Ryves, John, Sir

Summary

Father: John Ryves
Mother: Elizabeth Mervyn

Birth: 4 June 1557
Birth Source: Reliques of the Rives

Death: 3 Jan 1624/5
Death Source: Abstracts of Dorset Inquisitiones Post Mortem

Spouse1: Ann Napper (Napier)
Spouse1: Dorothy Hastings, m. 13 May 1617, Horton, Dorset

Narrative

Marriage to Dorothy from Horton, Dorset Parish Registers:

• (1617) 13 May Conunicto erat matrimonio Johannis Ryves milite et Dorithea Hastings

Some time before 1616 Sir John acquired the manor of Litton Cheney in Dorset, which he passed to his nephew George Ryves (together with his mare) and the poor of which who he remembered in his will as given above. The income of the manor of Litton Cheney was used by nephew George Ryves to fund his charitable endeavours, particularly the Ryves Almshouses in Blandford. The manor was eventually sold and the proceeds used to invest in the Almshouses.

Sir John owned swans on the river Stour upon which he was entitled to put his personal swan mark (being nicks made on a swan's bill). Other individuals belonging to families associated with the Ryves also held a similar priviledge, such as the Hussey, Seymer, Swayne, Freke, Chaffin & Berkeley families (including Edward & Elizabeth Berkeley (née Ryves)).

Sir John Ryves of Damery Court in Dorset wrote his will on 2 Jan 1624/5 and it was proved a few months later on 5 Mar. He desired to be buried in the family tomb at Blandford Church "where my first wife was buried." Among those he mentions are:

• my neece Elizabeth Ryves daughter of my brother Henry Ryves
• my neece Edith Bellott
• my sister Luce Bellot
• my Brother Doctor Thomas Rives
• my nephew Thomas Salmon
• my Nephew George Ryves
• my nephew John Crooke

Among the witnesses were James Ryves, John Ryves, George Ryves, and George Ryves "Ju."

The will of his nephew George Ryves refers to "the Lady Dorothy Ryves the nowe wife of Thomas Tregonwell Esqr." The marriage of Dorothy to Thomas is found in the Burton Bradstock, Dorset Parish Registers:

• (1625 September) Thomas Tregonwell was married the 2 day to the Lady Ryves

From Reliques of the Rives:
John was admitted on 23 November 1574 to the Middle Temple as "John Rives, late of New Inn, gent., son and heir of John Rives of Blandford, co. Dorset" (Ingpen). The record of his honors includes service as High Sheriff of Dorset in 3 James I (1606) and knight hood conferred upon him at Whitehall on February 8, 1606 (Hutch ins). He was made the executor of his father's estate in 1587 and was named guardian of George, son of Henry Ryves in the will (1613) of the latter by whom he is described as "my brother." He is shown as the son and heir of John Ryves in the will and inq. p. m. of the latter, by Hutchins and, further, by an action in chancery instituted by him in 16 18, viz:

To the Right Honorable ffrances Lord Verulam Lord Chancellor etc.
Humbly Sheweth unto your honourable Lordshipp Sir John Ryves of Damery Court in the County of Dorset Knight Sonne and heire of John Ryves esquire deceased (here the document has been torn) John Ryves sonne and heire of John Ryves the purchaser and the said Hobbs after divers open hearings and debatinge of the said cause . . . and the said Lord Chancellor having fully seene and heard the said parties the said John Ryves being then a plaintiff in this Court in the said cause did make an award between the said parties that Ryves should release all his right to the premises to Sir John Tregonwell within a quarter of a year after his (Ryves) reaching the age of 21 years. King Henry VIII in the 37th year of his reign granted the premises unto Robert Ryves great grandfather unto your suppliant by letters patent . . . and being so seised he John Ryves (John2 Ryves) made his will the first year of the reign of Edward VI (1547) .... issue John his son and the said Robert (his father) him survived and enjoyed the whole by right of sur vivor and being seised made his last will 3. Edward VI (1549) ... by general words to John Ryves father of your suppliant and his heirs. And the said (Robert) Ryves died shortly after (in 1551) my father (John3 Ryves) being then under age during whose minority Sir John Tregonwell pretended to the said farm by colour of the grant made to him of the said manor of Milton by King Henry VIII your suppliant's father being then under age and not of sufficient power to withstand him. . . .

Further testimony for Sir John Ryves is found in his will and inq. p. m., as follows:

Will dated 2 Jan. 1624
Proved 5 March 1624
I, Sir John Ryves of Damery Court neere Blandford, knight . . . commende my soule unto the hands of almightie god my Creator trusting and assuringe myselfe through the meritts of his sonne my saviour Jesus Christ to inherit life everlastinge in the kingdome of heaven and my body I desire to be buryed in the Tombe in the Church of Blandford where my first wife was buried in decent manner .... I give to my welbeloved wife £100. I give unto my niece Elizabeth Ryves daughter of my brother Henry Ryves f10o besides the money I owe her. I give to me niece Edith Bellott £200. I grant unto my sister Luce Bellot one Annety or yerely Rent of £5 ... . during her life .... I give to my nephew Thomas Salmon £60 .... I give to the poor of Blandford 40 shillings to everyone of my servants 40 shillings. I doe give unto my loving wife all my goods ... at my house at Damery . . . except my white nag which I give to my nephew George Ryves and my mare which Henry Compton would have bought with the white foote before which I give to the said Thomas Salmon. I give to the poore of Litton 40 shillings ... I appoint my brother doctor Thomas Ryves and my nephew John Crooke executors of this my will. Sealed in the presence of Richard Swayne, John Ryves, George Ryves, George Ryves jr.

Inq. P. M. 1 Chas. I (1625)
Part 1, No. 58.
Inq. p. m. taken at Blandford Forum 29 August 1 Chas. (1625) before Anthony Dennett, gent., escheator, after the death of John Ryves, knight.
John Ryves was seised of the manor and capital messuage of Damery Court near Blandford Forum (there follows a long list of lands)
So seised the said John Ryves by indenture dated 30 April 14 James 1 (1616) agreed with the Hon. Henry Hastinges of Woodland, esq., and George Hastinges, knight, the son and heir apparent of the said Henry, that he and his heirs in consideration of a marriage between the said John Ryves and Dorothy Hastinges, daughter of the said Henry Hastinges .... should be seised to the use of him, the said John Ryves for his life, and after his death to the use of the said Doorothy for her life in the name of her jointure, and after her death to the use of the said John Ryves and his heirs forever . . .
On the 13th of May next following (1617) the marriage between the said John Ryves and Dorothy Hastings was solemnized at the parish church of Horton.

The said John Ryves being so seised, on the 2nd of Jan. last past at Damery Court made a certain deed indented between himself of the one part and Sir Nathaniel Napper, knight, and John Ryves, of Randleston, esq., of the other part, whereby for the love which he bore to James Ryves, son of James Ryves, brother of the said Sir John Ryves agreed that he and his heirs should be seised of the farm of Hide. . . .
John Ryves died at Damery Court 3rd of Jan. last past without heirs of his body; George Ryves, esq., son and heir of Henry Ryves, esq., deceased, brother of the said John, is his kinsman and next heir, and was then 23 years and more.
The said Dorothy Ryves still survives at Damery Court and the said James Ryves at Oxford. (Dorset Records.)

Research notes

Abstracts of Dorset Inquisitiones Post Mortem: Returned Into the Court of etc., Great Britain Court of Chancery, Edward Alexander Fry, 1894 gives the year of Sir John's death as having been 1625 not 1624 as given in Reliques. This later date is more consistent with the date of his will.

Sir John's first wife Anne's maiden name is variously spelt either Napper or Napier as is the surname of her father Sir Robert Napper (Napier) and grandfather James Napper (Napier).

Sources

Marriage1:  Horton, Dorset Parish Combine (BM&B) Register PE/HOR:RE1/2

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p5
1625 Will - Sir John Ryves - Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Piece 145 (Clarke), folio 236 reverse
Abstracts of Dorset Inquisitiones Post Mortem: Returned Into the Court of etc., Great Britain Court of Chancery, Edward Alexander Fry, 1894
Swans and Swan marks on the Salisbury Avon and the Dorset Stour, Dorset & Somerset Notes & Queries, Vol.13, pp.297-312, C.H. Mayo, September 1913
Burton Bradstock, Dorset Parish Combine (BM&B) Register PE/BAT:RE3