Henry de Grey facts for kids
Sir Henry de Grey lived a long time ago, from 1155 to 1219. He was an important person who worked closely with King John of England. Henry came from a place called Grays Thurrock in Essex, England.
A Famous Family Tree
Sir Henry de Grey was the start of a very important family. Many famous and noble families came from his children and grandchildren. His family line, known as the Grey or Gray family, became very powerful in England.
Many of his direct male descendants became noblemen. They were given important titles like barons, viscounts, earls, marquesses, and even dukes. This shows how much influence his family gained over the centuries.
Even more people are related to Sir Henry through his daughters' families. These include many other noble families and even some very well-known people from history.
Life and Lands
In 1195, Sir Henry was given control of a large estate called the Manor of Thurrock in Essex. He bought this land from a man named Isaac the Jew and his son Josce. This area later became known as Grays Thurrock, or simply Grays.
To remember Sir Henry's connection to the town, a special plaque was put up in Grays on June 11, 2013. This date was exactly 808 years after he first got the land!
Before 1201, Sir Henry also received another important estate, the Manor of Codnor in Derbyshire. Later, in 1216, King Henry III of England gave him the Manor of Grimston in Nottinghamshire.
Marriage and Children
Around the year 1199, Sir Henry de Grey married Isolda Bardolf in Thurrock, Essex. Isolda was born around 1168 and passed away before June 18, 1246. Together, they had three sons:
- Sir Richard de Grey of Codnor, Derbyshire. His family line became the Barons Grey of Codnor.
- Sir John de Grey of Shirland, Derbyshire. His descendants became the Barons Grey of Wilton and Barons Grey of Ruthyn. A very famous person from this line was Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for a short time. Also, the famous legal school in London, Gray's Inn, is named after Sir John's family.
- William de Grey of Cavendish, Suffolk. His family line includes the Greys of Merton, Norfolk and the Barons Walsingham.
After Sir Henry passed away, his wife Isolda married again to a man named Reynold de Meurdre.
