Ralph Richardson was originally thought to be the son of Bedo ap Richard, who was from Wales, making him the grandson of Richard ap Hywel. That turns out not to be true.
Born in 1455 – Died 1520.
Ralph Richardson lived in the Jersey Chanel Islands.
Ralph Richardson, is presumed to have been an officer in the army of Richard III, and he came to Jersey after the King was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
What we know of Ralph Richardson of The Channel Islands early records which state …
He must have had previous connections to Jersey because he became a tenant of the Seigneur of Rosel and is believed to have farmed 70 vergées in St Martin. There is some dispute about the timings because family tradition has it that he arrived immediately after the battle, the last significant engagement of the English Civil War, and took up farming then.
“An Account of the Island of Jersey” by Rev. Rhilip Falle in 1837 tells us that in the 1400s …
"Seigneur of Rose was slain in an assault during that siege on the eve of Corpus Christi day. The siege lasted nineteen weelts."
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Going back to the Island Wiki data, it says ….
However, 19th century historian J Bertrand Payne, in his Armorial of Jersey says that Ralph took up farming in St Martin in 1507, four years after the birth of his son Thomas in England and the death of his wife.
Ralph married Jane Mychiel, daughter of John, in Jersey, but their son Thomas was born in England. He had a son, also Thomas, who stayed in England and his lineage is traced in one of the trees below. Another of Ralph’s children, Edmund, was born in Jersey, and other sons of Thomas also established families in the island. One branch moved to Guernsey, where their surname was corrupted to Reserson. The two island families were united by the marriage of Clement Richardson and Jacquine Reserson in the 18th century.
This was very much a St Martin family and the first baptism was recorded there in 1599. Although the family largely remained in the parish, it did spread into neighbouring Grouville, Trinity and St Saviour, and ultimately throughout the island, most notably in St Ouen.
What we learned is that Ralph Richardson is not only not related to Bedo ap Richard but also is not be the father of Thomas Richardson I of Westmill.
1 Ralph Richardson m Jane Mychiell, d of John
- 2 Thomas Richardson
- 3 John Richardson m Isabel Le Marquand, d of Raulin
- 4 Nicholas Richardson (1571- )
- 4 Jane Richardson m John Collas
- 3 Hugh Richardson ( -1598) m Phillippine de Quetteville, d of Michael
- 4 Nicholas Richardson m Jeanette Le Quesne, d of Richard
- 3 John Richardson m Isabel Le Marquand, d of Raulin
Ralph Richardson did in fact have a son named Thomas Richardson but not our Thomas Richardson I of Westmill.
His son’s family tree is as follows ….
1 Thomas Richardson m (1605, Gr) Jeanne Giffard, d of Richard )Thomas is possibly the son of Jean and Marie Averty, of Grouville, or Thomas and Anne Le Ray, of St Martin)
- 2 Jeanne Richardson (1605- )
- 2 Elizabeth Richardson (1606- )
- 2 Richard Richardson (1609- )
- 2 Thomas Richardson (1609- ) m Elizabeth Bree
- 3 Jeanne Richardson (1630- )
- 3 Marie Richardson (1634- )
- 3 Marthe Richardson (1636- )
- 3 Thomas Richardson (1638- )
- 2 Noeul Richardson (1615- )