OBITUARY NOTICE

OF THE LATE

REV. JOHN MOREWOOD GRESLEY,

BY LLEWELLYNN JEWITT, F.S.A.

Reprinted for private distribution from "The Reliquary, Quarterly Archæological Journal and Review," edited by LLEWELLYNN JEWITT, F.S.A., for July, 1866. [London: J. R. SMITH, 36, Soho Square; Derby W. BEMROSE & SONS.]

THE Rev. John Morewood Gresley, M.A., of Exeter College, Oxford, was a man well known in the antiquarian world, and one who, where known, was universally respected. His connection with the "RELIQUARY," as a contributor, dates from its first volume, and his name is therefore familiar to its readers, who will remember him as a hardworking, pains-taking, and industrious labourer in the field of ecclesiastical archæology.

Mr. Gresley was born on the 6th of July, 181 and had therefore, dying on the 15th of May, 1866, only reached his 49th year, when he was called away from his field of useful labours. He was, as will be seen later on, eldest son by his second wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Thorpe, Esq., of Over Seale, of the Rev. William Gresley, M.A., Patron and Rector of that parish, of Seile. Leic..

Of the family of Gresley-the representative of the main line at the present time being Sir Thomas Gresley, Bart.—so long and admirable an account has recently appeared in the pages of the "RELIQUARY," from the pen of my valued friend Mr. John Harland, F.S.A.,* that it is unnecessary to speak now. It will be sufficient for my present purpose, to direct attention for a few moments to that branch to which the subject of this notice belongs.

Thomas Gresley, Esq., second son of Sir Thomas Gresley, the second Baronet, by his wife Frances, daughter and coheiress of Gilbert More wood, Esq., was ot London, and Nether Seale. This Thomas Gresley, who became seated at Nether Seale, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Lee, Esq., of Ladyhole, in Derbyshire (who was heiress to her brother William Lee), and by her (who died in 1732), had issue, four sons, Lee, John, James, and Robert, and one daughter. He was succeeded by his eldest son Lee Gresley, Esq., Barrister at-Law, who dying unmarried, was succeeded by his brother John Gresley, Esq., of Nether Seale. This gentleman married firstly Dorothy, daughter of John Wilcockson, of Wirksworth, Derbyshire, by whom he had issue, Thomas (in holy orders), his heir, and John and Elizabeth; and secondly, Mary Bradey, relict of Toplis, by whom he had issue, five sons. His eldest son and heir, the Rev. Thomas Gresley, D.D., who was Patron and Rector of Seale, married firstly Elizabeth, daughter of William Vincent, Esq., by whom (who died in 1769), he had issue, three sons, William, Thomas, and Richard, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. Dr. Gresley, for his second wife, married Elizabeth Wilkes, relict of William Pycroft, Esq., of Over Seale, but had no surviving issue by her. He died April 18, 1785, and was succeeded by his eldest son, the Rev. William Gresley, M.A., of Nether Seale, who was Patron and Rector of Seale. This gentleman, on the 5th of May, 1798, married his first wife, Louisa Jane, daughter of Sir Nigel Gresley, Bart., of Drakelow, by whom he had issue, the Rev. Sir

* See "RELIQUARY," Vol. VI.

William Nigel Gresley, Bart., who became his heir, and Louisa Elizabeth, who married the Rev. Spencer Madan, Vicar of Batheaston, and Canon Residentiary of Lichfield Cathedral; on the 29th of August, 1811, the Rev. William Gresley married for his second wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Thorpe, Esq., of Over Seale, and had by her, besides a son and daughter who died in infancy, two sons, John Morewood Gresley, the subject of the present memoir, and Charles, and three daughters. Frances Mary, Harriet, and Maria. Mr. Gresley died on the 3rd of October, 1839, and was succeeded by his eldest son, the Rev. Sir William Nigel Gresley, who succeeded also to the baronetcy.

The subject of this memoir, my deceased friend, the Rev. John Morewood Gresley, was educated at Appleby School, in Leicestershire, under the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, and afterwards at Harrow, under the Rev. Dr. Longley, now Archbishop of Canterbury. He was afterwards of Exeter College and St. Mary Hall, Oxford. At St. Mary Hall he graduated B.A. in 1840, and proceeded M.A. in 1843. On leaving college he became Curatc of Over Seale to his half-brother, the Rev. Sir W. N. Gresley, Bart., and so continued until the death of Sir William in 1847, when he was presented to the living (Rectory) of Seale (Over and Nether), which he held until 1860, when, on resigning it to his nephew, the Rev. Sir William Nigel Gresley, Part., who succeededthe barenetey on the death of Sir Roger Gresley, he again became Curate of Over Seale. This curacy Mr. Gresley held until November, 1863, when he was elected Master of Etwall Hospital-an office which he held until his death. In 1818 he was appointed Domestic Chaplain to Earl Ferrars. He was also Secretary to the Leicestershire Church Union.

On the 23rd of January, 1849, Mr. Gresley married Penelope, eldest daughter of the Rev. Marmaduke Vavasour, Vicar of Ashby-dela-Zouch, and by her, who died at Bournemouth, on the 22nd of Feb., 1858, at the early age of thirty, he had five sons, who survive their parents. Mrs. Gresley was a most accomplished, amiable, kindly, and gifted lady, and one who was in every way a help-meet to her talented husband. She was extremely clever as a draughtswoman, and produced many of the plates in the Anastatic Drawing Society's volumes, which bear her initials P. G. Mrs. Gresley was the great-great-granddaughter of Dr. Stukeley, aud from this source most probably inherited her antiquarian and artistic tastes.

Mr. Gresley was one of the founders, and for several years one of the Honorary Secretaries, of the "Leicestershire Architectural and Archæological Society," and at its 'various meetings he contributed many papers of local interest, on antiquarian and historical subjects. His connection with that Society is well set forth in the following letter, addressed to the President, and read at a meeting held in May last, by the indefatigable Honorary Secretary, Mr. T. North:

"Southfields, Leicester, May 28, 1866.

"DEAR SIRS,- It is with feelings of very considerable regret that I have to announce to this Society the decease of one of its founders, and of its first honorary officers, the Rev. John Morewood Gresley, M.A., formerly Rector of Overseale, in this county, and latterly Master of Etwall Hospital, in the county of Derby.

"At the first meeting of the Leicestershire Architectural and Archæological Society, held in this Room, on the 10th of January, 1855, Mr. Gresley was one of the three hon. secretaries then appointed to carry out the resolutions of the committee at its various meetings, to urge, as he best could, the claims of the Society upon all gentlemen in Leicestershire interested in local history and antiquities, and to press forward the claims of architecture and archæology to at least a share of that attention from men of reflective minds and education which it was deemed worthy of receiving. A reference to the minute book of the Society, and to its published transactions, will show that Mr. Gresley's appointment was not a sinecure. He not only was a regular attendant at the bi-monthly meetings, but he entered with intelligence, heartiness, and enthusiasm, into all subjects brought before the members, oftentimes explaining the various objects exhibited, with a clearness and a precision which proved him to be an accomplished archæologist, and a scholar of no ordinary capacity.

"He was also the contributor of many papers of great interest and value, indeed scarcely a meeting passed, at one time, without something from his pen. Perhaps his education and various other causes would lead us to expect that ecclesiology and matters beating upon ecclesiastical history, those especially elucidating the condition of the English Church in medieval times, and during the eventful period of the seventeenth century, would have great attractions for him; and so it was. His opinions upon those times, and upon the men who adorned them, were always given honestly and plainly; his own strong predilections being, however, tempered by an extensive acquaintance with the history of the times of which he spoke, and bis language couched in terms bespeaking the gentleman as well as the scholar. This is noticeable by all in those memoirs which treated of subjects in which he felt an especial interest, and upon which he spoke most freely. There was always a characteristic piquancy in his side hits at some of the doings of later days, when contrasted with the men and times with which he in spirit so thoroughly sympathized, which rendered them not only acceptable to those who felt with him, but which drew the sting from his remarks in the estimation of those of his friends who did not live so essentially as himself in the spirit of the past.

"Mr. Gresley, too, for several years, reported the proceedings at the bi-monthly meetings in the local newspapers; and, in so doing, he was careful to note the minutest object exhibited, feeling with Bishop Kennet, that "historical antiquities do deserve and will reward the pains of any English student." At the annual summer meetings of the Society he was an energetic worker, and a careful and painstaking observer, never failing to show his readiness to impart his knowledge to others, and to enrich his own note-book by many 'Jottings by the way.'

"Mr. Gresley continued to fill the office of honorary secretary to this Society until the close of 1860. At the first meeting held in 1861, the committee received his resignation with great regret, and in order to mark their appreciation of his services at once elected him an honorary member of the Society. Since that period he has shown the liveliest interest in its welfare, being always anxious to receive from his successor every scrap of printed matter reporting its proceedings; and within a fortnight of his departure, he employed an amanuensis to write to him respecting some details in connection with our transactions, simply adding with his own hand his name, and a request for the prayers of his friends, which I have no doubt he obtained.

"Yours faithfully,

"T. NORTH, HON. SEC." As an antiquarian writer Mr. Gresley was careful, painstaking, and industrious. His principal forte lay in ecclesiastical archæology, and in this his opinions were usually sound and reliable. In 1854 he printed a "History of Stoneleigh Abbey," and in 1856 "An Account of Croyland Abbey, from the MSS. and drawings of Dr. Stukeley." To the Leicestershire Architectural and Archæological Society he contributed the following papers, among others, which have been printed in their transactions, viz. :—

A Paper on Ancient Seals with Twisted Rushes and Straws (illustrated by Drawings and a Charter dated 21, Edward IV., with Seal attached. Blackfordby, Leicestershire, its Ecclesiastical History, and its Chapel, with extracts from one of the Registers, and some Account of the Butt-house and of the Joyce Family (illustrated by drawings).