Humphrey Grey Esq (abt. 1448 - 1499)

Born about 1448 in Saxthorp, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Dec 1499 at about age 51 in Enville and Whittington in Kinver, Staffordshire, England

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Biography

Father Robert Grey, Esq., Sheriff of Staffordshire^[1] b. c 1422, d. b 20 Jun 1460

Mother Eleanor Lowe^[2] b. c 1425

Humphrey Grey, Esq. was born circa 1448 at of Saxthorp, Norfolk, England; Age 12 in 1460.^[3]

He married Anne Fielding, daughter of Sir William Fielding and Agnes, circa 1471; They had 2 sons (Sir Edward; & Robert) and 3 daughters (Elizabeth, wife of Sampson Erdeswicke, Esq; Margery, wife of Richard St. Barbe, Gent; & Mary, wife of John Dixwell).^[4]

“In 1475 Whittington was settled on Humphrey and Anne his wife by Humphrey’s mother, Eleanor. At the time of his death, 11 December 1499, he was seised of the manors of Saxthorp, co. Norfolk, Nailstone, co. Leicester, Withbrook, co. Warwick, and Whittington, co. Stafford. As widow, Anne held the manor of Wythibroke. “ ^[5]

Humphrey Grey, Esq. died on 11 December 1499 at Enville & Whittington in Kinver, Staffordshire, England.^[6]

Family

• Anne Fielding b. c 1450

Children

• Sir Edward
• Robert
• Elizabeth, wife of Sampson Erdeswicke, Esq
• Margery, wife of Richard St. Barbe, Gent
• Mary, wife of John Dixwell^[3][7]

Sources

1. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 483.
2. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 211.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 484.
4. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 211-212
5. ↑ The Genealogist, Volumes 17-18, p. 92
6. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. II, p. 215.
7. ↑ Harleian Society: Visitation Series. Fetherston, John (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Warwick in the Year 1619. Taken by William Camden, Clarencieux King of Arms. (Harl. MSS. 1167), The Publications of The Harleian Society (London: The Society, 1877), vol. 12 p. 297; Internet Archive (www.archive.org : accessed 5 September 2020).

• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2988.htm#i89783
• South Staffordshire Reviewed with the permission of Paul Collins and Craig Walker
• https://envilleestate.com/history-enville-estate/
• www.tudorplace.com

Notes

The parish of Enville lies on the Stourbridge-Bridgnorth road, about 5½ miles from Stourbridge and 8½ miles southeast of Bridgnorth. The earliest recorded name of the village was Efnefeld, and under that name it is entered in Doomsday Book.

The three ancient manors of Enfield, Lutely, and Morf comprise the present parish. In the twentieth year of William the Conquerer, Enville (to use the name by which it is now known) was held by a Saxon, Alric, one of the King’s Thanes, but the great overlord of this district was William FitzAnsculph.

In the course of time William de Birmingham became possessed of the manor, and two of his descendants were Rectors of Enville, namely Roger de Birmingham (1273-1307), and Sir Fulk de Birmingham (about 1347-1370). In 1422 John Lowe, of Whittington, was lord of Enville, and was succeeded by his son, Humphrey Lowe, Sheriff of the County of Stafford, in 1441.

The only daughter and heir of the latter, Eleanor, married Robert Grey, third son of Reginald, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and it is recorded that their son Humphrey, in 1484, was the owner of the Manors which form the present parish of Enville. Since that date the family of Grey has owned Enville. Enville Hall, which once boasted its own private racecourse, remains a private house, but it hosts occasional events each year.

The park and garden at Enville Hall retain the imprint of over 700 years of human activity and the grounds are listed as a Grade II* landscape on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. The Hall and some of the buildings within the grounds are also listed.

Enville the home of the Grey family who originated in Leicestershire and built Bradgate Park, once the home of Lady Jane Grey. A minor branch of the family moved to Staffordshire in the late 15th century and acquired through marriage the manor of Enville. Thomas Grey built a new red brick house with turrets and crow-stepped gables beside a deer park in the 1530s. The Leicestershire branch survived in spite of the setback when a large number of the family were executed in the early part of 16th century. In 1620 the 2nd Baron Grey of Groby married Anne Cecil, the youngest daughter and co-heir of William Cecil, 3rd Earl of Exeter. Through his wife, Henry inherited the castle, borough and manor of Stamford and in 1628 was created Earl of Stamford. The title was at first held by the Bradgate branch until the death of the 2nd Earl when it descended to his cousin Harry who lived at Enville. His son, also Harry, who became the 4th Earl decided to make Enville his main home. The Bradgate house was bricked up and the park there kept for hunting and game.

Nearby Four Ashes Hall is available for weddings, receptions, corporate events and country pursuits.

The church has a Norman nave (about AD 1100) and a Transitional chancel (built by Roger de Birmingham, AD 1272-1307) and despite extensive restorations in 1749 and 1871 the distinguishing features remain.

The present ornate tower is a copy of a style often seen in Somerset, and was built in 1871, when the original tower was taken down. Evidence of an earlier church on the site is to be found in a small stone figure of Saxon origin built into the arcading above the south aisle. Local tradition identifies this carving as a memorial to Saint Chad, the first Bishop of Lichfield.

It was probably the porch niche figure of the original church. Above one of the Norman columns of the nave is a stone carving of eastern origin, probably brought to Enville by crusaders. There are three crusaders’ tombs in the churchyard, facing the west window. In the chancel are four beautifully carved miserere stalls.

In the south aisle is an alabaster tomb of fine workmanship, dated 1559, to the memory of ‘Thomas Grey of Enveld esquier and Anne his wyfe ...’ Within the altar rails on the north side of the chancel is the mural tomb of Roger de Birmingham, Rector of the parish from 1273 to 1307, and who rebuilt the chancel. In the churchyard stands an ancient cross with broken shaft, and nearby is a yew tree of unusually fine shape and size.

Acknowledgements

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Magna Carta Project

Humphrey Grey Esq appears in Magna Carta Ancestry in a Richardson-documented trail from Gateway Ancestor Matthew Clarkson to Magna Carta Surety Baron Henry de Bohun (vol. I, pages 483-486 CLARKSON). This trail has not yet been developed on WikiTree by the Magna Carta Project. The profiles on the trail can be seen in the Magna Carta Trail section of the Gateway's profile.

• Needs Development: This profile was just put under management of the Magna Carta Project and needs development against the project's checklist to bring it up to current project standards. ~ Thiessen-117 20:03, 26 July 2020 (UTC)

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".