Charles Greenwood

'Mezzotint of the portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1828).

(Source: 'Greenwood Genealogies' 1154-1914 by Frederick Greenwood, East Templeton, MA (1914):

'Ralph Thoresby in his history of Leeds, Eng., and the West Outriding of Yorkshire, published 1715, and Whitaker in an edition of Leeds, published 1816, both refer to a place known as New Laithes as famous for its long Greenwood occupancy. "Here for many years resided the very ancient family of Greenwood descended from Wyomarus, who flourished ano. 1154, cater to Mawd the Empress." This New Laithes is the small village 5 miles north-west of Leeds [now a suburb of Leeds], near the river Aire in the township of Newlay. 'New Laithes hall, or manor house', is yet (still) standing, but no Greenwoods or their descendants are now living there. New Laithes hall came into possession of the Greenwoods as early as 1180. On Apr. 13, 1670, the estate was sold by a James Greenwood to Thomas Lord Viscount Savile, Earl of Sussex, but the estate was repurchased by a Joseph Greenwood, who died there in 1728.'

Charles Greenwood purchased the estate in 1824 from Mr. Spencer Stanhope. It was sold on his death in 1832. He seems to have been the last Greenwood to have owned the estate.

From 1806-1832 Charles Greenwood owned The Auberies, Bulmer, nr. Sudbury, Essex CO10 7DY (see sketch attached to this profile)

In 1811 the Duke of York (1763-1827) assigned the lease granted to him by his father, George III, of St. James' Park and Green Park (London) to Charles Greenwood, Richard Cox and Charles Hammersley.

In 1824 the Duke of York assigned the lease of part of St. James' Palace (known as 'Stable Yard') - granted to him by George IV, being the site on which York House was built - later called Lancaster House - the most valuable house in London at that time) - to Charles Greenwood, Richard Cox and Charles Hammersley.

After the Duke's death an Act of Parliament was passed in 1841 to redeem the lease so that York House could be sold to the Duke of Sutherland and the two parks were then set up as Royal Parks.

1832 Report of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts:

Castle Hedingham Deanery Committee (est. 1822)===

the following members of the Committee were all related!

• 1827 Barnardiston, Nathaniel, Esq., Ryes Lodge, Little Henney
• 1828 Barker, Mrs., Clare Priory, Clare, Suffolk
• 1828 Conyers, Mrs., Clare Priory, Clare, Suffolk
• 1828 Greenwood, Charles, Esq., Auberies, near Sudbury

Partner, Cox & Co.**

Cox & Co were bankers to members of the royal family. It is related that when Frederick, Duke of York (1763-1827) introduced Charles Greenwood, a partner of the firm, to his father, King George III of England, as "Mr. Greenwood, the gentleman who keeps my money.", the army agent ventured to remark "I think it is rather his Royal Highness who keeps my money." a rejoinder which greatly delighted the old King. "Do you hear that? Frederick do you hear that? You are the gentleman who keeps Mr. Greenwood's money.

(Cox & Co were the bankers to the British Army - hence the term army agent)

It was while on a visit at the Pavillion (The Royal Pavillion, Brighton) in January 1832, while playing a rubber of whist with King William IV ( Reigned 1830 - 1837), that he (Charles Greenwood) was suddenly taken ill, and died within a few hours of his eighty-fourth year.

The following letter from the Earl of Munster to Mr. Charles Hammersley (Charles Greenwood's nephew) is but one of the very gratifying tributes to Charles Greenwood's memory:

"My dear Sir, I came home from the House of Lords being quite unable to sit out the debate after receiving the distressing intelligence Lord Erroll had brought from Brighton, and which I only learned just now.

I have double reason to regret my excellent, lamented kind friend, not only for his qualities as a man, but from the circumstance of his being at Brighton on my account, being engaged in a most delicate discussion between the King and myself, and God only knows where I shall (I am sure the King will feel the like difficulty) find another in whom we shall both place the like confidence. ...........

I want no answer as you must be truly miserable, but you must allow me to say that I owe more to poor Mr. Greenwood than I do to anyone else in existence, that I entreat besides my carriage being permitted to attend the outward pageant (sic) of the funeral, that I may be allowed personally to follow his remains to their last home, as no one does, or can, feel more unfeigned or heartfelt sorrow than myself.

Most truly yours, "Munster" (Earl of)

See more about Charles Greenwood at: http://www.peerage.org/genealogy/greenwood.htm

Mr. Greenwood was believed to have amassed a very large fortune, as indeed he had done, but his contributions to impecunious Royalty, the lavish hospitality which the necessities of his peculiar position entailed upon him, his generosity towards all who claimed his help, and above all the great sacrifices he made to avert the fall of his brother-in-law's bank (Thomas Hammersley), ultimately so reduced his means that his nephew Charles Hammersley (son of Thomas Hammersley) - who had been led to expect a large inheritance - found himself a loser of £25,000 by having accepted the trust bequeathed to him under Mr. Greenwood's will as sole Executor and Residuary Legatee.

Background of Cox & Co – Lloyds TSB. Charles Greenwood's great aunt, Mary, had married Joshua Cox of Quarley Park and Grantley, near Andover, the father of Richard Cox of Aspenden Hall, Hertfordshire, founder of Cox & Co. In 1922 Cox & Co., who by then had been long-established as 'bankers to the British Army', merged with Henry S. King & Co. to become Cox's & King's and moved into newly-built head offices at 6 Pall Mall. By 1923 the banking side of the business was taken over by Lloyd's Bank, now Lloyds TSB (there is still a branch/office of Cox's & King's at 7 Pall Mall, London SW1), while the rest became Cox & Kings, the travel company, which still exists today.