Described as being of Snodhill.
I believe that Ralph was the second son of William's three sons
NOTE: according to Bedford's pedigree, Ralph was aged less than 21 years old in 1553, implying that he must have been born after 1532. But I think that this must be incorrect for the following reasons:
A Ralph Wordsworth was recorded in 1542 as having had a son and heir called William who was about to marry the daughter of a Thomas Beaumont of Brampton, near Wath. This could of course have been a different Ralph, but if one and the same he must have been born no later than 1500
Ralph Wordsworth of Snodhill in 1547, together with John Wordsworth of Water Hall and William Wordsworth of Falthwaite, witnessed a deed transferring the right to bear the arms of Oxspring, viz: "A fesse between three church bells" from Ralph Eyre ot Normanton-upon-Soar, co Notts, Esq, who had married a daughter and coheiress of Richard de Oxspring, to Godfrey Bosville, of Gunnelthwaite (Gunthwaite) Esq,. to who he sold his moiety of the manor. A copy of this deed is to be found in Dr Hunter's "South Yorkshire".
I suspect that he must have been born around 1500, which would be consistent with his father having been born around 1480.
He must have had at least 2 daughters and 4 sons, because his son William mentions brothers and sisters in his will and Ralph was already deceased by then.
In the name of God Amen the ninth day of September in the year of our Lord God 1558 I Rauf Wordesworth of Penyston in the county of York, yeoman, of a whole mynd and perfect remembrance doth ordayne and make this for my last will and testament in manor and forme followinge, ffirst I give and comend my soull to almyghtie god in our blessed lady St Marie and to all the ? company in heaven, and my body to be buryed in the church yarde of St John Baptist at Penyston aforesaid. Imprimis I gyve grant assign and bequeath by this my present will and testament one tenement called the Scole Hill in the tenure and occupancy of Thomas? Wordesworth and one other tenement lately in the tenure and occupancy of William Wilson of Silkstone and now in the holding of his neice, with all the meadows, woods pastures with the appurtenances thereto belonging, to Ellen Wordesworth my daughter and the sum of 20 pounds be fully ? ? of the ? ? in full ? and payment of her child’s portion. Also I will in like manner that the rent of the said ? farms or tenements shall remayne in my executor’s hands to such tyme or tymes as my whole estate which I owne be satisfied and paid with the legacies aforesaid. Also, I will that is William Wordesworth my son and heir will be bound with sufficient? with him to pay all such debts as I do owe with the legacies aforesaid, then I will that all my lands and tenements within the countie of York ? ? ? to remayne of the said William Wordesworth my son and heir and his heirs for ever. Item I gyve, grant, assign and bequeath by this my present will and testament to Agnes Wordsworth my wife the third part of my whole estate and lands. The residue? of my goodes not ? after my debts be paid of my land and my ? ? ? of my goods I give and bequeath to Robert, Nicolas and Humphrey Wordesworth , whom I ordayne and make my true and lawfull executors of thos my last will and testament ? of the same Willm Hollingworth , gentleman, Willm Crosland . . . rest in Latin |
