C.P. Addition: Elizabeth Basset, wife of Richard Grey, 4th Lord Grey of Codnor
Douglas Richardson royalancestry@msn.com
Complete Peerage, 6 (1926): 127-129 (sub Grey) has a good account of
the life of Richard Grey, K.G. (died 1418), 4th Lord Grey of Codnor,
King's Chamberlain under King Henry IV, deputy Constable and Marshal of
England, Justice of South Wales, joint Warden of the East and West
Marches.
The following information is given regarding his marriage:
"He married before 1378, when she was aged 7,(q) Elizabeth, yr. da. and
coh. of Ralph (BASSET), LORD BASSET (of Sapcote), being only child by
his 2nd wife, Alice, da. of John DERBY."
"Note q:
See under BASSET (of Sapcote), Barony by writ, and Chan. Inq. p. m., 22
Hen. VI, no. 35, on Sir John (de Grey), Lord Grey (under Essex)."
Referring to the Basset account in Complete Peerage, 2 (1912): 8, note
d, it states that Elizabeth Basset was born at Castle Bytham, 1 August
1372, but no source is cited.
There is an excellent article by G.W. Watson entitled "Basset and Grey"
in Misc. Gen. & Heraldica, 5th Ser., vol. 8 (1932-34): 202-206. On
page 203, he gives the following regarding Elizabeth Basset's
birthdate:
"Elizabeth reached her full age of 14 years on Sunday before St. James
[22 July] 1386, and on 14 Feb. 1386/7 the King took Richard's fealty,
and Richard and Elizabeth had livery of her purparty."
As with Complete Peerage, Mr. Watson fails to provide his source for
this statement, but presumably it comes from Elizabeth's proof of age.
Next, Watson, pg. 202-203, correctly states that Elizabeth's maternal
grandfather was John Driby, of Breedon-on-the-Hill, co. Leicester. Mr.
Watson notes that his surname was "not 'Derby,' as the compilers of
Peerages persist in calling him."
Next, Complete Peerage 6 (1926): 129 (sub Grey) indicates that Sir
Richard Grey's wife, Elizabeth Basset, survived him and was living 24
August 1446, when she gave instructions with regard to her estates. No
death date is provided for her. Footnote d indicates that she left a
will "enrolled in Chancery," but gives no further information.
Mr. Watson's article gives the following additional particulars
regarding Elizabeth (Basset) Grey's death and will:
"Elizabeth, widow of Richard, Lord Grey, alienated a great portion of
her inheritance to her youngest daughter, Elizabeth. By charters, 10
Dec. 1442 and 10 July 1443, she granted the manors of Metheringham
called Bassetteshalle, Cheal Hall, and South Witham, and divers
tenements in co. Lincoln and in Thisleton, Rutland, to Elizabeth her
daughter, late the wife of Richard Vernoun, esquire, in fee. The
premises were conveyed by a fine, 20 Jan. 1443/4, to feoffees, who on
15 March following, granted them to John Zouche, esquire, and the same
Elizabeth, then his wife, in fee. On 21 March 1443/4, John and
Elizabeth were granted, by other feoffees, the manor and advowson of
Benefield, in fee tail, and 25 March 1451, by Elizabeth, Lady Grey, a
moiety of the castle of Benefield, in fee."
"Elizabeth, Lady Grey, died on Friday before St. Laurence [6 August]
1451, aged 79. By her last will, dated at Stamford, 7 April 23 Hen. VI
[1445], she had desired to be buried with her husband at Aylesford; but
by her testament, dated at Stamford, 4 Jan. 1448 [1448/9], she altered
this disposition, and directed her burial to be "in capella sancte
Trinitatis ecclesie fratrum predicatorum Stamford' Lincoln' dioc' iuxta
corpus matris mee."" END OF QUOTE.
In a footnote 7 on page 206, Mr. Watson adds: "This will was merely to
divert the uses of part of an enfeoffment she had made on 30 Dec. 1442,
if her grandson, Henry, refused to confirm the grant of 15 March
1443/4, mentioned above; an event which did not happen. The will was
enrolled in Chancery (Close Roll, 23 Henry VI, m. 3d), not proved."
END OF QUOTE.
As with Lady Grey's birthdate, Mr. Watson fails to provide the source
for her death date. Presumably the death date comes from an
inquisition post mortem taken after her death which was not consulted
by Complete Peerage.
Lastly, Mr. Watson, pg. 204, indicates that Elizabeth (Basset) Grey's
mother, Alice Driby, in her will dated 1412, requested burial by her
last husband, Sir Anketil Mallory, in Holy Trinity Chapel "infra domum
ordinis fratrum" in Stamford. Sir Anketil Mallory in his will dated
1390 in turn requested burial in the Church of the Black Friars at
Stamford. Thus, it appears that Elizabeth (Basset) Grey wished to be
buried in the same church as her mother and step-father.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: www.royalancestry.net