Ryves, Edward

Summary

Father: George Ryves
Mother: Margaret

Birth: 1690
Birth Source: Reliques of the Rives

Death: 16 April 1767
Death Source: Reliques of the Rives

Spouse1: Grace

Narrative

Children of Edward Ryves and Grace:

1. Elizabeth Ryves, b. c1714, m. Benjamin Holloway
2. Edward Ryves, b. c1718
3. George Ryves, b. c1719, d. c1719
4. George Ryves, b. c1720
5. Margaret Ryves, b. c1722, d. c1722
6. Margaret Ryves, b. c1723
7. Susanna Ryves, b. c1725
8. John Ryves, b. c1727

Baptisms from Woodstock, Oxfordshire Parish Registers:

• Eliz: D: of Edw: and Grace Rives 22 (Dec 1715)
• Edward s: of Edw: and Grace Rives Feb 8 (1717/8)
• George s: of Edward & Grace Ryves Feb 5 (1718/9)
• Gorge Rives the sun of Edward and Grase Rives was baptized November the 10th 1720
• Marget Ryves the daughter of Edward and Grase Ryves was baptised January the 12th 1721/2
• Marget Ryves the daughter of Edward and Grace Ryves was Baptised March the 15th 1722/3
• Susanna the daughter of Edward and grace rives was baptised January 9 1724/5
• John the son of Edward Ryves was Baptized Aprill ye 10th (1727)

From Reliques of the Rives:
Edward Ryves, of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, born in 1690, died at Woodstock, 16 April, 1767 (Musgraves Obit., Harl. Soc. Pub., vol. 48). For a reason, which is not made manifest, he was cut off by his father's will (1718) with a legacy of £5 "to my sonn Edward . . . and to his wife and three children 20 j. a peice." "My house in Woodstocke wherein my sonn Edward now lives" was bestowed by his father upon the latter's younger son, Charles, as also his landed estate. Hutchins, however, records him as the heir-at-law of his father and notes the following issue to him: (see above).

In addition to the above we have the following information concerning Edward:

Edward, like his father, was a town clerk and also clerk of the peace for Woodstock between 1763 and 1767. He also acted as an agent for John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough and his wife Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough who had been close friend and confidant of and Mistress of the Robes to Queen Anne. Sarah is considered to have been one of the most influential women of her time until her 'fall from grace' in 1711. After Sarah's return to relative favour (she was to become a close friend of Queen Caroline, the wife of George I), Edward worked in ensuring Sarah's wishes for who should be returned as Member of Parliament for Woodstock and in particular in ensuring that Sir Thomas Wheate would not be returned. It would seem that he was successful in achieving these wishes.

As some point prior to 1762, the bulk of lands belonging to John Bartholomew passed into Edward's hands. These mainly comprised the Eastern lands that had belonged to Eynsham Abbey that had been sold to Sir George Darcy during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Edward lived at No. 14-16 Park Street, Woodstock, opposite the Church of St Mary Magdalene. He is said to have built the bank at No 14. which subsequently became a branch of Barclays Bank (which was closed in November 2017).

Sources

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p54
A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12, Wootton Hundred (South) Including Woodstock. Victoria County History, London, 1990
'Eynsham: Site and remains of the abbey', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12, Wootton Hundred (South) Including Woodstock, ed. Alan Crossley and C R Elrington (London, 1990), pp. 117-120.
Woodstock, Oxfordshire Parish Combine (BM&B) Register 1698-1775, PAR298/1/R1/3