Ralph Greenway

According to his will, Ralph Greenway wrote that he was born in Wyston, Norfolk, England. Perhaps he referred to Wyston as the present-day city of Wiveton.

He was Alderman and Grocer of London.

He married Katherine Sodaye. The date Katherine married Ralph Greenway (d. 1559), an alderman and grocer of London, is not known. Her brother, Ralph Soday, acted in Spain as a factor for Greenway.[1]

At Wiveton (Norfolk), Ralph Greenaway, a native son of the parish, in 1558 left £7. 6s. 0d. a year arising from the purchase of the Norfolk living of Brinton. His endowment of 1558 stipulated that the churchwardens were to distribute a penny in money and a penny loaf to each of the thirteen poor people of their parish on every Sunday of the year in perpetuity.[2]

He died in 1558 and was buried "under the stone of Robert Pepper" at St. Dunstan-in-the-East.[3] Ralph Greeneway, or Greeneway, Alderman of St. Dunstan in the East" (PCC: PROB 11/40), made 27 June 1558; this indicates that John Stow (English historian and antiquarian) was out by one year.[4]

The evidence is that his will of 1558 mentions as follows:

• his wife, Katherine Greenway
• his three stepchildren, John, William, and Mary Allen
• his two brothers-in-law, Richard, and John Soday
• his brother, Thomas Greenway
• his niece, Ciceley Greenway
• his sister, Alice Dixe, the widow
• his two nephews and one niece, Thomas, John, and Blandina Dixe
• his sister, Rose Silvester, the wife of Thomas Silvester
• his deceased sister, Margarete Hailes
• his nephew and niece, John Hailes and Agnes Hailes
• his sister, Agnes Howland, the wife of John Howland
• his eight nephews, Richard, John, Robert, William, Giles, William the younger, Nicholas, and James Howland
• his servant, John Greenway (unknown relationship)

The Will of Raaf (Ralph) Greeneway, Citizen and Grocer, of London
Dated 3 May 1558
Proved 27 June 1558 by his brother, Thomas Greenway, and his executor, John Quarles.

In the Name of God Amen The third daye of the monneth of Maye In the yere of our lord god a thousand fyve hundred fiftie and eight And in the iiijth and vth yeres of our Soveraine Lorde and Ladye Phlipp and Marye by the grace of god King and Quene of Englannde Spayne ffrannce both Scuiles Hjerusalem and Ireland defenders of the faithe Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Burgundie Myllayn and Brabannte Counties of Habspurge fflanders and Tirroll. I Raaf Greeneway Citizen and grocer of London and Alderman of the same Citie being seeke of bodye but yet nevertheles of good and parfete remembrannce laud and praise be unto allmighti god do make ordayn and declare this my present testament conteyning therin my last Wille in manner and forme following that is to saye ffirst and principally and above all otherly thinges I geve bequeath and recomende my soule unto allmighte god and to his dere sonne Jesus Christe by the merites of whole moost paynefull and bitter deathe and passion I faithefully truste and stedfastlie beleve to be saved and to be partaker of his moost blessed kyngdome of heaven and my bodie to be buried wtin the Southe channcell of the parrishe church of Saint Dunstone in the easte wheare nowe I am a prshonner as nigh unto the pew door where I doo now use to kneele as conveinentlie may be and after my bodie buryed my will is and I doo devise by this my last will that all and singular suche dettz dueties and somes of meoney whiche of right I doo owe to any personne or psonnes shalbe first well and truly contented and paide or or sett in good order to be paide And after my detts paide I will and divise by this my last will thatt all and singular my goodes chattalles plate Jewelles ready money and debtes shalbe divided unto twoo egall and indifferent partes; And forasmuche as I have no yssue of my bodye begotten I fully and holie geve and bequeath thone half of all and singular my saide goodes Cattalles plate Jewelles ready moneye and dettz to my Welbeloved Wif Katherine Greenewaye accordinge to the Laudable Use and custome of the Citite of London. And thother half of all and singular my saide goodes Chattelles plate Jewelles readye monney and dettis I doo resue to my self for the pformannce and fulfilling of this my present testament and last well Item I give to the hieaulter of the saide pishe churche for my tithes forgotten or negligentlie wtholden if anny suche be in discharge of my conscience etc. Item I geve and bequeath to thospitalles of Sainte Thomas in Southwerke in the Countie of Surr and Christischurch in London three score poundes of Currannte money of Englande that is to say to either of the same houses thirtie poundes to be paide wtin twoo monneths next ensueyng after my decease. And I doo freelie pardon release and forgeve all those xxli whiche be aving unto me by the said hospitall of Sainte Thomas. Item I geve and bequeath to the twoo univsities of Cambridge and Oxford the same of xxvj li xiij s iiij d of currannt moneye of Englande that is to say to either of them xiij li vj s viij d of currannt money of England to be paid wtin one half yere next ensueying after my decease and to be distributed by the discreation of the Reverende father in god the lorde Abbott of Westmynster. Item I give and bequeathe to the vj Lazer houses next adioyning to the Cittie of London eight poundes that is to say to ev'ye the same house xxvj s viij d To be paide wtin twoo monnethes next ensueying after my death. Item I geve and bequeathe to the prisonners in Newgate Ludgate, the two commpters in London the kinges benche and the mershall see in Southwarke aforesaide xij li of currant moneye of England, that is to say to ev'ye of the same houses x li to be paid within twoo monnethes next and ymmediatelie after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to one hundred poore maydens marriages wtin the Cittie of London xxxiij li vj s viij d of currant monney of England that is to say to ev'ye of them vj s viij d of currannt money off Englannd to be paid wtin vj monnethis next ensueying after my decease. And my will is and I doo devise by this my last will and testament that if any personne or psonnes wch shalbe indebted to me in anny Some or somes of money by bill booke specialtie or otherwise at the tyme of my decease shalbe thought by my Executors not able to satisfie or pay the same. That thenne all such psonne and psonnes shalbe clerelie and fully released and discharged of and for the same by my said Executours. Item I geve and bequeath to John Alleyn William Allen and Mary Allen my Wifes childrene three score poundes of Currannt money of Englande that is to say to ev'y of them xx li. To be paid to them and ev'ye of them at such tyme and when as they and ev'ye of them shalbe of their fulle age of xxjth yeres or daies of marriage; And I wille and do devise by this my Last Wille that of anye of the saide three children happen or fortune to dye or decease out of this present world before they or anye of them shalbe of their fulle age of xxjth yeres or else be marryed. That thenne the partes and portionnes of him her or them so deceasing shall fully and holie remayn to him her or them overliving And also my wille is and I doo devise by this my last wille that if it fortune or happen all the saide three children to die or decease out of this prsent world before they or anye of them shalbe of the saide fulle age of xxjth yeres or elles be married. That thenne the said some of lx li by me to them before geven and bequeathed shall fully and holie remayn to thuse of the poore people lodged and harbored wtin Christis Hospitall aforesaid Item I give and bequeath to my servant Richard Soday my Wife brother now being in the parties of his payn the Some of ffortye pounds of Currannt moneye of Englannde to be paide to him at the rendring up of his inste and true accompt to min executors Item I geve and bequeathe to John Soday another of my Wifes brethern xx li of currannt money of Englande to be paide to him wtin three monnethis next ensueing after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to my brother Thomas Greeneway of Cley in the Countie of Norff the Some of fyve hundred pounds of good and lawfull monney of Englande, to be paid unto him [now?] one hole yere after my decease Item I geve to Ciceley his daughter one hundred pounds of currannt money off Englannde to be paide to her at her full age of xxjth yeres or daye of marriage. Item I give and bequeathe to Alice Dixe Wedowe my sister the Some of three hundred pounds of currant moneye of Englande to be paide unto her within hole yere next after my decease. Item I geve and bequeathe to Thomas John and Blandina Dixe the children the children of the saide Alice Dixe the some of twoo hundred pounds Currannt money of Englannde, that is to say to ev'ye of them lxvj li xiij s iiij d. To be paide to them and ev'ye of them at suche tyme and when as they and ev'ye of them shalbe of their full age of xxjth yeres or els be marryed. And my will is And I doo devise by this my last Wille, that if it happen or fortune any of the said three children Thomas John and Baldina Dixe to dye or decease out of this present world before they or ev'ye of them shalbe of the full age of xxj yeres or els be marryed; That thenne the parte and porcion of him her or the so deceasing shall fully and holie remayn to him her or them overliving. And if it happen or fortune all the saide three children Thomas John and Blandina to dye ordeparte out of this present world before they or anny of them shalbe of the fulle age of xxjth yeres or be marryed thenne my will is And I doo devise by this my last Wille that the saide Some of twoo hundred pounds by me to them before geven and bequeathed shall fullie and holie remayn to the said Alice Dixe my sister yf she be thenne living. And I wille that if she be not thenne living; that the saide Some of twoo hundred pounds shalbe distributed amonge poore people at the discrecion of myn executors. Item I geve and bequeathe to all the children of the bodie of Rose Silvester my sister begotten whiche shalbe living at the tyme of my decease, the Some of fower hundred pounds of currannte money of Englannde to be divided amonge them by egall and indifferent porcionnes, and to be paid to them at their full age of xxjth yeres or daies of marriage. And my will is that the said Some of fower hundred poundes within one yere next ensueying after my decease shalbe deliv'ed by my executors to Thomas Silvester nowe the husband of the saide Roose my sister to thuse of the saide children. And that the saide Thomas uppon the receyte of the saide Some iiij C li. shalbecom bounde to my said executors by obligacion sufficient in the lawe in the Some of v C li currannte money of Englande, for the sure and true payment of the Some of iiij C li to the said children according to the true meanyng of this my last will and testament. And I wille and doo devise by this my last wille and testament, that if it happen or fortune anny of the saide children of my said sister Rose to dye or decease out of this present world before they or anny of them shalbe of the full age of xxjth yeres or be marryed. That thenne the partes and porcionnes of him her or them so deceasing shall fully and holie remayn to him her or them then overliving. Item I give and bequeathe to John Hailes the sonne of Margarete Hailes my late sister deceased the Some off xx li of currannt money of Englande. To be paid to him at such tyme as he shalbe of the full age of xxiiijth yeres And if it happen or fortune the said John Hailes to dye or decease out of this prst world before he be of his full age of xxiiij yeares. Then my will is and I doo devise by this my last will that ye said some of xx li by me to him before geven and bequeathed shall fully & holy remayn to Agnes Hailes the sister of the said John to be paid to her at her full age of xxj yeres or be married And if it happen the said Agnes to dye or decease before she shalbe of her full age of xxjth yeres or be marryed. Then I wil yt ye said som of xx li shall to all the children of all my sisters and brothers then living egallye and indifferently amonge them to be divided. Item I geve and bequeath to the said Agnes Hailes the Some of ffortie poundes of good and Laufull manner of Englande to be paid to her at suche tyme as she shalbe of her fulle age of xxj yeres or be married. And if it happen or fortune her to decease before she shalbe of her full age of xxj yeres or be maryed That thenne my wille is that the said Some of fortie poundes shalbe fully and holie remayne to the saide John Hailes if he be then living. And if it happen the said John Hailes not be then living. Thenne I wille that the saide Some of xl li by me to her before geven shall fully and holye remayn to all the children of all my said sisteres and brethren then livinge egually and indifferentlie amonges them to be divided Item I give and bequeath to Agnes Houlande my sister the Some of fiftie pounds of Currannte money of England to be paid vnto her within vj monnethis next after my deceace Item I geve and bequeathe to Richard John Robert Willm Giles William the younger Nicolas and James the children of my said Sister Agnes Houland the Some of fower hundred pounds of Currannte money of Englande, that is to say to ev'ye of them fiftie pounds to be paid to them and ev'ye of them at suche tyme as they shalbe of the full age of xxjth yere or be marryed and if it happn the said children or anny of them to dye or decease out of this presente world before they or annye of them shalbe of the fulle age of xxjth yeres or marryed. That thenne my will is and I doo devise by this my last wille that the parte and procion of him her or them so deceasing shall fully and holie remayn to him her or them then overliving. And my will is and I doo devise by this my last wille, that the said Some of fower hundred pounds by me before geven to the said viij children last before[?]hersed shalbe delivered by my executors of this my last wille to John Howland the husbannde of my said sister Agnes Howland wtin on yere next ensueyng after my deceace to thuse of the said viij children. And that the same John Howlande Uppon the payment of the said Some of iiij C li to him shalbecome bounde to my said executors in the Some of v C pounds of currannt money of Englande for the sure paymente of the said Some CCCC li to the said viij children according to the true meaning of this my last will Item I geve and bequeathe to my brother John Orwell the Some of one hundred poundes of god and laufull money of Englande to be paide unto him wtin three monnethis next after my decease ensueyng. Item I geve and bequeath to John Greeneway my servant ffower score pounds of Currannte money of Englande To be paid unto him at thende of the terme of his apprenticsed And I wille that the said John Greeneway shalbe bounde apprentice to William Alleyne Citizen and Acherseller of London ymmediatelie after my deceace for the termeof viij yere And I wille that that said Some of lxxx pounds shalbe deliv'ed by myn executors to the said William Alleyn wtin three monnethis next after my deceace to thuse of the said John Grenewaye. And that the said William Allen Upponthe receyte of the saide Some of iiij xx li shalbe ccome bounde to my executors by obligacion sufficient in the lawe in the Some of one hundred pounds for the sure payment of the saide iiij xx li to the saide John Greenewaye at thend of his said terme of apprentized. And I wille that if the said William Alleyn happen or fortune to dye or decease out of this present world before thende of thapprentized of the saide John Grenwaye. That thenne the saide Some of iiij xx li shalbe deliv'ed to suche psonne as the said John Grenewaye shalbe sett on to serve theresidwe of his saide terme And that then he who shalhave and receyve the saide Some of iiij xx li wt the said John shalbe come bounde to the executors of this my last wille for the sure payment of the said iiij xx li to the said John at thend of his said terme of eight yeres. And I wille and do devise by this my last wille that if it happen or fortune the saide John Grenewaye to dye or decease out of this present world before suche tyme as the saide terme of viii yeres shalbe expired or ended. That then the said Some of iiij xx li shall fully and holy remayn to all the children of all my saide sisters and brethern which shalbe then living egallye and indifferently amongest them to be divided. Item I give and bequeath to Hugh Ingram my servante tenne poundes of Currannte money of Englande to be paid to him Within twoo monnethis next after my deceace. Item I give and bequeathe to Henry Daniell my apprentice vj li xiij s iiij d to be paid to him at thende of his apprentized and to Bryan Bell my servante iij li vj s viij d And to John Darke my servante iij li vj s viij d to be paide to them within twoo monnethis next after my deceace. Item I geve and bequeath to Agnes Bull otherwise Annes Mowne tenne pounds of Currannt monney of Englande to be paide to her at her full age of xxjth yeres or daye of marriage. And if she fortune to dye before she shalbe of the age of xxj yeres or be married. Thennee I will the same shall remayn to thuse of the poore harbored in Christis Hospitall aforesaid Item I geve to Annes Gatcombe my mayden servant twenty pounds of Currannte money of Englande to be paide to her at her full age of xxjth yere or be marryed. Item I geve to Joanne Norton another of my maiden servant sixe pounds thrtene fowre pence of currannt money of Englannd to be paid to her within twoo monnethis next after my deceace Item I geve and bequeath to Elizabeth Norton the sister of the saide Joanne Norton x ls of currannte money of Englannde to be paid to her wtin twoo monnethis next ensuyinge after my deceace. Item I geve and bequeathe to William Bell cowper x ls of currannt money of England to be paide to him wtin twoo monnethis next after my deceace. Item I geve to xxxxvjth poore men whiche shall carry touhes aboute my bodie at the buriall of the sam xxxvjth gownes at the discrecion of myn executors and to ev'ye of them xij li in money Item I geve and bequeathe to John Greeneway barbor and to his wif ev'ye of them a blake gowne and ev'ye of them x ls in readye money. Item I give to John Arthure merchant tailor of London a blacke gowne and xx ls in money. Item I give and bequeath to the fellowshipp and compannye of grocers of London wherof I am nowe master tenne poundes of Currannte monney of Englannde for a repast or Dynner. Item I geve and bequeathe to R[?] Daimcer and William Granngier the clerk and beadill of the saide fellowship and companye to either of them a blacke gowne. Item I geve and bequeath to Humfrey Collett and Willm Wilson my deputies in Southwerk to either of them a blacke gowne and to the twoo bedill there to either of them a blacke gowne Item my will is and I doo devise by this my last wil and testament that my executors of this my last will and testament wtin the Countie off Norff asmuche landes tenementis and hereditament wt thappurtennce wtin the saide Countie of Norff as shalbe of the clere yerelie value of vj li to xiij s iiij d of Currannte monney of Englannd over and above all yerelie charges rentis and reprisele And that the same my executors within the said twoo yeres next after my deceace at their costes and charge wt parcell of my goods and Cattalles shall make or cause to be made to the churchewardeynes of the parrishe churche of Wyston in the saide Countie for the tyme being wheare I was borne and to xvj other honnest men prshonners of the said prshe a good sure sufficient and parfete estate in the Law in fee simple of and in the said Landes tenemente and hereditament wt their appurtennce as aforesaid to be purchased and bought to have and to holde the same to the saide churchwardennes for the tyme being and to the said xvj other pishonners of the said pishe their heres and assignes [illegible] herafter in this my last will that the churchewardeynes of the said pishe church of Wyston for the tyme being ev'ye Sandaye in the yere Weekely forev'r from tyme to tyme before nowe within the saide pishe churche with the yearlie rentis yssues and profittes of the saide landes tentis and hereditaments shall givvee and distribute to xiij poore people of the same pishe of Wyston xiij d in readye money and xiij penny loaves of good sweete and holsom breade in remembrannce of me. And that the rest and Residwe of all and singular the rents issues and profittes of the said lands tenementis and hereditaments shalbe bestowed and employed in and uppon the necessarye and needfull repacionnes of the saide pishe churche of Wyston as neede shall require from tyme to tyme forev'r provided alwaies and my will is, and I doo devise by this my last will and testament, that the said Katherine my wif shalhave and enioye all and singlr suche right tithe interest and terme of yeres as I now have to come of and in the messuage and tenement with theapprtennce wherin I doo now dwell situate and being in the parrishe of Sainte Dunstane in the East of London immediatelie after my deceace and all the ymplementis within the same messuage or tent it suche rate and price as the same shalbe indifferentlie praised in partie of payment of the saide legacie by me to her in this my last wille and testament willed devised and bequeathed. Any thinge before chersed to the contrary in any wise notwtstanding. Item I geve to John Wiberd of High Ongar in the Countie of Essex a blacke coote Item I doo clerelie and fullie forgive and release to my brother Thomas Greenwaye all and singulier suche Some and sommes of money as he dothe owe to me by bill booke specialtie or otherwise Item I give and bequeath to Richard Grafton grocer of London a blacke gowne Item I geve and bequeath to Thomas Atkinson the Writer of this my Wille a blacke gowne and I make and ordein my said brother Thomas Greeneway and John Quarles Citizene and draper of London myne executors of this my testament and last will. And I geve and bequeath to the said John Quarles for his labor and paynes thereunto to be taken threescore sixe pounds thirtene shillinge and fowre pence of Currannte money of England and a black gowne. And I make and ordeyn my welbeloved friends William Allyn Citizen and Letherseller of London and Nicolas Haker Citizen and fishemonger of London overseers or suprvisors of this my last will, desiring them and ev'ye of them to see this my last will to be well and truly performed. And I geve and bequeath to either of them for their labours and paynes to be taken therin xl li and to ev'ye of them a blacke gowne. The Rest of all my funeralles I doo referre to be doon at the discrecion of myn executours and overseers of this my last wille and testament. The residewee of all and singulier my goodes Chattalles and detts after my detts paide my funeralle charges borne and this my present testament in all things pformed and fulfilled I wille and doo devise by this my last wille shalbe geven and distributed in deedes and works of charctie at the discreacion of myn executours of this my last will In witnesse wherof to this my last wile I have sett my seale the daye and yere frsle abovewritten. p me Radin Greenewaye I Richard Champion Witnes to this wille I John Arthure and Witnes likewise to this will. And by me William Bowler Witness to the same. I John Soda Witness to the same. p me Thomas Atkinson in testimon premissors.

Probutum fuit suprascriptum test[amentu]m coram d[omi]no apud London xxvij mo die mensis Junij Anno Domini Mi[llesi]mo quingentesimo quinquagesimo octavo Juramento Thome Greneway executoris in h[uius]mod[i] testamento no[min]ati. Ac approbatum et insinuatum Commissaque fuit adminstracio omi[nium] et singulorum bonor[um] iuriu[m] et creditorum di[cta]m defunct[i] &c Thome Greneway ante[ce]de[n]t[is] executori[s] &c De bene et c Ac de pleno et fideli[ter] Jurmentario &c. Necnon de plano et vero comp[e]t[o] reddend[o] &c iurat. Johanne Quarley executor[is] onus executionis d[i]c[t]i test[ament]i remcion

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