Richard Grassingham
| Richard Grassingham | |
|---|---|
| Person | Richard Grassingham |
| Title | |
| First name | Richard |
| Middle name(s) | |
| Last name | Grassingham |
| Suffix | |
| Spouse of | |
| Widow of | |
| Occupation | Shipwright |
| Secondary shorebased occupation | |
| Mariner occupation | |
| Associated with ship(s) | |
| Training | Not apprentice |
| Is apprentice of | |
| Was apprentice of | |
| Had apprentice(s) | |
| Citizen | Unknown |
| Literacy | Signature |
| Has opening text | Richard Grassingham |
| Has signoff text | Richard Grassingham |
| Signoff image | (Invalid transcription image) |
| Language skills | English language |
| Has interpreter | |
| Birth street | |
| Birth parish | |
| Birth town | |
| Birth county | |
| Birth province | |
| Birth country | |
| Res street | |
| Res parish | Stepney |
| Res town | |
| Res county | Middlesex |
| Res province | |
| Res country | England |
| Birth year | |
| Marriage year | |
| Death year | |
| Probate date | |
| First deposition age | |
| Primary sources | |
| Act book start page(s) | |
| Personal answer start page(s) | |
| Allegation start page(s) | |
| Interrogatories page(s) | |
| Deposition start page(s) | HCA 13/70 f.485r Annotate |
| Chancery start page(s) | |
| Letter start page(s) | |
| Miscellaneous start page(s) | |
| Act book date(s) | |
| Personal answer date(s) | |
| Allegation date(s) | |
| Interrogatories date(s) | |
| Deposition date(s) | Sep 26 1655 |
| How complete is this biography? | |
| Has infobox completed | Yes |
| Has synthesis completed | No |
| Has HCA evidence completed | No |
| Has source comment completed | No |
| Ship classification | |
| Type of ship | Shore based trade |
| Silver Ship litigation in 1650s | |
| Role in Silver Ship litigation | None |
Biographical synthesis
Richard Grassingham (b. ?<1633; d. ?). Shipwright.
Resident in 1655 in the parish of Stepney, where he had lived for "nigh twenty-two years" (so since ca. 1633).
Probably the brother of Robert Grassingham, who addressed the Admiralty Commissioners on January 8th 1659 from Harwich regarding naval ship repairs.[1]
William Sewel (1844) a record of the proceedings of the House of Commons identifying George Fox and Robert Grassingham as Quakers and citing a record of a disturbance involving the two men in Harwich in 1660.[2]
Evidence from High Court of Admiralty
Richard Grassingham deposed on September 26th 1655 in the High Court of Admiralty.[3]
Comment on sources
1658
"26. Robt. Grassingham to the Admiralty Commissioners. The Assurance has come in to be repaired, and I am in hand with the Weymouth pink, but am in great want of money to carry on that service. Commissioner Bourne used to make a special inspection of the naval affairs of this port, and during that time, I had recourse to him for supplies of money to pay wages, &c. ; but since that service was taken out of his hands, and put into those of theNavy Commissioners 9 months since, I have often addressed them, but with little effect, save that I was ordered to charge a bill upon the Navy Treasurer for 300?., which they signed, and on the back of which there was a bill of imprest drawn upon me, which I signed ; but although my brother, Richard Grassingham, has since wasted much time and trouble therein, it has not yet been paid. It would then have cleared all wages due, but now it will not do so. As I have now 3 quarters' accounts due, I hope you will accept the enclosed bill for 100?., and let it be paid with the above 300L, that the burden of my 8 quarters' accounts may be taken off, as it is far greater than my estate is worth ; so that in case of mortality or any other change, my family may not be in hazard of utter ruin, through my accounts not being passed as formerly, otherwise my burden will be such as cannot willingly be borne.
I have not, nor have had for some months, money to defray the necessary expenses of my family without borrowing, entirely through disbursing all my own for the better carrying on of the charge put into my hands, and as I am constrained to employ strangers on the works for a month at a time, because I can only employ a few constantly, I was constrained to pay them off with
my own monej' so long as I had any ; I have only received 100?. for payment of wages these 9 months.
I know money is scarce in the Treasury, yet I also know that bills are daily paid, and that what you order to be paid are paid ; I am therefore the more earnest; had not mj^ former way been hedged up by which I was wont to be supplied, I should not have thus troubled you.
If you advise with Commissioner Bourne, he can make you sensible of the true state of this port, and also of the burden that is and is likely to be upon me, for want of a daily supplj' of money as he formerly had, and as until lately I have had ; if this will not prevail with j'ou, it will put me upon soliciting for liberty to wait upon you, to declare by words what I am short of by pen touching this matter.
Touching the money I disbursed upon the account of Mardike, I did not think I should have had now to seek it ; but if my patience must be thereby further exercised, it will make me cautious for the future of disbursing money, although another Protector should give such order ; but I am not altogether out of hope of receiving it, because you have not given me a flat denial. [If pages.] Enclosing,
26. I. Bill of exchange by the same on the Admiralty Commissioners for 1001., payable to his brother Richard Grassingham at sight. Harwich, 8 Jan. 1658-9. [i page]"[4]
1675
PROB 4/16935 Grassingham, Robert, of Rotherhithe. Surrey 1675 22 Mar. (1670)
1705
PROB 11/482/249 Will of Thomas Grassingham, Shipwright of Redriffe, Surrey 27 July 1705
