John (Greneffe) Greniffe (abt. 1672 - bef. 1708)

Born about 1672 in Anne Arundel, Maryland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 18 Jan 1708 before about age 36 in Baltimore County, Maryland [uncertain]

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Origin

John Greniffe is mentioned in the will of his father written in 1686 as being under the age of 21. He was married to Ruth, the widow of Edward Dorsey by 1703. An approximate birth year of 1680 is given based on these facts.

In 1700 he sold a tract called Howards Mountain (80 acres) and a tract called The Woodyard (100) both located on the south side of the Severn River that were given to him by his parents James & Ann Greneffe who were given the land by John Howard, the original grantee.^[1]

He was living with his wife, Ruth and children on land called Andover that he inherited through the will of his father. In 1707 he sold 310 acres of this land for 20 pounds sterling plus 5,500 pounds of tobacco.

In 1713 Richard Todd requested that a bill of exchange dated Sept. 6, 1708 be recorded among the land records. At 30 days sight of this my 3rd bill of Exchange, my 1st & 2nd not paid, pay to Wm. Baker on order the sum of L6.15.0 sterling placed to the account of John Greeneffe. Signed by John Greeneffe. Addressed to John Hyde, merchant in London.^[2]

Death

Abstract of Will written October 30, 1708.

• I give to my wife Ruth Grenife my now dwelling plantation whereon I live known by the name of Harbarrow with all the land thereunto belonging during her life in consideration of her dower in my real estate.
• I give my daughter Katherine Grenife my quarter plantation lying on the south side of Patapsco with five hundred acres the adjoining being part of a tract of land called Andover to her heirs forever. I give to my said daughter Katherine Grenefe all that tract of land containing one hundred acres called Littleworth and lying at the head of Stony Run on the south side of Patapsco River.
• I give to the child that my wife now is with my dwelling plantation that I live on called Harboro after the decease of my wife to him or her and heirs forever.
• To the child that my wife go with three hundred acres of land adjoining to the above land that I gave to my daughter Katherine and being part of the above said tract and over to him or her heirs forever.
• But in case that my aforesaid children that is Katherine Grenife and the child that my wife is now with child with should die without any heir or heirs lawfully begotten or borne of their boy then all my said lands I give to equally divided between John Dorsey and Edward Dorsey sons of my wife to enjoy it them and their heirs begotten.
• I give to my daughter Katherine Grenife one negro boy named Sam.
• I give to the child that my wife goes with child one negro girl named Nell.
• I give to my daughter Katherine Grenife bed and furniture.
• I give to my friends Thomas Hammond and to his wife Rebecca Hammond each of them a gold ring.
• I give to my well beloved wife Ruth Grenife whom I likewise constitute my sole executor all my personal estate.

Signed by John Grneoff. Presented to the court on January 18, 1708/9 with witnesses: Thomas Hamond, William Baker, Rebekah Hammond and Margaret Sweny. ^[3]

Administration Bond was posted by the widow with Thomas Cromwell and John Martin her sureties ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Anne Arundel Land Records Liber WT 1 folio 121
2. ↑ Anne Arundel Land Records Liber IB 2 folio 48
3. ↑ Baltimore County Wills Liber 1/26
4. ↑ Barnes, Robert W. Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759. Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield, 1989. Print

• "Prologue of the Howards of Eastern Kentucky" by Jesse Buckwalter and Robert Whittaker, 2017. 345 pages.