Ryves, John

Summary

Father: Richard Ryves
Mother: Dorothy Gold

Birth: c1619
Birth Source: Alumni Oxoniensis

Death: 1670
Death Source: Will & Probate

Spouse1: Christian Helyar

Narrative

Children of John Ryves and Christian Helyar:

1. John Ryves, b. c1659. May have changed name to Richard after Uncle Sir Richard died.
2. Christian Ryves, b. c1661
3. Lettice Ryves, b. c1663

The Alumni Oxoniensis has the following to say about John:

Ryves, John, s. Richard, of Shaston, Dorset, gent NEW COLL., matric 8 Dec, 1637, aged 18; B.A. 28 June, 1641.

John describes himself as "Cittizen and merchant of London" in his will, dated 28 May 1670. He mentions his wife Christian and also states that he has three children but doesn't name them. He also mentions his brother Sir Richard Ryves and brothers-in-law Richard, Diceye?, and William Helyar. The will was proved 8 Jul 1670.

The will of his brother Richard mentions "my nephew John Ryves onely sonne of my brother John Ryves late of Kensington in the County of Middlesex Esqr deceased" and also "his two sisters Christian and Letice the daughters of my said Brother."

From Reliques of the Rives:

P. C. C. 93 Penn.
Dated 28 May 1670.
Proved 8 July 1670.
I, John Ryves, Cittizen and merchant of London . . . humbly recommend my soule into the handes of my ever blessed God assuredly trusting in the full grace and mercy in and through my gracious Saviour Christ Jesus to obtayne remission of my sinnes and find everlastinge happiness and salvation. I leave one third part of my estate to my deare wife as by the agreement made by me before marriage with my brothers in law (on September 16, 1658) Mr. Richard Helyar and Mr. Carye Helyar and the remaining two thirds to be divided between my three children in equal shares. I appoint Christian Ryves my dear wife my sole executrix earnestly desiring though not in the least doubting but as shee hath allwayes bin a faithfull and loving wife to mee and an indulgent mother to my children that shee will soe continue to them and have a tender affection and care of my children that they may be educated and bred up in the feare of God. And I doe hereby charge my said children to be obedient and allway to pay a dutifull regard to their mother. And I doe hereby ordayne my brother Sir Richard Ryves knight and my good brothers in law William Helyar esqr and the said Richard Helyar, overseers of this my last will and intreate them to be ayding and assisting to my wife and children and to excuse the great paynes and trouble I am necessitated to put upon them being the only persons I can trust here in. .. .

According to his will he married about 1658, Christian Helyar (d. about 1687) and had by her "three children," John, Christian, and Lettice.

Research Notes

There are two copyhold admissions listed in the National Archives catalogue from 1683 with the following details:

• Richard Ryves, son and heir of John Ryves, brother and heir of Richard Ryves, knt.: manor of Hall Place: Crondall and Yateley, Hampshire.

This may be why Childs in Reliques speculated that John changed his name to Richard. Obtaining a copy of this record could yield more light on the issue.

Sources

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p59
Archive.org - Foster, Joseph. (1891). Alumni Oxoniensis: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1714, Vol. 3, p1295
1670 Will - Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Piece 333 (Penn), folio 216
1671 Will - Sir Richard Ryves - Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Piece 337 (Duke), folio 44
National Archives Kew - Copyhold admission - 2667/1/27/9
National Archives Kew - Copyhold admission - 2667/1/27/10