Sir Ralph Jocelyn
(late 1300s or early 1400s - 25 October 1478)
Date this page was last edited=3 Feb 2012
Sir Ralph Jocelyn was born in the late 1300s or early 1400s at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.1 He was the son of Jeffrey Jocelyn and Joan ____.1
From Elizabeth French's article in the July 1917 issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register: Sir Ralph is first of record in 1433, as of Aspenden, being mentioned as one able to spend £10, perhaps in anticipation of a royal loan. He was a member of the Company of Drapers of London, was elected alderman from Cornhill Ward 29 Nov. 1456, was master of the Company of Drapers in 1457-8, sheriff in 1458-9, auditor in 1464, lord mayor in 1464-5, and was created a Knight of the Bath by Edward IV at the coronation of his queen, Elizabeth Woodville, 24 May 1465. He was a member of Parliament for London in 1467, and was again elected lord mayor in 1476. In his mayoralty Sir Ralph had the wall of London repaired between Aldgate and Aldersgate and the Fleet Ditch cleaned. He also corrected the abuses of the bakers and victuallers. In 1471, in the Wars of the Roses, when the Kentish levies under Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconbridge, attacked Bishopsgate and Aldgate, London, in an attempt to rescue Henry VI from his imprisonment in the Tower, Sir Ralph raised forces and, sallying forth, defeated Neville and his men. From the point of view of public service he was certainly the most prominent man of the family.2
Sir Ralph Jocelyn died on 25 October 1478.1 He was buried in St. Swithin's Church, London, of which he was a benefactor, in "a fair tomb," which was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666.3
From Elizabeth French's article in the July 1917 issue of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register: Sir Ralph is first of record in 1433, as of Aspenden, being mentioned as one able to spend £10, perhaps in anticipation of a royal loan. He was a member of the Company of Drapers of London, was elected alderman from Cornhill Ward 29 Nov. 1456, was master of the Company of Drapers in 1457-8, sheriff in 1458-9, auditor in 1464, lord mayor in 1464-5, and was created a Knight of the Bath by Edward IV at the coronation of his queen, Elizabeth Woodville, 24 May 1465. He was a member of Parliament for London in 1467, and was again elected lord mayor in 1476. In his mayoralty Sir Ralph had the wall of London repaired between Aldgate and Aldersgate and the Fleet Ditch cleaned. He also corrected the abuses of the bakers and victuallers. In 1471, in the Wars of the Roses, when the Kentish levies under Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconbridge, attacked Bishopsgate and Aldgate, London, in an attempt to rescue Henry VI from his imprisonment in the Tower, Sir Ralph raised forces and, sallying forth, defeated Neville and his men. From the point of view of public service he was certainly the most prominent man of the family.2
Sir Ralph Jocelyn died on 25 October 1478.1 He was buried in St. Swithin's Church, London, of which he was a benefactor, in "a fair tomb," which was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666.3
Citations
This family history is a work in progress. If you know of any errors or omissions, please contact me through the e-mail link at the bottom of the page.
