Revells of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and ... - Rotherham Web

Part 10. Selected Revell Cameos 

Thomas Revell of High Wycombe; 

William Revell of Oxford; 

William Revell who married Maude Stanlake; 

John Revell, Surveyor to Queen Elizabeth I and the Revells of Bristol; 

Robert Revell the Adventurer; and 

Gregory Revell, Yeoman of the Guard 

Compiled by Mike Clifford. 

Version 3 January 3 rd 2014 

Feel free to use this information but please acknowledge Rotherham Web 

[rotherweb@blueyonder.co.uk] where the related documents and updates are hosted. 

Corrections, comments and additional information welcome. 

Part 10 has been extensively revised and considerably altered in style to present somewhat isolated cameos of interesting Revells 

who cannot be linked for certain to the main branches studied. 

Thomas Revell of High Wycombe 

In April and May 1380 and again in 1383 there are references in Feet of Fines to a Thomas Revell and his wife Agnes who 

quitclaim a messuage in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. 1 There is an ancient deed dated 1382 that probably refers to the 

same person, as follows: 2 

‘Letters of attorney from John Adenolf and Is' his wife to Thomas Revel to deliver to John Stocke, chaplain, seisin of a tenement 

in a street called 'Newelond' in the borough of Wycombe, and all their tenements in Wycombe Foreigns (forinc' de 

Wycombe). The feast of St. Peter's Chair, 5 Richard II’ 

However, these are isolated records and no earlier or later references have been located in the Buckinghamshire Feet of Fines. 

He is probably the Thomas Ravell recorded as the Member of Parliament for High Wycombe in 1381. 3 

William Revell of Oxford 

There are records of a William Revell of Oxford. The Fine Rolls dated 1385 contain an instruction to a William Ryvele ‘to levy 

and collect the said tenth and fifteenth …’ for the town of Oxford, 4 suggesting that he was born no later than ca 1365. The 

Cartulary of the Hospital of St John the Baptist records William Ryuell as a witness in 1398, 5 and 1401 / 2, 6 and he is recorded 

at least eight times in the Latin text, The mediaeval archives of Oxford University with regard to the Statutes of Labourers, 

Proceedings of the Justices of the Peace at Oxford, 7 at much the same date (while Richard Garston was Mayor at various dates 

between 1382 and 1411). 8 He was Bailiff in 1398 and 1399. 9 10 

1 CP 25/1/21/103 and 104 http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_21_103.shtml#26 

2 C. 7771 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64507 

3 Representatives in Parliament for High Wycombe http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/bkm/HighWycombe/parliament.html 

4 Fine Rolls http://www.archive.org/stream/calendaroffinero10greauoft#page/118/mode/2up/search/ryvel 

5 A Cartulary of the Hospital of St John the Baptist http://www.archive.org/stream/cartularyofhospi01saltuoft#page/6/mode/2up/search/ryuel 

6 A Cartulary of the Hospital of St John the Baptist http://www.archive.org/stream/cartularyofhospi01saltuoft#page/104/mode/2up/search/ryuel 

7 The mediaeval archives of the University of Oxford 

http://www.archive.org/stream/mediaevalarchive73univuoft/mediaevalarchive73univuoft_djvu.txt 

8 Mayors of Oxford http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/mayors/1348_1485/garston_richard_1382_1411.htm 

9 Oxford Historical Society http://www.archive.org/stream/publications53socigoog#page/n37/mode/1up 

10 Oxford Historical Society http://www.archive.org/stream/munimentacivitat71oxfouoft#page/176/mode/2up/search/ryvel 

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Comments, corrections and additions to Rotherham Web [rotherweb@blueyonder.co.uk]

In 1412 / 3 a Magister John Revell is a witness to the will of Robert Newby, Rector of Whitchurch and an Official of the 

archdeacon of Oxford. 11 

William Revell who married Maud Stanlake 

There are several imprecisely dated references (within the period 1433 to 1472) to a William Revell who married Maud a 

daughter of Nicholas Stanlake, that involve the ownership of the Manors of Thorpe, Hinton Pipard (Henton Pippard), and Shaw 

(Schawe), 12 all on the Berkshire–Surrey border ca 20 miles from Thatcham and some 45 miles from Oxford. Maud’s ancestry is 

comparatively well documented, her grandmother was Elizabeth Stanlake née Thorpe and great grandfather was John Thorpe, 

but William Revelle’s ancestry is not recorded. Maude and her sister Ela are described as cousins of an Alice Thorp, daughter 

of a John Thorp who is apparently a son of Maud’s great grandfather John Thorp. 

From the records cited below it is clear that William Revell and Maud had married before 1472 and quite possibly before 1467, 

and were born no later than the period ca 1445 to 1450. None of the other protagonists can be dated precisely. Alice Thorp 

married Robert Osbern by some date in the period 1432 to 1443, divorced him, and married second a Flemyng supposedly 

between 1442 and 1456. Alice was born no later than the period ca 1410 to 1420, and was dead by 1474. 

The Chancery Records connected with the early stages of this legal wrangle are not precisely dated and it is thus difficult to 

estimate William Revelle’s date of birth. With regard to the Manor of Hinton Pipard, History of the County of Berkshire states: 

‘Rather later the manor came to the Thorpe family of Thorpe, co. Surrey. John Thorpe, son of John Thorpe, left a daughter 

Alice, who inherited the manor. (fn. 108) She married Robert Osborne, from whom she was divorced, and afterwards as Alice 

Flemyng granted the manor to certain feoffees, against whom several suits in Chancery were brought about 1470 by her cousins 

and heirs, Maud wife of William Revell and Ela wife of Robert Blount, the daughters of Nicholas Stanlake, son of Elizabeth 

daughter of the elder John Thorpe. (fn. 109). 13 

With reference to the Manor of Graveney, A History of the County of Surrey states ‘John Thorpe, son of John Thorpe, left the 

manor to his daughter Alice, who married Robert Osberne, from whom she was divorced. She afterwards married — Flemyng, 

probably between 1442 and 1456’. 14 This account continues ‘A lawsuit concerning various feoffments of the manor made by 

Alice Flemyng lasted for many years. (fn. 25) The heiresses of Alice Flemyng were her cousins [once removed] Maud wife of 

William Revell, and Ela wife of Robert Blount. They were certainly living as late as 1471, and presumably held the manor after 

Alice's death (fn. 26)’. 

A Chancery Record establishes that Alice had already married Robert Osbarn by some date in the period 1432 to 1443, 15 when 

she and her husband are the plaintiffs with regard to land in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Middlesex enfeoffed by 

her father. Accordingly, Alice must have been born no later than the period ca 1412 to ca 1423. A later Chancery pleading 

dated to the period 1460 to 1466 records that she was divorced, 16 and her legal tussles with William Revell occur after Alice had 

remarried. 

These actions are set out in Chancery records dated to the period 1433–43 or 1467–72, as follows, and for the reasons presented 

above must actually have occurred in the later period: 

‘William Revell and Maud his wife, and Robert Blont and Ele his wife, daughters of Nicholas Stanlake, son of Elizabeth 

Stanlake, daughter of John Thorpe, father of John Thorpe, father of Alice Flemyng. v. Edmund Skerne, feoffee to uses.: Manor of 

Thorpe Manor of Henton Pippard Manor of Shawe beside Windsor: Surrey Wilts Bucks’ 17 

‘William Revell and Maud his wife, and Robert Blont and Ele his wife, daughters of Nicholas Stanlake, son of Elizabeth, 

daughter of John, father of John Thorpe, father of Alice Flemyng. v. Edward Gower: Manors of Thorpe: Surrey. Henton 

Pippard, and: Wilts. Shaw.: Berks’. 18 

The transactions are at least partially explained in ‘English Historical Documents 1327–1485’ by Myers as follows: 19 

11 Lincoln Record Society http://archive.org/stream/publicationslinc58lincuoft#page/372/mode/2up 

12 Publications of the Selden Society Volume 10, Select Cases in Chancery AD 1364 to 1471 Pages 156–8 

http://www23.us.archive.org/stream/selectcasesinch00unkngoog/selectcasesinch00unkngoog_djvu.txt 

13 A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 3 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43213 

14 A History of the County of Surrey Volume 3 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43002&strquery=%22william%20revell%22 

15 C 1/9/7 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C7437390 




19 English Historical Documents 1327–1485 page 492 

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jRsLUVOCqbkC&pg=PA492&lpg=PA492&dq=%22Clement+Clerk%22+and+%28osbern+or+osbarn%29 

&source=bl&ots=NjQbFlKzI0&sig=WMt6b3N7ZOnj8vhYawEU-BvmrXg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EPbeT7ztGs7A8QPgrypCw&ved=0CFEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Clement%20Clerk%22%20%28osbern%20or%20osbarn%29&f=false 

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‘Alice Thorp of Thorp in the county of Surrey seized of the manor Henton Pippard ….. with other manors, lands and tenements 

had enfeoffed John Bourgchier, Lord Berners, Thomas Kyrkby, Peter Ardern, knight Richard Ludlow, William Skern, Richard 

Osborn, to have them, their heirs and assigns, upon trust only, and to the use of the said Alice; and afterwards the said Alice 

entered again to the said manor and put out her said feoffees, ….’ 

A Chancery pleading dated to the period 1460 to 1465 is almost certainly the record of Alice regaining control: 20 

‘Alice, daughter of John Thorp, late the wife (divorced) of Robert Osbern. v. John Bourgchier, knt., Lord Bernes, feoffee.: 

Manor of Graveney; messuage and land in Thorp; mill and land in Kingston; and messuages, land, wood, and rents in Chertsey; 

manors of Schawe and Hinton Pipard (Henton Pepard); and lands in Wraysbury (Waratisbury).: Surrey, Berks, Wilts, Bucks’. 

The legal wrangle over ownership of Hinton Pippard estate documented in Chancery records 21, 22, 23 is presented fully in Select 

Cases in Chancery AD 1364 to 1471. Although initiated in 1471 it finally went against William and Maude Revelle in 1472, as 

shown below: 24 

‘[Translation, — Be it remembered that on the 12th day of February, 11 Edward IV, 1472, this petition, exhibited before us in 

our Chancery in the 10th year of our reign by the within-written William Revelle and Maude his wife and Robert Blount and 

Ele his wife, cousins and heirs of Alice Fleming, against Edward Gower, esquire, and the answer and replication made and had 

thereto between the parties aforesaid having been read, heard and understood with mature deliberation in the said Chancery by 

the venerable father, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, our Chancellor, and by the Court of Chancery : It was considered and 

adjudged that, inasmuch as the said Edward hath sufficiently proved before us in the Chancery, that he purchased and bought 

the within-written manor of Hinton Pippard from the above- written Alice Thorpe [Fleming], to hold to himself, his heirs and 

assigns for ever, and satisfaction for the same manor was made by the aforesaid Edward to the said Alice, Therefore it was 

considered and adjudged by the aforesaid Chancellor and by the consideration of the Court aforesaid that the same Edward 

may have, continue, hold, enjoy, and possess the said manor of Hinton Pippard with the appurtenances, to himself, his heirs and 

assigns, for ever, according to the consideration and judgment aforesaid ; and that the same Edward be dismissed out of the 

Court aforesaid. And thereupon he is dismissed out of Court, quit and without day.]’. 

From the foregoing records one may conclude that this William Revel was born no later than 1447 and had married Maud 

Stanlake no later than 1471. These estimates are consistent with records establishing that the feoffee ‘John Bourgchier, knt’ died 

May 1474 and was buried at Chertsey Abbey. 25 

The husband of Maud Stanlake cannot be William Revell of Oxford, but might be related. There are some 16 th century records 

of Revells in Surrey who also might be connected — see Part 9. Her husband might be the William Revell mentioned either as 

attorney or witness in connection with transactions involving property at Harefield in Middlesex in 1467, 26 and at 

Rickmansworth (1452) 27 and Hemel Hempstead (1467), 28 both in Hertfordshire, and he might well be the individual buried at 

Rickmansworth in 1474. However, perhaps the most plausible contender is William Revell brother of Sheriff Robert Revell 

who died 1508 / 9, with his widow Maude Revell the individual buried at St Mary-atte-Hill in 1514 / 5, 29 — see Part 3. 

In 1484 a John Renell / Revell is the plaintiff in a plea of debt made against John Lovejoy of Bagshot [Surrey], yeoman. 30 

1490 a John Revell witnessed the Inquisition post mortem for Edward Basing who was buried at Staines. 31 

In 

An Alis Revill married John Ellis at Chesterton, Oxford, in 1546, 32 the only such record in the collection, but electronic records 

for Oxfordshire are extremely sparse. Chesterton is some ten miles north-west of Long Crendon. A Robert Revell married the 

widow Phillip Baldwyn at Hornton, Oxfordshire, on April 23 rd 1610. The will of a Joanne Revell of Lewknor, wife of 

Thomas Revell, is dated December 19 th 1609, proved March 27 th 1610, refers to her first husband and several children, Walter 

and Maximilian, Dorithy and a daughter ?Gifford, and a son and daughter whose names are unclear. Her first husband’s name 

may have been Mercer, but it is difficult to read. 


21 Chancery records C 1/15/344 http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/ChP/C1no15/IMG_0506.htm 

22 C 1/44/70 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-2412528 

23 C 1/41/268 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=7&CATID=-2412286 

24 Publications of the Selden Society Volume 10, Select Cases in Chancery AD 1364 to 1471 Pages 156–8 

https://archive.org/stream/selectcasesinch00unkngoog#page/n335/mode/2up 

25 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53678167 

26 Close Rolls http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=110857&strquery=%22William%20Revell%22 



29 The Ricardian 2004, 14, 7–32 http://www.richardiii.net/downloads/Ricardian/2004_vol14_martin_dame_margaret_astry.pdf 

30 http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no888Cty.htm 

31 http://www.archive.org/stream/somersetpub16someuoft/somersetpub16someuoft_djvu.txt 

32 Oxfordshire Marriage Transcripts 

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John Revell the Surveyor, ?–1513–1523–1564 

In his will, dated September 14 th 1543, Robert Brynklowe of ’Hanfeldis’, ‘Hamvilds’ , ‘Hamfelds’ or ‘Hanneville’ (probably also 

Horfeilde), Kintbury, Berkshire, named his daughter Alice the wife of John Revell, and a ‘John Revell who signs as Surveyor’, 

witnessed the will of Hugh Brynklowe, Citizen and mercer of London, on February 12 th 1562 / 3. This John Revell was born no 

later than 1523 and possibly somewhat earlier. 

John Revell’s wife was Alice, sister of Hugh Brynklowe, 33 and Henry Brynkelowe the polemicist, ‘whose satires on social and 

34, 35, 36 

religious topics appeared under the pseudonym of Roderigo Mors’. Henry’s will is dated June 20 th 1545 where he 

describes himself as a ‘Citizen and mercer of London’. See Table 10a. Isabel Brynklowe of Reading whose will is dated 1545 

might also be connected. Alice’s father was described in 1522 as ‘a servant of Sir Edward Darell’, but there are no references 

to the Revells in the Kintbury Manor Court records or the Kintbury Parish records. 37 

Accordingly, it seems likely that this John Revell is not from Berkshire and at present there are no other clues to his 

origin beyond him having property in London and Kent. However, Henrie Brinklow appears to have a connection to a 

Tristram Reuell — see Part 4. 

It is interesting to note that the Revells of Warwickshire are associated with a Parish of Brinklowe, and that a William de 

Brynklow held Atherton Hall, Warwickshire in 1406, 38 and it is possible the Berkshire Brynklowes are connected. 

39, 40, 41 

The John Revell, Surveyor, was one of the Gentlemen who gave a gift to Queen Elizabeth I at New Year 1561 / 2, 

recorded as ‘By Revell, Surveiour of the Workes, a marchpane, with the modell of Powle's churches and steeples in past’. 

The will of John Revell, Surveyor of the Queens Majesty's Works is dated June 1 st 1564, 42, 43 and describes him as of 

‘Bockingfold and of the City of London’ and refers to sons Roger Revell (bequeathed land at Bockingfold), and Clement Revell, 

unmarried daughters Margaret Revell and Catherine Revell, John Brynklowe the son of his brother-in-law John Brynklowe, 

and his brother James Revel and his five children (***?, William Revell, Mathew Revell, Margery Revell and Barbara 

Revell), and a married daughter, Margery Toye, wife of Humfrey (who was a printer and stationer of St Paul’s churchyard). 44, . 45 

After much investigation it is clear that baptisms at St Mary the Virgin Aldermanbury relate to his children, as follows: Samuell 

Revell baptised on July 5 th 1549, Margarett Revell baptised on November 5 th 1550 and a Katharyne Revell baptised on 

January 6 th 1552 / 3 although the parents’ names are not stated. The daughters married there brothers Robert Chadderton and 

William Chadderton, respectively, on June 27 th 1569. Whether the Samuell Revell is the Samuel Revell listed in the NBI as 

buried at St Mary Aldermanbury in 1551, is uncertain. 

The will specifies a bequest to be paid when John’s daughters Margaret Revell and Catherine Revell marry (for the marriages 

see also Part 3 and Part 4). 

The will refers also to the Company of Drapers and property at Bishopsgate and to ‘his part of a ship called the ‘Clement of 

London’ which is bequeathed to his son Clement Revell. John Revell’s wife was not mentioned and must have died before 

him. 

A ship of this name was recorded as trading at London in 1480 to 1481, 46 as follows ‘23 May. From the ship of William Philpot 

called Clement of London John Elyot, A, 8 millstones, 12 panniers of glass, 2 mounts of plaster, 1 puncheon vine shoots ('vyn' 

graffes'), (fn. 7) 3 tin crosses, £18 16s.8d’. 47 There is a reference to a ‘Clement of London’ off the Isle of Wight in 1537 / 8, 48 

33 Early English Text Society http://www.archive.org/stream/publicationsextr22earluoft#page/120/mode/2up/search/revel 

34 English Historical Documents, 1485–1558 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104189754 

35 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Brinklow 

36 The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English 

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oeZ226OlfbkC&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=%22Roderick+Mors%22&source=bl&ots=cXtaf7Lbyv&sig=V 

WwpOvHfCqG0XcGHSEjE_hqmEEk&hl=en&ei=g75GTf6rEM3x4Qbrj630Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFEQ6AE 

wCQ#v=onepage&q=%22Roderick%20Mors%22&f=false 

37 Economic and Social Data Service SN: 4339 Town and Countryside in West Berkshire, c.1400–1600 

38 ‘A visitation of the seats and arms of the noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland’ by B. Burke 

http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofseat185402burk#page/128/mode/2up/search/brynklow 

39 http://www.larsdatter.com/gifts/1561-2.htm 

40 The progresses and public processions of Queen Elizabeth 

http://www.archive.org/stream/progressesandpu01nichgoog#page/n42/mode/1up/search/revell 

41 The technical history of commerce http://www.archive.org/stream/technicalhistory00yeatuoft#page/220/mode/2up/search/revel 

42 PCC Wills http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=1041804&queryType=1&resultcount=10 

43 Index of Wills http://www.archive.org/stream/indexofwillsprov18smit#page/258/mode/2up/search/revel 

44 Abstracts from the wills of English printers http://www.archive.org/stream/abstractsfromwil00plomuoft#page/64/mode/2up 

45 Notes and Queries http://www.archive.org/stream/s5notesqueries09londuoft#page/8/mode/2up/search/toye 

46 Ship names from 1480 http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/maridonna/shipnames/ 

47 BHOL http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36075 

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and trading from London in 1545 (Master Thos. Byam). 49 In 1547 a ship named ‘Clement of London’ (Master Humfrey Wilson) 

ran aground near Tynemouth while carrying ‘fine powder and other munitions for the King having mistaken a church steeple’, 

but in calm weather most of the cargo, and presumably the ship, was saved. 50 Another such, or possibly the same, was recorded 

trading in London in 1567 to 1568. 51 

It is probably this John Revell who is referred to in the following: 

‘Bill for stocking and repairing serpentines in the Edmond '' ' Bonaventure of Hull, amounting to 29s. 6d., paid by " me Thomas 

Clere," received by " me, John Revell.".’ 52 

In a pedigree from the Visitations of Hertfordshire, his son Roger is described as ‘Roger Revell, son to Roger, Surveyor to Q. 

Elizabeth’ when he married Mary Horsey of Diggeswell, 53 (Digswell, Hertfordshire), but there is no doubt that in fact his father 

was John. 

John Revell’s date of birth is not known but he was married by 1543. His son Roger seems to have been of age by 1553 at the 

latest, and thus John was probably born not later than ca 1513. John’s parents, where he was born and where he trained as a 

surveyor are unknown. 

There are several records that almost certainly relate to his professional duties, as follows: 

1550–2 ‘Building a bridge at Blackfriars and at the Temple’, and ‘repairs of house at Reading’. 54 

January 30 th 1552 / 3 to July 6 th 1553 ‘Repairs and buildings at Strand Place’ 55 

October 24 th 1555 8 tenements lying next Holborne Cross and in Snowhill in the parish of St. Sepulchre, in the several tenures of 

John Ryvell, John Rouver, Henry Palmer, Richard Henham, John Callowe, Simon Southwell, John Scarsdall, and Thomas 

Powell. 56 

In 1559 he reported on the ‘great sluice at Westminster’, 57 and in 1562 he drew or procured a design of a new spire for St Paul’s 

Cathedral. 58 It seems that his salary and expenses were probably the same as those awarded to his successor, namely ‘Wages 

and fee of towe shilling the day for his own selfe and 6d the day for his clerk were allowed. He was also to be allowed fouer 

shillings a day for diet boat hire and riding charge’. 59 

There is what appears to be a claim by his executors for outstanding salary and expense for the period September 29 th 1561 to 

December 12 th 1563, as follows: ‘Works and buildings.: surveyors and paymasters.: J. Revell (per executrix and executors)’. 60 

Part of Bockingfold Manor in Kent ‘which lay in Yalding, Brenchley, Marden, and Horsmonden’ was held by a Roger Revell 

from 1564 to 1575, 61 presumably the property at Bockingfold that John Revell bequeathed to his son. It is likely therefore that 

it is this Roger Revell who in 1569 held the advowson of Cudham (Cowdham, Coldham, Codeham) church in Kent, 62 some 25 

miles from Bockingfold. 

48 Letters and papers foreign and domestic http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=75792 

49 BHOL http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=80429&strquery=Clement 

50 The history of Newcastle and Gateshead, Volume 2 http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/richard-welford/history-of-newcastle-andgateshead--volume-2-ala/page-24-history-of-newcastle-and-gateshead--volume-2-ala.shtml 

51 The port and trade of early Elizabethan London: documents http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35952 

52 Letters and papers, foreign and domestic, of the ... Addenda to v.1 pt.1 no.1-1293 page 19 

http://proxify.com/p/011010A1000100/687474703a2f2f626162656c2e686174686974727573742e6f72672f6367692f70743f69643d6d64702e3 

3393031353033333439393734333b73697a653d37353b766965773d706c61696e746578743b706167653d726f6f743b7365713d33313b6e75 

6d3d31393b6f7269656e743d30 

53 Visitations of Hertfordshire http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationsofher22metc#page/114/mode/2up/search/revel 

54 E 351/3328 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C3529333 


56 Abstracts of Inquisitiones Post Mortem for the City of London: Part 1 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=65874 

57 Calendar of State papers http://www.archive.org/stream/calendarstatepa01unkngoog#page/n514/mode/1up/search/revel 

58 Vantage points in the seventeenth-century city http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Tbbrz6C- 

2DsJ:www.courtauld.ac.uk/people/stevensonchristine/stevenson08.pdf+%22john+revell%22+surveyor&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a 

59 King’s Master Masons 

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BGnyXTIrVFIC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=%22john+revell%22+surveyor&source=bl&ots=XSOZFOsLIX 

&sig=iq5tQTAx1- 

74c4xZGhq_A7bD9oU&hl=en&ei=Jh_UTPORAcq6jAeW9ZzKCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBw#v=one 

page&q=%22john%20revell%22%20surveyor&f=false 


61 The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 5 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62897 

62 The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 2 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62801 

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Nothing more is known for certain about John’s brother, James Revell, but in 1546 there is a reference in the Calendar of State 

Papers to a James Revell, government contractor working on fortifications at Blackness on the Firth of Forth, who might be this 

individual. 63 It would fit well with John Revell’s surveying role and his transport of munitions by sea. 

The Jeames Revell who married Alice Aplatt at St Mary’s, Reading, on May 2 nd 1551 might be connected. The will of a John 

Revell of Reading who was buried at St Mary’s on April 25 th 1608 was proved the same year 1608 but is not available in full. 64 

The Revells of Bristol 

There are several records that connect Revells to property in the Bristol area, specifically manors at Filton and Stoke Harns, 

encompassing also Westbury-on-Trym and Easton-in-Gordano. The marriage of Joan Revell and William Hawkins is recorded 

at Easton-in-Gordano on November 24 th 1563. 

Roger Revell of Filton ?–1531–1553–1593, son of John and Alice, who married Mary Horsey 

A Roger Revell brought an action in the Star Chamber for forcible entry at property in the county of Bristol against George 

Wylsonn, John Askewe and others at some date in the period 1547 to 1553. 65 A Roger Revell is named in connection with 

66, 67, 68 

these manors and the advowson at Filton in 1580, 1581 and 1582. On June 30 th 1582 Roger Revell leased property at 

Filton to ‘John Prygg, Filton, yeo. Alyce his daughter and Johan Thurner daughter of Thomas Thurner’, 69 and on October 18 th 

1582 he is named with Sir Richard Berkeley in a deed of exchange. 70 Later the same year he is named in a quitclaim, 71 and as an 

attorney, 72 and on July 2 nd 1584 in a conveyance. 73 

Roger had died by November 10 th 1594 when Marie Revell, lately of the manor of Fylton, is described as widow. 74 The 

calendared will of a Roger Revell of Filton, dated 1593, presumably relates. 75 These two correspond to Roger the son of John 

Revell the Surveyor and Roger’s wife Mary Revell née Horsey, 76 because in his will dated July 28 th July 1587 (proved 

February 24 th 1587 / 8) Roger Revell’s father-in-law, ‘George Horsey of Digswell, Herts, Esq.’ bequeathed to ‘My younger son 

Jasper Horsey my lease of Horfeilde which I lately bought of my son-in-law Roger Revell …’ and ‘my da. Revell £20 a year for 

life’, thus clearly connecting these Revells to Kintbury in Berkshire. 

The forenames Clement and Roger are relatively uncommon among the Revells, and these two might be the Revells who ca 

1580 are found in the Bristol area. The association with shipping and the Drapers’ Company make it possible that this John 

Revell might be connected to the Robert Revell who sailed to Guinea, west Africa, in 1562 / 3. Robert Revell’s ship ‘Merlin’ 

or ‘Marlin’ was associated with Bristol — see Robert Revell the Adventurer. 

Clement Revell of Westbury on Trym ?–1585, son of Roger and Mary 

The Will of Clemente Revell, Gentleman of ‘Rydland alias Thrydland’ [Redland] at Westbury upon Trym, Gloucestershire, is 

dated January 20 th 1582 / 3 with a codicil dated May 3 rd 1585. His origins are uncertain, but as explained below he cannot be the 

son of John and Alice. Clement’s original will refers to his ‘loving cosen Richard Revell son of my brother Roger’, and 

explicitly to his brother Roger, who is also a witness. The codicil refers to his brothers Roger Revell and John Revell, and 

Clemente’s mother (unnamed) and it is witnessed by a Mary Revell whose relationship is uncertain. There is no mention of a 

wife or children. Reference to a Henry Brynklowe indicates some connection between Clemente Revell and John Revell the 

Surveyor. 77 

It was initially thought that this will refers to Clement the son of John Revell the surveyor and Alice Revell née Brynklowe, 

but Alice Revell née Brynklowe was dead before her husband who died in 1564, and therefore cannot be the mother referred to 

63 Calendar of State Papers http://www.archive.org/stream/calendarstatepa00turngoog#page/n346/mode/1up/search/revel 

64 Index to Wills http://www.archive.org/stream/indextowillsprov00churrich#page/146/mode/2up/search/revel 

65 STAC 3/9/97 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=4512395&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CREVELL&accessmet 

hod=0&Summary=True 

66 12148 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=002-12148&cid=0&kw=filton%20%20revell#0 

67 12148/2 http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/dserve/ 

68 AC/D/4/11 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=002-ac_2&cid=2-4-11&kw=revell#2-4-11 




72 AC/D/4/11 http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/dserve/ 


74 12148/6 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=002-12148&cid=1-6&kw=filton%20%20revell#1-6 

75 Administrations in The Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1581-1595 

76 Visitations of Hertfordshire http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationsofher22metc#page/114/mode/2up/search/revel 


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in the will. Because Clement’s will refers to brothers John and Roger it seems quite likely that he is a son of Roger and Mary 

and that it was his mother, Mary, who witnessed the codicil. 

Roger Revell of Westbury-on-Trym ?–1551–1590–?, son of Roger and Mary 

It is clear from Clement’s will that he has a brother Roger Revell. This Roger Revell, gent., married Elizabethe Wylson at 

Westbury-on-Trim on June 5 th 1571and he is listed in the Select Roll for Stoke Bishop, Westbury-on-Trym in 1581 and 1585. 78 

Roger and Elizabethe had children baptised at Westbury-on-Trym as follows: Richard Revell on May 12 th 1583, John Revell 

on November 15 th 1584; Anne Revell on September 17 th 1587; Mary Revell on January 27 th 1589 / 90 died February 6 th 1589 / 

90; and Raphe Revell on June 28 th 1590. The possibility that Richard’s wife, Elizabeth Wylson, might be a relative of 

Humfrey Wilson, Master of the Clement and / or of George Wylsonne, both discussed above, is intriguing. 

At some date between 1580 and 1587 a Roger Revel is described as brother-in-law to John Cassie of Butcombe, Somerset, 79 as 

follows: 

‘John Cassie of Butcombe, Somerset, gentleman v Roger Revell [brother-in-law to plaintiff]. Detention of account books, leases 

etc. of deceased former husband of wife of plaintiff; embezzlement of some of her property. Bill, demurrer’. 

At this date, this might refer to Roger Revell who married Elizabethe Wilson, or his father who married Mary Horsey. It is not 

clear whether or not the widow who has married John Cassie was a Revell by birth. Butcombe parish records are not available 

prior to 1692. 

In 1598 a Roger Revell relinquished the extensive property at Bockingfold, 80 and this is too late to be Roger Revell son of John 

the Surveyor and it is presumably his son who married Elizabethe Wylson. 

Richard Revell of Dorset 1583–1610–?, son of Roger and Elizabeth 

It is clear from Clement’s will that he has a nephew Richard, son of Roger, confirmed in the Westbury-on-Trym baptism 

records, and as discussed below there are other records referring to him in that way. However, there are also records of a 

Richard Revell, son of Richard, the father being explicitly associated with Redland and Filton, and it is possible that the father 

has been referred to as both Richard and Roger. 

A conveyance dated October 14 th 1604 states as follows: 81 

‘Conveyance, 1) Sir Ralph Horsey of Clyston, Dorset; 2) Richard Revell of the same, esq, son and heir of Richard Revell of 

Redland, gentleman, deceased 

The Manor of Thrydland, alias Rydland, alias Rudland, Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucester 

One mansion house with orchard and 2 gardens; closes of meadow called Culvermeade, Longe Meade, Gaston, Upper Hill, 

Brooke Meade, Twexbury Meade, the Edwards, Great and Little Lull Leaze, Busshopps Moore, The Gratins, Great and Little 

Stowe, and an acre of common meade in Shirehampton; closes of pasture called Well-haye and Undergrove, Little Brookeridge, 

The Grove-end; arable land called Lower Hill-close, Great Brookeridge, Oxeleaze and Twenty Acres; a wood, and a grove 

called The Lynches; two cottages in Redland, and two in the parish of St James, Bristol 

(Attached) 1604 October 14 

Bond from Ralfe Horsey and Richard Revell to Richard Hill for performance of covenant’ 

In 1605 Richard Revel is explicitly described as ‘son and heir of Richard Revell of Redland, gentleman, deceased’ when he 

sold the Manor of Thrydlande alias Rydlande and other property to Richard Hill, 82 and this transaction is mentioned in Richard 

Hill’s Inquisition in 1625, 83 but in that document Richard Revell is described as son of Roger Revell. 

A lease dated April 1 st 1609 records as follows: 84 

‘1 Sir Rauffe Horsey of Clifton Maybank and George Horsey, esq, his son 

2 Richard Revell of Sherborne, gent 

78 Gloucestershire Select Roll www.bgas.org.uk/subsidy/glos_select_rolls_v1.pdf 

79 C 2/Eliz/C22/31 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?fldResultMarker=61&fldSearchNumber=102226&SearchInit=1 

80 England’s Topographer http://www.archive.org/stream/englandstopogra03irelgoog#page/n538/mode/1up/search/revel 

81 17099 http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/dserve/ 

82 ‘Transactions Bristol and Gloucestershire’ http://www.archive.org/stream/transactionsbris17bris#page/212/mode/2up 

83 ‘Abstracts of Gloucestershire’ http://www.archive.org/stream/abstractsglouce00changoog#page/n95/mode/1up 

84 S235/D1/3/1 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=031-s235_2&cid=2-1-3-1#2-1-3-1 

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Recital: Sir Rauffe Horsey leased the property to Thomas Hall the elder of Sherborne on 20 Oct 1595 for the lives Thomas, 

Judith his wife and Thomas Hall the younger. This lease was surrendered on 10 Jan 1608 

Consideration: [not specified] 

Property: (1 to 2) The Priory or Pryor's lodgings and all edifices, stables, orchards and gardens, late in the tenure of John 

Barstable deceased, clerk, then Joseph Forrest of Sherborne, woollen draper, and now in the occupation of Richard Revell; and 

also one parcel of pasture or meadow containing one acre adjoining the Priory, once part of Abbey court close, but was lately 

walled in from that close 

Term: the lives of 2, Jane his wife and Ann Revell, his sister 

Rent: (2 to 1) 26s 8d p.a., paid quarterly’. 

On the basis of this record it seems likely that Richard Revell of Dorset is the individual who married Jane Phillipes (daughter 

of Rychard Phillipps, gent., deceased) at Bere Regis, Dorset, on April 22 nd 1607. On April 13 th 1607 the property at Filton is 

specified in their marriage settlement. 

In 1609 Richard Revell sold the manor of Filton and the advowson to John Younge for £950. 85 In 1610 a document connected 

with this transaction where Richard Revell and his wife Jane are mentioned in connection with the Manor of Filton and ten 

messuages in ‘Fylton, Horsfeild, Stoke Gifford, Wynterborne and Hambrook, and the Advowson of the Church of Fylton’ that 

Richard has sold for £300, but on this occasion this Richard Revell is explicitly described as a son of Roger Revell. 86 

Ann Revell of Dorset 1587–1622–?, son of Roger and Elizabeth 

On March 7 th 1610 Richard Revell leased property to his sister Anne, 87 and on March 10 th 1620 Anne Revell of Holt Lodge 

assigned a lease to Thomas Starre. 88 Baptism records indicate that Richard son of Roger has a sister Anne, and this fact is 

consistent with Richard son of Roger being Richard son of Richard. 

On August 17 th 1622, an Anne Revell of Holt in the parish of Wimborne Minster (described as the daughter of Revell of 

Dorset) 89 married Ezechiel Raymond of Loosely [Losely], Surrey (described as a Gentleman of Guildford in the Dorset Marriage 

Register). Presumably she is Ann daughter of Roger Revell and Elizabethe Wilson because any children of Richard Revell 

and Jane Phillipps would have been under age. 

Other Revells of Somerset and Gloucestershire 

Other marriages that are probably associated with these Revells include Joan Revell and Richard Davis at Bristol on September 

18 th 1600, and Alexander Revell and Alice Boxwell at Clifton on February 15 th 1622 / 3, almost certainly Alexander Revell, 

Innholder of Saint Thomas within Bristol whose will is dated June 23 rd 1640. 90 Alexander refers to his wife Alice, a daughter 

Marie and, a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law Judith, brothers Christopher and Thomas, sisters Frances and Elizabeth 

Waters, and possibly other Revell relatives. 

A Johan Reavell married Rychard Olyuer at St Nicholas, Gloucester, on September 19 th , 1576. A Jane Revell was baptised at 

Wotton-under-Edge on November 14 th 1578 but her parents’ names are not given. Wotton-under-Edge is about midway between 

Filton and Gloucester being some 20 miles from each. A John Revell, Mercer, was recorded at Newent, Gloucestershire, as 

father of Margarett Revell baptised September 20 th 1598, Edward Revell baptised October 14 th 1599, and Thomas Revell 

baptised December 31 st 1600. Thomas was buried on February 16 th 1600 / 01. This might be John brother of Roger and 

Clement. Newent is some nine miles from Gloucester. John’s son Edward Revell was apprenticed to Richard Cole of the 

Fishmongers’ Company on November 25 th 1616. 91 An Agnes Revell married Richard Taylour on July 15 th 1618 at Arlingham, 

Gloucester, only ca 7 miles from Newent if the Severn can be crossed. 

An Agnetem Revell married Johaness Brangwell at Isle Abbots, Somerset, on December 23 rd 1572. Isle Abbotts is near 

Taunton some nine miles from Pitney and is thus in one of the original areas of intense Revell activity — see Part 7. A John 

Reavill married Marye Gregorye at Ansford on September 22 nd 1606. An Alice Revil alias Templar married Richard Marshall 

at Taunton St James on November 28 th 1636. 

85 12148 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=002-12148&cid=0&kw=filton%20%20revell#0 

86 ‘Transactions Bristol and Gloucestershire’ http://www.archive.org/stream/transactionsbris17bris#page/250/mode/2up 

87 S.235/D 1/3/2 http://archives.dorsetforyou.com/adlibwebapp/detail.aspx?parentpriref=110058351 

88 S.235/D 1/3/3 http://archives.dorsetforyou.com/adlibwebapp/detail.aspx?parentpriref=110058352 

89 Visitation of Surrey http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationscoun01banngoog#page/n178/mode/1up 


91 London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850 

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In addition to the information presented above there are unconfirmed submitted IGI records at Rode, near Frome, Somerset, as 

follows: Christopher Revell married Johan Grenland on September 14 th 1600, and Margaret Revell and an unnamed spouse on 

October 12 th 1619, and at Dundry (five miles south of Bristol) where Johane Revelle married Thomas Dowling on June 12 th 

1615, and at Wells where an Alice Revell married Richard Marshall on November 28 th 1636. 

However, as previously stated, submitted records on the IGI are frequently unreliable. The marriage that supposedly took place 

at Rode is elsewhere recorded as taking place at St Bartholomew the Great in London. On October 12 th 1619 Benjamin Downe, 

of St. Giles-in-the-Fields (Soho), yeoman, married Margaret Revell, of same, spinster , daughter of — Revell, of Rhode, 

Somerset, yeoman. 92 Rhode is probably Rode some five miles south of Frome, Somerset. 

A Clement Revell, bachelor, who died in State service in Scotland in 1655 is possibly connected. 93 

It has been suggested in some unreferenced trees on the web that Randall Revell who was in Virginia from 1633 / 4 and 

94, 95 

Maryland from 1640 emigrated from Bristol. This has not been confirmed, and at this era Revell records are sparse in 

Somerset, although Bristol might just have been his port of embarkation. 

Robert Revell, the Adventurer 

In 1562 / 3 a Robert Revell is mentioned in connection with Robert Baker’s expeditions to Guinea (Guinie) in west Africa. His 

identity is uncertain, but it seems likely that he was associated with the Revells of the City of London. 

Robert Baker’s first voyage to Guinie in 1562 was financed by ‘Sir William Garrard, Sir William Chester, M. Thomas Lodge, 

Anthony Hickman, and Edward Castelin’ and involved two ships, Minion and Primrose. The Minion is well documented as 

active early in the reign of Elizabeth I, and both Minion and Primrose were provisioned at Gillingham (Kent). The cost of 

ordnance for the Minion was £43 ls.7d and for the Primrose, £41. 96 

Scott records, 97 ‘The ships started in February 1563, but the Portuguese had notice of their arrival on the African coast and the 

voyage resolved itself into a running fight between the English vessels and some galleys sent to prevent them from trading. In 

spite of the Minion being damaged by a cannon-shot the ships reached home safely on August 6th, bringing with them 166 tusks 

weighing 1,758 Ibs. and 22 butts of "grains. No mention is made of gold, and it would appear that while the native merchants 

were bringing it to the coast, the Portuguese galleys drove off' the English boats’. 

. 

The second voyage to Guinie and the river of Selto departed in November 1563 and was financed by ‘ Sir William Gerrard, Sir 

William Chester, Sir Thomas Lodge, Maister Beniamin Goston, Maister William Winter, Maister Lionell Dueke, Anthonie 

Hickman, and Edward Castelin’, again with two ships, ‘the John Baptist, wherein went for Maister, Laurence Rondellt: and the 

other the Marlin, wherein went also for Maister, Robert Revell, having for Factors, Robert Baker, Iustinian Goodwine, Iames 

Gleidell, and George Gage’: 98 The Marlin is sometimes referred to as the Merlin, as in the following account by Scott. 99 

‘The expedition was to consist of three ships the Minion belonging to the Queen, the John Baptist of London and the Merlin of 

Bristol. It is unlikely that this voyage yielded any considerable profit since the Merlin had been sunk through an accidental 

powder explosion; and, when Hawkins last heard of the remaining ships, they had been prevented from trading by the 

Portuguese, and there were grave doubts whether they could make the voyage home through want of supplies. Fortunately there 

seems reason to believe that the outcome was less unsatisfactory, since there is reference to ships named the John Baptist and 

Minion at subsequent dates’. For example, the Minion took part in an expedition dated October 2 nd 1567 in which John Hawkins 

and Francis Drake participated. 100 

The significance of the term ‘Maister’ is uncertain. It could imply that Robert Revell was the Merlin’s Sailing Master and thus 

an experienced sailor responsible for the handling and navigation, and this interpretation has been made elsewhere, 101 based 

92 Westminster Marriage Licences www.tim.ukpub.net/Manuscripts/Westminster_Licences.pdf 

93 Administrations in The Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1655-1660 

94 http://pmc.psych.northwestern.edu/revelle/revellehistory/randallrevell.html 

95 New England Historical Magazine http://www.archive.org/stream/marylandhistori04dielgoog#page/n182/mode/1up/search/revel 

96 ‘Bureaucracy in Elizabethan England: The Office of Naval Ordnance as a Case Study’ Robert J. Smith Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned 

with British Studies, 1974, 6, 47–62 http://www.jstor.org/stable/4048211 

97 ‘The Constitution And Finance Of English, Scottish And Irish Joint-Stock Companies To 1720’ Volume 2 William Robert Scott CUP 1910 

http://www.archive.org/stream/constitutionfina02scotuoft#page/4/mode/2up/search/minion 

98 The first voyage of Robert Baker 

http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=chadwyck_ep%2FuvaGenText%2Ftei%2Fchep_1.0019.xml&chunk.id=0&query=revell 

99 ‘The Constitution And Finance Of English, Scottish And Irish Joint-Stock Companies To 1720’ Volume 2 William Robert Scott CUP 1910 

http://www.archive.org/stream/constitutionfina02scotuoft#page/4/mode/2up/search/minion 

100 Sir Francis Drake http://www.archive.org/stream/sirfrancisdrake00corbiala/sirfrancisdrake00corbiala_djvu.txt 

101 ‘A general history and collection of voyages and travels, arranged in systematic order: forming a complete history of the origin and progress of 

navigation, discovery, and commerce, by sea and land, from the earliest ages to the present time (1824)’’ by Robert Kerr and William 

Stevenson http://www.archive.org/stream/generalhistoryco07kerrrich#page/298/mode/2up/search/revel 

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upon poetry written by Robert Baker who took part in the expedition as a Factor. The Merlin was brought from Bristol to 

Hampton (Hampton Court on the River Thames) but while sailing south the powder in her gun-room caught fire and exploded, 

blowing off the stern, killing three crewmen and injuring many more. Whether Robert Revell survived the sinking of Merlin is 

unclear, but when on duty the Sailing Master would have been on the quarterdeck normally located astern. For reasons 

developed below, it is thought that this Robert is related to John Revell, the surveyor. His death in the explosion would explain 

why he is not mentioned in John’s will. 

Sir William Gerrard, was a Haberdasher, Mayor of the City of in 1555 who died in 1571. 102 

and Mayor in 1560, and Sir Thomas Lodge was Mayor in 1562. 

Sir William Chester was a Draper 

In this regard it is interesting to note a Revell connection to the Abbey of Denney, near Waterbeach, some six miles from 

Cambridge. One of the letters in Henry VIII Letters and Papers, foreign and domestic dated 1535 refers to the Abbey of Denney 

in Cambridgeshire and includes the following statement, ‘—amongst them a fair young woman, sister to Sir Giles Strangwige, 

(Strangways) married to one Ryvell, a merchant "ventrer" at London, with whom she had four children, and now desires, of 

conscience, to rejoin her husband. They will not need to be put forth, but will make instance to be delivered, and so the deed 

shall be imputed to themselves’. 

The identity of this Sir Giles Strangways and his sister is uncertain. The sister could not have been born later than ca 1510 if she 

had married and had four children by 1535, and in fact was probably born earlier, but being described as young perhaps no 

earlier than 1495. There is an account of a Sir Giles Strangways, Knight, born ca 1528, first son of Henry Strangeways by 

Margaret, daughter of George Manners, Lord Ros, 103 but this individual seems to be too late to be her brother. 

The ODNB refers to a Henry Strangways, pirate, of uncertain ancestry who died, intestate, at Rouen in 1562. 104 ODNB also 

states that ‘tradition ties him to the family of Sir Giles Strangeways (d. 1546) of Melbury Sampford, Dorset’. Of particular 

interest in the present context is the statement ‘In early 1559 Strangeways,‘beinge poore and in greate debt’ (TNA: PRO, HCA 

1/35, fol. 6), was engaged by William Wilford, merchant of London, and John Strange, gentleman of Chesterton, 

Gloucestershire, to command an expedition intended to capture the Portuguese fortress of Mina in equatorial west Africa. The 

plan acquired the support of some of the London merchants who had promoted English commercial voyages to Guinea under 

Edward and Mary’. This immediately suggests a connection to Robert Revell the Adventurer who sailed to Guinea in 1563, 105 

and raises the possibility that it is he who married Giles Strangeways’ sister. 

It is clear from pedigrees that Giles / Egidius was a common name among the Strangways, appearing in most generations and in 

many branches, and it seems likely that the Giles in question was born in the period ca 1475 to 1505. If so, then on the basis of 

the probable dates of birth, Robert’s putative wife would have been a sister of a Giles Strangways and Jane, the eldest daughter 

of Johannis Mordant (Mordaunt), unless possibly they had a son Giles who is not recorded in the pedigree. 106 Giles and Jane 

appear to have had two sons, Giles and John, and four daughters, Ann, Elizabeth (who married Sir Thomas Trenchard), 107 

Christian and Mary, probably born in the period ca 1495 to ca 1510. These dates fit well with the information from the Letters 

and papers foreign and domestic discussed above, and it is plausible that Ann, Christian or Mary married Revell. 

A Sir Giles Strangways the son of George Strangways and Elizabeth Newborough (Newberry) née Birport of Muston, Dorset, is 

also of interest. Elizabeth Strangways née Birport’s will is dated 1570 and she is said to have been born in the period 1487 to 

1491 and to have married first about 1512 and second George Strangways about 1520. 108 Although born too late to be brotherin-law 

to Revell this Giles married in Winterborne, Lucy Horsey, daughter of Thomas Horsey of Martin in Wiltshire. 109 

Lucy Horsey’s ancestry is given in a pedigree from The Visitation of Wiltshire, 110 but it has not been possible to establish a 

connection to the Mary Horsey of Digswell, Hertfordshire, who married Roger Revell son of John Revell the Queen’s 

Surveyor. This Roger Revell is clearly identified as a son-in-law of George Horsey of Digswell in his will dated 1587. 

According to The Visitation of the County of Dorset a Margaret Horsey, daughter of George Horsey of Digswell, married a 

Revell, but this appears to be equivalent to Mary Horsey. 111 Mary / Margaret Horsey’s cousins had lands in Dorset and 

Wiltshire. 112 Mary Horsey’s grandfather, John Horsey the elder, in his will dated 1532, appointed a Sir Gyles Strangweis as an 

overseer, 113 and some connection is plausible. 

102 John Strypes a survey of the cities of London and Westminster http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/strype/TransformServlet?page=book2_175 

103 Strangeway family http://www.strangewayfamily.org.uk/html/visitation_of_dorset.htm 

104 ODNB https://remote.surrey.ac.uk/view/article/,DanaInfo=.awxyCs2lvzmnynMq32+68896?docPos=2 

105 Letters and Papers, foreign and domestic http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=75675 

106 The Visitation of the County of Dorset http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofcound00stge#page/86/mode/2up/search/manners 

107 A genealogical and heraldic history of the Commoners http://www.archive.org/stream/agenealogicalan01burkgoog#page/n105/mode/1up 

108 Newberry family http://www.angelfire.com/me3/families/beckler/newberry.pdf 

109 The Visitation of the County of Dorset http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofcound00stge#page/86/mode/2up/search/horsey 

110 The Visitation of Wiltshire http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofwilt00harvrich#page/24/mode/2up/search/wyke 

111 The Visitation of the County of Dorset http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofcound00stge#page/2/mode/2up/search/revel 

112 The Visitation of Hertfordshire http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationsofher22metc#page/114/mode/2up/search/revel 

113 The Visitation of the County of Dorset http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofcound00stge#page/4/mode/2up/search/strang 

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Mary / Margaret Horsey’s nephew Jasper Horsey of Potter’s Bar, Hertfordshire, refers in his will, dated 1637, to his brother 

George Horsey, brother-(in-law) Edward Stripling, and cousin James Dowcre (Dockwray) of Fullborne, and ‘my cousin William 

Revell deceased’. 114 The identity of this William is not clear, but if the term ‘cousin’ is used correctly then he might be a son of 

Roger Revell and Mary Horsey, or a son of Roger’s brother John Revell. 

Gregory Revell, Yeoman of the Guard 

This Gregory is well documented, albeit sometimes referred to as George, but his parents, and children if any, are obscure. 

There is possibly a connection to the Revells of the Berkshire–Surrey border — see Part 10. The earliest record, dated 1542, 115 

refers to him receiving expenses for ‘riding on the King’s business’, and in 1543 he is described as one of the ‘yeomen, grooms, 

and pages of the Chamber, riding by the King's command’. 116 In 1545 he is referred to as Yeoman of the Guard when he leased 

the Manor of Ockham in Surrey, 117, 118 and in 1548 he is recorded as holding many parcels of land in Surrey, 119 especially around 

Normandy and Henley (Park) including Cobbett Hill Farm, at Cleygate, and at Holbridge Meads in Woking and Thermytage in 

Brookwood, 120 and the Manor of Poyle in Tongham. 121 In the period 1553 to 1555 he is recorded in Chancery records and as 

having business in Guildford, 122 and it is probably the same person who is mentioned in the will of Richard Colear of Woking in 

1568 as leasing land from him. On May 9 th and May 20 th 1552 Gregory Revell is also referred to in connection with the ‘manor 

123 124 

of Rumbalswyke, co. Sussex’. 

In 1561 Queen Elizabeth granted the site of Pyrford manor, lately in the possession of John Carleton and Joyce his wife, to 

George Revel for twenty-one years, (fn. 14) but in 1574 another grant of the same was made to Edward Clinton, Earl of Lincoln 

and Lord High Admiral of England. 125 The grant to John Carleton and Joyce in 1548 included the park of Pyrford, together with 

the capital messuage belonging to it. This, too, passed to George Revel and the Earl of Lincoln. 

114 The Visitation of the County of Dorset http://www.archive.org/stream/visitationofcound00stge#page/6/mode/2up/search/revel 

115 f. 19 Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 17 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=76673 

116 BHOL http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=76673 

117 23. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 20 Part 5 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=80386 

118 16. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 19 Part 1 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=80313 

119 www.normandyhistorians.guildford-surrey.co.uk 

120 LR 15/139A 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=8516735&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CGREGORY%2CREV 

ELL&accessmethod=0 

121 G101/1/12/1-2 http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/GetRecord/SHCOL_G101 

122 The Descent of Cleygate Manor www.normandyhistorians.guildford-surrey.co.uk 

123 Patent Rolls 

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Rumbalswyke&meta=#q=Rumbalswyke%3A+Gregory+Revell&hl=en&prmd=ivnso&source=lnms&t 

bm=bks&ei=sWgsTrfjC5G5hAfkz9CqCw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CA8Q_AUoBQ&prmdo=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_ 

pw.&fp=eaa791b17111aa36&biw=1024&bih=550 

124 Index of Leases 

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4UJbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=%22clementhorpe%22+revell&source=bl&ots=DogsZaipIG& 

sig=Sxnp0qE73NB3aYj1mFJBfbEEzik&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fFgIUK3xCamL0AWMqc3GBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22clementhorpe%22 

%20revell&f=false 

125 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43001 

06/01/2014 

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Revells of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and ... - Rotherham Web

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