Person:Richard Ravens (2)

"According to John Venn and J.A. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigiensis, Pt. 1 (Cambridge, Eng., 1922-24) 3:424, Richard was admitted pensioner at Queen's College, Cambridge, on 2 June 15678, then migrated to Corpus Christi College, where he matriculated in 1579. He obtained his B.A. in 1581-82 and his M.A. in 1585. He was licensed to teach grammar at East Bergholt in 1584, then on 29 Dec. 1591 was ordained priest at Norwich. On 25 Sept. 1593, he was elected schoolmaster at Dedham, a position he held until 1599 (Rev. Charles Alfred Jones, History of Dedham [Colchester 1907] p. 124), during which time, he lived "in the house at the church gate" owned by Edmund Sherman (whose will, dated 31 July 1599, is abstracted in Eliz. Life 4, pp. 307-8, and in Waters, 2:1166-67). He was inducted vicar of Wattisfield, co. Suffolk, on 30 April 1599, where he remained until his death in 1626, living in a house owned by Edmund Sherman. An abstract of his will follows:

RICHARD RAVENS of Wattesfyld, co. Suffolk, clerk. 31 Oct. 1625. Unto my son Jonathan and to his heirs all my messuage and tenement newly builded wherein John Hasell now dwelleth, with the orchard and yard thereunto belonging. Elizabeth my beloved wife shall hold and enjoy all that my tenement or messuage wherein by son-in-law Anthony Milles now dwelleth, and all other my lands and hereditaments whatsoever (not by me otherwise herein given and bequeathed) for life, and Elizabeth my wife shall have the use and occupying of all my lease lands which I lately had of Mr. Hearne for life, and after her decease Jonathan my son shall have and hold to him and the heirs of his body all my lease lands, and if he shall depart this life without heirs of his body, the said tenement or cottage with all the former lands given to him shall remain unto the rest of my children or so many of them as shall then be living, vizt. unto Bezaliell, William, Edmunde, Richard, Grace, Elizabeth, Marie, Helen and Sarah. After the decease of Elizabeth my wife, all the rest of my lands shall go likewise unto my forenamed children. Unto my daughter Sarah the two pieces of land which I lately purchased of William Burlingham now enclosed, lying in Churche field, at age 21. If Sarah should die before age 21, the said lands to my sons that should then be living. Unto my son Jonathan one featherbed, and other household stuff. Unto my daughter Marie the bedstedell on [i.e. in] the chamber wheron I usually lie, and one flockbed. Unto Elizabeth my wife all my linen and £30, also £10 worth of my household stuff. Whereas I have willed and bequeathed all my lands and tenements after the decease of my wife and my son Jonathan unto all my children (that should then be living), my executors shall have the power to sell those lands and tenements to the best advantage, and the money shall be equally divided amongst all my children then living. Unto my son Jonathan £5. Unto my son Richard £5 at age 24. Unto the poor 20s. My sons Bezaliell and Edmund and William executors. Witnesses: John Cradocke, William Carter, the mark of William Pett.

Proved 25 May 1626 by the three sons and executors named. (PCC 59 Hele: PROB 11/149/17)

The fact that Richard Ravens did not see fit to mention his daughters' married names is unfortunate, and it might be supposed that they were all unmarried but for the fact that one of his tenants was Anthony Mills, his son in law; it is therefore reasonable to conclude that some of the others may also have been married. With the help of parish registers, we can assemble a list of his children."^[1]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Wood, Michael J., "The English Origin of Grace (Ravens) (Sherman) (Rogers) Porter and Mary (Ravens) Coolidge of Watertown, Mass.: New England Descendants of Ravens of Dedham, co. Essex," 62 [Apr-Jul 1987] : 65-77; 161-170., in The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
   (at 62:71-74).