Ryves, William, Sir
Summary
Father: John RyvesMother: Elizabeth Mervyn
Birth: c1570
Birth Source: Reliques of the Rives
Death: 10 March 1647, Dublin, Ireland
Death Source: Reliques of the Rives
Spouse1: Ms. Latham
Spouse2: Dorothy Waldram
Narrative
Children of William Ryves and Ms. Latham:- John Ryves
- William Ryves
- Thomas Ryves
- Charles Ryves, b. c1607
- George Ryves, m. Mrs. Ann Bagshaw, second daughter of Sir Edward Bagshaw.
- John Ryves, b. after June 1615
- daughter Ryves, m. Sir John Stanley.
- daughter Ryves, m. Sir Arthur Lee.
- daughter Ryves
- Elizabeth Ryves, m. Sir Arthur Leigh.
From Reliques of the Rives:
Sir William Ryves, born about 1570, died 10 March 1647 at Dublin in Ireland, ranks along with his brothers, Dr. George and Sir Thomas, and his cousin, Dr. Brune Ryves, as among the most illustrious of the name of Ryves in Eng lish and Irish annals. He was admitted to the Middle Temple, 4 February 1592/3, as "the sixth son of John Ryves of Blanford, co. Dorset, esq., deceased," and was made a Master of the Bench of the Middle Temple in 1619, according to Ingpen, who adds to the above record that he was "Reader Lent 1619; Puisne Judge of Carmathen, etc., 1619; knighted and sent to Ireland, 1629, as Attorney General there in place of Sir John Davies where he became third Justice of the King's Bench, 1636; d. 1660 (an error for 10 March 1647 for which see post). He was grandfather of Sir Richard Ryves, B. of Irish Exch., 1692. His brother, Sir John Ryves of Damory Court, co. Dorset, m. a daughter of Sir Robert Napper and his youngest brother was Sir Thomas Ryves, an eminent advocate and Master in Chancery. Arms: Arg. on a bend cotised sa. three lozenges erm. (Brerewood, History of Middle Temple in Mss.)."
He was a resident of Oxford for some years early in the 17th century in which county he owned considerable land. In 3 James I (1606) he was a taxpayer in the city of Oxford as "William Ryves, Esquier, in the Suburbs" and the register of the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford, records the burials of "John, son of Mr. William Ryves, councellor at law" in 161 5, and of "Thomas, son of Mr. William Ryves, Justice of the Peace," in 1618, (Wood, Survey of the Antiquities of Oxford, 1671). From the inq. p. m. of his son, Wil liam, in 1642, it appears that Sir William owned "lands called Great Horestowne, Charwell's leazes (leases) alias the Shiphouse Close, Abington peece (piece) and Hawkwell peece (piece) and other lands situated in the parish of St. Giles within the suburb and the city of Oxford and Wolvercott Holliwell and Marston in the County of Oxford." Hutchins notes that "Sir William Ryves, sixth son of John Ryves of Damory Court, received £24,000 for his fortune, part of which he laid out near Oxford, then married the daughter of Latham, and settled in Ireland, where he purchased Rathsallow, Crunmore, Cayenmoie, in the county of Down; Ballyferinott, near Dublin; the rectory of the Naas.
In 1634 he appears as a member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons for Bertherbet, co. Cavan, and in 1636 he was appointed one of the Judges of the King's Bench in Ireland, taking the place "become voyd by the decease of Sir Edward Harris, knight" (Signet Office Letters, iii, fol. 35). In 1641 he was appointed Speaker of the Irish House of Lords (Cal. State Papers, Ireland, Vol. 259, No. 15).
Upon his death bed he made a nuncupative will as follows:
P. C. C. 151 Grey.
Dated ?
Proved 19 July 1651.
Memorandum that Sir William Ryves, kt. late of the Cittie of Dublin deceased the 10th day of this instant March 1647 . . . declared his will in effect as followeth : Gentlemen and Gentlewomen (he speaking to those that were present in the Chamber where he laye sick) I have bin all this day busie in settlinge of my estate and should have made my will, which in regard that I have tired my selfe I intend to do it tomorrowe but fearing my sickness should prevent mee and findeinge myselfe verie weake I doe desire you Gentlemen and Gentlewomen and all my freinds that stand by to take notice that I now will and bequeath unto my deare and loveing wife Dame Dorothie Rives all my goods . . . and doe make her sole Executrix of this my nuncupative will. Shortlie after the uttering of the aforesaid words Mrs. Verscoyle who was then present being about to take her Leave and goe away hee showeing the Intire affection which he did beare unto his said Ladie uttered these words. I pray you Mrs. Verscoyle stay a little longer and for your better remembrance I will speake the wordes againe that you may remember them which hee did accordinglie sayeing I give all my goodes chattles and debts unto my sayd wife. And I doe nominate her sole Executrix of this my last will. And therewith presently gave in charge to his sonne Charles Rives who was then standing by to cause the sayd will ... to be put in writing and to be carried unto the witnesses then present the next day that they might theire severall handes as witnesses to the intent that they might not forget what his will was. And he then also declared that the reason why he did soe was for feare he should not be able to perfect his will in writeing the next day there being present at the uttering of the said will the next day Charles Rives his sonne who . . . presented his will written and read it to his father who approved thereof the tenor whereof ensueth: I, Sir William Rives of the Cittie of Dublin . . . commend my soule into the handes of God who gave it and his sonne Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour by the merit of whose death and suffering I expect remission of my sinns and noe other means whatsoever and my bodie to be buried in St. John's Church as neere unto my deceased wife and daughter as with anie convenience it may. I make my deere wife dame Dorothie Rives sole Executrix. ... I give unto my welbeloved sonne John Ryves my leases in co. Down . . . my lease of the rectory of Noas. ... I give to my welbeloved son Charles Rives. . . . There is a bond due unto me from the right honble James Lord Marques of Ormond and another from James Earl of Roscommon for the only use of my welbe loved daughter dame Elizabeth Leigh. . . .
Sir William Ryves married, 2nd, Dorothy Waldram, daughter of John Waldram, but had no issue by her. She was living as late as 1675 when she transferred her claim to the sum of £3,000, due to Sir William Ryves as Speaker of the Irish House of Lords, to Richard, Earl of Barrymore, as a marriage portion to his wife, Dame or Lady Dorothy Ryves' only daughter (Cal. State Papers, 167s).