Sir William Ryther, Kt.

Sir William Ryther

(circa 1408? - 19 July 1475)

Sir William Ryther was born circa 1408? At Ryther, Yorkshire. He was aged 35 at his father's death. He was the son of Sir William Ryther and Maud or Matilda de Umfraville.

Special assize roll and file, William Ryther and others v John Vavasour 8-9 Hen VI [1429-1430].

Sir William Ryther married Elizabeth Gascoigne, daughter of William Gascoigne and Jane Wyman, before 1435. Gascoigne pedigree states Elizabeth daughter of Wm Gascoigne & Jane married Sir Wm Ryther & her sister Ann married Richard Redman.

As William Rither the younger he was joint grantee of a wardship in Nov 1435.

Sir William Ryther married Eleanor Fitzwilliam, daughter of John Fitzwilliam and Margaret Clarel, circa 1437. 1584/5 & 1612 visitation of Yorkshire: Fitzwilliam of Sprotborough - Elinor daughter of Sir John & Margaret Fitzwilliam, Lord of Emley married Wm Ryther of Ryther kt [1571 mss].

 Exchequer documents: Accounts for Manors of Ryther (Ryder) and Harewood, held by William Rither, as in 50/36. 18-20 Hen. VI [1439-1441]; also for lands in Scarcroft. Sir William Ryther was described as a living child of Sir William Ryther, aged at an unknown age.

William, son and heir of William Ryther is granted a certificate of homage 1 Dec 1440.

In 1445 he was granted market fair & free warren at Harewood by patent.

    Imprimus and confirmation, by advice and assent of the lords spiritual and temporal in the Parliament held at Westminster in the king's firt year, to William Ryther, knight and Richard Redman, esquire, tenants of the manor of Harewood, cdo. York, of letters patnet dated 4 Dec, 8 Henry V, nspecting and confirming letters patent dated 12 Nov 8 Henry IV.

    Lincolnshire: Grant description and date: subsidy on lands, wages and fees granted by Parliament 1450 June 5 - Receipts and particulars of account for the first collection, roll of 4 mems. Particulars of the account of William Ryther, former sheriff, in a leather pouch. Estimated date of document: 1451 Nov 8 or later.

    Debtor: William Ryther, knight [held part of a fee in Ryther [Barkston Ash Wapentake] and Leeds [Skyrack Wapentake, W.R.Yorks], Creditor: John Thirsk of York, merchant. Amount: 300m. of legal English money. Before whom: Richard Wartre, Mayor of York; John Sherwood, Clerk. 1454 Nov 8.

    Sir William Ryther was mentioned in a deed dated 9 January 33 Henry VI 1454/5 at re property at Parlington. He witnessed deeds relating to Fenton church in 1457.

    His inclusion in the commission of treasons etc. Dec 1460 proves him a Yorkist.

    Sir William Ryther made a will dated 20 June 1475 at Ryther. 20 June 1475, I lord William Ryther of Ryther, knight, ... to God & Blessed virgin Mary, to be buried in my parish church of Ryther. I leave to the rector of my church aforesaid for my forgotten and imperfectly paid tithes 20 sh. Item, I leave to the fabric of the cathedral church of blessed Peter, York, 20 sh.

Item. I leave to the brothers of the Order of St Francis in the City of York 20 sh. Item, I leave to the other brothers in the said 6/8 to each of their Houses.

Item, I leave all the cloths and tiles within my lordship of Ryther to the aforesaid church for the building of a belfry.

Item, I leave to Johanna Ryther my daughter, as part of her marriage portion 'le frer hag' with all appurtenances ... to the said Johanna a boat ...

Item I will that my feoffees pay to the afsd Johanna my daughter from the rents of my maner at Cottis, for her marriage honorably made ...

Item, I leave to Robert Ryther my son, knight all the convenient necessaries in the bakehouse, the brewhouse and the maltkiln, etc. a large brass pot and three glasses?, a green hanging of 'tapestre work', two featherbeds, two chests, 1 cloth of twill, two towels of twill, four cloths of linen for the table in the hall, one trotting horse.

I leave to Elionora my wife the third part of all my goods, movable and fixed "tertiam partes" I will that the afsd Elionora have the feoffment and fealty promised by her friends on the day of our wedding. ...

The residue of all my goods not above bequeathed ... to my executors ... as seems best to them...

Executors - John Nevill of Leversage Esq, William Ryther my son, & Sir John Stodfield vicar of Brayton. Guy Farefax supervisor. Witnesses Master Robert Ryther Rector of Ryther, Sir John Bykerton chaplain, Wm Snell & Nicholas Holgate.

    William died on 19 July 1475 at Ryther, YKS. He was the subject of an Inquisition Post Mortem held after 19 July 1475. He was buried at All Saints, Ryther. Effigy at Ryther church - altar tomb with sides richly panelled, the figure of a knight accoutred in martial habit as worn in the era of the Wars of the Roses. His gorget is of mail and his collar of white rose rayonee, or, and a sun in splendour, being the badge of Edvward IV. His head reclines upon his helmet, from which the crest has been cut. His right foot rest against a dog, collared and beneath his left is a talbot, while sword and daggar are on either side. Three sides of the tomb have been beautifully sculptured, that on the north having the figures of four knights and four ladies, while there are three ladies on the west and three knights on the east side. It commemorates the "hero of Towton", Sir William Ryther, Kt.

    He provided tyles, bricks & slates to build the tower of Ryther Church in 1476.

    His will was proved on 14 October 1476 at the Prerogative Court of York.

Children of Sir William Ryther and Elizabeth Gascoigne

   * Isabella Ryther+ b. c 1435

   * Maud or Matilda Ryther+ b. 1436, d. c 1508

Children of Sir William Ryther and Eleanor Fitzwilliam

   * Sir Robert Ryther b. b Jul 1438, d. 30 Jun 1491

   * Oliver Ryther+ b. c 1442, d. b 1475

   * Margaret Ryther (Copley) b. c 1445, d. b 1489

   * William Ryther+ b. b 1450, d. a 1475

   * Thomas Ryther+ b. a 1450

   * Sir Ralph Ryther+ b. c 1451, d. 2 Apr 1520

   * Johanna or Joan Ryther b. b 1465, d. a 1505

   * Nicholas Ryther+ b. b 1470, d. b 1515

• page 479 of Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition ...

links

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113377008/william-ryther