A manuscript relating to Coverham Abbey, Yorkshire names “Ranulphum…de Nevile primogenitum” as the eldest of the three sons of “Roberti de Novavilla junioris” and his wife. A mid-15th century manuscript names "Ranulfum, Robertum de Neuille, Radulfum clericum, Margaretam uxorem Gilberti Wa---ton, Johannam, Anastasiam, Henricum, Ranulfum" as the children of "Mariam uxorem Roberti domini de Neuille et de Raby". A writ dated 20 Aug "10 Edw I", after the death of "Robert de Nevil alias de Neuvile, de Neivile de Nevyle", names "Ranulph son of Robert de Nevill the younger aged 20 on the day of St. Luke 10 Edw I is his next heir”.
Lord Neville of Raby 1305. 1
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Ranulf, or Ralph, de Nevill, being in minority at the time of his grandfather's decease [in 1282], obtained liberty of the king that his friends might plough and manage his lands and, in the 13th Edward I [1285], had livery of certain manors, part of his inheritance. Soon after this, he had a warm contest with the prior of Durham about the presentation of a stag upon St. Cuthbert's Day, in September, "which, in truth," says Dugdale, "was rather a rent than an obligation, in regard he held Raby with the eight adjoining townships by the yearly rent of £4 and a stag. For, contrary to the custom of his ancestors, he not only required that the prior of Durham, at the offering of that stag, ought to feast him and all the company he should bring, but that the prior's own menial servants should, for that time, be set aside, and his peculiar servants and officers be put in their stead. Whereupon, amongst other of his guests, he invited John de Baliol, of Barnard Castle, who refused to go with him, alleging that he never knew the Nevills to have such a privilege there; Sir William de Bromtpon, the bishop's chief justice, likewise acknowledging that he himself was the first that began the extravagant practice for being a young man and delighting in hunting, he came with the Lord Nevill at the offering of the stag and said to his companions, 'Come, let us go to the abbey and wind our horns,' and so they did. The prior father adding, that before the time of this Ranulph, none of his predecessors ever made any such claim, but when they brought the stag into the hall, they had only a breakfast, nor did the lord ever stay dinner, except he were invited."
This Ranulph was summoned to parliament as a Baron, 8 June, 1294, and from that period to 18 February, 1331. His lordship was in the wars of France, temp. Edward I, and in those of Scotland in the next reign. It is said, however, that he little minded secular business but devoted the principal part of his time to conversation with the canons of Merton and Coverham, upon whom he bestowed some considerable grants. He m. 1st, Euphemia, dau. of Robert and sister of John de Clavering, and had two sons, Robert and Ralph, and two daus., Margaret and Anastasia. His lordship m. 2ndly, Margery, dau. of John, son of Marmaduke de Thweng, but had no issue. He d. in 1331, was buried on the south side of the altar at Coverham, and was s. by his only surviving son, Ralph de Nevill. 2
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1 Oct 1307, Lenton
Commission of oyer and terminer to Hugh de Luthre and John de Byron, on complaint by the prior of Marton that Ranulph de Nevill', William le Vendur, Laurence le Forester of Shireshoton', Robert son of Adam, Simon Euermare, Thomas de Bradesby, John son of Nicholas le Provost, William Lamb of Sutton, John son of Simon, William Raynald and William son of Eda took certain of this cart-cattle at Marton and other cattle on the king's highway, or on the common way at Cornburgh and Sutton in Graltres, co. York, and drove them without the county into the liberty of the bishopric of Durham, and also hindered the carting of corn, hay, brushwood and other necessaries to the convent.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 1, p. 36
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31 Oct 1320, Westminster
Licence for Ranulph (Randolf) de Neville, son and heir of Mary de Neville to enfeoff Ralph de Neville of the manor of Houton, co. Norfolk, held in chief, which on account of the death of the said Mary has been taken into the king's hands, to hold to him and his heirs by the usual services.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. II, vol. 3, p. 514
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26 May 1321, Westminster
To Gilbert de Stapelton, escheator beyond Trent. Order not to intermeddle further with the lands of Mary de Nevill, as it appears by an
inquisition taken by the escheator that she held nothing in chief at her death by reason whereof the custody of her lands ought to pertain to the king, and that Ranulph de Nevill, her son, is her next heir and of full age, and it appears by an inquisition taken by Richard de Rodeney, escheator this side Trent, that she held nothing in chief but the manor of Houton, co. Norfolk, which is held of the king in chief by the service of a moiety of a knight's fee, and the king granted Ranulph licence by letters patent to enfeoff Ralph de Nevill of the said manor.
Calendar of the Close Rolls, 14 Edw. II, p. 302
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Inquisition Post Mortem.
362. RANULF DE NEVYLL. 3
Writ, 22 April, 5 Edward III. [1331]
YORK. Inq. Thursday before Whitsunday, 6 Edward III.
Sutton in Galtres. The manor (extent given), held of the king in chief, as of the crown by service of a knight’s fee.
Sutton. An assart called ‘ Bulford Toftes ’ held of the king in chief, by
service of rendering 13s. 4d. yearly at the king’s exchequer at York.
Shireveshoton. The manor (extent given), including a plot called ‘ le
Cotgarthe,’ and a wood called ‘ le Laghwode,’ held of Peter de Malo
Lacu by service of a knight’s fee and making two attendances yearly at his court of Baynton.
Middelham, Crakhale, Carleton and Thoraldby. The manors held for life, with remainder to his son Ralph and his heirs, of the grant of Robert de Nevill by fine levied in the king’s court, together with certain
underwritten tenements in Richmond and Westlatone, of the earl of
Richemond by service of 4 knights’ fees.
Richemond. 4a. land and 2s. yearly rent, held of the said earl by the
service abovesaid.
Westlaton. 16s. yearly rent of free tenants, held of the said earl by the
service abovesaid.
Ralph his son, aged 40 years and more, is his next heir.
C. Edw. III. File 27. (19.)
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22 Apr 1331, Wingham
Order to the escheator on this side [rectius beyond] Trent to take
into the king's hand the lands late of Randolf de Nevyll, deceased,
tenant in chief.
25 Apr 1331, Canterbury
Order to the escheator beyond Trent to deliver to Ralph de Nevill,
steward of the household, the lands late of Randolf de Nevill, his father, whose heir he is, with the issues thereof, Ralph having sued
a writ of diem clausit extremum for inquisitions to be made and
returned to Chancery on Randolf 's death, and the king having granted
to him the said lands to hold so long as they remain in the king's
hand, so that he answer for the issues thereof at the king's will.
17 May 1331, Havering Atte Bower
Order to the escheator beyond Trent to deliver to Ralph de Nevill, son and heir of Randolf de Nevill, tenant in chief, the lands late of his said father, the king having respited his homage until his next coming to the king.
Calendar of Fine Rolls, Vol. IV, Edw. III, pp. 248, 259
10 Oct 1331, Westminster
Licence for the alienation in mortmain by Ralph son of Ranulph de
Nevill, knight, Henry de Bylyngburgh and William de Carleton, parson
of the church of Faldyngworth, to the abbot and convent of Tupholm, of
the manor of Randeby, to find a chaplain to celebrate divine service daily in the church of St. Mary, Tupholme, for the souls of the faithful departed.
Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 2, p. 184
Orthographic variations: NEVILL, NEVYLLE...