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- Sir Thomas Gresley, a name synonymous with wealth and influence in 14th-century Derbyshire, stood as a testament to the power of land and lineage. He was the fortunate heir to the estates of his paternal grandfather, Sir John, and the extensive properties of his mother, Thomasina Wastneys. The Gresleys, originally centered around Drakelow, Linton, Lullington, and Gresley in Derbyshire, expanded their reach through strategic marriages into the Wastneys family, acquiring manors across Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Yorkshire.
Before his death around 1395, Sir John Gresley entrusted all his estates to his grandson. Thomasina, passing away by July 1405, left her land to Sir Thomas, who then transferred it to a group of distinguished feoffees, including Thomas Langley, the Bishop of Durham and Chancellor of England. Sir Thomas's wife, Margaret, though not an heiress, significantly boosted his annual income.
Sir Thomas's wealth continued to grow, and by 1436, he was taxed on landed revenues of £200 a year, a conservative estimate given that his Derbyshire property alone was valued at £65 per annum in 1412. He held the right of presentation to the Augustinian priory at Gresley and the parish church of Dalbury in Derbyshire.
Little is known of Gresley's early life, which was relatively uneventful. However, he later became embroiled in a bitter dispute with the abbot of Burton on Trent, leading to legal interventions and mutual sureties for good behavior. Gresley's influence extended to his return to six Parliaments as a knight of the shire and his frequent appointments to royal commissions. He was a sought-after feoffee-to-uses and arbitrator in private disputes, despite his own disdain for the law.
Gresley's social standing was further enhanced by the marriages he arranged for his children. His elder son married Elizabeth Clarell, his daughters married into prominent families, and his son Sir John prospered under the patronage of John, Duke of Bedford.
Sir Thomas's service to the Crown included an annuity from the Duchy of Lancaster and participation in the 1415 French expedition. He also held administrative roles on the duchy's estates and faced occasional legal challenges, including an inquiry into his management of the Walsh estates.
In his later years, Gresley retired from public life, possibly influenced by controversies surrounding electoral procedures. Despite these issues, he remained a popular arbitrator and litigant. He passed away in September 1445, leaving his estates to his elder son, who only outlived him by five years. Sir Thomas Gresley's life, marked by land acquisition, family alliances, and occasional legal skirmishes, paints a vivid picture of the life of a medieval English nobleman.
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1367 - 1455 (88 years)
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