Henry Whitgift (abt. 1505 - abt. 1551)

Born about 1505 in Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England

Descendants

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Biography

Henry was a merchant from Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire and lived at 37/39 Bethlehem Street. The current house was built in the mid-19th century.

Archbishop John’s first biographer, John Strype, wrote the following concerning his ancestry:

"He was (as an historian in those times, and an herald, writeth) by kindred and blood related to the Fulnetbies and to Goodrich, sometime Lord Chancelor of England and Bishop of Ely. The family of the former being descended from an ancient race, and had its being in Lincolnshire. And that a Fulnetby, towards the latter end of Queen Elizabeth, was living, and endowed with fair possessions there. And the other, viz. Bishop Goodrich… a man as learned as honourable."^[1]

Francis Thynne, Lancaster Herald from 1602 until 1608, wrote about Archbishop John about 1586:

"John Whitegift… of honest parentage… was born about… one thousand five hundred thirtie and three at Great Grimsbie in Lincolnshire and did participat his race with ancient gentrie, and some such persons as their palce and office made honourable. For he was by kindred and blood alied to the Fulnetbees, and to Goodrich sometime lord chancellor of England. The familie of the first being descended from an ancient race, hath yet his being in Lincolnshire, whereof Fulnetbee at this daie living is indued with faire possessions. And the other (Goodrich) being bishop of Elie and chancellor of England… This John whitegift had an uncle called Whitegift who was lord or abbat of the abbey of Wellow (as I take it) Juxta Grimsbie… during John Whitegift’s fellowship in Peterhouse… the Bishop of Elie bestowed upon him the parsonage of Teversham neere unto Cambridge… doctor Grindall archbishop of Canterburie dieing in the moneth of Julie 1583."^[2]

In 1555 Archbishop John was elected to a fellowship at Peterhouse College at Cambridge and he was “collated” to the rectorship of Teversham as noted, which was then the residence of Margaret Fulnetby, wife of Bartholomew Fulnetby. In 1556 Bartholomew and Margaret had confirmed to themselves the manor of Crulles or Curleis or Curleys in Clavering, Essex.^[3] In 1565 Margaret, along with Archbishop John, endowed a “Bible Clerk’s seat” or scholarship, at Peterhouse College to be funded by the income from the manor of Crulles or Curleis in Clavering.^[4]

Sir George Paule, comptroller of Archbishop John’s household, identified John’s mother as “Anne Dynewell, a virtuous young gentlewoman of good parentage in Great Grimsby”.^[5]

Name

Henry Whitgift

Birth

1504 Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire

Residence

Great Grimsby, Lincoln, England^[6]

Occupation

Merchant^[6]

Marriage

abt 1530^[6]

Wife: Anne Dynewell

Child: William Whitgift

Sources

• Bradbury, John M., Esq., The Whitgift-Bradbury Family, NE Historical and Genealogical Register (Boston, Massachusetts, 1869) Vol 23..
• Kirk, Marshall K. "A Probable Royal Descent for Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury, Massachusetts." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register Jan. 2007:27-36
• Surrey Archaeological Collections (Lovell Reeve & Co., London, 1864) Vol. 2, Page 202

Footnotes

1. ↑ The Life and Acts of the Most Reverend Father in God John Whitgift- John Strype, London, 1717
2. ↑ A Probable Royal Descent for Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury- Marshall Kirk, NEHGR- Vol. 161, p. 27ff (Jan. 2007)
3. ↑ A Probable Royal Descent for Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury- Marshall Kirk, NEHGR- Vol. 161, p. 27ff (Jan. 2007)
4. ↑ A Probable Royal Descent for Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury- Marshall Kirk, NEHGR- Vol. 161, p. 27ff (Jan. 2007)
5. ↑ The Life of the Most Reverend and Religious Prelate John Whitgift, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury- Sir George Paule, knight, comptroller of his Graces household, Thomas Snodham, printer, London, 1612
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Bradbury