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THE CREACALL FAMILY
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The Descendants of NICHOLAS GRYCOPE (b.1270c)

of Leicestershire, England

Compiled and researched by Tony Creacall
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Table of Contents

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Introduction

Our ancestors first appear in a small Leicestershire village named Stapleford on the banks of the river Eye near Melton Mowbray. Fertile land that had been reclaimed from the surrounding forest so many generations earlier. The village lay on a bend in the river Eye where some industrious folk had placed a poll (stapol) to mark the shallow water where others may cross in safety. The village lay on the border between the Anglo-Saxon's Mercia and the Norsman's Danelaw and it can be inferred from it's reference in the Doomsday book that the land was almost equally divided between saxon villeins and norse sokemen.

Preface

Grycope. I have searched at length for the meaning of the name. Was it a place name, i.e. Gry Cope (gry hill)? There is no record of such a place. A profession maybe, i.e. Grik Coup: gravel cutter? There are no gravel quarries for miles. Or was it a nick name, i.e. Gry Cope (grey hair)?. Maybe, but the word cope in those days did not refer to a mans head but to what he wore on his back, his cloak.

It so happens that in the ninth century there was a Viking named Grey-cloak, King Harald Greycloak, son of Eric Bloodaxe and descendant of the Viking god of fertility FREY and last in line of the YNGLING DYNASTY.

His exploits are spoken of in the "Sagas of the Norse Kings". He was defeated in battle in Denmark and his family and followers fled to the British Isles. It is said that his men also wore grey cloaks which translated from Old Norse means "drab cloak". Given the difference in language and the time span, is it too improbable to suggest that Nicholas was a descendant of Harold or of one of his men?.

Other referances to the name Greycloak mainly stem from the fact that Tolkien used the name for charecters in his books "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings". Presumably, that is why several of todays participents in pagan and mystical cults use the name. However, there are some real people who have held the name, or similar. Morwen Greycloak was Cornish saint who appears to have given her name to Morwenstow on the north Cornish coast. There is also a 10th century will from Norfolk held in the Cambridge University Library and written in Old English. It was made by one Aelphric Modercope. The Old English "modercope" also means "drab cloak". Strangely, Greycloak is pronounced "GRAYFALL" in old norse which is not unlike the modern day pronunciation of our name Creacall.

Yngling Dynasty.

CLICK
viking helmet

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A POEM

As dappled sun breaks through broad English leaves

And rests itself sweetly afresh on my soil.

Thou tired lonely stranger, make haste through yon stream

To my welcoming hand and a rest from your toil.

I'll feed ye o' th' wealth that this land has bestowed

Nay, not just on me but on all us good folk.

For daily I'm thankful, yea, for without it I know

I would have naught but my name and this drab awful cloak.

...................Tony Creacall, 2001

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A FAMILY AT THE CENTER OF ENGLAND

First Generation

1. Nicholas1 GRYCOPE (#686) b.1270c.

"Robert de St. Peter of Stapleford, Robert son of Walter, William son of Hugh Rumbold, Reginald Helecoqne, Thomas de Lodington, Robert Denby, Robert Rumbold, Nicholas Grycope, Reginald Gurham, Ralph o' th' Greene of Sapleford, John Passelowe, Robert de Lynethorpe, Reginald Herewyne and others were summand to award Alan of Stoneysby in a plea of disperturing his herbage at Stapleford with their cattle to the value of £10, to wit, barley, peas, beans and oats growing at Stapleford. Curiua Regis Roll 140 Easter, (22) Edward I, 1294: m27.d. held at Leicester Records Office.

map

Map showing the position of Stapleford at the center of England

STAPLEFORD in the Doomsday Book, 1086:

"Henry de Frecies holds of the king Stapeford (Stapleford). There are 14 carucates of land. In king Edwards time 17 ploughs were there. Of the land 4 carucates are in demesne and there are 5 ploughs and 4 serfs. There 23 villeins with 4 borders and 23 sokemen have 13 ploughs. There are 2 mills rendering 8 shillings and 130 acres of meadow. It was worth 4 pounds now is worth 10 pounds."

Stapleford = a ford marked by a post (staple, poll); carucate= area of land assessed for taxation; serf= slave; villein= tenant ; border= small-holder; sokemen= Danish freemen holding land shared between 4 to 6 individuals.

Nicholas GRYCOPE had the following descendant:

Robert GREYCOPE (#685) b.1300c.

map

Modern map of Stapleford showing it's proximity to the river.
The ford was to the east of the Cross

Second Generation

.2 Robert GREYCOPE (Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#685) b 1300c.

Lay Subsidy 133-2, Stapleford, Leicestershire: "From ....... Robert Greycope 2s.". (6) Edward III -1332, held at Leicestershire Records Office. (note: The Lay Subsidy was a tax on non-ecclesiastics hence the term lay.)

farming
Working in the field

Robert GREYCOPE had the following descendant:

child Roger GREYCOPE (#684) b. 1350c.

Third Generation

3. Roger GREYCOPE (Robert2, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#684) b. 1350c.

Inquisition (indented) taken at Melton Moubray (Mowbray): (note: the name Mowbray was attached to the hamlet Melton (mill or middle town) after the conquest when the Norman Mowbray family were given it by the king). "Wednesday after Holy Trinity: ........... Stapuleford (Stapleford)........rent of assise and 5s. issuing from a cottage held for life by Roger Greycope, similarly held by the same duke (John duke of Lancaster by knight's service)". (46) Edward III -1376 Calendar of Inquisitions, held at Leicestershire Records Office.

Cottage
Ancient cottage, Leicestershire, England

Roger GREYCOPE had the following descendant:

barJohn GREYCOPE (#683) b.1400c

Fourth Generation

4. John GREYCOPE (Roger, Robert2, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#684) b. 1350c.

child

Latin Deed Ref D.G. 40/16, Gratton Manuscripts: "Know all men present and future, whereby, we John Doby with John Greycope and Robert Clarke discharge freely this our present charter from which we designate Robert Bagot of Stapleford all we posses both revenue and service with pasture and grazing within all boundary limits of Stapleford with Saxby, Wymondham and Edmondthorpe or elsewhere throughout the county of Leicestershire ......etc, etc." deed dated 1463 held at Leicestershire Records Office. (note: These were the days of "land enclosures" where landowners were acquiring land for sheep/wool production.)

Stapleford Hall
Stapleford Hall (b.1500c) with grazing sheep in the foreground.

John GREYCOPE had the following descendant:

John GREYCOPE b.1450c

Fifth Generation

5. John4 GREYCOPE (John, Roger3, Robert, GREYCOPE Nicholas1 GRYCOPE)b.1450c.

Lay Subsidy (133 - 108), 1524 - Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. "From ....John Greycoke 20s 4d"

Cross

Ancient cross at Melton Mowbray

John GREYCOPE had the following descendant:

child 6. John5 GREYCOKE (683#) b. 1490c

Sixth Generation

6. John5 GREYCOKE (John, John, GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#682) b. 1490c.

St. Mary's, Melton

St Mary's Parish Church, Melton Mowbray (completed 1500c)

John GREYCOKE had the following descendant:

child 7. William CRECOLE (#617) b. 1520c

Seventh Generation

7. William6 CRECOLE (Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#617) b. 1520c.

Parish Register, Melton Mowbray: "1547 Richard the son of William Crecole was baptised ". Also other baptismal and burial entries from 1547 to 1566. Register held at Leicestershire Records Office

The Bells of St. Mary's

Listen to the historic bells of St. Mary's, Melton Mowbray

William CRECOLE had the following child:

child 8. Richard7 CRECOLE was born 1547 .

Eighth Generation

8. Richard7 CRECOLE (William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#615) was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire 1547.

Parish Register, Melton Mowbray: "7th September 1547 Richard the son of William Crecole was baptised ". Register held at Leicestershire Records Office

"Richd Crecole filius Will Crecole bapt"

He married Elizabeth BAXTER. (Elizabeth BAXTER is #616.) at Scalford, Leicestershire. Parish Register: "22nd November 1576 married Richard Graycole and Elizabeth Baxter"

"22 of november was married Ric Creycoale & Eliz: Baxter" This inscription was traced from the original parish register at Scalford by my own hand in the summer of 1980. The document will now be in the archives at Leicestershire Records Office, micro filmed and preserved from all human contact.

Richard and Elizabeth had the following children (Scalford Parish Register)

Christopher Graycole (infant) was buried 1578:

Kinborrow Greycole (dau) was born 1579:

Elizabeth Greycole (infant) was buried 1585:

Walter Grecole was born 1585:

child 9. Joan8 CRECOLE was born 1589.

Ninth Generation

9. Joan8 CRECOLE (Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#614) was born at Scalford, Leicestershire 1589. Joan died 1638 at Scalford, Leicestershire, at 49 years of age. Eighteen years previous Joan's parents, Richard and Elizabeth, had died within a year of each other. Richard attained the grand old age of 73, d. 1620.

Belvoir Castle

The year was 1620, Joan was unmarried, alone and aged 31. A dangerous situation to be in the the England in the days of "Witch hunting", Any lone single women was a likely candidate for a bonfire. Just four years before and only a few miles away the famous Belvoir (pronounce "Beaver") witches had been burnt at the stake.

Joan, however, may have found solace with one Ellinor Fauster for in 1622 she is mentioned in her will. "To Joan Greecole 3 shillings and 4 pence and I forgive that she oweth me". About £2,000 in today's money.

The bequest seems to have some effect on Joan for in 1624 she gave birth to Thomas. However the parish register reads "bass born". She was then 35 years. At her death in 1638 the Rector entered in the parish register "Joan Crecole buried, died a single woman". Thomas was then 14 years.

The ancient church doorway and the broken cross at Scalford church that would have been so familiar to Joan.

Joan CRECOLE had the following child:

child 10. Thomas9 CRECOLE was born 1624.

Tenth Generation

10. Thomas9 CRECOLE (Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#612) was born at Scalford, Leicestershire 1624.

Scalford Church (in 1648 there was a plague at Scalford)

He married Elizabeth ????. (Elizabeth ???? is #613.)

Thomas CRECOLE and Elizabeth ???? had the following child:

child 11. William10 CREACOLE was born 1650c.

Eleventh Generation

11. William10 CREACOLE (Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 GREYCOKE, John John4 GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#610) was born 1650c.

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Leicestershire Street

He married Elizabeth HORE. (Elizabeth HORE is #611.)

William CREACOLE and Elizabeth HORE had the following children (Hoby Parish Register):

William CRECOLE was born 1680.

John CRECOLE was born 1683.

child 12. Robert11 CRECOLE was born 1685.

Thomas CRECOLE was born 1690.

Elizabeth CRECOLE was born 1691.

Twelfth Generation

12. Robert11 CREKWELL (William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#160) was born in Hoby, Lec 1685.In 1717Robert Crekwell was witness to the will of Elizabeth Toome "late widow of Robert Hoaly late of Stapleford"

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The mark of Robert Crekwell and the earliest recorded inscription by a member of our family.( note: while full literacy was rare most common people could sign their own name but strangely preferred not too)

Robert CREKWELL had the following children:

child 13 i. Mary12 CREKWELL (#161) was born on (birth date unknown). She married Thomas WARREN. (Thomas WARREN is #162.)

child 14i. Francis CREEKWELL was born 1711.

Thirteenth Generation

14. Francis12 CREEKWELL (Robert11 CREKWELL, William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#158) was born 1711.

He married Mary LINE in Buckminster, Leicestershire, 1744. (Mary LINE is #159.)

Francis CREEKWELL and Mary LINE had the following children (Thorpe Arnold Parish Register):

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child 16ii. Francis CREAKAL was born 1745.

Mary CREAKALL was born 1748.

William CREAKALL was born 1754.

Fourteenth Generation

16. Francis13 CREAKAL (Francis12 CREEKWELL, Robert11 CREKWELL, William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#157) was born in Thorpe Arnold, Leicestershire 1745.

baptisam
Baptism record for Francis at Thorpe Arnold

He married twice. He married Frances ?? 1770c. (Frances ?? is #164.) Frances died 1774.

Marriage register at Melton Mowbray.

He married Elizabeth ADCOCK in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, 1781. (Elizabeth ADCOCK is #156.) They were described as "Widower" and "Widow" in the Marriage Register. Elizabeth was born 1745. Elizabeth died 1824 at 79 years of age.

Melton Mowbray market place.

Francis CREAKAL and Elizabeth ADCOCK had the following child:

child 17. William14 CREACALL was born 1782.

Fifteenth Generation

17. William14 CREACALL (Francis13 CREAKAL, Francis12 CREEKWELL, Robert11 CREKWELL, William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#137) was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire 1782.

William's baptism.

He married Ann PARR in Nottingham, 1813. (Ann PARR is #138.) William is listed in the 1841 census return as living at Timber Hill (a street), Melton Mowbray.

William CREACALL and Ann PARR had the following children:

child + 19 i. William15 CREACALL was born 1813.

child + 20 ii. Thomas CREACALL was born Saturday 16th May 1818.

child 21 iii. Ann CREACALL (#145) was born 1820.

child 22 iv. Elizabeth CREACALL (#146) was born 1823.

Sixteenth Generation

MIGRATION
At some time in the 1830's brothers William and Thomas migrated to Manchester.

19. William15 CREACALL (William14, Francis13 CREAKAL, Francis12 CREEKWELL, Robert11 CREKWELL, William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 John GREYCOKE, John4 John GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#139) was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire 1813.

William's occupation: Groom

Kings
The Kings Head Arms, Melton Mowbray, where the local hunt would meet.

He married Ann GREGSON in Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, England, 2nd October 1838.(1) (Ann GREGSON is #140.)

William CREACALL and Ann GREGSON had the following child:

child 23. James Frank16 CREACALL was born 1854.

This line continues through James Frank's son Fred (1894 - 1957) who married Jane BROGAN (1891 - 1957). They had two sons, Fred and Derek. Fred married Irene MARLAND and they had one daughter, Christine. Christine gave birth to Darren in 1972. Fred and Derek died in the late 90's within a few years of each other. Christine, now Christine Williams, lives at Thornton, near Blackpool, Lancashire, while Darren (Williams) now lives at Bornmouth, Dorset, and has a little girl named Mia.

24. Thomas15 CREACALL (William14, Francis13 CREAKAL, Francis12 CREEKWELL, Robert11 CREKWELL, William10 CREACOLE, Thomas9 CRECOLE, Joan8, Richard7, William6, Robert5 GREYCOKE, John4 GREYCOPE, Roger3, Robert, Nicholas1 GRYCOPE) (#116) was born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Saturday 16th May 1818.(2) Thomas died Saturday 24th November 1888 in Irlam o' th' Heights, Salford, Lancashire, at 70 years of age.(3)

Baptismal record for Thomas

He married Emma CLARK in Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, England, Tuesday 15th June 1847.

Manchester Cathedral

(4) (Emma CLARK is #117.) Emma was born in Derby, Derbyshire and baptised at St. Wyburgh's on Wednesday 18th July 1821.(5) Emma was the daughter of James CLARK and Lettice JACKSON. Emma died 1875 at 53 years of age.

Thomas's occupation: Horse breaker in 20 Queen Street, Irlam o' th' Heights, Salford, 1865.

coach
19th century coach

Main occupations throughout life: Coachman, Groom, Horse breaker.

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Thomas CREACALL and Emma CLARK had the following children:

child + 24 i. William16 CREACALL was born 1849.

child + 25 ii. James CREACALL was born 1851.

child 26 iii. Jane CREACALL (#69) was born in Salford, Lancashire 1855. She married Alfred GILLINGHAM. (Alfred GILLINGHAM is #70.)

child 27 iv. Frank CREACALL (#130) was born 1859.

child + 28 v. Thomas CREACALL (#14)was born Wednesday 1st July 1863.

Thomas CREACALL (#14) was my Grandfather.
(See: "The Descendants of TOM CREACALL" for the continuation of this line.

Surname List:

Why did our name change so? (CREACALL, CREACOLE, CREAKAL, CRECOLE, CREEKWELL, CREKWELL, GREYCOKE, GREYCOPE, GRYCOPE,) Many surnames did not have a fixed spelling until the 19th century. Even the name Smith could have a number of different spellings way back in the middle ages, so much more so then with our surname. It is said that in times past common people did not even use their Christian names let alone their surnames but preferred to use nick names or pet names for each other. As we know, even King Henry was called "Harry".

Another reason for not using their Christian names was that many commoners lived in cottages tied under one name i.e. "John Greycope". When the name John Greycope died so the cottage went with it. This was overcome by naming their first born John and, to be on the safe side, naming their second and third sons John also. So they may have had three or four people in the same household called by the same name. To overcome the confusion parent John became simply "Father", eldest John may have been called "Big John", younger John "Young John" and still younger John "Little John".

Getting back to our surname we have two main reasons for the differences. One was the obvious spelling problem. We can see from the parish registers that quite often the name was spelt the same throughout one particular parish register. If he did not already know, the incumbent would no doubt ask the parishioner with an uncommon surname if the name had been entered before in the register and, if so, would then look up the spelling. If there was no such entry then a spelling would be decided on from the parishioners oral rendition of the surname. Woe betide anyone with a lisp!

The aforesaid brings us to the second reason for changes. Oral rendition. Understandably, more often than not, the only time a surname was needed was for a birth, death or marriage. So "Young John" would present himself at his betrothed's church for the "bands" to be set only to find the Rector enquiring the spelling of his surname. "What!". Off home he would go (maybe many miles) to ask of "Father", if "Father" was still living. Yet how was he to know? It was twenty-odd years since "Father" last used his surname for his youngest son's christening. "Does it start with a "G" or a "C"? They both sound the same to me! Anyway, does it matter? The only people that will see it are some stupid genealogist relatives in the twenty-first century and so it may give them something to think about if it's spelt differently, will it not! ha!"

So you see our pre-occupation with spelling and pronunciation, while useful today, had no place in those bygone years. Indeed it was not till the Victorians discovered the word "correct", and all it entails, that they really came into existence. Now a committee of dedicated English scholars sit every month in Oxford to decide on how we should pronounce and spell every new word that comes into our language. I bet they have a rare old time.