ROBERT GRAZEBOOK
also Gresbroke & Graysbrooke
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Robert Gresbroke was born possibly in
Gresbroke Hall, in Shenstone Staffordshire England
about 1510. He was said to have been born there and
died there. Shenstone is a small village east south
east of Birmingham. There was a long history of Grazebrook/Gresbrooke
in the Midlands during this time. We do not know who
his mother was. There is a family tree on line that
states she was Elizabeth Rugeley, but I
have no documentation to confirm that, yet. From Robert's
Will, noted below we know his father was John Gresbrok.
About 1533 Robert
Grazebrook married Anne Clayton.
In Miscellania Genealogica et Heraldica, page 122 to
124 are documented findings of the Gresbroke
family of the early 16th century. They certainly
imply that the above statement is true. First from Chancery
Pro, series ii, B'dle 74, #87 (I don't yet
understand what all that means, but believe it is a court
record that is quoted:
"Robert Gresbrok, son-in-law of ____Clayton,
widow and now dead, leaving children Clayton and
also Banester, by a previous marriage. Robert
Banister was her executor. That same Robert
Banister by his will left legacies for Robert
Gresborke's children" It is dated between
1559-1569. I take that to mean that our Ann
Clayton's father died leaving his widow, name
unknown, who had been previously married to a Mr.
Banester. There were Banister
children, including Robert Banister, who was her
executor. This Robert Banister then died
leaving legacies for Robert and Anne Gresbrok's
children.
Then there is I believe a court record Final Concord
at Westminster, 1562 between "Humphrey Bourne
and Richard Deykin, plaintiffs and Robert
Gresbroke and Anne, his wife,
defendants. ...of sundrey houses, estates and rents
in Shenston, Fowderly, Overdonhall, Lynde and
Chesterfield. The estates vested in Bourne
and Deykin were reconneyed to Robert
Gresbroke to enable him to break the entail and
disinherit his eldest son John." The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary states entail means to restrict
property by limiting the inheritance to the owner's lineal
descendants or to a particular class
thereof. Just wish I knew why.
Then the final document is to the will of Robert
Gresbroke of Shenston, dated Dec. 2, 1569, and
proved July 31, 1570
" John, my eldest son, yf he be now lyvynge, (if
he is alive)
to Robert, my younger son all estates, etc which I
inherited from my father John Gresbrok.
Anne, my now wyfe,
Roland and William my two youngest sons,
and then he names his three daughters, all still
unmarried: Elizabeth, Elene, and Margarett.
Anne, wyfe and Robert to be
executors." the reference given was the Miscellania
Genealogica et Heraldica 1877, page 479.
One bit that raises question is "Anne, my now
wyfe". Was there another, mother of which children,
or has Anne Clayton died and there was a 2nd wife
named Anne.
All the documentation needs to be confirmed but if taken
as written then the known children of Robert and Ann
Clayton Grazebrook were:
1. John Gresbroke born c 1536
2. Robert Gresbroke born c1537 ( taken from
another record in the M G & H) - died 1611
3. Roland Gresbroke
4. William Gresbroke
5. Elizabeth Gresbroke,
6. Elene Gresbroke
7. Margarett Gresbroke
The order of the last five children is unknown.
The connection to the American family is through Elizabeth Grazebrooke
who married Thomas Mason The Staffordshire Parish Register for Sedgeley,
page 27 also of Shenstone.
The records can be found at Dudley Archives and Local History Services.
They married in Jan 14, 1579/80. Robert and Anne
Gresbroke could be great as her parents. They
certainly had a daughter Elizabeth, still unwed in
1569. She could have been a child of 10 or so, so
when married would have been 20.
It is possible that Elizabeth Grazebrooke could have been
the daughter of Robert, the son of the Robert
of this story.. I do not know when he married. We do
have the following from Pennsylvania Magazine Vol 37,
1913, page 86-7 have an article "Genealogical Gleanings
in Great Britain." on the Brinton
family. It states "Thomas Mason's wife Elizabeth,
daughter of Robert Grazebrook of Shenston, of a
very ancient family of Staffordshire". Elizabeth's
mother was not mentioned. However, the connection to
this family seems clear, just not sure which generation.
It is not known when Ann Clayton Grazebrook died,
but it would have been after July 31, 1570. They
both would have been buried in Shenston.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Find wedding documentation.
2. When and where did Anne Clayton Gresbooke die?
5. Is this the couple whose daughter married Thomas
Mason or was it their son.
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Date created: 9/20/2020