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Ralph Wormeley, Jr. called "the greatest man in Virginia"[1]
Ralph Wormeley, Jr. was the son of Ralph Wormeley the immigrant, and Agatha Eltonhead, daughter of Richard Eltonhead of Eltonhead, Lancashire, England,[2] and widow of her 1st, Luke Stubbins of Northampton County.[3][4] Ralph, Jr was born in 1650 at Rosegill, James City County (Middlesex after 1669), Virginia Colony.[5]
The origin of his father, Ralph Wormeley, the immigrant to Virginia Colony, is uncertain.
Ralph matriculated to Oriel College, Oxford, on July 14, 1665, and became quite an intellectual, amassing a huge collection of 375 books at Rosegill.[2]
Ralph Randolph Wormeley was the grandson of Ralph and Elizabeth Armistead; he became an Admiral of the British Navy.[6]
Ralph, Jr. married twice. He married before 4 March 1679 (date of baptism of their first child), as his 1st, to Catherine (Lunsford) Jenings, daughter of Sir Thomas Lunsford and widow of Col. Peter Jenings.[6][1]
Children of Ralph, Jr. and Katherine Lunsford:[1]
Ralph Wormeley Jr. married on February 16, 1687 at "Coll Armsteds in Gloster," (home of the bride's father),[7] as his 2nd, to Elizabeth Armistead, daughter of Col John Armistead.[6][1][9]
Children of Ralph and Elizabeth Armistead:[1][6][10]
According to Virginia Armistead Garder, Ralph and Elizabeth had only two children: John Wormeley and Judith Armistead Wormeley.[6] The William and Mary Quarterly of 1909 and The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography of 1928 add son, Ralph Wormeley, born in 1689.[1][10]
Currently connected as a child, but may not belong: Letitia Wormeley.
Ralph Wormeley owned many thousands of acres and was called at the time, "the most powerful man in Virginia."[10] He lived at his plantation, "Rosegill," in Middlesex County, Virginia.[6] The house was impressive, with multiple parlors and chambers.[6]
A Frenchman who was visiting Virginia in the 1680's wrote an interesting description of Rosegill and other properties owned by Wormley.[12] He described many servants, both slaves and indentured, luxurious living, and elegance. Governor, Lord Howard of Effingham chose to spend his summers doing the business of Virginia from Rosegill.[12]
Ralph Wormley, Jr.[13] was wealthy and politically active.[6]Ralph was a member of the House of Burgesses for Middlesex County in 1674, a member of Council in 1677, and Secretary of State for Virginia in June, 1693.[10] In 1694, he was President of the Council of Virginia,[14] and as a function of this position, was briefly acting Governor, in Governor Andros's absence, from September to October 1698.[4][10] He was a Vestryman of Christ Church Parish, Collector of His Majesty's Customs, Naval Officer in the Rappahannock, and one of the first trustees of William and Mary College.[11]
Ralph served as Colonel and Commander and Chief of the County Militia in 1669.[15] Ralph Wormeley, Esq. was the Colonel and Commander in Chief; Matthew Kemp was his Leutenant Colonel, and Robert Dudley was the Major.[15]
Ralph wrote his will on February 22, 1700/01, and it was proved on April 7, 1701[/2?].[1] Ralph, Jr. died on December 5, 1701,[10] probably at his home at Rosegill Plantation, Middlesex County, Virginia, where he lived.
Note: Crozier incorrectly reports (and Garder seems to follow) that Ralph died on 5 December 1703.[5][6]
Ralph and Col. Thomas Lightfoot Lee are 1st cousins, once removed. Thomas was Acting Governor of Colony of Virginia, Virginia House of Burgesses, Governor's Councilor, and U.S. Attorney General.
Ralph is the 1st cousin 3 times removed of [[Randolph-319 | Edmund Jennings Randolph] (1753 - 1812), 2nd United States Secretary of State, 1st United States Attorney General, 7th Governor of Virginia.
Ralph is the great grandfather of John Page (1743 - 1808), 13th Governor of Virginia. Page was elected to the First United States Congress and reelected to the Second, Third, and Fourth Congress.
Ralph is the 2nd great grandfather of Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (1768 - 1828), 21st Governor of Virginia. He married Martha Jefferson, the oldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States.
Ralph is the 1th cousin 5 times removed of Thomas James Churchill (1824 - 1904), 13th Governor of Arkansas.
See also: Images of Rosegill
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Ralph is 22 degrees from Zendaya Coleman, 23 degrees from Sting Sumner, 16 degrees from Josh Brolin, 21 degrees from Timothée Chalamet, 17 degrees from José Ferrer, 14 degrees from Frank Herbert, 13 degrees from Richard Jordan, 17 degrees from David Lynch, 15 degrees from Virginia Madsen, 17 degrees from Charlotte Rampling, 27 degrees from Patrick Stewart and 20 degrees from Denis Villeneuve on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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Categories: Governor's Council, Virginia Colony | Middlesex County, Virginia, Slave Owners | House of Burgesses, Virginia Colony | Colonial Governors of Virginia | Virginia Colonists | Jamestowne Society Qualifying Ancestors