Walter de Grey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_de_Gray

According to the National Trust referring to Greys court:

In the early 13th century the estate belonged to Walter de Grey, Archbishop of York. But it was his nephew, the 1st Baron de Grey, John, who was responsible for fortifying the mansion and surrounding buildings.

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He was certainly NOT the son of the Archbishop of Norwich - John de Grey is explicitly cited as his UNCLE.

A charter found and posted on GEN-MEDIEVAL explains that he was a "de Grey" only because his father (whose name is not known) took his wife Hawise's surname instead of keeping his own. This suggests that she was of higher rank, or owned more property, or both. (Although surnames began to appear circa the 12th century, they didn't really stabilize until circa the 14th - and the option to change remained, and remains, open.)

• Hawisia de Grey vidua, pro animabus omnium antecessorum et consanguineorum, et precipue pro anima Johannis de Grey fratris mei quondam Norwicensis Episcopi, assensu Dni. Roberti de Grey filij et heredis mei, concessi et quantum ad patronam pertinet dedi Deo et Sce. Marie de Oseney et canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus ecclesiam de Cornewell ad donationem meam pertinentem in puram et perpetuam eleemosinam. Testibus Dno. Waltero de Grey, Wygorniensi Episcopus filio meo, &c.' [Blomefield, Norfok I:478, cites 'Mss. penes P. L. Norroy, p. 15, excerpt. e Cartis per Ric. St. George.'] (note: the charter can be dated quite precisely, as Walter was only Bishop of Worcester Oct 1214-Nov 1215.)

This explicitly names John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich, as her brother, and Robert and Walter de Grey as her sons. ("Dni" in Robert's case may mean "Sir".)

He had a niece Eve Eve de Grey, who married Walter de Bec of Eresby, but whether she was the daughter of a brother or a sister is not known.

One of the problems with reconstructing early medieval pedigrees is the extreme male-chauvinist mind-set of 19th-early 20th century historians, who simply could not conceive of any situation in which a surname could be passed down the distaff line - this in spite of several contemporary examples.

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From Medlands

LORDS GREY (of ROTHERFIELD)

Two brothers: [Medlands is probably missing a couple of sisters, and maybe some brothers as well!]

1. WALTER de Grey . Archbishop of York.

2. ROBERT de Grey of Rotherfield, Oxfordshire . m ---. Robert & his wife had children:

            a)         WALTER de Grey of Rotherfield .  m ISABEL de Duston, daughter of WILLIAM de Duston of Duston,        Northamptonshire & his wife ---. 

                           i)          ROBERT de Grey (-before 27 May 1295).  m JOAN de Valoignes, daughter of THOMAS de Valoignes & his wife --- (-before 12 Nov 1312).  Robert & his wife had children: 

                                          (1)       JOHN de Grey (-1311). *see below

(2) JOAN Grey (Rotherfield [20] Jul 1386-20 Nov 1408). m (before 17 Feb 1401) JOHN Deincourt Lord Deincourt, son of WILLIAM Deincourt Lord Deincourt & his wife Alice Neville (Middleham, Yorkshire 28 Feb 1382-11 May 1406).
*JOHN de Grey of Rotherfield, son of ROBERT de Grey of Rotherfield & his wife Joan --- (-1311). m MARGARET de Oddingeseles, daughter of WILLIAM de Oddingeseles of Solihull and Maxstoke, Warwickshire & his wife Ela ---. John & his wife had children: 1. JOHN de Grey of Rotherfield (-Rotherfield 1 Sep 1359). He was summoned to Parliament in 1338 whereby he is held to have become Lord Grey (of Rotherfield). m firstly CATHERINE FitzAlan, daughter of BRIAN FitzAlan Lord FitzAlan & his second wife Maud ---. m secondly AVICE Marmion, daughter of JOHN Marmion Lord Marmion & his wife --- (-20 Mar 1379). John & his first wife had children:

            a)         JOHN de Grey (-4 Jun 1375).  Lord Grey (of Rotherfield).  m MAUD, daughter of ---.  The Complete Peerage states that she was “possibly da. of Bartholomew de Burghersh the elder Lord Burghersh”[1408].  John & his wife had children: 

                       i)          BARTHOLOMEW de Grey ([1351]-12 Nov 1375).  Lord Grey (of Rotherfield).  m PHILIPPA, daughter of ---. 

                       ii)         ROBERT de Grey (-12 or 14 Jan 1388).  Lord Grey (of Rotherfield).  m firstly JOAN, daughter of ---.  m secondly as her second husband, ELIZABETH de la Plaunche, widow of JOHN de Bermingham, daughter of WILLIAM de la Plainche of Haversham, Buckinghamshire & his wife Elizabeth Hillary (-1423).  She married thirdly (before 24 Oct 1388) John de Clinton, Lord Clinton.  She married fourthly (after Sep 1398) John Russell.  Robert & his first wife had one child:  (1)       JOAN de Grey (Rotherfield [30] Jul 1386-20 Nov 1408).  m (before 17 Feb 1401) JOHN Deincourt Lord Deincourt, son of WILLIAM Deincourt Lord Deincourt & his wife Alice Neville (Middleham, Yorkshire 28 Feb 1382-11 May 1406). 

                          iii)        MAUD de Grey .  m JOHN Botetourt, son of JOHN Botetourt Lord Botetourt & his second wife Joyce Zouche (-1369).  b)         MAUD de Grey .  m as his first wife, JOHN Botetourt Lord Botetourt, son of THOMAS Botetourt & his wife Joan de Somery ([1317/18]-1385, bur Halesowen). 

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Britannia Biography

The family of De Grey was one of considerable importance and is still represented on the roll of peers. Walter was almost certainly [oink!] the son of John De Grey I of Eaton in Norfolk, though the family was particularly associated with the Castle of Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire, which Walter eventually purchased, from a cousin, for his brother, Robert. The future Archbishop was educated at Oxford and like his uncle - John De Grey II, Bishop of Norwich and Archbishop-Elect of Canterbury - he was drawn to the Church. Walter was, early, brought to the notice of King John, to whom he was indebted for all his preferments.

In 1207, Walter was made prebendary of Rochester and, in the same year, received a stall at Exeter and the archdeaconry of Totnes. Many other appointments followed; and, in 1288, he was elected Bishop of Coventry & Lichfield by the Lichfield Chapter, in opposition to the nominee of the monks of Coventry. The legate, Pandulph, would admit neither and, at length, a third person became the prelate. In October 1214, however, De Grey was consecrated Bishop of Worcester, resigning all his former preferments. The following year, the Chapter of York elected Simon Langton, brother of the famous Archbishop of Canterbury, to their vacant see; but the King would not receive him and the Pope, Innocent III, at once set him aside when the Canons sent their representatives to Rome. The latter, prepared for such an emergency, then nominated Walter de Grey, Bishop of Worcester, who was, at the time (1216), also in Rome. The Pope accepted him and De Grey returned with the pall to England. It is said that he paid £10,000 for the Papal recognition.

De Grey was a marked favourite with both Kings John and Henry Ill and was, beyond a doubt, the most distinguished English prelate of his time. He is said to have complied readily with all the wishes of King John and was certainly on the King's side during the great struggle for the Magna Carta. Under Henry III, De Grey was frequently employed on important diplomatic services. In 1227, he was sent to France, in the hope of inducing the great lords of Normandy, Anjou, Brittany and Poitou to accept Henry as their suzerain; and, in 1237, he was sent with the Earl of Cornwall to an assembly convened by the Emperor Frederick. Archbishop De Grey was appointed regent of the Kingdom during Henry's absence in France, in 1242, and was again regent in 1254, when the Queen joined her husband in Gascony. In every important event which took place in the history of the nation, the Arch-bishop of York was more or less concerned. He several times entertained the Kings of England and Scotland, with their Queens, at York. The most memorable occasion being in 1252, when the English court and the Royal House of Scotland kept their Christmas at York and the young King, Alexander III, then eight years old, was married to Henry's daughter Margaret. In 1255, De Grey was present at a parliament which, in effect, ushered in the War of the Barons. The whole country was in a state of sullen indignation and, on the dissolution of the Parliament, the Archbishop retired to the Bishop of London's Palace at Fulham. He had been there only three days when he died, on 1st May 1255.

In his own diocese, Walter de Grey was a great benefactor. He found it in a state of utter neglect and left it, at his death, in comparative wealth and order. He purchased and annexed, to the stalls and offices of the Chapter, many churches and livings. He bought and appropriated, to the see, the village of St. Andrewthorpe, the name of which was speedily changed to Bishopthorpe, from the palace which he built there and which is still the residence of the Archbishops. In London, he bought York House for the see, to which it remained attached until Henry VIII compelled Wolsey to resign it, and its name was changed to Whitehall Palace. De Grey had the south transept of York Minster built and his tomb remains there. The place of his interment was probably chosen the man himself. At Ripon, he probably built the west front of the existing cathedral and translated the relics of St. Wilfrid.

Edited from Richard John King's "Handbook to the Cathedrals of England: Northern Division" (1903).

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Wikipedia

NB Wikipedia mispelled 'Grey'

Walter de Gray

• Archbishop of York
• Province York
• Diocese Diocese of York
• See Archbishop of York
• Elected 10 November 1215
• Term ended 1 May 1255
• Predecessor Geoffrey Plantagenet
• Successor Sewal de Bovil
• Other posts Bishop of Lichfield
• Bishop of Worcester
• Orders
• Consecration 5 October 1214
• Personal details
• Birth name Walter de Gray
• Born Eaton, Norwich, Norfolk
• Died 1 May 1255
• Fulham
• Buried York Minster
• Parents John de Gray

Walter de Gray (died 1 May 1255) was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.

Life

Gray was [believed to be - oink!] the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray (the Younger), Bishop of Norwich.[1] His birth year is not recorded, nor is his age when he died, but according to the historian Lee Wyatt, Gray was likely born around 1180. This assumes that in 1214 he was at least 30, the earliest legal age for consecration as a bishop, which would mean he was not born after 1184. Likewise, it is unlikely he was much older than 80 when he died, which gives an earliest possible birth year of 1175.[2] His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset.[citation needed] He studied at the University of Oxford, attending lectures by Edmund of Abingdon.[3]

Gray was a favourite of King John of England, who named him Lord Chancellor in 1205,[4] having paid John 5000 marks for the office.[3] He was named Bishop of Lichfield in 1210,[5] but was not consecrated as bishop there. Gray was then elected Bishop of Worcester on 20 January 1214,[6] and resigned as chancellor in October 1214.[4] His consecration as Bishop of Worcester took place on 5 October 1214.[6] Gray was present at the signing of Magna Carta in June 1215. While he was away from England on an errand for the king, he was appointed Archbishop of York, being elected on 10 November 1215[7] through the influence of John and Pope Innocent III. John had wanted Walter, but, the canons of York felt that Walter was uneducated, and selected Simon Langton, brother of Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury instead. John objected, and wrote to Innocent III complaining of the election of the brother of one of his staunchest enemies, and Innocent agreed.[8] However, Walter in the end paid more than £10,000 to the pope in various fees to get his election confirmed.[9] Walter attended the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215.[10]

Gray was an important royal official during the minority of Henry III, who often sent him on diplomatic missions. Henry also named Gray as guardian of England when the king went to France in 1242.[3] In 1252, Walter hosted King Henry and King Alexander III of Scotland for the Christmas feasts at York, which event cost the archbishop ₤2500.[11] Gray attempted to assert his archiepiscopal authority over Scotland, which not only resisted by the Scots but by the Archbishops of Canterbury. Gray had little success in defending his rights to Scotland against either adversary. Gray built the south transept of York Minster purchased the village of Bishopthorpe, which became the residence of the archbishop of York.[3] He also donated to the church at Ripon.[12]

Gray held a series of councils in his diocese from 1241 to 1255 which endeavoured to enforce clerical celibacy, keep benefices from being inherited, and improve the education and morals of the clergy. He gave generously to his cathedral and other churches, as well as working to endow vicarages. He visited many of the monasteries of his diocese and helped those that were in financial difficulties. He also oversaw the translation of Wilfrid's remains to a new shrine at Ripon.[3]

In 1255, Gray visited London to attend a meeting of parliament, and died at Fulham on 1 May 1255.[1][6] He was buried on 15 May 1255 at York Minster.[3]

Gray's three nephews were William Langton (or Rotherfield) who was Dean of York and was elected archbishop of York but never consecrated, and Walter le Breton and Walter de Grey, who were canons of York.[1]

Citations

Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops Wyatt "Making of an Archbishop" Seven Studies p. 65 Haines "Gray, Walter de" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 84 Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Worcester: Bishops Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 279 Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 282 Bartlett England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings pp. 406-407 Moorman Church Life p. 174 Moorman Church Life p. 237 Moorman Church Life p. 175 Moorman Church Life p. 204

References

Bartlett, Robert C. (2000). England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings: 1075–1225. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-822741-8. Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X. Greenway, Diana E. (1971). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Worcester: Bishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 15 September 2007. Greenway, Diana E. (1999). Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 6: York: Archbishops. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 15 September 2007. Haines, Roy Martin (2004). "Gray, Walter de (d. 1255)" ((subscription or UK public library membership required)). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/11566. Moorman, John R. H. (1955). Church Life in England in the Thirteenth Century (Revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. OCLC 213820968. Wyatt, Lee (1983). "The Making of an Archbishop: The Early Career of Walter de Gray 1205-1215". In Bowers, Richard H. Seven Studies in Medieval English History and Other Historical Essays Presented to Harold S. Snellgrove. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 65–74. ISBN 0-87805-183-X.

Political offices

• Preceded by
• Hubert Walter Lord Chancellor
• 1205–1214 Succeeded by
• Richard Marsh
• Catholic Church titles
• Preceded by
• Mauger of Worcester Bishop of Worcester
• 1214–1216 Succeeded by
• Sylvester of Worcester
• Preceded by
• Simon Langton Archbishop of York
• 1216–1255 Succeeded by
• Sewal de Bovil

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Archbishops of York In 1239 he brought Rotherfield from his kinswoman, Eve De Grey, in order to give it to his brother Robert De Grey, ancestor of the Lords Grey of Rotherfield