Family and Education

b. 6 Aug. 1535, 1st s. of Sir John Price of Brecon, Brec. and Hereford by Joan, da. of John Williams alias Cromwell of Southwark, Surr.; bro. of Richard^†. m. (1) by Nov. 1559, Mary, da. of Humphrey Coningsby of Hampton Court, Herefs., 1s.; (2) by 1598, Grissel, da. of Walter Roberts of Glassenbury, Kent, wid. of Gervase Gebons, 1da.; 2s. 1da. illegit. suc. fa. 15 Oct. 1555.1

Offices Held

J.p. Herefs. 1564, q. by 1573/74-d., Brec. 1591-d.; sheriff, Herefs. 1566-7, 1575-6, 1595-6, Brec. Feb.-Dec. 1587, 1594-5, commr. musters, Herefs. 1570, tanneries, Hereford 1574, subsidy, Herefs. 1580, 1591-2; mayor, Hereford 1573-4, 1576-7, 1597-8; dep. lt. Brec. 1587.2

Biography

According to the commonplace book kept by his father, Gregory Price was born on 6 Aug. 1535, some ten months after John Price’s marriage to Cromwell’s niece; he was named after Gregory Cromwell. Price had not come of age when he inherited his father’s lands in Herefordshire; the smaller Breconshire properties, including Brecon priory, passed by will to his brother Richard, with whom he shared most of their father’s books. Price was licensed to enter into his patrimony in November 1557. Two months earlier he and Thomas Kerry had paid £950 for the manor and priory of Monmouth, four other manors in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and Suffolk, and a brewhouse in Hereford, all former church property.3

Price’s election as senior knight for Herefordshire to the last Marian Parliament was a rare distinction for a youngster of 22 whose inexperience was not offset by impressive lineage: it is all the more striking in that he never achieved it again. He presumably owed his election in 1558 to two previous knights of the shire: Thomas Havard, whom Price’s father had named an executor of his will, was a relative of the sheriff, and Humphrey Coningsby was perhaps already Price’s father-in-law. Nothing has come to light about Price’s part in the House on this occasion. Although he lacked his father’s ability he was to be prominent in marcher affairs until his death on 19 Mar. 1600. His widow married Sir John Poyntz^†.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: P. S. Edwards

Notes

• 1. Date of birth recorded by father, Brycheiniog, viii. 102. DWB; Vis. Herefs. ed. Weaver, 58; CPR, 1560-3, p. 133; J. Maclean, Fam. Poyntz, 88; PCC 39 More, 45 Chaynay, 28 Wallop; C142/261/24.
• 2. CPR, 1563-6, p. 23; R. Johnson, Anct. Customs, Hereford, 233-4; Duncumb, Herefs. i. 367; J. Price, Hereford, 258; R. Flenley, Cal. Reg. Council, Marches of Wales, 69; HMC Foljambe, 26; APC, xx. 23.
• 3. Brycheiniog , viii 102; PCC 39 More; NLW Jnl. ix. 255-61: CPR , 61; 1555-7, p. 242; 1557-8, p. 269.
• 4. PCC 39 More, 28 Wallop; C142/261/24.