GREENWOOD GENEALOGIES, 1154-1914
Chapter X • ENGLISH HISTORY OF THE FAMILY
For full seven centuries the surname Greenwood has been in use
in England. The early English Greenwood records given in this
volume and a long Greenwood pedigree now in the College of Arms,
in London, Eng., show the progenitor of the Greenwood family in
England to have been a Wyomarus de Greenwode. All family records
of Anglo-Saxon extraction are believed to run back to this Wyomarus
and the name Greenwood may be regarded as having had its beginning
with him. This Wyomarus was caterer to Maud, the Empress, mother
of King Henry II, who reigned in England A.D. 1154-1189. Wyomarus
furnished the provisions for the household of the Empress Maud
(known also as Matilda) and was of the titled gentry or nobility
of his time. His coat of arms, which all Greenwoods are entitled
to use, appears in this volume.
In the township of Heptonstall, Eng. (which is in the West Riding
of Yorkshire), 1-1/2 miles from Heptonstall village, on the old
Roman highway, which leads from Heptonstall to Colne, there stands
today a grand old hall or manor house, built of hand-hewed stone.
This house, which is of such ample pretensions as to be known
as a mansion, has for many centuries been standing here. It is
set high up on the slope of what is known as Hardcastle Crags,
or Hebden Valley. It overlooks this beautiful, wooded valley and
the scene presented is picturesque and enchanting. Many tourists
are attracted to this spot by the grandeur of the scene. According
to Thoresby's history of Leeds, published 1715, and from the records
which appear in this volume, this mansion was built by Wyomarus
or his immediate descendants and was their home place. The mansion
with its buildings and land attached is known as Greenwood Lee.
The mansion is 20 miles due west from Leeds and is 2 miles distant
from the flourishing cotton manufacturing town of Hebden Bridge.
Three-fourths of a mile from Greenwood Lee, on the same old Roman
road leading from Heptonstall to Colne, is a second building of
stone and is known as High Greenwood. This structure was rebuilt
100 years ago and is now much changed from its former appearance.
In the neighborhood of Greenwood Lee and High Greenwood there
are today such places as Greenwood Lee Wood, High Greenwood Wood,
Greenwood Lee Clough, Green Hill and others, and the public records
of Heptonstall show that these places were formerly included in
what was once known as Greenwood. It was a little settlement in
itself. At one time this tract was a forest and this little settlement
took its name from that forest. It was a large tract of green
wood, of waving trees of oak, ash, maple and birch and many other
varieties of wood. Probably the forest from which Greenwood took
its name included the whole district from Stoneshay Gate to Widdop
Gate and from the right side of the highway down to the river
Hebden in the valley. The clearing in the forest was begun on
the plateau skirting the valley. Here Greenwood Lee was built.
It is possible that the first houses were of wood and then after
the forest was somewhat cleared Greenwood Lee was constructed;
then followed the construction of High Greenwood, the Clough house
and others. This settlement of Greenwood was one of the oldest
in Heptonstall and the Greenwoods of the settlement from ancient
times down to the present day have ever been prominent in shaping
the history of that old town. Turn over the pages of history of
old Heptonstall, either of its remote past or immediate present,
and the name Greenwood stands out prominent before you. Whichever
way you turn in Heptonstall you are confronted by that name. The
largest tax payers of Heptonstall have ever been Greenwoods, while
the records of the ancient parish church of the place and the
old wills recorded at York show generous contributions by Greenwoods
to the church and large bequests to public charity.
Previous to the year 1154 very few people in England had more
than one name. Wyomarus was known only as Wyomarus. Surnames were
introduced into England by the Normans after their invasion, in
1066, and many family names have originated in England since that
time. After Wyomarus had established his home in the forest at
Heptonstall, and a little settlement of his descendants was made
there, he became known as Wyomarus de Greenwod (Wyomarus of Greenwood).
The children and descendants of Wyomarus also took similar names
and were known as Bartram de Greenwod (Bartram of Greenwood),
Robert de Greenwod (Robert of Greenwood) and so on, and the old
public records of Heptonstall show that it was nearly as late
as the year 1500 when the surname Greenwood became fully established
and the Latin word "de" was omitted. Greenwood is a
place name. The family takes its name from a locality and that
locality the green wood or forest at Heptonstall. It is evident
that the mansion, Greenwood Lee, took the first part of its name
(Lee) from the fact that its location was sheltered or that the
buildings afforded shelter to both men and beasts. Just the date
Greenwood Lee was built there are no records that show. In 1362
Greenwood Lee is mentioned in Heptonstall public records as being
occupied by Thomas de Grenwod. In 1379 Hegh Grenewod (High Greenwood)
is mentioned. There are no earlier public records referring to
these buildings.
Public records referring to the Greenwoods at Greenwood are of
much interest. From the earliest public court records we find
that on Nov. 22, 1274, one William Grenehod (Greenwood), was,
for taking bushwood from Erringden forest, fined 6 pence, and
according to the record a pledge was given by Luvecock, his brother,
that it would not occur again In the following year, or Friday,
in whit-week, 1275, John de Greenwode (John of the Greenwood)
was fined in the court of the Lord of the Manor 2 shillings for
the escape of 3 beasts to the meadows of Rawtonstall. These records
show that at that time there was a settlement in the forest at
Greenwood and that some of the land had been cleared, fenced and
cultivated. The court of the manor was held at Wakefield by the
Earl of Warren, or John de Warren, as his real name was. The Earl
had been given by King Henry III (1250) free warren, or right
to preserve the forests for game in Heptonstall, Wadsworth, Rawtonstall,
Stansfield and Langfield and he punished all intruders. He was
Lord of the Manor of that district and once when his right was
questioned he unsheathed his sword and stretching out his arm
declared that it was that weapon that gave him his right.
In the year 1379 a poll tax was issued by King Richard II upon
all persons in England over the age of 16 years in every parish
or township The tax list is of interest as showing who was living
at Greenwood at the time. The list follows:
From the above list it would appear that 4 Greenwoods constituted
the inhabitants of Greenwood in 1379 -- three of the Greenwoods
were married and their wives living and one single person able
to a tax on account of age. One of these Greenwoods was named
Richard and three were named Thomas. Besides these married Greenwoods
there may have been children under the age of 16. Each was taxed
4 pence and evidently the tax had no bearing on the property each
held.
The records of the Court of the Manor show a Richard de Grenewod
as a juryman in Oct., 1379, and in 1380 a Richard, son of Thomas
de Grenewod, was a juryman at both April and October Turns. At
an inquisition held at Halifax, 1362, a Thomas de Grenewod is
named and described as the father of William and was probably
living at Greenwood Lee. A Thomas de Grenewod was a juror of the
Manor Court held 20th of October, 1413, and was then living at
High Greenwood. His name was second on the panel, a position he
continued to occupy 1433 and 1434. Thomas de Grenewod, the single
man on the poll list, may have been the Thomas de Grenwod whose
name appears on a jury list 3d of Oct. 1434, when he is last on
the list of those impaneled at the local Turn.
Public records show that soon after 1382 that the Monks of Lewes,
in Yorkshire, had some control over the estates at Greenwood,
and those adjoining, and drew revenue from them, the right being
given by the Earl of Warren.
In 1433 a John de Grenewod was living at Greenwood Lee and was
the wealthiest landlord in Heptonstall, for he was paying a tax
of 24s. 9-1/2d. annually in the way of rent, which was considered
large as money was then valued.
On Dec. 16, 1439, the 18th year of the reign of King Henry VI,
a rental was made in Heptonstall by order of the Proctor of the
Priory of Lewes and from this rental it is learned that one Thomas
Michell (Mitchell) was then living at "Heghegrenewodde"
(High Greenwood) and paying rent to the Priory of Lewes of 6s.
2d. per year. The Mitchells had evidently married into the Greenwood
family. Formerly they occupied adjoining estates. They are of
Norman descent. John de Grenewodde of Grenewoddlee (Greenwood
Lee), the largest occupier in Heptonstall, paid an annual rent
for Greenwood Le of 6s. 7-1/2d.; for lands and tenements called
Gloghehous (Clough house), which is situated near Greenwood Lee
on the far side of Greenwood Lee Clough, to the left of the road,
15s.; for a close of land called "Gyllotraide," 4d.;
land and tenement at "Robedshag" (Robert Shaw), near
the slack Baptist chapel, 17d.; for other lands and tenements
in Heptonstall, no described by name, 17d.
Richard de Grenewode, probably son of John, the same year was
holding lands and tenements at Colden-Ing, for which he paid yearly
rent 20d. He also held one parcel of land called "Walker-wyfynge,"
for which he paid 4-1/2d.
William de Grenewodde held lands and tenements in Learing, in
Heptonstall, for which he paid yearly rent 20d. He also rented
"Esthap More" (East-up-Moor) for which he paid 20d.,
and also one acre of land taken from waste for which he paid 4d.
per year. He is probably the same William Greenwood who was constable
of Heptonstall in 1461. There was also a second Richard de Grenewodde
who held lands and tenements in Heptonstall township, for which
he paid 3s. 9-1/2d.
The rental list of 1439 shows that there were only 12 persons
in the township of Heptonstall at that time paying rent. The combined
rent of the 4 Greenwoods amounted to 34s. 3-1/2d. The combined
rent of the other 8 persons was 22s. 8-3/4d. The largest tax payer
was John de Grenewodde (John of Greenwood); second largest in
Heptonstall, John Pygehils (Pickles), who paid for land and tenements
in the town, 7s.
The old English public records show that very early the Greenwoods
of Greenwood, in Heptonstall, began to scatter to the surrounding
districts, marrying and intermarrying there, accumulating property
and establishing homes. At one of the Turns of the Court of the
Manor one Roger Greenwood of Sowerby (6 miles from Greenwood),
in 1326, was fined 3d. for his beasts unlawfully eating from the
herbage of the forest. The record reads: "Rog'us de Grenwood,
p. exh. best, iij d." In 1432 a lease, which was in Latin,
was made for 40 years of a certain property called "Huldisworth
Inge," in the township of Ovenden, near Halifax, at 20s.
per year, to William Greenwood of Mixenden, by William Otes and
others. In 1509 John Greenwood with Peter Crabtree, two clothiers
(manufacturers of cloth), acquired from Richard Young and Margaret,
his wife, what is known as Old Town farm, in Wadsworth, and the
adjoining one known as Crabtree farm, in Wadsworth. In 1524 both
these men paid a subsidy of 20s. each to King Henry VIII and in
later years they were both said to have been accused of using
flocks in the manufacture of cloth. On his death John Greenwood
was succeeded in business by his son William.
In 1563 William Greenwood, a merchant or chapman, of Wadsworth,
purchased from Wm. Brigg and Henry Brigg, his son and heir apparent,
land called Potter Cliff, at Old Town, in Wadsworth, and about
the same time he bought lands called Hirst from Henry and Charles
Farrer, in Old Town. He was active in church matters for in the
Heptonstall church registers, dated Apr. 21, 1572, he signs an
entry to the effect that 120 organ pipes had been laid up in the
church coffer.
Greenwood Lee, from the time of its construction, passed down
through an unbroken succession of generations of Greenwood owners
until 1642, when it passed out of Greenwood possession. The last
Greenwood occupant of the estate was Rev. Charles Greenwood. He
was rector of Thornhill, and through the influence that his own
family had attained in the district as well as his connection
with Greenwood Lee, he became Lord of the Manor of Heptonstall.*
He was son of James Greenwood of Sowerby, a direct descendant
of the Greenwoods of Greenwood Lee. His mother was Cecilia, daughter
of Chas. Radcliff, of Todmorden. He left no living heirs. The
will of the Rev. Charles Greenwood, proved July 14, 1642, provided
for the establishment of a free grammar school in Heptonstall,
the buildings for which he had erected**
He also bequeathed L100 to be lent and put forth from year to
year to ye poor people inhabiting within ye township of Heptonstall
to succeeding ages for ever, the better to enable them to live
by their labors in their honest vocations." He gave also
money for the founding of two fellowships and two scholarships
in University College, in Oxford, of which he had been fellow,
and 1500 pounds more toward building of a new quadrangle at the
college, but the college was wronged of these bequests through
the misconduct of the executors.
In 1650 Greenwood Lee was twice sold. For a time it was in possession
of the family of Sutcliff. In 1760 it was purchased by Abraham
Gibson and at present it is occupied by Mrs. M.E. Gibson, widow,
and her son Abraham, who are direct heirs of the Abraham first
mentioned.
The last Greenwood occupant of High Greenwood was one William
Grenewod, whose will was proved at York Apr. 2, 1522, and his
descendants. In 1559 High Greenwood was purchased by a Mr. Mitchell
and it has remained in the Mitchell family ever since, having
been passed down from one generation to another. Both Greenwood
Lee and High Greenwood are today used as farmsteads. Both estates
join and both extend from the moors at the summit of the hills
to the valley below.
The buildings now at Greenwood Lee consist of a large two story
stone house, about 30x40 feet in size, with a long ell 60x30 feet,
also two stories. The house has five gables; roofs covered with
slate or thin stone and the house is especially noticeable for
the large number of chimney tops and stone balls above the roof.
Back of the main house is a second stone house 40x40 feet in size,
two stories high, with a gable, slated or stone roof. There is
a large stone barn on the premises unique for its architecture.
It is only one story high and has a high pointed roof. It is 100
feet long and 60 feet wide. In a stone over the porch of the large
house is cut the figures 1712. This porch was rebuilt that year
by the Sutcliffes. Otherwise the exteriors of all the buildings
are as they were originally made except new glass windows and
chimney pots. The estimated age of the present buildings at Greenwood
Lee is 500 years. Probably the present structures were built about
the year 1400 and are an enlargement of the original or first
buildings bearing the same name. High Greenwood when rebuilt is
believed to have been standing since the year 1260.
According to Tappan's history of England, as late as 1500 the
poor people in the country lived in cottages made of sticks and
clay. There were no real chimneys, but only a hole for the smoke
to go out. With Greenwood Lee, High Greenwood and the Clough house,
large buildings of stone, the Greenwoods of Greenwood may be regarded
as wealthy people for their time.
Ralph Thoresby in his history of Leeds, Eng., and the West Outriding
of Yorkshire, published 1715, and Whitaker in an edition of Leeds,
published 1816, both refer to a place known as New Laithes as
famous for its long Greenwood occupancy. Thoresby says of New
Laithes: "Here for many years resided the very ancient family
of Greenwood descended from Wyomarus, who flourished ano. 1154,
cater to Mawd the Empress." This New Laithes is the small
village 5 miles north-west of Leeds, near the river Aire in the
township of Newlay. New Laithes hall, or manor house, is yet standing,
but no Greenwoods or their descendants are now living there. New
Laithes hall came into possession of the Greenwoods as early as
1180 and was occupied by a Charles Greenwood as late as 1816.
On Apr. 13, 1670, the estate was sold by a James Greenwood to
Thomas Lord Viscount Savile, Earl of Sussex, but the estate was
repurchased by a Joseph Greenwood, who died there in 1728.
The Empress Maud, with whose household Wyomarus de Greenwod was
connected was daughter of King Henry I, the third of the Norman
Kings to rule England. While still a child she married the Emperor
of Germany; that person dying she was married to Geoffrey, Count
of Anjou, a Frenchman. Her mother was known as "Good Maud,"
daughter of the King of Scotland. By Geoffrey, she had a son who
became King Henry II of England.
The early English records which appear in this volume have been
passed down from one generation of Greenwoods to the next succeeding.
In the year 1700 the records were in the keeping of James Greenwood
of York; in 1815, they were in the hands of Joseph Greenwood Clayton,
of New Laithes. (See Whitaker's History of Leeds.) The records
are in two parts. The first part is upon parchment. The second
part is in the autograph of Sir William Dugdale. By these records
every descendant of Thomas Greenwood of Newton, Mass., can trace
an unbroken line of ancestry extending over a period of 700 years
and through many generations. The line of descent in the English
records from Thomas of Newton runs through John Greenwood, the
priest, who was great grandparent of Thomas.
The old church at Heptonstall (Thomas a' Becket), at which all
Greenwoods of the parish worshipped, was built as early as 1260,
but is now in ruins. It was disused in 1854. An effort is being
made to perpetually preserve the now standing walls of the old
stone structure and contributions for this purpose are solicited
from all interested persons. The Vicar of the Heptonstall Parish
Society, Heptonstall, Eng., receives subscriptions. The registers
of the old church run back only to 1593. The first Greenwood interment
entries are: March 20, 1593, twin children of William Grenwod,
Wardsworth; March, 1594, infant of Richard Grenwod, of Ayringden;
Apr. 10, 1594, John, son of John Grenwod, of Stansfield; June
7, 1594, wife of Ric. Grenwod of Lang; June 11, 1594, infant of
Simion Grenwod.
No Greenwood marriages were recorded in 1593, but in 1594 there
are two: May 5, Matthew Grenwod and Jane Buckley and Richard Grenwood
and Agnes Grenwood. In 1599 these baptisms appear, the first in
the registers: July 15, Grace, dau. of John Greenwood of Wadd.;
22d, Doriti, dau. of William Greenwood; 22d, Grace, dau. of Thomas
Greenwood; Aug. 12, John, son of Simion Grenwod of Wad.
A John Grenewode was clerk (in Holy orders) of the Heptonstall
Church in 1439, a Sir John Grenwodde, curate, in 1531, and Thomas
Greenwood, of Elphaborough Hall, officiated 172-1744. He died
1748. A gallery at the west end of the north nave of this church
was called High Greenwood loft, but when erected is not known.
In the gallery of the tower of the new church of the Heptonstall
parish society at Heptonstall, is a marble tablet placed in memory
of a John Greenwood, whose death occurred June 16, 1823, aged
81, in recognition of his gift to charity. Names of the wives
by his three marriages and those of his children are also given.
A John Greenwood, of Cottingly, as shown by a deed dated Feb.
20, 1598, left the sum of L40 to be lent from year to year for
ever, to the poor of Heptonstall parish and L20 to the poor of
Bradford-dale. Paul Greenwood of Old Town, Wadsworth, left 20
shilling a year for the poor people of Wadsworth and 20 shillings
a year for the minister at Heptonstall.
John Greenwood, of the Learings, in Heptonstall, by his will dated
Feb. 10, 1687, left an annuity of 20s. for the minister of Heptonstall
Church and one of 20s. for the purpose of apprenticing a poor
man's child.
John Greenwood, of the Hippings, in Stansfield, by will dated
Dec. 13, 1705, left 20s. yearly forever to the minister at Heptonstall
for the preaching of a sermon the first Wednesday in August yearly.
Referring to the number of Greenwoods now living in Heptonstall
vicinity a public writer says: "In the Calderdale district,
from Halifax to Todmorden, the number of Greenwoods is positively
amazing. One cannot take up a newspaper, or attend some public
or social function, or visit the homes of the people, but the
name of Greenwood stands out in numbers almost like the stars
in the firmament; and when one remembers that all these came from
that original stock found at Greenwood, in Heptonstall, some centuries
ago the thought cannot fail to be brimful of significance."
* It appears from a manuscript in the British Museum, No 797
of the Harleian mss., being a collection relating to Moreley Hundred,
that John Warren, Earl of Surrey, claimed free warren in Heptonstall
by charter dated 37th of King Henry III, A.D. 1253. The right
of the manor passed into other hands for by an inquisition taken
at Pontefract 25th Aug., 5th and 6th Philip and Mary, or A.D.,
1558, that Sir Henry Savile, Knight, died seized in fee tail of
the manor of Heptonstall and from him it passed by degrees to
Sir George Savile, of Rufford. In the 5th King Charles, 1629,
court was held at Heptonstall by Charles Greenwood, Clerk, Rector
of Thornhill, Lord of the Manor of Heptonstall. Later the Right
Honorable, the Earl of Scarborough, became Lord of the Manor of
Heptonstall.
One of the descendants of Charles Greenwood was cornet to Captain
Gascoigne and another, Ferdinand Greenwood, was lieutenant of
horse in the service of King Charles the First, and was slain
at Newark.
** The school building provided for
by the will of Rev. Charles Greenwood is yet in use and stands
close by the old churchyard in Heptonstall. The school house was
given as a free gift to the people of Heptonstall and land and
property at Colden, in Heptonstall, was endowed for the perpetual
care of the building and continual salary of the master of the
school. The executors of the will consisted of John Greenwood,
son of Robert Greenwood, John Greenwood of Elfaburgh Hall, William
Mitchell, Thomas Greenwood of Learing and Richard Robertshaw and
their heirs.
 Greenwood Genealogies Index
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