Ralph Wormeley, III

GEDCOM Note

(Research): From «i»The Diary of William Byrd of Virginia «/i»1709-1712 June 16, 1709 "...While we were at dinner Col. Harrison, Mr. Commissary and Mr.Wormeley* came to see us but would not eat with us. They likewise brought me some letters. Captain Wilcox dined with us. His people brought me a box of ? from P-r-c-r. I walked about the plantation. Mr. Wormeley and I played billiards and I won half a crown.".

• Probably Ralph Wormely III.

GEDCOM Note

Ralph died in his twenties, He was unmarried and was in school in England when his father died, but returned soon afterwards and on coming of age inherited Rosegill-which would later be inherited by his brother John.
Ralph III was Sheriff of Middlesex, 1704-1705. He would have been underage so this suggests the extraordinary favor shown the son of the late Ralph Wormeley, appointing him nominal Sheriff for Middlesex and in absentia (he was still in England), leaving the office to be served by a deputy. This surpasses even the raising of Mann Page to the Council without previous service in a vestry, a county court, or the House of Burgesses.
His will, dated December 3, 1713, was proved in Middlesex, April 6 1714. It is assumed from the dates of construction that he built the early 'Rosegill'-1730-50.The original house was half-story brick covered by a gabled roof. The present building was enlarged with 11 bays & a 12 ft. wide hall across the river front, stairways & a marble mantle in the drawing room. 'Rosegill' underwent major renovation in the 1940s. When it was threatened by fire in the 1970s, the entire rallied to save this magnificent relic of Colonial Virginia.

(See note for 'Rosegill' with Ralph Wormely II.)