Ralph Ravenscroft

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: unknown.

Place of Death: unknown.

Relationships

Father: Henry Ravenscroft of Bretton.

This relationship is given by Lloyd (5:266), by Lewys Dwnn (2:315), by Jenkins (DWB sub Ravenscroft), and by the 1580 visitation of Cheshire (Rylands, p. 195; informant Ralph’s great grandson, George Ravenscroft). He is also given as Ralph's father in a 1573 grant of arms given by Green. Ralph is named as Henry’s son in Henry’s 1486 will.

(supposed) Mother: Joanna, daughter to Sir Walter Radcliffe of Ordsall.

This relationship is given by Ravenscroft (p. 4). The 1580 visitation of Cheshire (Rylands, p. 195; informant Ralph’s great grandson, George Ravenscroft) does not name Joanna, but names her father. I have not been able to find Sir Walter or his daughter, Joanna, in accounts of the Radcliffes of Ordsall. Lloyd (5:266) makes her the daughter of Sir John Radcliffe and Margaret de Trafford, which would seem to be too early and which is contradicted by Hampson (p. 143), who gives Sir John’s daughter Joan two other husbands, but not Henry.

Spouse: Anne Stanley. Married before 1499.

This relationship is given by Ormerod (3:577) and by the 1580 visitation of Cheshire (Rylands, p. 195; informant Ralph and Anne’s great grandson, George Ravenscroft). The inquisition post mortem of Anne’s mother, Elizabeth Weever, gives Anne’s husband as Ralph Ravenscroft, Esq. (Earwicker 2:597 fn).

(supposed) Spouse: a daughter of George Hurleston.

This relationship is given by Ravenscroft (p. 4) and by Lloyd (5:266).

Children (by Anne):

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

George Ravenscroft married Elen ferch Richard.

John Ravenscroft married Margaret Dod.

Elianor Ravenscroft married John Redishe.

Cicily Ravenscroft married Gibbon Wood.

Alice Ravenscroft (died July 1579) married (1) Adrian d'Ewes (died 5 July 1551); married (2) William Ramsey.

Evidence

From The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (Recognizance Rolls of Chester).

(pp. 610-611):

Ravenscroft.

1477-8, Jan. 13. Ralph, Hugh Davenport, of Hendebury, Richard Clyve, Richard Brette, and John Clayton, to the Earl of Chester, recognizance for 40l. that the said Ralph keep the peace towards Thomas Bean.[17 & 18 Edw. 4. m. 4 (3).]

1479-80, Jan. 11. Ralph, John Eggerton, Thomas Hokis, John Brnyn, armiger, and Ralph Werberton, to Edward Earl of Chester, a like recognizance. [19 & 20 Edw. 4. m. 6 d. (2).]

1487-8, Jan. 15. Ralph, Hamo Caryngton, John Bruyn, Ralph Moreton, and Hugh Hassall, to the King, recognizance that the said Ralph keep the peace towards Richard Tegyne, and John Corneton. [3 & 4 Hen. 7. m. 5 (2).]

1488, Dec. 16. Ralph, John Arderne, armiger, John Merbury, armiger, Richard Golborne, and John Whitmore, to the King, recognizance for 40l. that the said Ralph keep the peace towards Henry Fox. [4 & 5 Hen. 7. m. 4 (3).]

1491, Oct. 18. Ralph, Thomas Legh, of Hegh Legh, Thomas Danyell, of Tabley, and Peter Legh, of Chester, to the Earl of Chester, recognizance for 100 marks that Thomas son of Thomas Rede keep the peace towards Ralph Moreton. [7 & 8 Hen. 7. m. 3 (4).]

1491-2, Jan. 17. Ralph, Andrew Brereton, armiger, Richard Cotton, armiger, George Holforde, Kt., and Geoffrey Mascy, Kt., to the Earl of Chester, recognizance for 40l. that the said Ralph keep the peace towards Henry Fox. [7 & 8 Hen. 7. m. 2 (5).]

1495-6, Jan. 17. Ralph, George Holford, Kt., John Donne, Kt., Ralph Werberton, and Humphry Wynyngton, to the Earl of Chester, recognizance for 40l. that the said Ralph keep the peace towards Henry Fox. [11 & 12 Hen. 7. m. 1 (3).]

Ralph was a surety to a 1489 lease of Mostyn to Henry Salesbury and a 1501 lease of Mostyn to Richard ap Hywel (p. 555).

By an agreement of 26 June 1497 (National Archives catalogue DDM 48/30), Ralph is a feoffee of William Torbok, esquire, of the manor of Torbok.

A deed from 1499/1500:

19.

March 10.

LEASE for 32 years from James Smethley and Edward Tyrpyng, chaplains, feoffees of Ralph Ravenscrofte of Bretton, esq., to Richard Godemon of Chester, esq., of a garden, 35 royal yards in breadth and 42 royal yards in length, lying in Bruggesstrete in the city of Chester. Yearly rent, 6s. 8d. Witnesses: John Clyff, mayor of Chester; Roger Smyth, mercer; John Solley, sheriff of Chester. Latin.

from the Rylands Charters: 

RYCH/1048

13 Aug 1505

Lease by Ralph Ravenscroft, burgess of Denbigh in Northwall, to Robert Flechar, burgess of Denbigh.

A grant of arms:

1573/4.

93.

Feb. 3.

GRANT from Robert Cooke, esq. Clarencieux King of Arms, to George Ravenscrofte of Bretton, co. Flint, (son and heir of Thomas Ravenscrofte, son of George Ravenscrofte, son of Ralfe Ravenscrofte, son of Henry Ravenscrofte, son of Hugh Ravenscrofte and of Isabell his wife daughter and one of the heirs of Ralf Holland and of Rose his wife, daughter and heir of John Scavington, son of William Scavington and of Mary his wife, daughter and heir of Hugh Brickhall), of the arms borne by his ancestors.

References

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).

Earwaker, J. P. (John Parsons). East Cheshire, past and present, or, A history of the hundred of Macclesfield in the county Palatine of Chester - from original records. (London: Printed for the Author, 1878-1880).

Green, Francis (compiler). Hawarden Deeds. (Carmarthen, 1931).

Hampson, Charles P. The Book of the Radclyffes (Edinburgh, 1940).

Jenkins, Robert Thomas. “Ravenscroft”. Welsh Biography Online.

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).

Ravenscroft, William, and Raymond Bathurst Ravenscroft. The Family of Ravenscroft. (London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1915), page 5.

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

The Rylands Charters indexed at https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/29f0299f-5da1-342a-97a8-be3f70529866 

Will of Henry Ravenys[croft], in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/12/139.

The Thirty-Seventh Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (London: 1876).