William Say

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Biography

"Another brother of Sir John's was William, who became Dean of St. Paul's, London. He was educated at Winchester College, where he entered as a scholar in the year 1425. He was Dean of St. Paul's from November, 1457, till his death on November 28, 1468. He was also of the King's Privy Council, and was Prolocutor of the Synod held at London in 1463. Dean Say was a considerable benefactor to Winchester College in the way of church plate and vestments, and most likely gave money as well to be expended in the purchase of land. It would appear that he was the personal friend of Bishop Waynflete, for we find him asked to meet Waynflete at breakfast at the college in the year 1448, and in the year 1447, after the election of Waynflete to the See of Winchester, Monsieur William Say and other gentlemen are invited to dinner to meet the Bishop-elect.

Dean Say was buried in the church of St. Faith, in the crypt beneath the choir of St. Paul's, and after his death a chantry was under his will founded for a priest to perform Divine service in the chapel in which he was buried for the soul of the said William, as also for the good estate of Sir William Say, Knt., and of Henry, Earl of Essex, and Mary his wife, and of William Blount, Lord Mountjoy, and Elizabeth, his wife, during their lives in this world, and for their souls after their departure hence, and for the souls of Sir John Say, Knt. and Elizabeth his wife, father and mother of the said Sir William, as also for Thomas, Leonard, Anne, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary, children of the said Sir John and Elizabeth, and for the soul of Robert Shirborne, then Dean of the Cathedral, and the souls of the faithful deceased, and for keeping the anniversary of the said William Say on November 28 for ever."^[1]

Property

Manor of Hooks and Pinnacles

"In 1449 William Say, clerk, John Say and Lawrence Cheyne his [father]-in-law (fn. 233) were listed as tenants of a group of manors including Hooks. (fn. 234) Sir John Say died in 1478 holding Hooks and Pinnacles of the Abbot of Waltham. (fn. 235) He was succeeded by his son Sir William. (fn. 236) In 1515 Robert Turbervyl, at the request of Sir William Say, granted this manor to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, steward of Waltham Forest during the minority of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford. (fn. 237) Dorothy, daughter and heir of Sir William Say, brought this manor to her husband William, Lord Mountjoy. (fn. 238) Their only daughter Gertrude married Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, in 1519, and the manor subsequently came into Exeter's possession. (fn. 239) In 1539 he was attainted and this manor was forfeit to the Crown. (fn. 240)"^[2]

Manor of Hokes

"B. 241. John Edward', brother and heir of Thomas Gloucestr', having demised to Ralph, Lord Sudeley, John, Lord Beauchamp, Richard Neuton, knight, John Fray and others, and to Robert Cooke the manors of Baas, Perers, Geddynges, Langtons, Foxton', Marions and Halles, with their appurtenances in Brokesborne, Hoddesdon, Cheshunt, Amwell, Wurmeley, and elsewhere co. Hertford, and also the manor of Hokes co. Essex, which had descended to him upon the death of his said brother, and the same having been subsequently demised at his request by the said Robert Cooke to William Say, Andrew Oughgard, John Say, Laurence Cheyne, Philip Boteler, John Cheyne, and William Port, he thereupon granted a release of his right to the said manors, &c., to the last named parties. 28 August, 26 Henry VI. [1447]"^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Memorials of the Danvers family (of Dauntsey and Culworth), pg 148-149 [1]
2. ↑ 'Waltham Holy Cross: Introduction and manors,' in A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5, ed. W R Powell (London: Victoria County History, 1966), 151-162, accessed March 16, 2016, [2]
3. ↑ 'Deeds: B.201 - B.300,' in A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 1, ed. H C Maxwell Lyte (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1890), 235-244, accessed March 11, 2016, [3]