Notes for: Ralph Wycliffe

This family comes from An History of Richmondshire, in the North Riding of the County of York; together with those parts of the Everwicschire of Domesday which form The Wapentakes of Lonsdale, Ewecross, and Amunderness, in the Counties of York, Lancaster, and Westmoreland, by Thomas Dunham WHITAKER. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees (and others), 1823. 2 volumes. Here is the info given there on this family:

Ralph Wycliffe, Esquire, eldest son, Lord of Wycliffe. Married Anne, daughter of Sir William Bowes, of Streatlam Castle, in Com. Pal. Dun. [County Durham], Knight.

Info in the Pearson book (p. 90) says Ralph inherited the Wycliffe estate on the death of his father in 1494. It goes on to say that since Ralph had no sons, the estate passed on to his nephew, the son of his brother John and his first wife Elizabeth Parkinson. The Genealogist lists these girls as Elizabeth, Anne, Agnes, and Alice in that order.

There is more on this Bowes family in the Special Collections at the Society of Genealogists in London: Radcliffe Box, Folder 1, pp. 69-70. There is says, I believe, that the Inquiry made into his death took place on October 25, 1539.

Information on the Wycliffe family in the Radcliffe Box in S. of G. in London (68) seems to list his children in the order Elizabeth, Alice, Anne, and Agnes. That is probably not correct, though.

There is another interesting thing from the Radcliffe Box (67) about possibly this Ralph Wycliffe; however, it calls him Rauf Wycliff "one of the sons of John Wyclyf and Agnes his wife." That is probably a mistake since it should say "one of the sons of Robert Wycliffe and his wife Anne." It comes from "Early Chanc. Pror. 31/166." I'll type the whole thing as I understand it: This would make more sense if it were Robert Wycliffe. The problem might be that someone misread "Rauf" for "Rbt."

To the Rr. Rev. George Archbp of York & chauncelor - Ye poore bedeman Rauf Wycliff Gentleman an oon of the sones of John Wyclyf and Agnes his wyf now ded Where he beying seised.. of the manour of Wyclyf (& lds there of in Thorp on Tees Gyllying Richemond Barton Newsom Ellerton in Swaldall & [other places specified])... and of trust that the sd John had in John Catryh And Cristofore Norton Wyth William late lord ffitzhugh and John Forster late ??? Sone of the Kyrk of Wyclyf now ded enfeffed them in the sd lds ? to perform his will - which John Wyclyf ye xxj day of September in the yere of Henry ye Sixt late in dede and not of right King of England lying sore Syk ... John Catryh & Crystofore to make a state to yer sd besecher and to the Wy males of his body immediately after.