Sir Ralph Fitz William Knight, Baron

   Another name for Ralph was Sir Ralph Greystoke Knight, Baron.

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁹⁶⁴
On the death of John de Greystoke without issue, the representatives in blood of that family came to an end in the male line. The baronly passed to the son of Joan de GReystoke, wife of William Fitz Ralf, lord of Grimthorp. [Inq.p.m. Edw I, no. 40] This was done by settlement in 1297 before the death of Lord John, who bequeathed his possession ulta hereditatem to Ralf fitz William, his kinsman [Pat. Roll, 25 Edw.I pt. ii m. 8; Newminster Chartulary, pp. 286-291]

Before his succession to Greystoke lands, Ralf fitz William had a distinguised career, may particulars of which are inscribed on the rolls of pariament. In 1282, he married Margery widow of Nicholas Corbet and eldest daughter of Hugh, baron of Bolebec [Fine Roll, 10 Edw. I m.17] by whom he had two sons, William and Robert. He was present at the siege of Carlaverock in 1300 when he made a fine appearance in his surcoast of arms, the three chaplets of red roses becoming him marvellously. [Roll of Carlaverock, p.8, ed. T.Wright] About the feast of All Saints, 1316, he died at a great age, and was buried at Nesham, [History of Durham, iii, 260] his eldest son William having predeceased him.

~The Ancestor, Vol. VI, 126-129

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Sir Ralph Fitz William, of Grimthorpe and Hildreskelf, co. York, son and heir of Sir William Fitz Ralph, of the same (who was living in July 1269), by Joan, daughter of Sir Thomas Fitz William, of Greystoke, Cumberland. He was about to go to Wales on the King's service in July 1277 and July 1287. On 6 Aug 1296 the King took his homage, and he had livery of the lands of his younger brother, Gilbert fitz William. On 17 Aug 1297 John fitz William of Greystoke had licence to enfeoff him of the manor and whole barony of Greystoke, the manors of Dufton, Westmorland Ulgham, and John's purparty of the manor of Morpeth, Northumberland,. Crossthwaite, co. York, and Coniscliffe, co. Durham, with the advowsons of churches pertaining thereto. Next year, 8 April, he had licence to enfeoff the said John fitz William of the premises, for life, with reversion to himself, in fee.

Sir Ralph Fitz William was appointed a Captain for the defence of Northumberland against the Scots, 12 Jul 1297, and a Keeper of the march of Scotland in that county, 18 October following. He was Constable of Scarborough Castle, 3 Oct 1297 to 23 Feb 1300/1. He was at the battle of Falkirk, 22 Jul 1298, and at the siege of Carlaverock in July 1300.

The name of Sir Ralph Fitz William's 1^st wife is unknown. He married, 2^ndly (royal licence, 1 Nov 1281, for a fine of 100 marks, Margery, widow of Sir Nicholas Corbet (who died before 25 Dec 1280), and 2nd daughter and coheir of Sir Hugh de Bolebek, of Angerton, Doddington, Styford, Shotley, and Heddon, Northumberland, by Tiphaine, his wife: she was aged 21 and more in 1262.

Sir Ralph Fitz William was summoned for Military Service from 6 Apr1282 to 20 Augt 1316, to Military Councils, 14 Jun 1287 and 16 Sep 1297, to attend the King at Salisbury, 26 Jan 1296/7, and to Parliament from 24 Jun 1295 to 16 Oct 1515, by writs directed Radulpho filio Willelmi, whereby he is held to have become Lord Fitz William. As Radulphus filitis Willelmi dominus de Grimthorp' he took part in the Barons Letter to the Pope, 12 Feb 1300/1. On 7 July 1303 he obtained licence that he might be enfeoffed, in fee, of the reversion of that one-fourtb part of the manors of Angerton, Heddon, &c., which Walter de Huntercombe held by the courtesy after the death, s.p.s., of Alice his wife [3rd daughter and coheir of Hugh de Bolebek abovenamed) his own wife, Margery, was then recently deceased, s.p. With 10 men-at-arms, he was in the Army of Scotland under Aymer de Valence, from Easter to Michaelmas 1306. He had livery 31 Oct 1306, after the death (2 Sep 1306) of John fitz William of Greystoke, of the manors, &c., of which John had enfeoffed him, and which he had regranted to John for life, with reversion to himself in fee: the King having taken his homage for the manor and barony of Greystoke, the manor of Ulgham, and the purparty of the manor of Morpeth, all of which were held of the King in chief by military service. In October 1307 he was in the retinue of John, Earl of Richmond. On the death of Walter de Huntercombe, he had livery, 6 Jul 1313, of a moiety of the before-mentioned one-fourth part of the manors of Angerton, Heddon, &c., but provisionally, his claim being disputed. As an adherent of the Earl of Lancaster, he was pardoned for any part he had taken against Piers de Gavastone, 16 Oct 1313.

Sir Ralph Fitz William was appointed Captain and Keeper of the town of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the whole county of Northumberland, 4 Jan 1314/5, Captain and Keeper of the city of Carlisle and the march of Scotland in Cumberland, 23 Mar following, and a Keeper of the county of York against the Scots, 4 Jul 1316, all during pleasure. He died 11 February 1316/7, and was buried in Neasham Priory.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. V, pp.513-516