Must not be confused with William Ludlow, (c1397-c1474) DO NOT MERGE

This William Ludlow (c1399-1478), who began the Hill Deverill branch of the family (he bought the property in 1438), is often confused with his contemporary, William de Ludlow of Shropshire (c1397-c1474), though records indicate that they are not the same person. William was a popular first name for male Ludlows of the middle ages. The first recorded William Ludlow was 1080.

The line of descent of this Wiltshire branch of the Ludlow family is not known. There have been at least two guesses. These guesses both introduce a missing generation with the same name. Robin Ludlow, who had done extensive research into the Ludlow genealogy for 40 years, thought this William descends from the Chipping Campden branch of the family,. However, the Shropshire Ludlows' coat of arms appears on his tomb together with his personal coat of arms and that of his wife. Two guesses are available in this genealogy.

Here is the other guess, but this has got the early ancestors wrong. There is a missing generation which you can easily see from the dates of birth. There is a gap of sixty years between generations. The missing ancestor, recorded in this genealogy, is yet another William. The marriage of this William's immediate ancestor to Joanna Vernon in this second guess is also suspect. Joanna died in her mid thirties and had three children to Baldwin de Montford. She was born about c1402 and would hardly seem able to conceive William Ludlow of Hill Deverill (c1399,1478)

Just to make things more confusing one chronicler assumed (see below) that William had a brother Richard Ludlow, Both were recorded as members of the royal households of Kings Henry IV, V & VI. However, Richard could equally be a cousin Richard Ludlow the son of William of Shropshire.

According to the Ludlow Family Tree "William of Hill Deverill was probably orphaned in one of the battles that led Henry IV to the throne in 1400. William and his "brother", Richard, worked as “yeoman trayers in the King’s cellar”. They rose in the royal household and William was granted the manor of Hill Deverill in Wiltshire, along with many other posts and privileges that amounted to a substantial income."

"A pedigree of descendants of William Ludlow was published in the Wiltshire Archeological Magazine, registered by the College of Arms. The pedigree published here was extracted from Keith Ludlow’s data and includes a number of American Ludlows. Most Irish Ludlows are believed to be descended from William of Hill Deverill but DNA analysis of American Hill Deverill Ludlows is needed to compare with the Irish representatives already analysed."

"William Ludlow (c1397/1410-1478) founded the Hill Deverill branch of the Ludlow family in 1438 when he acquired the manor of Hill Deverill, Wilts. Before his move to Wiltshire he was very involved in the wool and cloth industry in London and Middlesex. He was a member of the Royal Household and served Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. He was a King’s Serjeant (the rank falls between a knight and an esquire). He was a Yeoman of the Cellar for 20 years, along with Richard Ludlow, who was Serjeant of the Cellar. William married Margaret, daughter and heiress of William Rymer of Ringwood, Hants. Margaret’s maternal grandfather was William Warmwell. He was MP for Salisbury, very influential and wealthy. The Warmwell influence helped William Ludlow into politics--William became MP for Ludgershall, Wilts, and subsequently MP for Salisbury. He was also Gauger in London (1437-50) and Gauger in Hull (1443-50) to mention just a few of his appointments. He was never Butler to three King’s but was ‘bouteiller’, the French for the official in charge of wines. He was sometimes described as a Serjeant of the cellar but more often as Yeoman. This role kept him busy as he and a few others were responsible for the purchase and storage of wines and ales. Drinking water was unsafe at this time and, with the Court numbering many hundreds and only drinking wine and ale, the consumption was enormous and the logistics a major responsibility as the Monarch travelled continuously."

"William held considerable property in Salisbury--he built the Blue Boar inn with timber felled from his woods in Hill Deverill. He also had other land in Wiltshire as well as in Berkshire, Sussex and Southamptonshire. He was frequently in London and, on these visits, lived in a substantial house in the City. He spent more time in London and Salisbury than he did at Hill Deverill and financially supported St Thomas church in Salisbury, where he and his wife Margaret were buried. A large marble tomb was erected in their memory but this was broken up when the church was restored in the 19th century. Church records disclose that his family Arms and the Lion rampant of the Ludlows of Shropshire adorned the walls of the tomb. William’s daughter Margaret married Thomas Tropenell, the owner of the manor of East Chalfield, Wilts. The Public Record Office at Kew has mislaid an IPM that indicated that William Ludlow was descended from a Ludlow of Chipping Campden, Glos."

The Ludlows of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, were the descendants of Nicholas de Ludlow’s second son, John de Ludlow, (brother of Laurence), also a wool merchant, who set up a subsidiary of the family wool business in Chipping Campden. A possible father for this William would be one of the sons of Thomas de Ludlow: such as William de Ludlow of Campden (b 1369) or Edward de Ludlow (b 1371).

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Ludlow Family http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~marshall/esmd128.htm

                     Generation One

1. William Ludlowe; b. circa 1397; m. Margaret Rymer, daughter of William Rymer and ___ Warmwell; d. 22 Dec 1478; bur. at St. Thomas churchyard, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

    He was a member of Parliament. He resided at Hill Deverill, Wiltshire, England. He was Butler to Kings Henry  IV, Henry V, & Henry VI.

    Margaret Rymer was born circa 1403. She died at St. Thomas a Becket, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

    Known children of William Ludlowe and Margaret Rymer were as follows:

    2.          i. John Ludlowe, b. circa 1425; m. Lora Ringwood.

               ii. Margaret Ludlowe; m. John Erley; m. Thomas

                   Tropenell, son of Harry Tropenell and Edith Roche;

                   bur. at Corsham Church, England.

              iii. Joan Ludlowe; m. John Norwood; m. Thomas

                   Ryngewode, son of Thomas Ryngewode and Isabel

                   Feteplace.

               iv. Mary Ludlowe; m. William Sonders.

                v. Margery Ludlowe; m. William Earle, son of Robert

                   Earle.

               vi. Johanna Ludlowe; m. Robert Dynelly.

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• The Public Record Office at Kew has mislaid an IPM that indicated that this William Ludlow was descended from a Ludlow of Chipping Campden, Glos. (IPM Inquisitions post mortem, sometimes known as escheats, are among the most 'genealogist-friendly' of records, and are a mainstay of traditional medieval genealogy.)
• 1 Jul 1415 Close Roll servitor in the King's cellar., Suggests born about 1397 (The Close Roll is the administrative record created by the medieval office of the chancery that recorded all the letters close issued by the chancery.)
• Bouteiller (official in charge of wines) to Kings Henry IV, Henry V, & Henry VI (Drinking water was unsafe at the time and, with the Court numbering many hundreds and only drinking wine and ale, the consumption was enormous. Logistics was a major responsibility as the Monarch travelled continuously.)
• Yeoman of the King's Cellar for 20 years,
• King's Serjeant (the rank falls between Knight and Esquire). as was his brother Richard
• Member of Parliament for Ludgershall, Wilts between 1432 and 1455.
• 1437-1450 London Gauger (inspector of wine and beer)
• 1438 granted the manor of Hill Deverill
• 1443-1450 Hull Gauger
• MP for Ludgershal
• MP for Salisbury.
• Jul 1, 1415 he was awarded the profits of the king's mill by the gate of Carnavon in Wales (6 marks a year) for good service and for life as a servitor of the king's cellar
• Feb 16, 1423 Henry VI confirmed his 1415 grant
• May 17, 1427 as yeoman of the cellar was granted the office of clerk of the statute-merchant of the city of Salisbury
• Apr 1, 1429 granted the office of parker of the park of Ludgershall in Wiltshire by Queen Joan of England
• 1432 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• Nov of 1432 one of those given the charter for the Manor of Appilton called Quarelstede in Berkshire
• 1433 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• Jan 7, 1433 one of those receiving the unwilled portion of the estate of Stephen Frensshe of Appulton, Berks
• Feb 11, 1433 paid 1/2 mark to insure that if the Queen dies, the King will honor his position as parker
• Aug 20, 1433 granted a writ of aid from Thomas Chaucer for the appointement as deputy butler in the port of Bristol (vacated same day)
• Nov 14, 1434 as king's servant was given the office of gauger in the port of Kingston upon Hull during the king's pleasure
• 1436 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• 1437 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• 1437 with Richard, was granted 10 pounds from the Manor of Fareham, Fareham Hundred, Hampshire
• Mar 5, 1437 granted the office of gauger in the port of London during the king's pleasure
• Apr 8, 1437 appointed to the office of gauger in the port of London for life
• Dec 20, 1437 Thomas Wesenham, quitlciamed his portion of the Manor in Appulton Berks called Quarelstede
• Dec 27, 1437 granted the position of parker of Ludgershall for life on surender of patent whereby he held the office during the king's pleasure
• Jan 12, 1438 Stephen Frensshe quitclaimed his part of the Manor of Quarelstede
• Feb 30, 1438 the charter for Manor Quarelstede was acknowledged
• Apr 30, 1438 quitclaims from Thomas Wesenham and Stephen Frensshe were acknowledged
• Nov 18, 1438 received a commitment of mainprise (warranty) of the manor and town of Ludgershall for 10 years
• Dec 1, 1438 he and his presumed brother Richard witnesses to a quitclaim from John Brook to Thomas Newton
• Feb 6, 1439 granted by the king 3 pence a day while the king lived from the income of the Manor of Ludgershall
• Dec 4, 1439 pardoned for collecting fees from John Thorp for land retained by the without the king's license
• May 14, 1440 called trayer of the king's cellar
• Jun 23, 1440 as a king's sergeant, was granted by letters patent 10 pounds a year out of the fee farm of the Manor of Rowlly, Stafford
• Nov 20, 1440 as a yeoman of the cellar was granted by letters patent the office of launder of the park of Claryngdon, Wiltshire (3 pence per day)
• Apr 24, 1441 Robert Warmwell granted by charter property in Mynstersstrete in Salisbury
• Nov 10, 1441 transferred Mynsterestrete property back to Robert Warmwell with reversion to his daughter Margaret Ludlowe
• Mar 2, 1442 he and John Ludlowe were granted by letters patent from the king the office of contableship of Carisbrook Castle and master forester of Parkhurst in the Isle of Wight
• Sep 6, 1442 granted by letters patent from the king the office of warrerner of Purbeck, Dorset (6 pence a day)
• Nov 20, 1442 as yeoman of the king's cellar was granted 6 pence a day from the sheriff of Dorset
• Dec 11, 1442 mentioned in a transaction concerning John Thorp
• May 18, 1443 received a committment by mainprise to received for 7 years sibsidues from the sale of cloth in Salsbury, Wiltshire
• Nov 22, 1443 appointed gauger of the port of Hull during the king's pleasure
• Nov 22, 1443 as yeoman of the cellar and king's sergeant he was concervator of the lnads of Thomas Sondes.
• Apr 5, 1444 as yeoman of the cellar, granted survivorship for his son John of the office of parker of the park of Ludgershall, Wilts
• Dec 16, 1444 Salisbury, Wiltshire, England: contracted to build hostelry and tavern in the Market Place called the Blue Boar
• Feb 24, 1447: granted survivorship for his son John of the office of gauger in London
• Feb 28, 1447: as the king's esquire granted license to take possession of his mother's lands after her death
• Apr 20, 1447: executor of and received 100s from the will of Robert Warmwell (his wife's relative)
• Apr 25, 1447: made an indenture to lease for two years the manor of Botermere, Wiltshire
• Nov 8, 1448: pardoned for having aquired without license the manor of Burgate and the hundred of Fordyngbridge, Southampton
• Feb 26, 1449: as yeoman trayer of the cellar, holdings of the town and manor at Ludgershall and office of parker were ratified by the king
• 1449 granted Ludgershall Castle
• 1452 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• Nov 23, 1452 made a fine of committment by mainprise for 12 years by Richard Alason of London and Robert Anker of Lungershall
• 1453 Member of Parliment for Ludgershall
• 1453 grant of Lugarshall castle revoked when it was granted to Henry VI's half-brother Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond (d. 1456)
• May 1, 1453 was quitclaimed a portion of the manors of Cammes Oysell, Ervill and Lye and various lands
• 1455 Salisbury, Wiltshire: had a house in Castlestrete
• 1455 Member of Parliment from Ludgershall
• 1456 no longer held Ludgershall
• Nov 9, 1456 as a member of the king's houshold, was given a portion of the estate of John More of great Yarmouth
• Dec 17, 1457 one of the commissioners of array for Wiltshire and was to provide 476 archers
• Nov 10, 1462 one of those receiving a quitclaim from Edward Basyng for land in East Chalfield, Wiltshire
• Jun 23, 1464 along with his son John, witnessed a feoffment by John Lyvedon
• Feb 11, 1465: given recognizance of Thomas Chancey for 300 pounds to be levied against Thomas' lands
• Feb 11, 1466: given a quitlclaim by Thomas Chancy of the manor of Botemore
• Nov 5, 1466: quitclaimed to Richard Ludlowe 10 pounds yearly rent frm the manor of Cammes by Southforham
• Oct 14, 1467: Wiltshire: Gilbert Godfelawe was cited for not appearing to answer for a debt of 20 marks
• Dec 1, 1468 Wiltshire: commissioner of the peace
• May 18, 1473: Lord of the Manor of Hill Deverill

Source References

• The Visitation of Wiltshire, 1565
• British History Online vol 15
• Wilshire Council
• Seversmith, Herbert Furman, The Ancestry of Roger Ludlow, With connections to the Peerages and Royal Families of England, Ireland, Scotland and France (The American Society of Genealogists, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA), p. 2,054 Ancestors of George Ludlow.
• Historical and Genealogical Register of New England

There are two William Ludlowes about the same age. This William, William of Wiltshire, and William of Shropshire. They may be related, but they cannot be the same person being that they both have inquisitions post-mortems, and descendants.

William of Shropshire must be the one descended from Sir John Ludlowe, knt who died in 1398 and was married to Isabel, daughter of Ralph Lingeyne of Wigmore, because it is his descendants that are found in possession of this holdings. This William must have been born about 1397 and was married to Isabel Pemburge by 1410 when he was just 13 years old - perhaps it was a betrothal. He died in 1474. He had a brother named Richard.

William of Wiltshire was in the King's household in 1415 and died in 1478, so Seversmith assumes he was born about the same time as William of Shropshire. The properties that William of Wiltshire held did not come from the Shropshire branch of the Ludlowes.

William of Wiltshire is also found in some patents with a Richard Ludlowe which Seversmith assumes is his brother. This Richard Ludlowe was Serjeant of the Cellar at the same time that William of Wiltshire was Yeoman of the Cellar and a John Ludlowe was a page. It is not known if this Richard is the same as the brother of William of Shropshire.