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Of all the Penn families the most notable is the Grove family; in fact, family seems hardly the correct designation clan would appear to be a more accurate description to cover the large number of different grades of society, who bore the name of Grove at various periods in our history. In the l7th century one can, without much difficulty, discern at least three branches of Groves, who were all more or less closely related to each other by blood. There were the Groves of Stonehouse, the yeoman farmers, who owned an estate of considerable size, as the taxation returns disclose. Then there were Groves at Knotty Green (a hamlet on the southern boundary of Penn Parish), probably farmers too. Another branch of the family belonged to what would be regarded then as a lower stratum of society; they were fullers or tailors, and in a village the size of Penn their trade would not be on an extensive scale. Below them again, appear labourers bearing the name, thus illustrating the vicissitudes to which the descendants of a common ancestor are so often subject during the centuries. That the Groves have always played an important part in the life of the parish there is no doubt. As churchwardens, constables, overseers of the poor, jurymen, benefactors of the church and the poor, their name is constantly encountered. Sometimes a record gives a rare glimpse of their domestic lives.' See Thomas Grove 1639 below. Among many references to the Grove family are: 1332 Nicholas ate grove. Taxation return 2 shillings 5 pence and 1 farthing. (1) 1362 Walter atte Grove: Juryman at murder trial. (2) 1479 William Grove: a suitor at the frankpledge Court (3) on Monday, 18th October 1479. 1513 William Grove: will dated l513. 1532 Nicholas a/c Grove. Taxation return 2 shillings 2 pence 1 farthing. 1539 Thomas Grove and William Culverhouse gave evidence against William Eccleston some time Vicar of Penn Parish Church. 1546 John Grove mentioned in subsidy roll (4) and charged 3 shillings and 4 pence. 1546 Richard Grove in subsidy roll charged 3 pence. 1546 Thomas Grove in subsidy roll, charged 12 pence. 1552 John Grove (5) 1558 Edmund Grove in subsidy roll, charged 8 shillings and 4 pence. 1558 John Grove Senior in subsidy roll, charged 11 shillings and 8 pence. 1594 Jane Grove, widow, subsidy roll charge 4 shillings. 1594 Christopher Grove, subsidy roll charge 12 shillings. 1594 Henry Grove, subsidy roll charge l0 shillings and 8 pence. 1630 Matthave: overseerer for the poor. 1638 John Grove: overseerer for the highway. 1638 Edmund Grove: Churchwarden for the year. 1638 John Grove: Tithingman (6) 1698 John Grove: Tithingman 1698 Jonathan. 24th October. Excused attention at Court of the Manor. 1698 George Grove of Grove Place on Jury of Court of the Manor. 1698 John Grove on Jury of Court of the Manor. 1735 Jonathan. 26th October. Served on Jury in Court of frankpledge. 1735 Joseph. 26th October. Served on Jury in Court of frankpledge. 1629 Christopher: Overseerer for the poor. 1635 George: Overseerer for the poor. 1636 Matthave: Overseerer for the poor. 1638 Edmund: Chosen as Churchwarden. 1638 John: Overseerer for the highway. 1639 Thomas: Appeared in Court of High Commission in suit by wife. (7) 1706 Edmund: Archdeacon's Court witness. 1798 Thomas: In return to High Sheriff for possible mobilisation as draper. 1831 Thomas: Mentioned as joint benefactor with Earl Howe re "asylum for the poor". Also in the book are mentions of Edmund (Yeoman) Grove and Sir George Grove. (1) The earliest and most important taxation document is an assessment of a fifteenth (of the total value of animals, cereals, etc) in the sixth year (1332) of Edward 111, the son of King Edward, the third after the Conquest) (2) Cases of murder were dealt with by the Coroner for the County. The local inhabitants were under obligation to co-operate with him fully. A jury of twelve men sat in the case of William de Clifton, vicar of Penn, who was 'assaulted and wounded with an axe in three places in his head and scattered his brains, by which he came to his death'. (3) System by which a group of men were held responsible by the state for each others misdeeds. The Anglo-Saxons imposed membership by law on all freemen. William the Conquerer ordered every freeman to be in a frankpledge of about twelve men, and later kings followed suit. The system did not survive the advent of the Tudors. (4) a tax paid to the royal exchequer. (5) John Grove and colleagues 'sold iii great candelstikes withe other brasse to the value of xiiij s iiij d. the which money is bestowed emonges the poore and reparations of highe wayes.' (6) The Tithingman was the chief of a group of ten householders and their dependents who acted together to ensure peace and good behaviour under a system of frankpledge. (7) Thomas Grove's wife complained of misusage, and she was awarded the 40s for the expenses of the suit, and 4s a week alimony. Note: In modern decimal currency this would be £2 for the expenses, and 20p a week for the alimony. In 1639 this would have been quite a lot of money. |