Peter Ravenscroft was Gentleman of the Horse to the Duke of Norfolk, a distant cousin of his. It is presumably through this connection that Peter came to Horsham from Cheshire, as the Duke had property at Horsham, and Peter mentions in his will that he had bought property from the Duke. At his death in 1574, Peter held the lease of Horsham Rectory and the manor of Coltstaple. A Peter Rainscroft, gent., was a juror for Thomas Culpepper's inquisition post mortem in Horsham in August, 13 Elizabeth 1.
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: May 1574.
Place of Death: unknown.
He made his will 5 May 1574 and was buried 13 May 1574.
Date of Burial: 13 May 1574.
Place of Burial: Horsham, Sussex, England.
The parish register records his burial.
Relationships
Father: George Ravenscroft
Mother: Elen ferch Richard ap Hywel
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Jane (buried 9 October 1562 in Horsham), the widow of Henry Voyce. Married 4 February 1550/51 in Horsham, Sussex, England.
The marriage is recorded in the parish register (Peter Raugeroft (sic), servant to the Duke of Somersett, maried Jane the wydow of Henry Voyce.)
Spouse: Elizabeth Hall (1538 - 1606/7), the widow of Roger Voyce. Married 5 December 1569 in Horsham, Sussex, England.
The marriage is recorded in the parish register (Peter Ravenscraft, gent., widower, of ys parish, maried to Elizabeth Foyce, wydowe of ys same parish). Elizabeth mentions John Ravenscroft her son, and Peter Ravenscroft his father in her will. Peter Ravenscroft mentions “Elizabeth my wife” and “my brother George Hall” in his will.
Children (by Jane):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
George Ravenscroft (unknown - died young)
Thomas Ravenscroft (unknown- buried 5 July 1564)
Children (by Elizabeth):
John Ravenscroft (baptized 26 April 1571 in Horsham - died 12 September 1615 in Horsham) married (1) Judith Ferne; married (2) Elizabeth Michell 10 May 1615 in Horsham, Sussex, England.
Evidence
from the Horsham parish registers (Rice tr.):
[1556]
May 8 Jane the dowghter of Roger Voyce & of Elysabth hys wyfe; the godfather of the same Jane, Master Thomas Carell, gentyllman, the godmothers Jane the wyfe of Peter Ravenscroft, gentyllman, & Elysabth the wyfe of Thomas Hall, gentyllman
A transcription of Peter Ravenscroft’s will:
In the name of god amen the fifth day of May in the yere of our Lord god one thousand five hundred seventie and foure, I Peter Ravenscroft of Horsham in the countie of Sussex and Dioce of Chichester beinge sicke and feble in body but of good and perfecte memory (god be thanked) make and ordine this my testament and last will in manner and forme folowinge, First I bequeth my Soule to almightie god my maker and redemer and I will that my body be buried with in the church of Horsham aforesaid, Item I give and bequeth to the Cathedrall churche of Chichester twelve pence, Item I give and bequeth to John my sonne my first and best bedsted and feather bedd with the furniture thereto hereafter folowinge that is to say one covlett two blancketts two pillowes, foure pillowberes one boulster two paire of sheets all this to be of the best Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne my three bed steds and feather bedd with the furniture thereto hereafter folowinge that is to say one coverlet one paire of blanketts two pillowes foure pilloweberes one boulster and sixe paire of sheets, Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne my two best brasse potts my best brasse pan one brasse caldron, two brasse kettells, one bell posnett, one latten chafinge dishe, fowre latten candelstickes, one brasse ladle, one lassen skymer, one brasse chafer two spitts the one greate the other smale, two Drippinge pannes, two fryinge pannes, one paire of Andiorns, one gridiron, one paire of pothooks, one paire of pothangers, one basen and an ewer of pewter, one pewter chardger, six pewter platters sixe pewter dishes, six sawsers of pewter, six pewter pottingers, two pewter salt sellers, thre pewter potts, one of them to be a pottell pott, the other a quarte pott, the other a pynte pott Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne one diaper table cloth one diaper towell, one daycubard cloth, halfe adosen of Diaper napkins, two plaine table clothes, two plaine towells and a dosen and a halfe of plaine napkins, Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne two greate chests one greate turkey karpett, one table; two foormes and halfe a dosen of wyned stooles, Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne my best silver goblet with the cover my best silver salteseller with the cov: one dosen of silver spones and one stone imyge with a silver lydde, Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne all that my Lease right tills interest and terms of yeres that I have of and in the parsonage of Horsham aforsaid, and all that my Lease right tills interest and terme of yeres that I have of and in the onlee parke with thappurtenances late parcell of the possessions of Sir Roger Lewknor knight deceased and also all that my lease right tills interest and terme of yeres that I nowe have or that hereafter shall or maye have of and in the parsonage of warneham And also all that my Lease right tills interest and terme of yeres that I have of and in my farme called Colestaple All and singuler which said severall Leases I will to be delivered to my said Sonne (whole and undefaced) immediately after my decease Item I give and bequeth on my said sonne my best Cloke garded with velvett my Rapier and best dagger Item I give and bequeth to my said sonne all such money and duties above now due to me for a certeine Anuitie or anuall rent with thearrerage thereof payable to me oute of certeine Lands and Tenements called Saltehouse by the bequest of George Ravenscrofte my father deceased, Item I give and bequeth to Robert Treadcrofte my servante Twelve shillings, Item I give and bequeth to my brother George Hall my blacke coulte, Item I give and bequeth to Stephen Cetheridge my servante thre shillings and foure pence, and to evry one of my other servants aswell maide servants as menservants thre shillings and foure pence Item I give and bequeth to evry one of John Halls children thre shillings and foure pence Item I give and bequeth to my godsonne Ravenscrofte Voyce thre shillings and foure pence, Item I give to my daughter in Lawe William Seales wyfe Tenne shillings Item I give to James Allen scholemaster my blacke gowne, Item I give to Bryan Voyce Twentie shillings Item I give bequeth and remytt to my wyfs daughters that is to say to Mary Elizabeth Margarett Judith and Susan when they shalbe of lawfull age or maried (but not before) all suche right as I have of and in the wardshippe of them or any of them And if it happen any of the said daughters to dye before they be of lawfull age or day of mariage as is aforsaid that then one to be therein others heires the ordringe and dealinge of and in the wardshippes in forme aforsaid to be at the discrecon of myne executrix and overseers hereunder named The residue of all and singuler my goods cattells chattells and debts whatsoever in these presents not before legazidd or bequethed I give and bequeth to Elizabeth my wyfe whome I make I make the sole executrix of this my presente testament and last will, Provided alwayes and yett neverthelesse my mynde and will is that my said executrix shall have and paye to her owne proper use all and singuler the tythes and proffitts of all and singuler the foure severall leases in this parish to my said sonne above given and bequethed untill such tyme as my said sonne shall accomplishe his full age of one and twentie yeres if she my said Executrix shall fortune so longe to live, for and in considerance and under the condicone hereunder folowinge that is to say that she my said Executrix shall fynde unto my said sonne at her owne coste & chardge all things necessary for his findinge and clothinge and bringinge hym up in learninge untill he be of his said age of one and twentie yeres and pay and dischardge at her like coste and chardge all suche rents as are upon the said Leases re[...]ed, and also that she my said Executrix shall at her like coste and Charge at or before the Determynacon of my Lease and terme of yeres of and in my farme called Colestaple aforsaid if she fortune to live so longe promise(?) and gett to the use of my said sonne a new lease of my said farme called Colestaple for the terme of one and twentie yeres the said terme to begyne from the day of the Determinacon of my said Lease that I now have in the said farme called Colestaple and the said Lease by her so purchased and gotten to be delivered to my said sonne hole uncancelled and undefaced at thaccomplishment of his said age of one and twentie yeres or else well and truly to pay or cause to be paied to my said sonne the summe of one hundred marcks of lawfull money of England when he shall accomplish his said age of one and twentie yeres, And I will that it shalbe at the choyse and Discrecon of myne overseers hereunder named to chose for my said sonnes most proffitt and behalfe either the said Lease in forme aforsaid to be promised(?) and gotten or els the said hundred marks And if it shall happen my said executrix to dye before the said Lease be so to be purchased and gotten, then I will my said sonne shalbe kepte & brought up as is aforsaid by myne overseers here under named and they to receave and take to the use of my said sonne all suche proffitts and revenues as shall come unto hym by vertue of this my testament and last will Provided alwaies and my minde and will is that my said executrix before she shall take upon her the execucon of this my testament and last will or otherwise receive any proffitt of any my goods cattells & chattells or debts to her above bequethed shall by bonde in the Lawe sufficient and perforce stande bounde to myne overseers hereundernamed in the Somme of five hundred marcks of good and Lawful money of England for the true performance of this my testament and last will videlicet in all things and by all things accordinge to the time tenor purport and meaninge thereof The overseers of this my testament & last will I make and ordeine my brother George Hall aforsaid and Thomas A..d and I give to the said Thomas for his paines takinge in this behaulfe Tenne Shillings
This is the last will of me the said Peter touchinge the dispocon of all my Landes tenements and hereditaments whatsoever made and Declared the Day and yere first above said First I give and bequeth to myne Executrix aforsaid all that my house with thappurtenances situate and beinge in Horsham aforsaid which I latelie boughte of Henry Mitchell for and Duringe all the hole terme of her naturall life, she to kepe the same well and sufficientlie repaired from tyme to tyme and not to commyt any sceep or waste therein or therepon or mor? upon any parte therof Duringe the said terme And after the decease of my said Executrix I will the said house with thappurtenances to remaine to my said sonne John and to the heires of his body lawfullie begotten and for the defaulte of suche ysshewe I will the said house with thappurtenances to remaine to my brother George Hall aforsaid and to theires of his bodye Lawfully begotten and for defaulte of such ysshewe I will the said house with thappurtenances to remaine to the Daughters of Roger Voyce late of Horsham aforsaid deceased and to their heires for ever, Item I give & bequeth to my said Executrix all those my Lands and tenements with thappurtenances which I lately Bought of the late Duke of Norfolk untill my said sonne shalbe be of the full age of one and twentie yeres if she fortune to live so longe she to kepe the repacons thereof and not to commytt any charge or waste therein or there upon or in or upon my parte thereof after the which said tyme I will the said lands and tenements with thappurtenances to remaine to my said sonne and the heires of his body lawfully begotten and for defaulte of suche isshewe the same Lands and tennements with thappurtenances to remaine to my said brother George Hall and the heires of his bodye lawfull begotten and for defaulte of suche ysshewe I will the said lands and ten’ts with thappurtenances to remaine also to the said Daughters of the said Roger Voyce and to their heires forever In witness of all which promisses in this my presente testament and last above mentioned and conteyned I the said Peter have hereunto put my hande and Seale the day and yere first Above written witnesses and present at the makinge signinge and insealinge of this presente testament and last will were Richard Kiffin Clerk Henry Mitchell Ric Cay and James Allen
[proved 6 February 1574 by Elizabeth the widow and executrix]
The original of the same will is transcribed here.
Commentary
Peter’s parentage
In his 1574 will, Peter named his father George Ravenscroft.
The Ravenscroft pedigree in the 1634 Visitation of Sussex gives Peter’s father as “George Ravenscrofte”. The informant appears to have been Peter’s grandson Hall Ravenscroft.
The Ravenscroft pedigree in the 1580 Visitation of Cheshire shows Peter’s parents as “George Ravenscroft” and “Elenor d. to Thomas Powell of Moston”. The informant appears to have been a son of Peter’s brother Thomas.
The 1580 Cheshire Visitation is inconsistent with other evidence in assigning Elenor the father “Thomas Powell”. Lewys Dwnn (1:281, 3:308, and 3:315),, J.Y.W. Lloyd (4:149, 5:266), and Bartrum (Tudur Trefor 13 (C2)) all make Thomas Powell Elenor’s brother and her father Richard ap Hywel. (The Welsh surname “Powell” originates in an anglicization of “ap Hywel”.)
Dwnn, Lloyd, and Bartrum appear to be correct. The sources that Bartrum cites for Elenor are Peniarth 134 (a manuscript by Gruffudd Hiraethog written between 1550 and 1562) and Lewys Dwnn. Dwnn collected his information sometime between 1586 and 1613.
Carr in his PhD thesis The Mostyn Family and Estate (p. 319) follows Dwnn and Bartrum.
References
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.
Bartrum, Peter Clement. An electronic Version of Welsh Genealogies AD 300-1500.
“Hall of Horsham & London, & Ravenscroft of Horsham”, in Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, 1:475.
Horsham Parish Register:Marriages, in Sussex Record Society, 21:7.
Peter Raugeroft (sic), servant to the Duke of Somersett, maried Jane the wydow of Henry Voyce
Horsham Parish Register:Marriages, in Sussex Record Society. Sussex Record Society (Series), 21:19.
1569 Dec. 5
Peter Ravenscraft, gent., widower, of ys parish, maried to Elizabeth Foyce, wydowe of ys same parish
Sussex Record Society. West Sussex Burial Index. (Sussex Record Society).
Ravenscroft, Peter; 13 May 1574; Horsham; Husband, gentelman; Parish Register
Sussex Record Society. Post Mortem Inquisitions 1-25 Elizabeth. Volume III (1904)
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.
Lloyd, Jacob Youde William. The history of the princes, the lords marcher and the ancient nobility of Powys Fodog and the ancient lords of Arwystli, Cedewen and Meirionydd. (London: T. Richards, 1881-1887).
“Moiston Hall”, in Dwnn, Lewys, and Samuel Rush Meyrick. Heraldic visitations of Wales and part of the marches between the years 1586 and 1613 by Lewys Dwnn. (Llandovery: William Rees, 1846).
Rylands, J. Paul. The Visitation of Cheshire in the Year 1580 ... (London, 1882), p. 195, citing Harl. 1424, fo. 120.
“Will of Peter Ravenscrofte of Horsham, Sussex” (probate 6 February 1574/5), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/57/69.