The Cleeve Family of Greensted – Part 1

Alexander Cleeve born in 1666 was a wealthy merchant and pewterer of London. In 1695 he purchased Greensted Hall, from Robert Hulson. In addition to the Hall, Cleeve obtained the advowson of Greensted and also High Laver. He married twice, firstly to Mary Duffield, with whom he had four sons [ Alexander, John, Benjamin and Simon]. Upon the death of Mary he married Anne Bouchier, with whom he had seven children, [Bowcher, Richard, Philippa, Jane, Ann, Mary and Elizabeth].
Alexander Cleeve died in 1738 and in his will he left considerable sums of money and property to his children. His will gives details of his bequests.
Alexander Cleeve, Citizen and Pewterer of London. Will dated 21 Dec. 1737, proved 13 April 1738, by Anne Cleeve the relict, & Bourchier alias Bowcher Cleeve the son. To my eldest son Alexander Cleeve (whom I have already sufficiently advanced) my leasehold messuage in the Strand. To my son John Cleeve my farm etc., at Greenstead, now in the tenure of John Bull, & also the Advowson & presentation to the Church at High Laver, of which Church my gd. Son is the present incumbent. I have already advanced to my son Simon Cleeve £1400 & now give him enough to make it up to £2000. My freehold messuage in my own occupation in Cornhill, London, & my freehold messuage in Bread Str., London, to my wife Anne & my son Bowcher Cleeve. To my son Benjamin £2000. Half of my stock as a pewterer, to my son Bowcher Cleeve. To my two daughters Jane and Anne, messusge and farm, etc., at Greenstead & Bobbingworth, late in the occupation of Thos. Piggott & now of Thos. Dennis, & also my other Farm called Repentance in Greenstead. I also give them £1000 each at the ages of 21 or marriage. To my daughter Mary Cleeve, messuages, farm, etc., in Greenstead, High Ongar & Standford Rivers, & also £1000 at age 21 or marriage. To my two youngest children Richard and Elizabeth Cleeve, my manor & farm called Vaux otherwise Foes, in the parishes of Otting & Walter Belchamp in Essex, & also I give them £1000 each at age of 21. On my marriage I settled upon Trustees my manor of Greenstead Hall & divers tenements, etc., and I now devise them to John Elderton, Esq., Common Cryer of London, & Wm. Edden, Pewterer, in trust for my wife, & at her decease to be sold for the benefit of my children. To my wife £100 for mourning. To Agent [sic] Alexander Cleeve, my sisters Walton and Bowcher, my sons John, Benjamin, Simon, Bowcher & Richard, my daughters Jane, Anne, Mary & Elizabeth, £10 each for mourning. To the aforesaid John Elderton & Wm. Edden £20 each. To my two journeymen John Reeves & Giles Cleeve, senr., & to Giles Cleeve junr., £5 each. My friend Peter Kelk £5. Residue to my wife Ann & my son Bowcher Cleeve, joint Ex’ors. ALEX. CLEEVE.
Witnesses, Robt. Markham & Joseph Curtis, waiters at the Rainbow Coffee house, Cornhill. John Ellis, scrivener.
(To be continued)