Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John GRATWICKE (1593-1656)

and Mary (?-1659) or Ann MICHELL (?-1658)

John Gratwicke may have been my my 9x Great Grandfather.  (Click here to see his possible place in my pedigree chart).  The Comber genealogies, Horsham centre (page 143) gives that he married Mary.  However, I have not found a marriage for a John to a Mary before or about 1623 or 1625 and I don't know how Comber worked out John's wife was Mary, as at no point was she named against the baptisms of any of their possible children.  Comber noted that a child was baptised in 1623, however, from a transcript of the parish registers it would seem that child was baptised in 1633.  I have found a marriage of John Gratwicke to Ann Michell on 5 September 1624 in West Grinstead and that would fit nicely with the baptism of a son John on 10 July 1625.

John Gratwicke was described as senior at the baptism of his son in 1625 and I think this was because there was another John Gratwicke born in 1601 who had married in 1622 and was mainly recorded as John of Needs.  The Comber genealogies does not give a birth/baptism for John senior nor does he indicate his parents.  I think it possible he was baptised on 20 March 1592/3 in West Grinstead and that he was the son Richard Gratwicke (1566-?) and Bridget (?-1637).  Comber in a separate report gives the family of Richard and Bridget and does name a son John, but doesn't go on to say what became of John (page 139).  The Comber genealogies note that John was buried on 26 November 1656 in West Grinstead and the transcript of the parish register agrees with this and also gives that John Gratwicke was senior.  The Comber genealogies are very good at noting any wills, but he does not record whether John buried in 1656 left a will.

When Bridget Gratwicke was buried in 1637 she was a widow.  A Richard Gratwicke was buried in West Grinstead in 1618 and another in 1625.  The National Archives notes:  "John Gratwick (son of Richard Gratwick, deceased) of Westgrinsted, to George Dendy of Hitchingfield, all yeomen Lands in Horsham as described in a deed of 13 Oct., 14 James [I] [1616]".

The Comber genealogies give that Mary Gratwicke was buried on 25 December 1659 in West Grinstead.  The transcript of the West Grinstead burial register does not give this burial, but the transcript only gives 2 burials in 1659, whereas there were 17 in 1658, none in 1660 and 6 in 1661.  At some point I need to check the original parish register.

The transcript of the West Grinstead burial register notes that Ann Gratwicke, widow was buried on 25 October 1658.

If John's last known child was born in 1646, then I would think his wife was born not earlier than 1600, and if they married in 1624, then I would think she was born not later than 1606.

An Ann Michell was baptised on 9 April 1604 in Warnham, Sussex, but unfortunately her parents were not named in the baptism register.  On 6 October 1605 a Mary Michell was baptised in Warnham, the daughter of John Michell of Mays.  However, there was also a Margaret Michell baptised on 28 February 1604 in Warnham, and her parents were not named.  So was John the father of Ann or Margaret?  The Warnham burial register notes Margaret daughter of Rychard was buried in 1609.  An Ann Michell from Southwater, Horsham was buried in Warnham on 3 June 1628.

Another Ann Mychell was baptised on 30 December 1604 in Horsham, the daughter of John Mychell and Ann (possibly Ann Salter).

Yet another Ann Michell was baptised on 4 August 1605 in Shipley, the daughter of Edward Michell (and possibly Esther Post).  The Shipley burial register notes an Ann Michell was buried on 15 January 1620/1, but no further details were given.

The Comber genealogies give that John and Mary had 6 children in the following order:  John, Richard, Andrew, Philip, William and Owen.  Given that Philip appears after Andrew in the list, could this imply the 1623 baptism was a typing error and that Comber did originally have his baptism as 1633?

John Gratwicke and Ann Michell/Mary may have had the following children:

1. John Gratwicke was baptised on 10 July 1625 in West Grinstead.  He married, as per the Comber genealogies.  The transcript of the registers gives that he was the son of John senior, whereas the other children in this family were of John.

   Might John have married Ann Humphrey on 22 June 1656 in West Grinstead?  He was of West Grinstead and she of Horley in Surrey.

   John had the following children:

   1. Edward Gratwicke was baptised on 25 October 1663 in West Grinstead.  He was mentioned in the 1717 will of his uncle Owen, as per the Comber genealogies.

   2. Anne Gratwicke was baptised on 3 September 1665 in West Grinstead, as per the Comber genealogies, although her baptism doesn't appear in a transcript of the parish registers.

2. Richard Gratwicke was baptised on 30 September 1627 in West Grinstead, as per the Comber genalogies.

3. Mary Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  She was baptised on 6 September 1629 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.  Mary Gratwicke was buried on 13 January 1636 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

4. Andrew Gratwicke, my 7x Great Grandfather, was baptised on 26 December 1631 in West Grinstead.  He married Winifred sometime before or about 1666.  (They have their own page.)

5. Philip Gratwicke was baptised on 29 September 1623 in West Grinstead and buried there on 20 July 1658, as per the Comber genealogies, but this baptism does not appear in a transcript of the West Grinstead registers.  Might he have been baptised in 1633?  The transcript gives that a Philip Gratwicke was buried on 20 June 1658, but no further details were given.

6. Agnes Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  She was baptised in the 1630's in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.  She may have been buried as Ann Gratwick on 5 May 1643 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

7. Thomas Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  He was baptised on 30 July 1636 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  Thomas Gratwicke was buried on 15 August 1636 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

8. Thomas Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  He was baptised on 6 August 1637 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  Thomas Gratwicke was buried on 25 January 1643 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

9. Henry Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  He was baptised on 25 February 1638 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  He was buried on 8 June 1639 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  (Given the closeness in baptisms between Thomas and Henry, I'm not sure they were part of the same family.)

10. Elizabeth Gratwicke may have been part of this family.  She was baptised on 8 November 1640 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

11. William Gratwicke was of Thresholds in Findon.  He was buried on 5 April 1706 in Findon, Sussex.  His will was dated 5 October 1702 and proved on 13 May 1706.  William married Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was appointed executor of her husband's will.  All as per the Comber genealogies.  Might he have been baptised on 1 December 1644 in West Grinstead, the son of John?

12. Owen Gratwick was of Findon.  He was buried on 13 June 1717 in Findon, Sussex.  He was mentioned in the 1702 will of his brother William.  His own will was dated 6 June 1717 and proved on 15 July 1717.  All as per the Comber genealogies.  Might he have been baptised on 4 November 1646 in West Grinstead, the son of John?

A marriage licence was issued on 30 November 1611 by the Archdeaconry of Lewes to John Gratwicke a yeoman of West Grinstead and Joan Langford a widow of Cowfold.  Surety for the licence was provided by John himself and John Lancaster a yeoman of Cowfold.  They married on 9 December 1611 in Cowfold.

A Pagham and Tarring Peculiar marriage licence was issued on 10 October 1622 to John Gratwicke and Joan Wood.  She was a spinster and they were both of West Grinstead.

John Gratwicke and Ann Michell married on 5 September 1624 in West Grinstead.

John Gratwicke and Mary Whitebread married on 18 July 1625 in Sullington.

The following entries have come from a transcript of the West Grinstead registers:

1. Richard Gratwicke was baptised on 23 November 1623 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  [Comber genealogies has Richard as the eldest son of John of Needs, and buried on 25 January 1624.]

2. John Gratwicke was baptised in the 1620's in West Grinstead, the son of John, senior.  [Comber genealogies would seem to have that he was baptised on 10 July 1625 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Mary.  Comber also gives an elder son, Philip baptised on 29 September 1623, but might that have been 1633?]

3. John Gratwicke was baptised in the 1620's in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.  [Comber genealogies gives that he was baptised on 1 November 1625 in West Grinstead.]

4. Richard Gratwicke was buried on 25 January 1624/5 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.

5. Richard Gratwicke was baptised on 30 September 1627 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

6. Joan Gratwicke was baptised on 8 June 1628 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John of Needs.  She was buried on 24 July 1628 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John of Needs.

7. Elizabeth Gratwicke was baptised on 2 August 1629 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John of Needs.

8. Mary Gratwicke was baptised on 6 September 1629 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

9. Jonathan Gratwicke was baptised on 2 October 1631 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.  He was buried on 7 May 1633 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.

10. Andrew Gratwicke was baptised on 26 December 1631 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

11. Philip Gratwicke was baptised in the 1630's in West Grinstead, the son of John.

12. Mary Gratwick was baptised in the 1630's in West Grinstead, the daughter of John of Needs.  [Comber genealogies give that she was baptised on 12 January 1633 in West Grinstead and buried there on 13 January 1635.]

13. Agnes Gratwicke was baptised in the 1630's in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

14. Mary Gratwicke was buried on 13 January 1636 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

15. Thomas Gratwicke was baptised on 30 July 1636 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

16. Thomas Gratwicke was buried on 15 August 1636 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

17. Thomas Gratwicke was baptised on 6 August 1637 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

18. Henry Gratwicke was baptised on 25 February 1638 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  He was buried on 8 June 1639 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

19. Jane Gratwick was baptised on 16 February 1640 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.  [Comber genealogies gives that she was the daughter of John of Needes.]

20. Joan Gratwick was buried on 21 March 1640 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

21. Elizabeth Gratwicke was baptised on 8 November 1640 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

22. William Gratwicke was baptised on 4 April 1641 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.  [Comber genealogies has that he was baptised on 4 April 1631, but I think 1641 is more likely as another child was baptised in 1631.]

23. Thomas Gratwicke was buried on 25 January 1643 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

24. Ann Gratwick was buried on 5 May 1643 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

25. William Gratwick was baptised on 1 December 1644 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

26. Phillip Gratwick was baptised on 17 July 1645 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  [Comber genealogies gives that he was the son of John of Needes.]

27. Owin Gratwick was baptised on 4 November 1646 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

28. John Gratwick was baptised on 27 December 1650 in West Grinstead, the son of John from Wiston.

29. William Gratwick was baptised on 7 April 1653 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.

30. Thomas Gratwicke was baptised on 1 July 1654 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

31. John Gratwicke was buried on 14 July 1655 in West Grinstead, the son of John of Needs.

32. John Gratwicke was baptised on 20 February 1657 in West Grinstead, the son of John.

33. Mary Gratwicke was baptised on 20 March 1660 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

34. Ann Gratwicke was baptised on 3 September 1661 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John.

35. Edward Gratwicke was baptised on 25 October 1663 in West Grinstead, the son of John.  [Comber genealogies gives there was a sister to Edward, Ann Gratwick baptised on 3 September 1665 in West Grinstead.]

36. Mary Gratwicke was buried on 13 November 1663 in West Grinstead, the daughter of John of Needs.

37. George Gratwicke was baptised on 1 March 1666 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Suzanna.

38. Thomas Gratwicke was buried on 7 May 1668 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Mary deceased.

39. Richard Gratwicke was buried on 18 April 1669 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Suzana.

40. Phillip Gratwicke was buried on 18 April 1669 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Suzana.

41. George Gratwicke was buried on 19 September 1671 in West Grinstead, the son of John and Suzana.

John Gratwicke was buried on 15 April 1652 in West Grinstead.

John Gratwicke, senior, was buried on 26 November 1656 in West Grinstead.

John Gratwicke was buried on 7 June 1665 in West Grinstead.  [This John was a yeoman of West Grinstead and left a will proved on 1 November 1665.]

John Gratwick from Needs was buried on 27 February 1714 in West Grinstead.

The following is from the Comber genealogies, Horsham centre:

John Gratwicke of Needs, yeoman was baptised on 25 January 1601 in West Grinstead, the son of Henry Gratwicke (?-1615) and Joane.  [The Sussex marriage index gives that Henry Gratwicke and Joan Nye married on 24 October 1591 in Lancing, Sussex.]  He was heir to brother Jonathan Gratwicke who died in 1622, at which time John was 21.  He was a plaintiff in a lawsuit in 1625.  John was buried on 15 April 1652 in West Grinstead.  His will was dated 11 April 1652 and proved on 5 May 1652.

John married Joane Wood by licence dated 10 October 1622.

Joane was mentioned in her husband's will.  She was buried on 13 December 1658 in West Grinstead.  Her will was dated 11 September 1658 and proved on 18 April 1660.

John and Joane had the following children:

1. Richard Gratwicke was baptised on 23 November 1623 in West Grinstead and buried there on 25 January 1624.

2. John Gratwicke was baptised on 1 November 1625 in West Grinstead.  He was a yeoman of Needs.  He was an executor to his father's will.  He was mentioned in the 1662 will of Anne Gratwicke of Steyning.  He was overseer to the 1664 will of his brother-in-law William Gratwicke of Mockford.  He was an overseer to his mother's will.  John was buried on 7 June 1665 in West Grinstead.  His will was dated 30 May 1665 and proved on 1 November 1665.  Overseers to his will were friends John Gratwicke of Eatons and brother Thomas Gratwicke of Cowfold.

   John first married Mary Gratwicke the daughter of John Gratwicke of Mockford.  She was baptised on 16 May 1630 in Cowfold.  Mary was mentioned in her mother-in-law's 1658 will and that of Anne Gratwicke of Steyning.  Mary was buried on 13 November 1663 in West Grinstead.

   John next married on 5 January 1664 at West Grinstead, Mary the daughter of Thomas Lintott of Bolney, a relative of William Gratwicke of Mockford.  [Sussex marriage index gives John Gratwicke of Needes and Mary Gratwicke widow of Cowfold, married on 5 January 1664/5 in West Grinstead.  Mary Lintott had married William Gratwicke on 29 September 1660 in Bolney, Sussex.]  Mary was an executor to the 1664 will of her first husband and that of her second husband.

3. Joan Gratwicke was baptised on 8 June 1628 in West Grinstead and buried there on 24 July 1628.

4. Elizabeth Gratwicke was baptised on 2 August 1629 in West Grinstead.  She was mentioned in the will's of her parents.

5. William Gratwicke was baptised on 4 April 1631 [this should probably be 1641] in West Grinstead.  He was under 21 in his father's will and had "Hooklands" in Billingshurst.  He was mentioned in his mother's will and was overseer to his brother John's 1665 will.

6. Jonathan Gratwicke was baptised on 2 October 1631 in West Grinstead and buried there on 7 May 1633.

7. Mary Gratwicke was baptised on 12 January 1633 in West Grinstead and possibly buried there on 13 January 1635.

8. Jane Gratwicke was baptised on 16 February 1639 in West Grinstead.  She was mentioned in her father's will and was appointed executor of her mother's will, at which time she was under 21.

9. Philip Gratwicke was of Woodmancote.  He was baptised on 17 July 1745 in West Grinstead.  He was mentioned in his father's 1652 will and that of his mother in 1658 when he was under 18, and he was under 21 in his brother John's 1665 will.  Philip was buried in Woodmancote on 5 March 1714 (or 5 February 1696).  He married Ann Chaloner on 4 January 1668/9 in Henfield.  Ann was the daughter of Edmond Chaloner of Hurstpierpoint.  She was mentioned in her father's 1685 will.  Ann was buried on 8 February 1727 in Woodmancote.

GRATWICK          MITCHELL