William Grindecobbe motivated at least in part to rebel as a result of the pressures of papal taxation. Along with Wat Tyler and John Wrawe, he was one of the key leaders of the peasants during the revolt of 1381, leading the townspeople of St Alban's on 15 June. He was executed in 1381 along with John Wrawe and John Ball. His trial and execution was overseen by Henry le Despenser. During the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, he became well known for his actions against the high lord Thomas de la Mare, Abbot of St. Albans. He led a deputation to King
John Tate (Lord Mayor of London) in 1497. He was a generous benefactor to St. Anthony's Hospital, St Benet Fink in the City of London in which connection John Stow in his "Survey of London" (1598) wrote of him as follows: He had married Magdalen and had 3 sons, of which the youngest, Bartholomew, was made his heir. John Tate (Lord Mayor of London) Sir John Tate (died 1515) was twice Lord Mayor of London and a Member of Parliament. He was born the son of Thomas Tate of Coventry and became a mercer of the City of London, initially apprenticed to his uncle, John Tate,