William Ryther (abt. 1350 - abt. 1426)

Born about 1350 in Ryther, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died about 1426 at about age 76 in Ryther, Yorkshire, England

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Biography from Dugdale's

SIR WILLIAM RYTHER, said to have been descended from William de Rithre, who was summoned 29 Dec. 28 Edward I (1299 to 26 Aug. 1 Edward II, 1307); of Ryther Castle, Lord of Scarcroft and the moiety of Harewood, ju. ux., d. circ. 1426 (Whitaker); m. Sibella, dau. and coheir of William de Aldburgh, Lord of Harewood, d. 18 Henry VI (1440); bur. at Harewood. They had issue—

• Sir William Ryther (II)
• Isabella Ryther, m. John Thwaites (who was bur. in Harewood and left a will 22 Jan. 1461, pr. 1469 (?), she was bur. in Harewood.^[1]

Biography from Complete Peerage

SIR WILLIAM DE RITHER, s. and h.,^[2] joined in a Yorks recognisance in 1381; was a commissioner of inquiry there, 1384 and 1390, and collector of taxes, 1395 and 1398.^[3] He m. Sibyl, yr. da. of William (DE ALDEBURGH) 1st LORD ALDEBURGH, and sister and coh. of William, 2nd LORD ALDEBURGH,^[4] who brought to the family half the manor of Harewood, Yorks. He was living in June 1421,^[5] but dead in 1428. His widow d. 3 Sep. 1439.^[6][7]

Biography

Sir William Ryther was born at Ryther, Yorkshire, England, before 1360. In 1396 Sir William Ryther is described as nephew [nepos ] and heir of Sir John de Toutheby. Son & heir of Robert according to the 1491 pedigree. He was the son of Robert Ryther Lord of Ryther and Margaret Tothby.

Sir William Ryther married Sibyl de Aldeburgh, daughter of Sir William de Aldeburgh and Elizabeth Mowbray? - not de Lisle, circa 1379.

Sir William Ryther paid the poll tax in 1379 in Ryther, Yorkshire. Barkeston, Rythir: Willelmus le Ryther, Esquier & uxor 6/4. He was listed as an "Esquire of the less estate".

He joined in a Yorks recognisance in 1381; was a commissioner of inquiry there 1384 & 1390, and collector of taxes 1395 & 1398.

He was of Ryther Castle, Lord of Scarcroft, 1392 Lord of a moiety of Harewood. He obtained Harewood by a fine (purchase) from Thomas Thwates and William Barker the connection being through his wife Sybil de Alburgh as shown by the inquisition post mortem of Robert Ryther (6 Hen VII). It mentioned that he died seised of a moiety of Harwood in tail male, by the gift of Thomas Thwates & Wm Barker, made by way of fine, with the King's licence to one William Ryther, kt. & Sibyl his wife, thereof in tail male, with remainder in default to her right heirs, he being [great grandson]. Note that the Barkers had Scarcroft before the Rythers.

One week from St Michael, 16 Richard [II] [6 October 1392].

• Parties: Robert Conestable of Flaynburgh', knight, and Peter Tillyoll', knight, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, and Elizabeth, who was the wife of Brian de Stapilton', knight, the younger, deforciants.
• Property: 40 marks of rent issuing from the manors of Harewod' and Kereby and 60 messuages, 20 tofts, 12 carucates of land, 100 acres of meadow, 1000 acres of meadow and 30 acres of wood in Harewod', Kereby, Carleton', Dunkesewyk' and Kirkeby Orblawers.
• Plea of covenant.
• Agreement: William and Sibel and Elizabeth have acknowledged the rent to be the right of Robert, and have rendered it to Robert and Peter in the same court, to receive each year by the hands of William and Sibel and Elizabeth and the heirs of Sibel and Elizabeth, to wit, 5 marks at the feast of St Martin, 5 marks at Christmas, 5 marks at the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Mary, 5 marks at the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, 5 marks at the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, 5 marks at the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, 5 marks at the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary and also 5 marks at the feast of St Michael, to Robert and Peter and the heirs of Robert, for ever. Robert and Peter and the heirs of Robert shall have the right to distrain. For this: Robert and Peter have given them 500 marks of silver.

Sir William Ryther mentioned on 6 October 1392.

• Two weeks from St Martin, 16 Richard [II] [25 November 1392].
• Parties: William Gascoigne and John, his brother, clerk, querents, and [William] de Rither, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
• Property: A moiety of 60 acres of land, of 8 acres of meadow, of 4 acres of wood and of 16 acres of pasture in Harwod', Gaukethorp' and Hederik'.

Plea of covenant.

• Agreement: William de Rither and Sibel have acknowledged the moiety to be the right of William Gascoigne, as that which the same William and John have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed it from themselves and the heirs of Sibel to William Gascoigne and John and the heirs of William for ever.
• Warranty: Warranty.
• For this: William Gascoigne [and] John have given them 20 pounds sterling..

Sir William Ryther and Sir Bryan de Stapleton were mentioned on 18 October 1393.

• Westminster. Three weeks from St Michael, 18 Richard [II] [20 October 1394].
• Parties: The prior of Bella Valle of the Carthusian order, querent, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
• Property: 40 shillings of rent issuing from a moiety of the manors of Kereby and Kirkeby Orblawers.
• Plea of covenant.
• Agreement: William and Sibel have granted to the prior the rent and have rendered it to him in the same court, to receive each year, to wit, a moiety at the feast of St Martin and the other moiety at Pentecost, by the hands of William and Sibel and the heirs of Sibel, to the prior and his successors and their church of the Holy Trinity of Bella Valle, for ever. The prior and his successors shall have the right to distrain.
• For this: The prior has given them 20 pounds sterling.

Beauvale Priory (in Nottinghamshire), Kearby Town End (in Kirkby Overblow),Kirkby Overblow. Sir William Ryther was licensed for a chauntry in Alford church on 18 July 1396 in Alford, Lincolnshire. Sir William Ryther, kt. paid 20 marks to the King and power was granted to ... assign a rent .. issuing out of the manors of Toutheby and Rigsby, for a chaplain to say mass for the soul of Sir John de Toutheby, knt [who was apparently living in 1376]. Sir William Ryther is described as nephew & heir of Sir John de Toutheby. The chantry is for the soul of Sir John Toutheby, Knt. his son Robert, and his wife Joan, and for the good estate of Sir William Ryther, Knt, Joan his wife and the children of Alianore wife of Sir John de Toutheby Knt.

Sir William Ryther was mentioned in a deed dated 1397 in Saleby, Yorkshire.

William Ryther gave 20 marks for license to found a chantry in the church at Alford in Lincolnshire, for the soul of John Totheby? of Alford.

• Robert Barkeston of Barkeston & William de Ryther, knight, were both summonded at Westminster June 16, 1398 for not appearing to answer John Hyldyard, clerk, touching a debt of 20 pounds.
• One week from St Hilary, 22 Richard [II] [20 January 1399].
  • Parties: William Gascoigne, Richard Gascoigne and Robert Gellesthorp', chaplain, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
  • Property: 1 toft, 100 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow and 6 acres of wood in Harewode and a moiety of the manor of Ker[e?]by.
  • Action: Plea of covenant.
  • Agreement: William de Ryther and Sibel have acknowledged the tenements and moiety to be the right of William Gascoigne, as those which the same William, Richard and Robert have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Sibel to William Gascoigne, Richard and Robert and the heirs of William for ever.

Warranty for William Gascoigne, Richard and Robert have given them 100 pounds sterling..

• Westminster. One week from St Hilary, 22 Richard [II] [20 January 1399].
• Parties: William Gascoigne, Richard Gascoigne and Robert Gellesthorp', chaplain, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
• Property: 1 toft, 100 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow and 6 acres of wood in Harewode and a moiety of the manor of Ker[e?]by.
  • Plea of covenant.
  • Agreement: William de Ryther and Sibel have acknowledged the tenements and moiety to be the right of William Gascoigne, as those which the same William, Richard and Robert have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Sibel to William Gascoigne, Richard and Robert and the heirs of William for ever.

For this: William Gascoigne, Richard and Robert have given them 100 pounds sterling.

• One week from Holy Trinity, 22 Richard [II] [1 June 1399].
• Parties: John de Rygton', chaplain, and William Talpe, chaplain, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
• Property: 1 messuage, 1 toft, 5 bovates of land, 3 acres of meadow, the works of 1 man for 30 days in Autumn, the works of 2 men at plough with 8 oxen for 9 days each year and 22 shillings of rent in Estcarleton' by Gysselay and Lofthous by Harrewode.
• Action: Plea of covenant.
  • Agreement: William de Ryther and Sibel have acknowledged the tenements and works to be the right of John, as those which John and William Talpe have of their gift, to hold to John and William Talpe and the heirs of John, of the chief lords for ever.

For this: John and William Talpe have given them 100 marks of silver.. He was licensed for an oratory in his house at Towthby on 20 November 1399 in Alford, Lincolnshire. The licence was granted to Sir William Ryther, kt., and his wife to have mass said "infra manerium de Towthby".

• At Westminster. Two weeks from St Hilary, 3 Henry [IV] [27 January 1402].
  • Parties: Nicholas Gascoigne, Richard Gascoigne, Robert de Gelles[thorp'], chaplain, William Scotte, Henry del Chaumbre and John del Chaumbre, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants.
  • Property: A moiety of the manor of Kelfeld'.
  • Plea of covenant.

Agreement: William de Ryther and Sibel have acknowledged the moiety to be the right of Nicholas, as that which Nicholas, Richard, Robert, William Scotte, Henry and John have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed it from themselves and the heirs of Sibel to Nicholas, Richard, Robert, William Scotte, Henry and John and the heirs of Nicholas for ever.

• Warranty.
• For this: Nicholas, Richard, Robert, William Scotte, Henry and John have given them 100 marks of silver.

GASCOIGNE OF PARLINGTON, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS (WYL115) 1402-04: Confirmation (extract), fine and grant of wardship. p.12. Confirmation n.d. Of the above grant and also that the 10 marks assigned to Nicholas Gascoigne were to be received of the Sheriff direct from the "farm of York". margin: 1: 41: 4. Pat. ps. 4: m: 29. Fine Hilary Term, 1402. Nicholas Gascoigne, Richard Gascoigne and others, plaintiffs, and Sir William Ryther, kt., and Sybil his wife deforciants of a moiety of the manor of Kelfeld. Consideration 100 marks. margin: 3: H: 4. A fine. Fine (Abstract) Easter term 1404. 'Where Nicholas Gascoigne a feoffe in trust.' margin: 5: H: 4. Grant of Wardship 8 May [1404] Letters Patent of Henry IV granting the wardship and marriage of John de Cawode, minor to Nicholas Gascoigne (who had agreed to purchase this right with the Treasurer, William de Roos for 45 marks). Given at Westminster. margin: 5: H: 4. ps: 2: m: 19. De custodia Johannis Cawode Commissa Nicholao Gascoigne.. At Westminster. One week from St John the Baptist, 4 Henry [IV] [1 July 1403]. Parties: William Barker of Tadcastre and Thomas Thwaytes of Lofthous, querents, and William de Ryther, knight, and Sibel, his wife, deforciants. Property: A moiety of the manors of Harrewod' and Kirkebyorblawers. Plea of covenant. Agreement: William de Ryther and Sibel have acknowledged the moiety to be the right of William Barker, as that which the same William and Thomas have of their gift. For this: William Barker and Thomas have granted to William de Ryther and Sibel the moiety and have rendered it to them in the same court, to hold to William de Ryther and Sibel and the male heirs of their bodies, of the chief lords for ever. In default of such heirs, remainder to the right heirs of Sibel. On the 18th March 1408, there having happened a great difference between Sir William de Ryther and Sibilla his wife, he appeared before Henry Archbishop of York (then at the manor of Cawood) where he took corporal oath thenceforth to use her honestly and kindly observing certain articles (1) To do her no bodily harm or imprison her, but keep her in full freedom as a man of his degree ought to do with his wife, without doing or saying anything that may be reproof or villany to her person (2) To void Marion of Grindon out of his company and out of his children's company as long as the aforesaid Sibill lives, and to have nothing to do with the aforesaid Marion by way of sin (3) To find his wife and her maiden and her chamberer meat and drink reasonable for her estate. Witnessed by Richard Redmayne [Brother-in-law & co-occupier of Harewood Castle], Sir Henry Vavasour [manorial Lord], Henry Fitzhenry (Archbishop of York].

Sir William Ryther was mentioned in a deed dated 1410 in Saleby, Yorkshire. In 1410 among the tenants of Thomas Colepepper, then lord of Saleby, was John de Southeby, filius Dom. William de Ryther, milit. In the previous year the same William de Ryther was fined 2d. for non-attendance at the Saleby Court Leet.

Sir William Ryther and Sir William Ryther were mentioned in a deed dated 6 March 1415/16. On March 5 1415/6 Wm Ryther kt. senior and Wm Ryther kt. jr. witnessed a deed: By Richard Redemane, knight, and Robert Broun, chaplain to Brian de Stapilton, knight, of the manors of Querneby and Carleton by Snayth and lands and tenements in Farlyngton co. York, all of which the grantors had lately by the feoffment of the grantee. Witnesses William de Ryther, knight, the elder, William Ryther, knight, the younger, and others. 5 September 1524: Commission to Ralph Grastock, Richard Redman, William Rither and Robert Roose, of Inghamthorpe, knights, and to John Ellerker, Guy Rocliff, William Moston and Thomas Lindleye, or any two or more of them, the four last named being of the quorum to make Inquisition in the county of Yorkshire as to lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, services, wardships, marriages & escheats alledged to have been concealed from the King within the said county.

William died circa 1426 in Yorkshire. He was buried circa 1426 in Harewood, Yorkshire. The Ryther monument lies under the arch between the chancel and the south, or Gascoigne chapel. Each side has nine buttressed panels, five of which contain a small shield; the other four originally contained carved figures but these have all been lost. The effigies are in most respects the counterparts of those on the Redman tomb but with obvious differences in detail. Sir William's crest is the dragon's head of Ryther and his collar a plain broad band of SS. An unusual feature is the forepart of a small animal, possibly a hare, under each foot. Sir William Ryther's family came from Ryther Castle, between Selby and Tadcaster. Records show that the Ryther marriage had its difficulties and Sir William appears to have been a violent and tyrannical man; he died in about 1426 but Sybil survived him until 1440.

Sir William Ryther was the subject of an Inquisition Post Mortem held in Yorkshire in 1430.

Sources

1. ↑ "Ryther of Scarcroft," Sir William Dugdale, John William Clay (ed.), Dugdale’s Visitation of Yorkshire, with Additions, vol. II (Exeter: William Pollard & Co., Ltd., 1899), p. 454, found at Archive.org.
2. ↑ According to the 1491 pedigree, son and heir of Robert.
3. ↑ Cal. Close Rolls, 1381-85, p. 94; Cal. Patent Rolls, 1381-85, p. 585; 1388-92, p. 272; Cal. Fine Rolls, vol. xi, p. 264.
4. ↑ See ante, vol. i, p. 102; Cal. Patent Rolls, 1391-96, pp. 214, &c. For fuller genealogical particulars of the family from this date, see Clay, Dugdale's Visitation of York, vol. ii pp. 454-56.
5. ↑ When his son is called Sir William Rither junior.
6. ↑ Ch. Inq. p. m., I8 Hen. VI, no. 68.
7. ↑ George Edward Cokayne, Vicary Gibbs, Herbert Arthur Doubleday, Duncan Warrand, Thomas Evelyn Scott-Ellis Baron Howard de Walden, Geoffrey Henllan White, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, Or Dormant, vol. xi (London: The Saint Catherine Press, 1949), p. 10 [sub Rither], found at FamilySearch.

• Marlyn Lewis.