilence. XVJ shi.
item paid for the burial! of two servants of said deceased, who also died of the plague.
VJSV.
item paid to one Percival of Mersham for attending the said deceased and his servants in their sickness and for caring for the house of the deceased, the space of six weekes. XL shillings,
item paid to one NVTT of Mersham for bringing victualles and other necessaries unto the deceased and his servants. X shillings,
item paid to a special messenger for travailing to Canterburie to procure letters of administration for this accomptant (Joanna Grysbie) for registring the inventories. XXX shillings,
item paid unto Robert Hall of Ashford, Woollen Draper for cloth. Oweing for by the deceased at the tyme of his death. iiJ lbs. XVJ shillings,
item paid unto an Ale housekeeper of Mersham for victualls, drinke and other necessaries for the said deceased and his servants, at the tyme of their several visitations of the Plague. XXXiJ shillings,
item paid unto one Benettes wife for helping to attend the deceased at tyme of sickness. One cow worth XI shilling,
item paid to Joane Taylor for looking to the house of the said deceased. XX shillings,
item paid unto Thomas Stone for looking unto the groundes. X shillings,
item paid to a maid and a girl servant of the deceased their wages and apparre! due them. XXXV shillings,
item paid unto Reynold Keale of Braboume for inning the harvest of the said deceased. iiiJ lbs. X shillings,
item paid to the parson (Vicar) of Mersham for tithes due by the deceased at his death. ViiJ shillings,
item paid to Thomas Pellham rent - gatherer for Thomas Scott, esquire, certain quit-rent due. XXXViiiJ shillings.
item paid unto William Griffyn of Mersham, Blacksmith for like debt. iX shillings,
item paid to a carpenter for the necessaries repairing of the late owners dwelling house and bam. L shillings,
item paid unto certain workmen for reparations done upon a house of the deceased in at Linton, Kent. VJ lbs.
item paid unto John Barrow of Mersham for debt. XViiiJ shillings,
item paid unto Robert Allarde of Mersham for debt. iX shillings.
item paid unto Reynold Keale and to Thomas Stock for apprizinge the goodes of the deceased. iiiJ shillings.
item this accomptant (Joanne Grysbie) craveth to be allowed for the education and bringing up of Thomas and Alexander Grigsbie, sonnes of the said Isaack Grigsbie, deceased. To furnish with meate, drinke, apparel! and other necessaries, together with their schooling for the space of one year. XiiiJ lbs.
item paid for drawing in form to exhibit unto the court for the proxie and procurators fee; for registring and ingrossing and all other ordinarie charges there abouts. XXXiiJ shillings iiiJ d.
Some totall of all payments & allowances XliX lbs. V d. XJ shillings.
So it may plainely appeare by this account that this accomptant hathe faithfully administered in the goodes of Isaack Grigsbie, deceased. After all the payments and allowances, there yet remayneth in her handes the some of 532 lbs. 7 shillings 1 d.
(VCXXiiJIbs VU shillings Jd) allotment of parts:
Isaac's son Thomas was 5 years old when his father died, and was promised an inheritance when he turned 21, as was Isaac's son Alexander. I show a third son named Robert who was born a year before Thomas, so I presume that he died young.
By the time Thomas turned 21, the money was gone. More about that in Part Six.
No comments:
Post a Comment