Robert Ryves

His birth name is Robert Reve

Robert Ryves (birth name Reve) comes from a very religious family. As we can see in Robert's will he was very religious. In his friends will Robert Oliver of London he is very religious and mentions he wants to distribute shillings to parishioners including Robert Ryves. He also mentions he wants Robert Ryves to appoint preachers. One of his proven Reve relative is Thomas Reve of London, gent. In Robert's Will Index it suggests he was living in Chudleigh. The Ryves (Reve) family was closely involved with the Aden (Adyn) family aliases Barbet/Barbett/Barbette and Barbour. The Reves' and Barbours' can be found in the same records in the 15th century and no doubt this is the family Robert Ryves (Reve) is from.

In this post I am going to connect the dots to help those of you who have been researching the Ryves of Dorset for years and have not yet been able to find a connection and those of you who have not been able to do much research on the Ryves of Dorset. At the bottom of the post I will provide the records mentioned. Not to mention I researched over 700 Reve, Ryves, and Rives variant records. My research is based on facts and knowledge. Comments are welcome.

The Richard Reve in this 1480 record, who comes from the family in these records 65 years earlier, is no doubt related to Robert Ryves (Reve) of Dorset. It is known that during these times in England, families would marry to consolidate land holdings. As we can see, this is just what the Ryves of Dorset did with the Swayne, Pitt, and Aden (The Aden family went by many aliases which I will get to later) families. George Ryves born 1588 also marries his cousin Elizabeth of the same surname!

In Robert Ryves's (Reve’s) will we only find that he refers to himself as Reve. Only after his death he is then referred to as Ryve or Ryves. We can see this in his will and many other records before he died. His birth name was then of course Reve. In his will he has the name William Pytt. In his wife’s will Johan, we can find the name Peter Monsell (Peter Cowper alias Monsell). You can also find the name John Pytt in her will.

Through research we can find the following records in Dorchester:

Fol. [138] 128. 643. Charter of Robert Aden, made to Edith Aden.

Robert Barbet, alias dictus Robert Aden, of Dorchester, draper (reciting that Queen Mary, by letters patent under the Great Seal, inter cetera, granted to Thomas Reve and Giles Isham, gentleman, and their heirs, 23rd July, second year of her reign [1554], a messuage and garden adjacent, in Dorchester, formerly in the tenure of Roger Bond, and afterwards in that of Robert Snellynge, between the tenement of William Palmer on the east and that of John Peryn on the west, late parcel of the lands and possessions of Thomas Seymor, Knight, Lord Seymor of Sudeley, attainted of high treason, and before of the late Preceptory or Hospital of Mayne, to hold of the Queen as of the manor of Easte Grenewiche, by fealty only in free socage, and not in capite, and that the said Thomas Reve and Giles Isham have sold the same to Robert Barbet aforesaid) now sells the said messuage and garden to his mother, Edith Barbet, alias dicta Edith Aden, and her heirs, containing in length, viz., from the back door [postico] in the south part of the messuage to a certain hedge of elder (sepem sambuceam), 340 feet by measure, and in length 30 feet by measure. Warranty. William Stone, jun., and John Howell to deliver seisin. 24th November, I and 2 Philip and Mary [1554]. (Cf. 644.) Fol. [139] 129. 645. Charter of Joan Ryve, made to William Aden.

Joan Ryve, of Blandford Forum, Dorset, widow, late relict of Robert Ryve, of the same, deceased, in her pure widowhood for the intimate love and special zeal she bears to William Aden, alias vocatus William Barbet, of Dorchester, draper, etc., grants to him and his heirs two messuages in Dorchester, (i) One in St. Peter's parish, now in the separate tenure of John Dowredge, on the west side of High South Street, between the burgage of John Stratford on the south and that of John Peryn on the north ; and (2) the other in All Saints' parish, in the separate tenure of John Baunton, on the south side of High East Street, between the burgage of Walter Buclond on the east and that belonging to the parish church of All Saints on the west, to hold of the chief lords of the fee. Warranty. William Stone, jun., and John Howell to deliver seisin. 4th June, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557]. [Cf. 623.)

Thomas Reve appears to be related to Robert Ryves (Reve) of Dorset. Remember the name Aden? The Aden (Adyn) family went by aliases Barbet/Barbett/Barbette and Barbour. Remember this to refer to later especially Peter Cowper alias Monsell. Now the name Bond in the record is also very important because Denis Bond born 1588 is a descendant of the Ryves of Dorset. Not only is he a descendant, his family was also very involved with the Swayne, Pitt, and Churchill families. The Swayne family was also very involved in the Reve, Bond, Churchill, and Pitt familes. Remember I said families would marry to consolidate land holdings? It is a group of closely related families. The name Palmer is another name to refer to later. And no doubt the Ryves (Reves’) of Dorset were closely involved with the Barbour family. Mary Ryves, the daughter of John Ryves who is the son of Robert Ryves (Reve), married an Aden alias Barbour. Also remember the name Stratford to refer to later.

Through more research you can find the following record in Northamptonshire:

PCC REG COODE PROB 11/33

Will of OLIVER, Robert of London 1550 "Item I give to the poor parishioners and householders of Blandford Forum in the county of Dorset where I was born forty shillings to be distributed and given at the oversight of my brother Olyver, Mr. Reve, William Pytte [Pitt] and Peter Cowper, parishioners there where as most need shall require"

"Item I will that there be made four several sermons in the church of Blandford aforesaid for the setting forth of God's glory and the edifying of the congregration there on four several Sundays next after my death, that is to say, for every Sunday one by some godly preacher or preachers to be named and appointed by my brother, Mr Reve, William Pytte and Peter Cowper, to which preacher or preachers for the same four sermons so to be made I give 26s 8d."

Remember Thomas Reve of London, gent? Now you have a proven connection to Robert Ryves (Reve) and Robert Oliver of London. No doubt the Ryves of Dorset had connections to London. Not only does Robert Oliver mention these names, he also mentions Paynter in his will. This is a name to remember to refer to later. Now let’s look at the connections of Thomas Reve. He had a connection to the Cotton family which is another name to refer to later. He also had a business dealing with the Churchill family (which is something I don’t think has much to do with anything).

Now let’s get to the record in 1480. In this 1480 record you find the family names Barbour, Stratford, Couper (an earlier variant of Cowper), Cowper (same as Couper), Palmar (Palmer), Cotoun (Cotton), and of course Reve. This record is in Warwickshire same as the ones 65 years earlier with the same names in them.

In these earlier records you find the family names Couper, Barbour, Compton (which occurs in the the inquisition for John Ryves), Payntour (Paynter), Swayn (Swayne), Palmer, Olyve (Oliver), and finally Reve. I also notice in a 1525 record the Reve family breaking into branches (they go separate ways) which happens with all families of course. In this 1525 record I find the family names Maunsell (Cowper alias Monsell), Olyver (Oliver), Payne (In John Ryves inquisitions), Reve, and many other names that show up in the records of 1415. This break occurs in Bristol.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Ryves_wills - Will Transcription

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/ff1d801a-9f39-4e... - 1480 Record

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/a54e3440-8554-40... - 1415 Record

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/506de355-ef09-4e... - 1416 Record

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/2a7e9bd3-c03b-4f... - 1417 Record

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/b4beeb52-a878-4b... - 1525 Record

And some more breaking into branches related to Robert Ryves (Reve):

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/ee46dd4e-3073-4... - 1455 Record

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/e6774bf6-945d-4... - 1482 Record

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d1485cfe-6773-4... - 1499 Record

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7481031 - 1538 Record

He was granted lands and also bought lands in the Dorset, Damory Castle, Blandford, England. He may have had as many as four sons and nine daughters.

Called Robert of Blandford in Dorsetshire, England.

Burried in the old church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Blandford "between the pillars of the chancel in the north isle (yle?)

Robert Ryves in 1545 purchased Randleston and 1600 acres of land in Dorsetshire, England. Three years later he purchased Damory Court. Both properties were near the village of Blandford in Dorset. His wife's name was Joan. They had one son (John) and two daughters.

___________

Robert Ryves probably represents the second generation in England. From his time (1490-1551) to well into the 19th century the English family gave its full and representative compliment of public men to the British nation and Empire.

Of some fifty-six members of the the family who attained manhood during the five generations succeeding the death of Robert, five had knighthood confirmed upon them; one became Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset; one, speaker of the Irish House of Lords; one, Warden of New College, Oxford; one, an Alderman of London; three, High Sheriffs; one, Mayor of Shaftesbury; one, Town Clerk of Woodstock; and one, Steward of the University of Oxford.

Of eight who are known to have entered tile service of the Church, two became Chaplains to James l; another, Chaplain to Charles I and Charles Il, and Dean of Windsor. Others served as Archdeacon, Canon, Vicar, and Rector.

Six are known to have followed the law, including an Advocate General to Charles l, a Kings attorney General of Ireland, and two Masters of the Bench of the Middle Temple.

Six are known to have served actively in the Royal Army and Navy under the respective titles of Admiral, Vice Admiral, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, Captain and Lieutenant.

Of the first six generations, ten are known to have been highly successful merchants, with four engaged in international shipping commerce in the wool trade.

Of the first six generations, twenty four, or almost one-half attended Oxford University, where ten were entered at New College, eight at Hart Hall, two each at Wadham and Queens, and one each at Corpus Christi and Christ Church. Eleven were students of Winchester College and fifteen are known to have pursued the study of law at the Inns of Court where an almost exclusive preference was shown for the middle temple.

The influence of Robert Ryves in encouraging education and loyal service to Church and Crown is indisputable. Robert Ryves was an avid supporter of four churches in the Blandford Parish area, which included Blandlbrd Parish Church as well as Fifehead Neville, Shroton at Ewerne Courtney and Child Okeford. His support of Blandford Parish Church was undoubtedIy substantial as indicated by his being granted permission to construct a Ryves Chapel and crypt within Blandford Parish Church.

With a proven and consistent record of service to God, Church and Crown, the Ryves family and their descendants, are deserving of having a replacement plaque identfying the family crypt within their original Church of Worship in Dorset County embodied in a memorial to Robert Ryves.

Born in Blandford Forum, Dorset, England. Died 11 Feb 1551 in Damory Castle in Blandford, and was buried 11 Feb 1551 in the old church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Blandford Forum, which was destroyed by fire in 1731. Joan died 12 Dec 1560, also in Damory Castle, and was buried in December of 1560 in Blandsford Church.

In 1545, Robert purchased the 1600 acre estate of Randleston (Ranston). In 1548, he obtained the beautiful Damory Court in Blandsford Forum from the Duke of Somerset. In 1546, his friend King Henry VIII granted, in letters patent, the manor of Milton and the “messuage” of Luscombe (Lyssecomb) in Dorset to Robert. He also held diverse lands in the East Orchard district of Dorset County. In addition to his Dorsetshire estates, Robert held lands in North Cheriton and Pointington, County Somerset.

________

Custom Field:<_FA#> Aft. 11 Feb 1550/51Blandford Church, Dorsetshire, EnglandBrøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4414, Date of Import: Mar 18, 1996Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4414, Date of Import: Mar 18, 1996@S48000@Date of Import: Jan 7, 2002Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4414, Date of Import: Mar 18, 1996@S11451@Date of Import: Feb 15, 2001Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #4414, Date of Import: Mar 18, 1996

REFN: 16384

In 1545 Robert purchsed the 1600 acre estate of Randleston [Ranston].

In 1548 he obtained Damory Court in Blandford Forum from the Duke of Somerset.

In 1546 King Henry VIII granted the premises of the manor of Milton, and the messuage called Luscombe [Lyssecomb] in Dorset, to Robert in letters patent. He also held divers lands in the East Orchard of

Dorset. In addition to the lands in Dorsetshire he held lands in North Cheriton and Pointington, Co. Somerset.

Robert died in 1551 and was buried in the old church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Blandford Forum, which was destroied by fire in 1731.

m. Joan d. Dec 4, 1560

issue:

John Ryves b. 1514

Agnus Ryves

daughter

===

Ranston Estate - February 2001

Ranston is located 5 miles northwest of the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset County, England. Ranston Houseand Park are on the site of a small hamlet (shown as another Iwerne) in the Doomsday Book. The ancient manor was known as Randolfston, later shortened to Ranston. Half a mile beyond Stepleton the road from Blandford to Shaftesbury passes another finely timbered park, lying in the hollow between Hambledon Hill and the western slopes of Cranborne Chase. The house stands below the road, on the left-hand side, with east and west views up the hills which close in on either hand. Ranston now consists of little more than the house; it is a tithing of Shroton, a village also know as Iwerne Courtenay, a little distance to the north. The name is a contraction of Randolfston, an intermediate form, Randleston, occurring in the sixteenth century.

Anciently held by the de Bruyns, the manor was acquired in 1545 by Robert Ryves of Blandford, and it remained with his descendants until 1781. It was then bought by Peter William Baker, the agent of Mr. Portman of Bryanston, whom he assisted in the development of the Portman estate in Marylebone, giving his name to Baker Street. On his death in 1814 he was succeeded by a cousin, Sir Edward Littlehales, who took the Baker name.

"Here lyeth the body of Robert Ryves who departed this life 11th day of February anno 1551." The Ryves Coat of Arms is engraved on the tomb stone.

RIVES COAT OF ARMS

Arms—Argent, on bend cotizel, sable, three lozenges ermine.

Crest A grey hound sejant sable: bezante. collared or. (where does the bezante idea come from??)

(Hutchins History of Dorset BIandford, Dorsetshire, England

Dr. George Ryves, son of John Rives, born about 1559, one of the illustrious scholars of his day, in England. Entered Winchester College in 1574 as of Blandford Dorsetshire. Rector of Blandford St. Mary's church, Dorset 1.589. He died at Oxford May 31, 1613.

"George Ryves, D. D. Warden of New College 1559 — Vice Chancelor, 1601 and afterwards Warden of Winchester College."

Wood (Life and Times, vol. iv, p, 173) recounts that on 31 July 1610 at 9 A.M., the first stone of Wadham College at Oxford was laid by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. (George) Ryves, of New College, who made an elegant oration in Latin in praise of the work and its founders.

2His chief title to more than casual notice, however, rests in the fact that he was one of the translators of the King James Authorized Version of the Bible, more specifically, overseeing the translation of the New Testament (6 ) as appears from a letter addressed on April 19, 1609, by the Bishop of Winchester to Sir Thomas Lake, chief secretary to King James I, as follows:

"After my verie harty commendations whereas doctor Ryves Warden of the new Colledge in Oxford and one of the overseers of that part of the New Testament which is there translated out of Greek and Mr. Nicholas Love Scholemaster of Winchester are willing with my allowance to exchange some of their livings being of my patronage that they may lay them near together and more commodious to the rest of there livinges and there is no let to the performance thereof but his majestie's pleasure signified by his letters to the late Bishop of London now Bishop of Canterbury that the next benefice of my gifte and of 20 pounds or above in the King's bookes that shall fall voyde should be reserved for some of those that are employed in the translation of the Bible I doe not conceive that his Majesty's meaning thereby was to bar the men from exchanging their livings otherwise permitted by the lawes but that such livings as fell voyd should be reserved for the translators. I shall hartely thank you if you will take opportunity to know his majesty's pleasure therein and obteyn his letters to signifie to me his princely pleasure. The men are both of good desert, the one imployed in the oversight of the translation and the other toke to small paynes indoing his duetie both for the enterteinement of his majestie and the prince when they were at Winchester." (State Papers, Jas. I., Vol, xii, No. 73) .

Dr. George Ryves was one of the "privileged persons" taxed by the Vice Chancellor and others of the University of Oxford in 7 James I (1610) in an amount of 20 shillings for lands.

He appears as a taxpayer also in 1611 (Lay Subsidy Roll, 163 /437) . He left no will and Hutchins is the authority for his death without issue.

   6* "The Authorized Version of the Bible was begun in 1605 and completed in 1611. Dr. George Ryves no doubt served on one of the six original committees         which met at Oxford for the purpose of organizing the work of translation."

Anthony Woods Antiquitates Oxoniensis—publish-ed 1674 in England records: "Elisa Ryves wrote the "Hermit of Snowden" and some popular translations from the French." She died in 1697 and is buried at Blandford. (Hutchins)

Two pubs take their names from the Damory Estate, which from the 16th century to the 18th was owned by the Ryves family.

The D'Amory Arms in Salisbury Road opened in 1954 in the former D'Amory Court Farmhouse and bears for its sign the Damory coat of arms, a blue hand on a red and white background.

The Damory Oak which takes its name from the original Damory Oak was a huge hollow tree. During the 17th century Civil War and later, an old man sold ale from the cavity, which was big enough to hold 'near 20 men'. After the great fire of Blandford in 1731 the tree is reputed to have housed two homeless families in its hollow trunk.

Damory Court, which eventually belonged to the Ryves family, became a farm but is known today as the Damory Hotel and bears for its sign the Damory coat of arms, a blue hand on a red and white background.

But it is the little inn which perpetuates the memory of the gallant oak which after the great fire of Blandford in 1731 housed two homeless families in its hollow trunk.

The fire began on Friday afternoon at 2 o 'clock at soap boilers or tallow chandlers which stood where the four streets meet at the end of Salisbury street. The stiff northeasterly wind which was blowing at the time carried the flames all over the town. Twenty houses were on fire in a quarter of an hour and in half an hour three fire engines were rendered useless. When the direction of the wind changed to northwards, the fire was carried to Blandford St. Mary and Bryanston and these two villages with the exception of three houses, were completely destroyed.

The flames finally broke out of the roof of the Blandford Church, melting the bells and the lead covering the spire. By this time, the pumps and the engines had all been destroyed and the people of the town were exhausted with fighting the fire so that no attempt was made to save the church, which was completed destroyed. It was fortunate, however, that the townsfolk were able to move the goods, which had been stored in the church for safety, before the final collapse.

Small-pox raged in this ill-fated town at the same time as the fire, sixty families being stricken. It will always be to the credit of those who attended the sick and removed them through fields and gardens to safety outside of the town, that only one died by reason of the fire.

Altogether, four hundred families were rendered homeless and it was at this time, whilst wooden barracks were being put up to house the poor, that two families took refuge in the hollow of the Damory oak tree and lived there until they had other accommodation.

Thus it is the inn-sign depicts children playing around the hollow oak which was their home while their father looks from the doorway. Fortunately, the sign is still standing for, despite the glory of its name, the inn was known to the local people as The Hole in the Wall, on account of beer having been, at one time, handed through a hole in the wall to the stables at the back.

After the devastation of the town only three of the original houses were left standing, the Ryves Almshouses, a German doctor’s dwelling and an old barn, once part of a leper hospital, which stands about 300 yards from the Damory Oak.

In 1733, a year after the fire King George II passed an act to rebuild the town. His Majesty gave £1,000, the Queen £200 and the Prince of Wales £100 towards this end and so a new Blandford Forum arose including the beautiful church we see today, but it is this little wayside inn, The Damory Oak, which provides the most pathetic link with the tragedy of 1731.

1. Robert1 Reve or Ryve or Ryves, of Blandford, co. Dorset, England, the first of the name in England of whom there is record, was born about 1490 and died February 11, 1551, and was buried in the old church of Blandford Forum (St. Peter and St. Paul), which was destroyed during the fire which consumed the town of Blandford in 1731. Richard Symonds, who visited Blandford as an officer in the King's Army in 1644, entered in his diary a description of the tomb of Robert Ryves, viz:

"Betweene the pillars of the chancel and the north yle stands another playne altar tombe, whereon is this inscription inlayd in brasse, and this coate only, west end:--

"'Argent, on a bend cotised sable three lozenges ermine, Ryves'.

"'HERE LIETH THE BODY OF ROBERT RYVES
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY ANNO 1551.'

"This coat [of arms] is also in the north window."(1)

Robert Ryves purchased Randleston or Ranston in 36 Henry VIII (1545) and Damory Court at Blandford in 15482 and was the proprietor of other considerable estates. In a petition made by Sir John Ryves in 1618 it was stated that "King Henry VIII in the 37th year of his reign [1546] granted the premises [of the manor of Milton, co. Dorset] unto Robert Ryves great grandfather unto your suppliant by letters patent" (Chancery Proc., Series II, 29/30). In a similar action in chancery brought in 1626 by 24. George5 Ryves, Esquire, of Blandford Forum, it was set forth that "Henry VIII by his letters patent dated July 4th in the 37th year of his reign [1546] granted a messuage called Luscombe [Lyssecomb], co. Dorset, to Robert Ryves, great-great-grandfather" of the petitioner (Chancery Proc., Series II, 29/30). Besides lands in Dorsetshire, he held at his death lands in North Cheriton and Pointington, co. Somerset (Hutchins).

Robert1 Ryves married Joan (???). The will of Joan Ryves, called Reves in her will and Ryves in the inquisition post mortem, was dated 4 December 1560 but is no longer of record. She held at her death on 12 December 1560 divers lands at East Orchard, co. Dorset (Hutchins).

Robert Ryves made his will (in which he was described as "Robert Reve"), dated 20 October 1549, of which there is now no record. Hutchins gives as his issue by Joan:

2. i. John2, b. about 1514; d. about 1549. 3. ii. Agnes2, m. before 20 Oct. 1549, John Swayne of Blandford. He d. 5 August 1591 (Hutchins). 4. iii. daughter2, m. before 20 Oct. 1549, William Hunton.

(1) Quoted in Hutchin's History of Dorset, 3rd Ed., Vol. iii. Symonds noted also "a flat stone in the north yle, the pictures of a man and woman, four sons, nine daughters: this coat [of arms, that is to say, the one given above] remaining, the inscription gone, Ryves."