John Ravenscroft

John inherited from his father an interest in the Rectory of Horsham, which was converted to a fee simple in 1607. (It was estimated at 100 acres in 1615). Properties in Horsham named in his inquisition post mortem included land near Newlands, “Millwards,” “Chowes,” “Huggetts,” and “Parratts,” a capital messuage called “Bolters” and “le Gatehouse” adjoining, “Langridge Barn,” and “Culverland alias Culverhouse land.” He settled these 2 May 1615 in consideration of his marriage with Elizabeth Michell, but John died without male issue by her. John also died seized of the manor of Hewells, Sussex. Other properties named in his IPM were a water mill and adjoining lands called “Hewell Mill” and “Tanners Mead,” several messuages and shops in Horsham, “Baldwyns,” “Apsleys Gardon,” a tenement or shop called “Copped Hall,” and “Mayning” and “Figgfield,” both in Nuthurst. (Information from Attree and the VCH, cited below.)

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Baptism: 26 April 1571.

Place of Baptism: Horsham, Sussex, England.

The baptism is recorded in the parish register. (“John Ravenscrofte the sonne of Peter Ravenscrofte, gent.”)

Date of Death: 12 September 1615.

Place of Death: Horsham, Sussex, England.

The date is given by Attree (p. 189) in his notes on the inquisition post mortem of John Ravenscroft. The place is given by Comber (1:313), although this may just be an assumption.

Date of Burial: 15 September 1615.

Place of Burial: Horsham, Sussex, England.

The burial is recorded in the parish register (“Mr John Ravenscroft, househoulder”).

Relationships

Father: Peter Ravenscroft (unknown - 1574).

The baptism record names Peter Ravenscroft as the father of John. His name is also given in the 1634 visitation of Sussex in the Ravenscroft pedigree (presumed informant John’s son Hall Ravenscroft), and the 1580 visitation of Cheshire (informant John’s first cousin George Ravenscroft). Peter names his son John in his will.

Mother: Elizabeth Hall (1538 - 1606/7).

Elizabeth Hall is given as the mother of John Ravenscroft in the 1634 visitation of Sussex in the Ravenscroft pedigree (presumed informant John’s son Hall Ravenscroft.) Peter Ravenscroft names his wife Elizabeth, and his “brother” (brother in law) George Hall in his will. John named his eldest son “Hall”. John Ravenscroft was the nephew and heir of Elizabeth’s brother, George Hall. George Hall named his "wel-beloved Nephew" John Ravenscroft the executor of his will, and also mentioned his sister, Elizabeth Keveridge. Elizabeth names John Ravenscroft as her son in her will.

Spouse: Judith Ferne (unknown - 1614).

Her name is given in the 1634 visitation of Sussex in the Ravenscroft pedigree (presumed informant her son Hall Ravenscroft). Her burial record describes her as “Judeth the wife of John Ravenscraft, gent.”

Spouse: Elizabeth Michell. Married 10 May 1615 in Horsham, Sussex, England.

The date is given by Attree (p. 189) in his notes on the inquisition post mortem of John Ravenscroft. The date and place are given by Comber (1:313). The marriage doesn't appear in Rice's transcription of the parish registers.

Children (by Judith Ferne):

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Jane Ravenscroft married Henry Bridger 6 April 1613.

Hall Ravenscroft (about 1600 - buried 1681) married Elizabeth Stapley. Member of Parliament for Horsham.

Elizabeth Ravenscroft (baptized 22 February 1601/2 in Horsham) married William Richbell, married secondly Daniel Bridges.

Anne Ravenscroft (baptized 24 October 1603 in Horsham) married Thomas Petley 10 December 1622 in Ifield, Sussex.

Bridget Ravenscroft (baptized 28 April 1605 in Horsham - buried 11 September 1624 in Horsham)

Mary Ravenscroft (baptized 7 April 1607 in Horsham - buried 4 February 1680/1 in Horsham) married Nicholas Sheppard 30 June 1625 in Horsham, Sussex. Left a PCC will (probate 15 February 1681).

William Ravenscroft (baptized 31 July 1610 in Horsham - buried 19 October 1615 in Horsham)

Judith Ravenscroft (baptized 2 December 1611 in Horsham - buried 24 July 1614 in Horsham)

Evidence

from the Horsham parish register (Rice's transcription):

Baptisms:

[1571 April 26] John Ravenscrofte y^e sonne of Peter Ravenscrofte, gent.

[1601/2 February 22] Elizabeth the daughter of John Ravenscroft, gent., by Judith his wife

[1603 October 24] Anne the daughter of John Ravenscrofte, gent., by Judith his wife

[1605 April 28] Bridget the daughter of John Ravnchraft, gent., by Judeth his wife

[1607 April 7] Marie the daughter of John Ravenscroft, gent., by Judeth his wife

[1610 31 July] William sonn of John Ravenscrafte by Judeth his wife

[1611 December 2] Judeth daughter of John Ravenscrafte, gent., by Judeth his wife

Burials:

[1614 July 24] Judeth daughter of John Ravenscraft, gent.

[1614 September 15] Judeth the wife of John Ravenscraft, gent.

[1615 September 15] M^r John Ravenscroft, househoulder

[1615 October 19] William Ravenscrofte, a childe

[1624 September 11] Bridget Ravenscraft, gent., a mayde

A transcription of John Ravenscroft’s will:

In the name of God amen I John Ravenscrofte of Horsham in the Countie of Sussex gent beinge sick in bodie and perfect in memorie thankes be given to god doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament And First I bequeath my Soule to Almightie god and my bodie to be buried in Christian buriall Item I will and bequeath tenne shillings to the vicar of Horsham Item I bequeath to the poore of Horsham Fortie shillings to be payd and distributed among them at my buriall Item I bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife tenne pounds to buy her a chayne of golde Item I bequeath to Elizabeth Ravenscrofte my daughter twoe hundred poundes to be payd at the daye of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares Item I bequeath unto Anne Ravenscrofte my daughter two hundred poundes to by payd at the day of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares Item I will and bequeath to Bridget Ravenscrofte my daughter twoe hundred poundes to be payd at the daye of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares Item I will and bequeath to Marie Ravenscrofte my daughter two hundred poundes to be payd at the daye of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares Item if my wife be now with child with daughter I bequeath unto that daughter two hundred poundes of lawfull money of England to be payd at the day of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares Item I will and bequeath to William Ravenscroft my sonne two hundred poundes to be payd within six monethes after my decease to be employed to the most benefit to his use Item I will that my daughters if either of them shall die before the receipt of their portions shalbe heires equall one to the other Item I give unto my ??er an angell to buy her a ringe Item I bequeath to Elizabeth Woodgate tenne shillings to buy her a ringe Item to Arthur Woodgate the younger I bequeath twentie shillings Item I will that my daughters be mayntayned by my executor with meate drinke and apparrell untill such tymes as they shall receive thir portions All the rest of my goods and chattells moveable or unmoveable together with landes and leases payinge my debts I bequeath to Hall Ravenscrofte my Sonne whome I make whole and sole Executor of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills heretofore made And to see my will thus performed I make John Collins and Arthur Woodgate my Overseers Item I will that if my Sonne Hall Ravenscrofte shall die before he doth accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares that then William Ravenscrofte my second sonne shalbe my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and that all my landes leases and goodes payinge my debts and legacies before mentioned shall come to him and that John Collens and Arthur Woodgate shall receive all the rentes and revenewes of my lands and debts and shall employe all the moneyes to sayle of stockes for my daughters portions before mentioned Item I give unto my daughter Bridget tenne shillings to buy her a ringe Lastly I will and ordayne that those my overseers shall be accomptable to my Sonne Hall Ravenscrofte and is he shall die before he come to the age of one and twentie yeares then to make their accompt to my sonne William Ravenscrofte for the residue of this money when he shall come to the age of one and twentie yeares In witness whereof I sett to my hande and seale this Second of September Anno domini 1615 In the presence of these whose names are underwritten. By me John Ravenscrofte Read Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of John Collings and Arthur Woodgate beinge speciallie requested thereunto John Collins Arthur Woodgate

[proved 25 May 1617 by Hall Ravenscroft]

References

Horsham Parish Register: Baptisms, in Sussex Record Society. Sussex Record Society (Series), 21:130.

“1571 Apr. 26 John Ravenscrofte ye sonne of Peter Ravenscrofte, gent.”

Horsham Parish Register:Burials, in Sussex Record Society. Sussex Record Society (Series), 21:381.

“Judeth the wife of John Ravenscraft, gent.”

Horsham Parish Register: Burials, in Sussex Record Society. Sussex Record Society (Series), 21:383.

“Mr John Ravenscroft, househoulder”

Will of John Ravenscrofte, Gentleman of Horsham, Sussex (probate 25 May 1617), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/129/559.

Will of Elizabeth Keveredge, in Church of England. Bishop of Chichester. Consistory Court (Archdeaconry of Chichester). Wills and Administrations, Vol. 15, no. 256b (FHL British Film 194566) , 1607.

W. Bruce Bannerman (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Sussex, made and taken in the years 1530 by Thomas Benolte, Clarenceux king of arms, and 1633-4 by John Philipot, Somerset herald, and George Owen, York herald, for Sir John Burroughs, Garter, and Sir Richard St. George, Clarenceux (London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1905); digital copy Open Library (https://archive.org/stream/visitationscoun00banngoog#page/n5/mode/2up : accessed 12 March 2014). p. 171, citing Harl. 1562, fo. 154.

Rylands, J. Paul. The Visitation of Cheshire in the Year 1580 ... (London, 1882), p. 195, citing Harl. 1424, fo. 120.

Bannerman, William Bruce (ed.); John Philipot; Thomas Benolte; and George Owen. The visitations of the county of Sussex, made and taken in the years 1530 by Thomas Benolte, and 1633-4 by John Philipot, and George Owen. (London: The Harleian Society, 1905), p. 171.

Attree, F. W. T. Notes of post mortem inquisitions taken in Sussex: 1 Henry VII to 1649 and after, [1485-1649]. (London: Sussex Record Society, 1912), Page 189, No. 874.

John Ravenscrofte, gent. Vol. 351, No. 114.

Horsham, 2 Nov. 13 James. Died 12 Sept. last.

Heir, son Haull R., aged 15 and more.

Lands. -- Rectory of Horsham, land near Newlands, "Millwards,", "Chowes," "Huggetts," "Parratts," all in Horsham, capital messuage called "Bolters" and "le Gatehouse" adjoining, "Langridge Barn," "Culverland alias Culverhouse land" in H. On May 2 last in consideration of marriage between himself and Elizabeth Michell, settled same. They married Horsham 10 May last. J.R. died without male issue by her. Eliz. survives at Horsham. J.R. also seized of manor of Hewells, co. Sussex, also water mill and lands adjoining called "Hewell Mill" and "Tanners Mead," also several messuages and shops in Horsham, "Baldwyns" and "Apsleys Garden," a tenement or shop called "Copped Hall," "Maynings" in Nuthurst, "Figgfield" in Nuthurst.

“Hall of Horsham & London, & Ravenscroft of Horsham”, in Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, 1:475.

Horsham: Manors and Other Estates, in Page, William; Susan M Keeling; Louis Francis Salzman; and C. P. Lewis. The Victoria history of the county of Sussex. (London: A. Constable, 1905-), Volume 6 Part 2 pages 156-166.

England. Sussex. Genealogies of Families Living In Sussex, citing Sussex Genealogies (1931-), Comber, John, (Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons, 1931-), FHL book 942.25 D2s; FHL microfilm 924,767., vol. 1 p. 313.

Hall of Horsham & London, & Ravenscroft of Horsham, Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, 1:475.