Ralph Lord of Mortimer

  General Notes:

~Weis' Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700, 8th Edition, 27:28 & 132C:29, 176:7.

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Ralph de Mortimer, brother and heir of Hugh and son of Roger. In 1216, he had been one of a deputation sent by King John to William de Briwere, after his forced adhesion to the Barons during their occupation of London. Ralph was to arrange for William'a return to the King's service. In September 1217, Ralph had witnessed, at Lambeth, the articles drawn up between Henry III and Louis of France. On 23 November 1227 he gave £100 as relief for the lands of his brother Hugh, and the King took his homage; and on 8 July 1229. For his faithful service, he was pardoned all except £500 of the debts of his father and brother. In October 1230, he obtained a charter for a fair at Knighton and free warren at Stratfield, and in 1231 he was made custodian of Clun Castle and honor during pleasure.

In June 1233, with the other Lords Marchers, Ralph exchanged hostages with the King de fideli servicio, quousque regnum sit ita securatum quod firma pax sit in regno Anglie. On 7 November following he attested a charter of Henry III at Hereford. He was present, 28 January 1235/6, at the confirmation of Magna Charta at Westminster. In the same year he, and the other Lords Marchers, claimed the right to find and bear the silvered spears, which supported the canopies, held over the King and Queen in their Coronation procession. Because the right of the Barons of the Cinque Ports to carry both canopies being allowed, the Marchers' claim was rejected as frivolous.

In 1241, Roger was first of the pledges to the King for his sister-in-law Senana, wife of Griffith ap Llewelyn, but in August that year Meredith ap Howel and the other Welsh lords of Kerry made a permanent peace with Henry III, whether they should be at war with Ralph de Mortimer or not. In June 1242 he was summoned to come to the King's aid in Gascony as soon as possible.

Roger married, in 1230, Gladys (Gladusa) Du, or "Dark-eyed", daughter of Llewelyn ap Jorworth, by his 2nd wife, Joan, illegitimate daughter of King John, and widow of Reynold de Braose, who dieddied June 1228. Roger died 6 August 1246, and was buried at Wigmore. Gladys, his widow, died in 1251.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, (Mortimer of Wigmore), Vol. IX. pp. 275-276

Ralph married Gwladus "Dhu" verch Llewelyn, daughter of Llywelyn "Fawr" ap Iorwerth the Great" Prince of Wales and Joan Plantagenêt, in 1230 in England ¹⁴¹.^,528 (Gwladus "Dhu" verch Llewelyn was born about 1194 in Gwynedd, Wales and died in 1251 in Windsor, Berkshire, England ¹⁹⁴.)