• Born: Bideford, Devon, England
• Married: Abt 1425, Stowe, Kilkhampton, Cornwall
• Died: Abt 1451, Jacobstow, Cornwall

  Research Notes:

brother and heir to Sir John, contemporary of King Henry IV, died circa 29 Hen. VI

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In 3rd Henry IV ... William Greynvill, son of Sir Theobald, sets forth "that whereas his brother, Sir John Greynvill, Kt., and Margaret his wife, held the manor and borough of Bideford in the County of Devon, with the advowson of the same church, and other lands and tenements in the parish of Bydeforde, called Fordeland, Eggeffen, and Thorne, etc., and also held lands in Werdon and Stowe, in the manor of Kilkhampton, he, the said William Greynvill, ratifies and confirms them to the said Sir John de Greynvill." To this deed is appended a fair seal of arms, viz., three clarions or horseman's rests; and for a crest, a pelican vulning herself; circumscribed " Sygillum Wilhimi Greynvill"...

William de Greynvill, being styled Lord of Kilkhampton, surrendered to Ralph de Berncote all those messuages in Estrabernecote and Westrabernecote, saving to himself, the said William, the suits in his own courts, and suit to his mill." This deed is dated at Kilkhampton the Monday before St. Margaret's Day, 13th Henry IV.

In the 2nd Henry V., writing himself brother and heir to Sir John de Greynvill, Kt., late Lord of Bideford, he confirms the charter which John Arundell, and Margaret his wife, had granted to Richard Godman, alias Pow'll, of all their tithes, etc., etc.; dated at Kilkhampton the Monday after the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. To this deed is appended a seal of three clarions or Horseman's rests, and for a crest, on a helmet a pelican vulning herself, and circumscribed Sigihlum Willimi de Greynvill armigeri."

It appears from the old records that he was twice married, and that Thomasine, (daughter of' John Cole, was his first wife, as it should seem by indenture made at Bideford the Monday after the Feast of St. John ante portam Latinam, 5th Henry VI between William de Greynevill and Thomasine his wife on the one part, and John Cole on the other part, which witnesseth that the aforesaid Thomasine had certain lands and tenements in Yllecombe and Hodesland, within the manor of Kilkhampton, of Sir John de Greynvill, Kt, deceased brother of the said William, whose heir he is by knight's service, and doing suits to his courts and mill. He is mentioned in a deed with Philippa, his second wife, a daughter of William, Lord Bonville of Chuton, dated at Stowe 20th July 24 Henry VI [1446]. Lord Bonvill died possessed of the manors of Week St Mary, Swannacote, and other tenements in the hundred of Stratton in Cornwall, and the whole of this property came into William de Greynvill's possession by this marriage.

In 8th Henry VI, being styled Lord of Kilkhampton, he surrendered to William Bond a furlong of land, etc., as also suits to his two courts at Kilkhampton. Dated at Stowe, 30th December, with a seal similar to the above.

In the 24th year of the same reign he is mentioned in a deed with Philippa, his second wife, a [sister] of William, Lord Bonvill of Chuton dated at Stowe 20th July....

In the 26th Henry VI., being styled William Graynefild, he grants lands to James (William?) Chuddeleigh and Hugh Stucles, Esquires. The deed is dated 7th November, and thereto is appended two seals.

He died before 29th Henry VI, for in that year John de Almescombe and Philippa his wife, late the wife of William de Graynvil, had a grant from John de Copleston and others of lands in Wildhavs and Guakmore. This John Almescombe and Philippa his wife, " Lady of the Manor of Bideford," presented Lewis Pollard to the rectory there, void by the death of ,lohn Walhopp, 1427-8 (ef Bp. Nevyll's Register fol. 6b).

By his first wife, Thomasine Cole, he left no issue, but by his second wife, Phillippa, he left issue one son Thomas, who succeeded him, and two daughters, viz., Margaret, the wife of John Thorne, of Thorne, and Ellena, who was married (Visit.. Devon, 1620, Harl. Soc. Pub. p. 322) to William Yeo, of Heanton Satchville, co. Devon, the ancestor of the present Lord Clinton and of the Yeo's of Fremington. (See Burke's "Landed Gentry.") The arms of William Graynefield, impaled with those of his second wife, were in Kilkhampton Church, on a hatchment of stucco; whilst the arms of Yeo with the Grenville quarterings also existed in Petrockstowe Church, in one of the windows, prior to the restoration of the Church. These have recently been replaced in the vestry window. There is a bench end in Newton St. Petrock Church, near Holsworthy, with the dexter impalement gone, but which may have been Thorne, the sinister are the three clarions or rests (Grenville). Thorne bordered on this parish."