Early Life
Ralph Bosville was born around 1525 (based on extrapolation from descendants), the second son of
John Bosvile of
Gunthwaite in Yorkshire, and
Muriel Barnby.
Career & Family Life
Ralph moved south from Yorkshire and settled in Kent where he purchased the manor of
Blackhall and Bradborne. The
Sevenoaks Chronicle1 ran a two-part history of Bradborne and has this to say about the Bosvilles:
[The Manor of Bradborne] became the property [during the reign of Elizabeth] of Sir Ralph Bosville, Knt who was descended from Sir John Bosville, Knt., Lord of Erdesley, living in 1234....
He was Clerk of the Queen's Court of Wards. This was a Court established in 1548 to make certain enquiries, on the death of a tenant in chief, into the extent of his possessions, and the age of his heir, in order that that the King's rights might be exacted. The Court was abolished in 1660. Sir Ralph bought Blackhall (now in the Knole estate) from Thomas Fotihurst, and it remained in the hands of the owners of Bradborne for several generations.
On 1st July, 1560, Queen Elizabeth granted Letters Patent for the incorporation of the Grammar School at Sevenoaks, founded by William Sevenokes. In the recital it stats: "Know ye, that we, on the humble supplication and petition of our beloved Ralph Bosvile, Esq., Clerk of our Court of Wards and Liveries, and of other inhabitants of the said parish of Sevenoaks.".
Ralph married first
Ann Clement, daughter of
Sir Richard Clement and with her had:
- Henry of Bradbourne, who married Elizabeth Morgan
- Robert of Eynsford, who married Elizabeth Sybyll
- Ralph, who married Mary Copley
- Dorothy, who married Clement Smith
- Katherine, who married Edward Maddison
- Winifred, who married Edmund Saunders
Second, Ralph married Bennett/Benedicta Skinner, daughter of Anthony Skinner of London.
Death
Ralph died in August 1580 and was buried at
Sevenoaks on the 8
th of August that year. His will, available at the
National Archives, makes mention of:
- His younger sons (by Ann Clements) Edward, Richard and John (£10 in yearly rent)
- His eldest son Henry (all his lands and properties, and sole Executor)
- His eldest brother Godrey, and other brother Henry
- His wife Bennet [Skinner]
- His daughters (by Ann Clements) Martha, Prudence and Jane who all appear to be under-age in 1580
- To Robert, his second son "the wardship and marriage of Elizabeth Sybell, daughter and heir of John Sybell, Esq. deceased."
He puts in a very long clause designed to stop his son Henry from trying to avoid carrying out the bequests to his (Ralph's) daughters. So perhaps there was some bad blood here between the siblings.
Footnotes
[1]
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 02 February 1917 page 3 (part 1) and 16 March 1917 page 4 (part 2)
Abt 1525 - 1580 (~ 55 years)
[1] 
