Ryves, Robert

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Birth: c1490
Birth Source: Reliques of the Rives

Death: 11 Feb 1551, Dorset, England
Death Source: Reliques of the Rives

Spouse1: Joan

Narrative

Children of Robert Ryves and Joan:

1. John Ryves, b. c1514
2. Agnes Ryves, m. John Swayne
3. "daughter" Ryves, m. William Hunton

Robert Ryves is the progenitor of all that Ryves/Rives family covered in Reliques of the Rives.

From the Reliques of the Rives:
Robert Reve or Ryve or Ryves, of Blandford, co. Dorset, England, the first of the name in England of whom there is record, was born about 1490 and died February 11, 1551, and was buried in the old church of Blandford Forum (St. Peter and St. Paul), which was destroyed during the fire which consumed the town of Blandford in 173 1. Richard Symonds, who visited Blandford as an officer in the King's Army in 1644, entered in his diary a description of the tomb of Robert Ryves, viz:

"Betweene the pillars of the chancel and the north yle stands another playne altar tombe, whereon is this inscription inlayd in brasse, and this coate only, west end:—
"'Argent, on a bend cotised sable three lozenges ermine, Ryves'.
" 'HERE LIETH THE BODY OF ROBERT RYVES
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 11th DAY OF FEBRUARY ANNO 1551.'
"This coat (of arms) is also in the north window."¹

Robert Ryves purchased Randleston or Ranston in 36 Henry VIII (1545) and Damory Court at Blandford in 1548 and was the proprietor of other considerable estates. In a petition made by sir John Ryves in 1618 it was stated that "King Henry VIII in the 37th year of his reign (1546) granted the premises (of the manor of Milton, co. Dorset) unto Robert Ryves great grandfather unto your suppliant by letters patent" (Chancery Proc, Series II, 29/30). In a similar action in chancery brought in 1626 by George Ryves, Esquire, of Blandford Forum, it was set forth that "Henry VIII by his letters patent dated July 4th in the 37th year of his reign (1546) granted a messuage called Luscombe (Lyssecomb), co. Dorset, to Robert Ryves, great-great-grand father" of the petitioner (Chancery Proc, Series II, 29/30). Besides lands in Dorsetshire, he held at his death lands in North Cheriton and Pointington, co. Somerset (Hutchins).

Robert Ryves married Joan. The will of Joan Ryves, called Reves in her will and Ryves in the inquisition post mortem, was dated 4 December 1560 but is no longer of record. She held at her death on 12 December 1560 divers lands at East Orchard, co. Dorset (Hutchins).

Robert Ryves made his will (in which he was described as "Robert Reve"), dated 20 October 1549, of which there is now no record.

Reliques also suggests this John Ryves may have been a brother of Robert.

Research Notes

(1)   As we can see in Robert's will he was very religious. In his friends will Robert Oliver of London he is very religious and mentions he wants to distribute shillings to parishioners including Robert Ryves. He also mentions he wants Robert Ryves to appoint preachers. A possible relative is Thomas Reve of London, gent based on a common close association with the Barbet/Aden family. The Ryves (Reve) family was closely involved with the Aden (Adyn) family aliases Barbet/Barbett/Barbette and Barbour. The Reves' and Barbours' can be found in the same records in the 15th century. For more information on this theory, see the references here.

(2)   There is much speculation elsewhere online that Robert was born in France. Very little credence is given to the possibility of him having been born in Dorset. The OS One Inch Map series from as recently as 1885-1900 (accessible from https:/maps.nls.ukthe National Library of Scotland shows "France Farm" on the road to the north west out of Blandford Forum towards Durweston and close to Damery Court, which should not be discounted.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14.7&lat=50.86562&lon=-2.17071&layers=1&right=osm

Source

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p1
¹ Childs refers much to Hutchins History of Dorset