Richard Grenville (abt. 1495 - 1550)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Origin 1.2 Early Years 1.3 Family 1.4 Offices and Honors 1.5 Death and Legacy 2 Sources

Biography

Richard Grenville, Sir AKA Granville, Greynvile, Greeneville, Greenfield

Origin

Richard was born c. 1495, probably at Stowe, Cornwall, England or possibly at Manor at Bideford in North Devon.^[1] He was the eldest son and heir of Roger Grenville and Margaret (Whitleigh) Grenville.^[1] Thomas Grenville and Isabella Gilbert were his grandparents.^[1]

Date of birth 1495 is estimated based on father's inquisition post mortem.

Early Years

Richard and his brother, John, entered the Inner Temple together in 1520.^[1] Richard held a minor post in the royal household, and then when his father died in 1523, Richard took over his father's office as sheriff of Cornwall in July-November 1523.^[1]

Family

Richard married Matilda Beville, daughter and co-heiress of John Bevil/Bevill/Beville of Gwarnock, St Allen, Cornwall.^[1] They has two sons and three daughters.^[1]

Children:^[1]

1. Roger Grenville d 1545, captain of the Mary Rose when it sank in Portsmouth Harbour in 1545

Offices and Honors

Richard succeeded his father on 7 July 1523 and was Knighted by Henry VIII after 3 November 1529.^[1]

Richard was a justice of the peace for Cornwall from 1524 to his death.^[1] He was sheriff of Cornwall in 1523 and in 1526-7, and 1544-5 and sheriff of Devon 1532-3.^[1] Within a year of first becoming sheriff, he was named as to the commission of the peace and from then on, "he was a figure to be reckoned with."^[1]

In 1535, Richard attained the marshalcy of Calais; his uncle, Viscount Lisle, was the deputy of Calais and probably facilitated Richard's appointment.^[1] Richard was a Member of Parliament for Cornwall from 1529 to 1536, although he may not have attended the 1536 session due to the expense of traveling from Calais.^[1] It seems that his monetary responsibilities simply exceeded his income. In addition, the situation at Calais was difficult; as a Protestant, Richard differed with his uncle on religious grounds among others.^[1]

Lisle was disgraced and recalled by the king, and only six months later, on 3 Oct. 1540, Grenville was also removed from his office at Calais.^[1]

Death and Legacy

Richard's will was written 8 March 1546 and was proved on 8 November 1550; he provided for his wife and children with estates valued at £237 a year.^[1]

Richard died on 18 March 1550 at Kilkhampton, Cornwall, England and was buried at Kilkhampton 5 days later.^[1]

Richard's son, Roger, having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his grandson, the famous sea captain and hero, Admiral Sir Richard VIII Grenville (1542-1591).^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18} "GRENVILLE, Richard I (by 1495-1550), of Stowe in Kilkhampton, Cornw." citing The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558. ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982, The History of Parliament Trust accessed April 24, 2015

• Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 23 Grenville, Richard (1541?-1591) by John Knox Laughton
• LDS FHL Ancestal File # (familysearch.org)
• "Kit's Ancestors" Kit Brown
• "Josiah Trask's Descendants" LeAnne Trask