Ralph de Sodington

Probably also known as Ralph de Doverdale. (Doverdale and Sodington were neighbouring localities, and Ralph had property in each.)

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: between 1277 and 1292.

Place of Death: unknown.

The Worcestershire VCH (4:sub Mamble) gives about 1274, but (4:sub Eastham) notes that Ralph bought the manor of Eastham in 1277-8, but died before 1292.

Relationships

Father: uncertain.

Presumably he was either the Ralph or Richard de Sodington mentioned in the VCH account of Sodington (sub:Mamble) given below.

Mother: unknown.

Spouse: unknown.

Children:

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

Ralph de Sodington.

William de Sodington (died about 1303).

Mary (Marisca) de Sodington married Reynold le Porter.

Eustacia de Sodington married William de Doverdale.

Joan de Sodington married Walter Blount.

Evidence

from the Victoria History of Worcestershire (4:sub Mamble):

No tenant is given as holding the manor under Roger Mortimer in 1210–12, but Ralph de Sodington held half a knight's fee in Sodington in 1230. In 1248–9 half a virgate of land in Sodington was granted to Richard de Sodington by William de Wadenhurst and Juliana his wife at a rent of 5s., and in 1254–5 Ralph de Sodington held land in Mamble. He died about 1274, when his son Ralph succeeded. William de Sodington, who was lord of Eastham in 1292, died about 1303, when the manor of Sodington passed to his co-heirs, his nephew Richard, son of Reynold le Porter by his wife Mary or Marisca, sister of William de Sodington, and his sisters, Eustacia wife of William de Doverdale and Joan wife of Walter Blount.

from the Victoria History of Worcestershire (3:sub Doverdale):

In 1166 Walter de Doverdale held the manor by the service of one knight's fee, and early in the 13th century William and Hugh Blund were in possession. In a dispute as to the advowson of the church of Doverdale which arose in 1274 it was stated that the vill of Doverdale had been divided (apparently in the time of Henry III) between two sisters, Aline and Idonea. Ralph de Doverdale, great-grandson of Aline, who is probably to be identified with Ralph de Doverdale, who was deputed to inspect certain salt-pits at Droitwich in 1264, died about 1274, leaving a son William, a minor, whose custody was in the hands of Richard de Ombersley. William de Doverdale, coroner for Worcestershire, died about 1303, and is probably to be identified with William de Sodington, who died at this time seised of the manors of Sodington and Doverdale, leaving as his heirs his nephew Richard, son of Reynold le Porter and Marisca eldest sister of William, and his sisters Eustacia wife of William de Doverdale and Joan wife of Walter Blount.

from a 1293 inquisition post mortem for Robert Burnel, bishop of Bath and Wells:

Worcester. Inq. Friday after the Conception of the Blessed Mary, 21 Edward I.

Haneleye. The manor (extent given), held of Hugh de Plesy, owing no service.

Hull by the same manor. A messuage and 60a. land, pasture, and 1/2d, rent, held of William de Sudinton, owing no service.

Cure by the same manor. A messuage &c., 60a. land, 4a. meadow, pasture, a water-mill, and a wood, held of William de Sudynton doing suit of court every three weeks.

Bastwod by the same manor. A messuage, 40a. land, 1a. meadow, pasture, a wood, and 6d. rent, held of William de Sodinton, owing 7s. 6d. and suit of court….

from a 1294 inquisition post mortem for Robert’s son Philip Burnel:

Worcester. Inq. Tuesday the feast of St. Margaret, 22 Edw. I.

Ketelescur’ by Childrene Hanleye. A messuage, 90a. land, 5a. meadow, a several pasture and a water-mill, held of William de Sodynton, lord of Eastham, rendering 5s. yearly and owing suit at the court of Eastham every three weeks.

Bastwode by Ketelescur’. A messuage, 42a. land, 1a. meadow, a several pasture, and 7s. 6d. rent of a free tenant, held of the said William in chief, rendering to him the said 7s. 6d. rent, and owing suit at his court every three weeks.

Hulle by Bastwode. A capital messuage, 30a. land, a several pasture, and 6s. 5d. rents of free tenants, held of the said William in chief, rendering 15d. to him, 5s. 3d. to …, 12d. to Reynald le Porter and 1d. to the church of Eastham.

from the Calendar of the Close Rolls:

1303

May 17. Roxburgh.

To the sheriff of Worcester. Order to cause a coroner for that county to be elected in place of Wiliam Dovordale, deceased.

from the Register of Bishop William Ginsborough:

[1303]

Declaration on oath by the prior of Worcester, Richard de Muscegros, rector of the church of Legh, Richard de la Lynde, Walter Herbert, Reginald le Porter the younger, William le Porter, rector of the church of Poywyk, and Robert de Belne, that Richard, son of Reginald le Porter of Pershore, Eustachia, wife of William de Doverdale, and Joan, wife of Walter le Blound, residing in the diocese of Worcester, are legitimate. Not dated.

1303. Letters of legitimacy for Richard, son of Reginald le Porter of Pershore, Eustachia, wife of William de Doverdale, and Joan, wife of Walter le Blound. Worcester, 5 Kal. Oct., 1303.

References

"Parishes: Doverdale." A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 3. London: Victoria County History, 1913. 69-71.

"Parishes: Eastham." A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4. Eds. William Page, and J W Willis-Bund. London: Victoria County History, 1924. 265-272.

"Parishes: Mamble." A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4. Eds. William Page, and J W Willis-Bund. London: Victoria County History, 1924.

Register of Bishop William Ginsborough, 1303-1307: Edited for the Worcestershire Historical Society. (1907).