Transcript

of

The copy of the will of George Ralegh

Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 1:7, (1900) pp. 202-204.

by

T.N. Brushfield, M.D.

Prepared by Michael Steer

Sir Walter Raleigh’s father, Walter Ralegh (1496?–1581), a country gentleman, originally settled at Fardell, in the parish of Cornwood, where he owned property at his death. By his first wife the elder Ralegh had two sons: George, who is said to have furnished a ship to meet the Spanish armada in 1588, and was buried at Withycombe Ralegh on 12 March 1596–7, leaving issue believed to be illegitimate; and John, who succeeded to the family property at Fardell, and died at a great age in 1629. Mary, the only child of the second marriage, was wife of Hugh Snedale. In this note, the author clarifies much useful information about Ralegh family connections from an analysis of George Ralegh’s will. The extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 172. THE COPY OF THE WILL of George Ralegh, the elder step-brother of Sir Walter, is of much interest, inasmuch as it serves to corroborate some of the important points of information concerning the Ralegh family, contained in my paper "Raleghana" that appeared in the Trans. Devonshire Association, vol. xxviij., pp. 272-312.
It is noteworthy that he left similar amounts to be distributed to the poor of Withycombe Raleigh, where he occasionally resided and probably died; and was interred in the Parish Church.
To the poor of Cornwood, in which parish the ancestral home of Fardel was situated. And to the "poor of Littleham where my other house is in Exmouth." This last named residence is now known for the first time, as hitherto his sole connection with that parish has consisted in the knowledge of his having served the office of Churchwarden in 1586.
The will is dated March 25th, 1595, and was proved on March i8th, 1596 (7), he having died on the i6th of the previous month, according to the inscription on the tombstone in the churchyard of the Church of St. John in the Wilderness, as copied by Dean Milles in the i8th Century. (The stone was removed probably when the greater part of the church was taken down many years since.) It demonstrates that his wife " Dorothie " survived him ; and that she was the daughter of Walter Snedall, "of Exeter," according to Westcote. In the Holland pedigree of the Ralegh family in Harl. MS. 1500, he is named John Snedall. It is curious that Mary, George's step-sister, married Hugh Snedall at St. Mary Arches Church on Oct. I3th, 1563.
Some authorities affirm Dorothy to have been his second wife, but whether or not this be correct, it is certain he left no legitimate issue. "George Blake, alias Raleigh, the son of Margaret Blake of Withecombe Raleigh," was in all probability his illegitimate son, who, very soon after his father's death married Margaret Drake, apparently the one of that name in the will who was left a legacy of £50. He evidently assumed the name of Ralegh and in that name his six children are registered in the parish books of Withycombe Raleigh.
Another item in the will deserves notice, viz., "To Henry Snidall (sic) my shippe called the "Lion" of Exmouth with all furniture belonging." It is known that George's father had some interest in shipping, and in the time of Q. Mary possessed a bark. It was this circumstance that led Edwards (in the Life of Sir W. Ralegh, I, 12) to conjecture this as the reason of his leaving Fardel for Hayes Barton, so as to be nearer the sea. George's name appears in a list of " Sea Captaynes " on Jan. 5th, 1585-6. As a shipowner he is alluded to in a remarkable letter from Sir F. Walsingham to the Mayor and Aldermen of Exeter, dated Nov. 26th, 1588, preserved in the City Records, that is well worth transcribing here :
"I am geven to understand that at suche tyme as ther was geven this last sommer for the settinge forthe of certain shippes out of your Citie yet apperethe that emongst others you tooke a man of warre, beinge a shippe appertayning unto Mr. George Rawley, making agreement wth him for the furnishing and setting of her fourthe for her Maties Service, but now you refuse to make him satisfaction for the same." Prays them to pay him without more delay. "I have saved him from acquayntying their Lordships wth your slackness herein uppon the perswasion I have that this my own letter shall sufficientlye prevaile wth you." (Notes and Gleanings, ij, 106.)
T. N. BRUSHFIELD, M.D.