Fifth Generation

17. John Robert GRIGGS Sr. (*) (!) (`)^55,56 was born on 8 May 1547 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.^{9,12,16,20,44,57,58,59,60} (The "Genealogy of The Griggs Family" does not list John as a son of Robert and Joane (Davey) Griggs. It indicates that they had only two sons--Robert, Jr. and Henry.)

Boxted is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, located about eight miles north of Sudbury. In 2005, it had a population of 120. The meaning of the name is "place where box grow."

The village is mentioned in The Domesday Book, at which time it had a population of 25. He was christened on 8 May 1547 in Somerton, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.⁹ at St. Margaret's Church. He was baptized on 18 May 1547 in Somerton, Somerset County, England.⁹ John signed a will on 10 December 1619 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.⁴² "Abstract of the will of John Griggs of Boxted dated 10 December 1619: In the name of God, Amen. The tenth day of December in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred & nineteen I John Griggs of Boxted in the County of Suffolk yeoman being sick in body yet of good and perfect remembrance praised be God for the same do ordain and make this my Last will and Testament.

Item I give to Martha my wife my messuage ortenement wherein I now dwell and all houses buildings yards gardens and orchards lands meadows pastures and woods in Boxted and Somerton, to have and to hold during her natural life. Provided said Martha or her assigns shall pay or cause to be paid unto John my son his heirs or assigns out of my said lands and tenements every year during her natural life the sum of ten pounds of lawful money on the third day of May and the first day of November.

Item I give my messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell and all houses buildings yards gardens and orchards lands meadows pastures and woods in Boxted and Somerton after the decease of my wife Martha to my son John to have and to hold the same from and immediately after the decease of my said wife upon the condition that my said son John his heirs executers administrators or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid all the several sums of money hereafter expressed amounting together the full sum of two hundred and forty pounds in manner and form following after the decease of Martha my wife.

To Bridget my daughter her heirs and assigns twenty pounds of lawful money within one year, to Martha my daughter her heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within two years, to Elizabeth my daughter her heirs or assigns & twenty pounds of like lawful money within three years, to Stephen my son his heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within four years, to Henry my son his heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within five years, to Thomas my son his heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within six years, to Marie my daughter her heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within seven years, to Bridget my daughter her heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within eight years, to Martha my daughter her heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within nine years, to Elizabeth my daughter her heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within ten years, to Thomas my son his heirs or assigns twenty pounds of like lawful money within eleven years, and to the children of Mary my daughter or to as many of them as shall then be living twenty pounds of like lawful money within twelve years.

Item I give to Henry my son his executors and assigns the lease and interest of term of years and which I have of in and to the house wherein he now dwells situate and being in Cavendish.

Item I give to the said Henry one great chest standing in the Chamber where I now lie.

Item I give to Thomas my son my two tenements situate and being in Great Waldingfield in the said County of Suffolk with the yards gardens and orchards to the same belonging with their appurtenance to have and to hold the same unto the said Thomas my son and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give to Martha my wife my great chest with all that therein is as yet now stands in my little Chamber,

Item I give to Bridget my daughter my cupboard standing in my hall,

Item I give to Thomas my son my cupboard standing in my kitchen.

Item I give to Stephen my son one feather bed one cupboard one coverlet and two blankets being now upon my hall chamber.

Item I give to Martha my daughter my cupboard upon my hall Chamber.

Item I give to Elizabeth my daughter my greatest brass pot, provided always and my intent will and meaning is that Martha my wife shall have the use of all my household stuff before bequeathed for and during all the term of her natural life.

Item I give to Marie my daughter one milk cow to be delivered unto her within one month next after my wife's decease at the house wherein I now dwell, or if she shall dislike of the said cow I will she shall have three pounds and ten shillings of lawful money paid unto her at the time aforesaid.

Item I will that Martha my wife shall have during the term of her natural life all my other goods and chattels implements of household and husbandry whatsoever not formerly here by given and bequeathed and after whose death I will the same shall be equally divided amongst my children Bridgett, Thomas, Martha, and Elizabeth or so many of them as shall then be living.

Item I appoint Martha my wife my sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. John Griggs read sealed published declared and delivered in the presence of us, Walter Payne, Phillippe Gamond, John Griggs the son and Thomas Wright. Probate was granted in the court at Sudbury by Thomas Eden doctor on third of September 1624." He died on 21 September 1624 at the age of 77 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.^16,44,59 (His year of death is shown as 1644 in World Family Tree CD V721-01, Vol 21.)
He has Ancestral File Number 8K85-BN. John has Ancestral File Number LC5J-GR7. He was buried in Bury St. Edmunds, St. Edmundsbury Borough, West Suffolk District, Suffolk County, England. (This is a picture of All Saints Church in Boxted.)

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John Robert GRIGGS Sr. (*) (!) (`) and Martha Mary WYBOROWE (*) were married in 1578 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.^{9,39,42,44,59} (He may also may have married Mary Unknown.) Martha Mary WYBOROWE (*)^6,55,56, daughter of Robert WYBOROWE and Catherine SUMPTER, was born on 11 May 1561 in Colchester, Essex County, England.^{9,39,41,44,57,61,62} (Her birthplace may have been Boxted, Suffolk County, England.) She was christened on 11 May 1561 in Colchester, Essex County, England.⁹ at St. Botolphs Priory. She signed a will on 8 May 1635 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.⁴² "Abstract of the will of Martha Griggs of Boxted dated 8 May 1635: My late husband John Griggs by his will gave me divers household goods and things then in his great chest together with the chest. I now dispose of these things and the residue of my goods.

I give my son John 12 pence, and my son Henry a silver spoon and a pair flaxen sheets. I give Henry his son and my godson 20s. I give my daughter Mary a red and blue coverlet, a silver spoon, 2 pairs flaxen sheets, my worst bearing cloth, my casting kerchief, a square board cloth wrought with Coventry thread, a little kettle, the chair which I usually sit in and one other chair. To her daughter Martha and my god-daughter I give 20s, a pair pillow beeres wrought with knotstitch and half a dozen of my newest napkins.

I give my son Stephen a silver spoon, a pair flaxen sheets and half a dozen napkins, and my daughter Bridget my yellow coverlet and my bearing sheet. I give my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henry Sparke, my red and green coverlet and my best bearing cloth; to her daughter Elizabeth my stone jug tipped with silver, a casting sheet for a bed and half a dozen of my newest sort of napkins; and to her daughter Martha a silver spoon and a cupboard cloth wrought with Coventry thread. I give my grandchild and godson Henry Sparke my new chest, a flaxen table cloth and 20s when 21, and his brother John a new flaxen table cloth and a new posnet.

I give my godson John Stephens, son of my daughter Martha, 20s when 18. The greater part of the above goods, plate and linen lay in the great chest at the time of my husband's death and still do.

I will my son-in-law Henry Sparke bestows £5 of mine in his hands on my funeral, and if the charge amounts to more it is to be defrayed out of my other goods. The residue of my money and goods and the things in the great chest and the chest itself are to be divided between my daughters Bridget and Elizabeth, but my wearing linen, woollen apparel and yardkerchiefs are to be divided among all 3 of my daughters.

I bequeath Henry, Stephen and Mary £20 which Edward Fincham woolman owes me. The residue of my goods, cattle and sown corn I give to my son-in-law Henry and daughter Bridget and make them exors.

Wit. William Hibble, Philip Hamond, Thomas Wright. Pr. at Bury 12 October 1635."

The Will of Martha Griggs mentions deceased husband John; son John; son Henry and his son Henry and my godson; daughter Mary and her daughter Martha and my god-daughter; son Stephen; daughter Bridget; daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henry Sparke, and her daughter Elizabeth, and to her daughter Martha; grandchild and godson Henry Sparke, and his brother John; godson John Stephens, son of daughter Martha; son-in-law Henry Sparke. Martha died on 6 October 1635 at the age of 74 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.^{39,41,59,63,64}

Suffolk: Sudbury - Wills of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, 1630-1635
Burials. No. 2. Jermyn Index.
838. W(R) Martha Griggs (X) of Boxted, widow. 8 May 1635.
County: Suffolk
Country: England

My late husband John Griggs by his will gave me divers household goods and things then in his great chest together with the chest. I now dispose of these things and the residue of my goods. I give my son John 12 pence, and my son Henry a silver spoon and a pair flaxen sheets. I give Henry his son and my godson 20s. I give my daughter Mary a red and blue coverlet, a silver spoon, 2 pairs flaxen sheets, my worst bearing cloth, my casting kerchief, a square board cloth wrought with Coventry thread, a little kettle, the chair which I usually sit in and one other chair. To her daughter Martha and my god-daughter I give 20s, a pair pillow beeres wrought with knot stitch and half a dozen of my newest napkins. I give my son Stephen a silver spoon, a pair flaxen sheets and half a dozen napkins, and my daughter Bridget my yellow coverlet and my bearing sheet. I give my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henry Sparke, my red and green coverlet and my best bearing cloth; to her daughter Elizabeth my stone jug tipped with silver, a casting sheet for a bed and half a dozen of my newest sort of napkins; and to her daughter Martha a silver spoon and a cupboard cloth wrought with Coventry thread. I give my grandchild and godson Henry Sparke my new chest, a flaxen table cloth and 20s when 21, and his brother John a new flaxen table cloth and a new posnet. I give my godson John Stephens, son of my daughter Martha, 20s when 18. The greater part of the above goods, plate and linen lay in the great chest at the time of my husband's death and still do. I will my son-in-law Henry Sparke bestows £5 of mine in his hands on my funeral, and if the charge amounts to more it is to be defrayed out of my other goods. The residue of my money and goods and the things in the great chest and the chest itself are to be divided between my daughters Bridget and Elizabeth, but my wearing linen, woollen apparel and yard kerchiefs are to be divided among all 3 of my daughters. I bequeath Henry, Stephen and Mary £20 which Edward Fincham woolman owes me. The residue of my goods, cattle and sown corn I give to my son-in-law Henry and daughter Bridget and make them exors.
Wit. William Hibble, Philip Hamond, Thomas Wright. Pr. at Bury 12 October 1635.

(It is interesting the her sons Thomas and George were not mentioned in her will. It may have been because they were her only children who emigrated to America before she died.). She was buried on 6 October 1635 in Boxted, Babergh District, Suffolk County, England.⁴² She has Ancestral File Number 8K85-CT.

. (This is a church in the St. Botolphs region.)

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John Robert GRIGGS Sr. (*) (!) (`) and Martha Mary WYBOROWE (*) had the following children: