Sir Ralph Astley Knight

  General Notes:

~The Visitations of Essex, p.138, Sir John Astley Knight of the Garter, second sonne maryed and had issue of Thomas Astley of Hilmorton in this position.

Both Collin's Baronetage, Vol. III, PI and Bethram's Baronetage, Vol. II, have Ralph Astley as the father of Thomas Astley of Hilmorton in this position.

Both Collin's Baronetage, Vol. III, PI and Bethram's Baronetage, Vol. II, show this Ralph as the son of Thomas Astley, son of the Thomas Lord Astley. Victoria County History, A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 6, pp. 108-114 gives Ralph as the brother, not son, of the second Thomas Astley. Both Thomas and his brother Ralph are given as the sons of Thomas, Lord Astley and his second wife Edith, daughter of Peter de Melton, Constable of Norfolk. ^{678,1175,1180,1260}

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ^1175,1180
Sir Ralph Astley, son & heir of Thomas Astley, married Agnes, daughter of Ralph Gerbrug. They were the parents of Sir Thomas Astley, living 7 Richard II.

Betham's Baronetage of England, Vol. II, p. 72, Collin's Baronetage of England Vol. III, Part I, p. 64

• Background Information. ¹²⁶⁰
In January 1265 Thomas de Astley obtained the grant of a weekly market on Saturday and an annual fair at Midsummer. He was killed later in that year at Evesham, but the grant was renewed in 1268 to his son Thomas, the market being altered to Wednesday, with the right of free warren in his demesne lands added. In 1263 Thomas de Astley, senior, is said to have granted the manor and advowson of Hillmorton to Thomas, his eldest son by his second wife, the father probably retaining a life-interest. This younger Thomas died without offspring before 1284, when his brother Ralph, who was the ancestor of a family that held Hillmorton in direct descent down to the end of the 18th century, claimed and was allowed view of frankpledge, free warren, and the right to hold markets and fairs. Ralph's son Thomas was lord of Morton cum membris in 1316, and he and his wife Margery (Charnels) settled the manor, except for a messuage, one carucate, and £12 in rents, on themselves with remainder to their right heirs in 1333.

~VCH, A History of the County of Warwick: Vol. 6., pp.108-114

Ralph married Agnes Gerbrige, daughter of Edward Gerbrige and Unknown ¹¹⁷⁵.^,1180 (Agnes Gerbrige was born in Melton-Constable, Norfolk, Englad.)