Ruffle family in the 11th century
by
Charles Graves
The family originated at a village in Normandy called on old maps Astreium (a few miles north of Vire, south of Bayeux in Calvados) or in more recent times called Estry. Nearby were located Lasceium (de Lacy family), Traceium (Tracy family), Burceium (de Burci family). The first of the Astreium family of Normans was apparently called Estori / Stori in the Lincolnshire records of the Domesday Book (1086). The son or grandson of Estori was Thorold sheriff of Lincs. also named Thorold of Bucknall (Gartree wapentake, Lincs.).
Thorold was apparently the vassal of important Norman families involved in William ‘the Conquerors’ conquest of England beginning with the Battle of Hastings 1066 when the Normans defeated King Harold of the English. By the time of the Domesday Book (DB)(1086) - a record of taxation in the new Norman/English realm - Thorold and his sons Ralph, Richard and Gilbert were shown as holding properties in Essex, for example, under Bishop Odo of Bayeux (half-brother of William Conqueror (king William I), the bishop of London, Count Eustace of Boulogne, Count Alan of Brittany and Richmond, Swain of Essex, Ranulf Peverel, and Geoffrey de Mandeville. Their most significant holding was in Tendring hundred, Essex, at Layer Marney (which became a family name held by descendants (Muniac, Marine, Moine, etc.)). But the main name of descendants was ‘Roos’ or ‘Rous’. The name Rous arose because Turold’s son was called ‘Ralf Rioulfus’ - the name attributed to him no doubt because king William I arranged for Thorold to marry the daughter of Raoul II d’Ivry (the d’Ivry and de Breval families were closely related to the earliest Norman dukes in France). It is from this Rous family that the Ruffle family of Suffolk originated, as we shall show.
Properties of the Rous family were often called ‘Rousses’ manor, and in old English script, the ‘s’ was written like today’s ‘f’ so ‘Rousses’ appeared as ‘Rouffef’ and was pronounced as Ruffles and Ruffle after king Henry VIII ordered every one of his subjects to have a recognizable family name for church records.
But there was also an early name ‘of Rochester’ attributed to Thorold and some of his offspring down to the fourth or fifth generation (see Victoria County History for Hertfordshire, at Barkway village which was one of the caput (leading estates) of the Rous family). The reason for the Rochester name is not known but Thorold and his family were associated with properties under the bishop of London in 1086 and perhaps also with the bishop of Rochester.
As for 1086 holdings of Turold’s family in Suffolk county we have only one record of a ‘Tored’ holding under Hugh de Montfort with Walter de Douai (Thorold’s son Gilbert’s son-in-law) in Lothingland hundred (on Norfolk border).
The caput of Thorold’s progeny’s holdings at Newsell’s manor in Barkway was less than 3 miles from the South Cambridgeshire border (cf. Hertfordshire VCH, Edwintree hundred).
In 1086 another main seat of the Rous / Rochester family was in Cornwall county (s.w. England) where they held Cardenham manor. The Rous family member there in 1086 (Domesday Book) was Richard of Cardenham / Richard son of Turold who, besides the sheriff Torstin or Reginald de Valletort, was the largest landholder in Cornwall (at least 26 villages).
Turold’s progeny to the 14th century
The Cardenham family of Turold consisted of Ralf Rioulfus, Richard of Cardenham and his son William ’filric’ (fils de Richard), and Gilbert son of Thorold. Richard was not son of the d’Ivry lady who legally married Thorold, but of Queen Maud (wife of William I). Thorold , Richard and William fil’ric were probably given the high number of properties they held in 1086 because of this. Moreover, members of the d’Ivry and de Bréval families - closely associated to the old Norman dukes - also held in Cornwall in 1086, including Erchambald of Thiburville-Faverolles (Eure province) who had married a daughter of Raoul I d’Ivry.
Richard of Cardenham and his son William as well as Gilbert held in other counties as well, and Gilbert’s daughter married the Flemish lord Walter de Douai.
Rous and Manioc family in Barkway (Herts.) and Cambridgeshire; Medwin family
Ralf Riulfus son of Thorold apparently had sons Baldwin (ancestor of the Rochester branch); and William le Roos (living 1170) (ancestor of the Roos, Muniac and Medwin branches). The Muniac branch was apparently named after Thorold’s descendants at Layer Marney and N. Ockenden (Essex) which Thorold, Ralf and Ralf’s son William ‘le Roos’ held from 1086. This William le Roos (1170) had a son Walter ‘de Meduana’ who was ancestor of the ‘Medwin’ branch descending from Thorold. The name came from a manor at Mead End village near Ebbesthorpe in Wiltshire, which Walter held after emigrating there from Essex. Walter de Meduana was also called Walter ‘de Marine’, referring to his Layer Marney (Essex) origins.
De Roos /de Rochester family in Barkway, Herts. and Cambridge
In the VCH article on Barkway (Herts.) the Ralph of Rochester mentioned was obviously (because of timing) not Ralph son of Thorold but a later Ralf of Rochester, probably the earlier Ralf’s grandson (because this one at Barkway was late 12th century). In the article he is considered son of a Baldwin of Rochester. The VCH editor notes that a certain Sir Eustice de Merck, Kt. temps. Richard I (1189-1199) was probably the same as a Eustice de Oye, son of Henry de Merck who was living 1190, and that this Eustice was styled ‘of Rochester’, and was succeeded by his nephew ‘Ralf de Rochester’. (cf. VCH Herts. item for Royston, Odsey hundred – the ‘de Oye’ may come from Odsey (hundred)). Turold’s son (Ralph I) apparently had a son Baldwin of Rochester (named after the many Baldwins who had been Earls of Boulogne) and Baldwin had a son who was the Ralph II de Rochester at Barkway, Herts.. In the above scenario, Ralph (I) son of Thorold perhaps married a de Merck girl, had son Baldwin and grandson Ralph II, and their progeny all took the name ‘of Rochester’ down to the 13th century.
In the Barkway material, Ralph II of Rochester had children Alice (married Robert de Scales); Peter of Rochester, parson of Rivenhall (near Layer Marney, Essex) who ‘took the habit of Knight’s Templar’; and William de Rochester who had died before 1249. No more material on this William was found in VCH for Barkway.
But the line of the earlier William Roos son of Ralf ‘Riulfus I (1170) (also called William of Oc (N. Ockendon) or William Muniac) was important at two places in Cambridgeshire not far from Barkway, Herts. namely Bassingbourne ‘Rousses manor’ and ‘Shedy Camps’ in Chelford hundred. At the first were the de Roos family and at the second the Muniac family – the Muniacs were vassals under the de Vere family, Earls of Oxford.
The William de Rous (c. 1170) son of Ralf Riulfus had son Walter of Meduana (above) but also a Simon le Rous who was at Bassingbourn (1197). These were also called William of Kyme and Simon of Kyme (in Lincs.). William also probably had a son Geoffrey who was under the Earls of Oxford at Shedy Camps, Cambs. and his progeny were called ‘de Muniac’ (probably named such from Layer Marney (Essex) and N. Ockenden (Essex) their 1086 home.
The VCH article on the Rous family at Bassingbourne, Cambs. shows progeny of Simon de Rouse as a William de Rous 1209 (d. c. 1250)(the William at Barkway who d. after 1249) and a Geoffrey de Roos (d. 1267 – at Shedy Camps above?) and a Robert. The VCH for Shedy Camps. Muniac family from the older William de Rous’s son Geoffrey shows Geoffrey 1209, William (1247) (William at Barkway and Bassingbourne) and John Muniac (d. after 1300). So at Arningford and Wetherlee hundreds (with its Clopton village) as well as in Chilford hundred the de Rous / Muniac family was holding c. 1170 to after 1300. The earlier William de Roos (c. 1170) was also continuing the family line at N. Ockenden (Essex) where his family held 1086 and perhaps also at Layer Marney (Essex) or nearby. Also, the de Kyme (Lincs.) family (e.g. Robert de Tattershall (Lincs.) and son Robert) were holding lands in this period.
This other branch of Thorold’s ‘de Rous’ descendants were holding properties in Tattershall, Lincs. (Horncastle wapentake, 4 miles south of Bucknall where Thorold was sheriff of Lincs. before. 1086). A Robert de Rous had held at Bassingbourne (Cambs.) (probably brother of the William de Rous at Barkway, Herts.) and his son Robert II was at Tattershall, Lincs. 1273 and there was a ‘John son of Robert’ at N. Kyme (Langoe hundred next Hardcastle) which was also the residence of a William and a Symon of Kyme (William de Roos 1170, Simon his son (1197) both mentioned at Bassinbourne, Cambs.).
One caput of Thorold’s progeny’s holdings was at Newsell’s manor in Barkway less than 3 miles from the South Cambridgeshire border (cf. Hertfordshire VCH, Edwintree hundred). The other manors were at Bassingbourne and Shedy Camps, Cambs. and N. Ockenden and Layer Marney (Essex). Walter ’de Meduana’ had progeny in Wiltshire, beginning with his arrival at Meads End nr. Ebbesborne Wake. Walter also held at Hill Croome, Worcestershire and was once tutor of Countess Cecelia of Gloucester. His ‘Meduana’ descendants in Wilts. have been shown in my upcoming book ‘Forgotten Families of Worcestershire’.
The de Rous family held also at Whaddon, Cambs. (see John ‘Muniac’ there 1350, perhaps the son of Robert II de Tattershall). There was also a Thomas Roos, Kt. noted at age 50 in Whaddon in 1320 (he may have been the father of John Muniac of Whaddon). These Thomas and John Roos of Whadden seem to be the line of the ancestors of the Ruffle family. Whadden is the village next to Bassingbourne, Cambs.
Review of the Ruffle family line up to c. 1350.
-Estori of Astreium (Estry nr. Vire (Normandy)
-Thorold of Bucknall
-Ralph ‘Riulfus’
-William Roos (1170) father of Simon of Kyme and of Bassingbourne (Cambs.)
-Simon of Bassingbourne
- William de Roos of Bassingborne d. 1250 whose brother was Robert of Tattenshall (Lincs.)
-John Roos of Whadden (next to Bassingbourne)
-Thomas Roos of Surfleet (Lincs. in ‘the Wash area’) and who was age 50 at Whadden (1320)
-John Roos of Whadden (1350)
- William Roos (with Walter Telle at Wangford hundred near Beccles (Suffolk). A William Foorth (Wm. Roos?) held at Horksley (Essex) not far from Gt. Waldingfield (Suffolk).
- Thomas Roos at Boxford and Kersey next Gt. Waldenfield (Suffolk).
Note: at Burnham, Bucks. a Thomas Rous was holding with son John (d. 1413) this John’s son was a William Rous. But there was also another John Roos at Burnham 1430 – perhaps a brother of William son of John. These may be the same as the Bassingbourne and Whadden Rous family. A Wm. Roos family was also holding at Shinfield, Berks. (next to Reading) and at Ross Munk manor (cf. Roos and Muniac) in Herefordshire.
The Rous family should not be confused with the Espec /de Ros family descending from Bedfordshire, which held at Helmsley, Yorks. and Belvoir castle (Lincs./Leics.)
Further history of the Rous family in the Eastern counties (Suffolk, Essex)
William Rous (son of John of Whadden (Cambs.) above?) held a fee of Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk in Wangford hundred, Suffolk near Beccles together with a Walter Telle (from Inquisitions Post Mortem (IPM Henry IV) in 1399. Moreover, a William Roos (d. 1417) was holding in Shinfield, Berkshire (just south of Reading) at this time when Henry IV was king. A certain William Foorth was holding Silchester (Hants.) 7-8 miles south of Shinfield, Berks. and because of the item which follows we ask ourselves if William Foorth was not the same person as William Rous of Shinfield. In c. 1505 (temps. Henry VII (in IPM) an item on a William Foorth appeared where his son Robert Foorth was heir. It speaks of various manors surrounding Great Waldingfield, Suffolk noted in the will of William Foorth, two of which were held by Thomas Rous and by George Munnack (Muniac).
Great Waldingfield and manors nearby
We have determined that the earliest known ancestor of the Rev. Glen Ruffle of West Bergholt (near Colchester, Essex) was probably (according to Mormon records beginning in c. 1540 and up to c. 1800 where Rev. Glen Ruffle’s records stop), a Walter Ruffle and his son William Ruffle at Great Waldingfield, Suffolk from 1567 (year of baptism of Walter Ruffle). A Richard and a Walter Ruffle followed at Gt. Waldingfield.
Thus, the connection could be made between Thomas Rous and George Munnack in Great Waldingfield 1507 and the later Ruffle family there in 1547. Apparently, Thomas Rous of Boxford and Kersey (villages within a couple miles from Gt. Waldingfield) had a son William Rous, who could be the father of the above- mentioned Walter Ruffle. By 1540s the edict of Henry VIII was being observed and names in all church records must have both ‘Christian’ and family surname and the Rous family members, seeing that their family name came from Rousses manor in Great Waldingfield (i.e. ‘Ruffef’ with elongated ‘s’s) they chose Ruffle as surname. Today perhaps the name is to be found in Rose Green, Rose manor etc. of which there are several around Gt. Waldingfield.
The best proof that these Ruffles (progeny of the Rous family) are descendants of Thorold and those at Cardenham manor in Cornwall 1086, is that William Foorth - whose last will and testament we are discussing - enfeoffed his heirs with a Cardenham manor in Boxford, Suffolk (where one heir -Thomas Roos - held in 1507). It also rather indicates that William Foorth was a Rous family member. The name Foorth may have come from a place called ‘the Forum’ situated at Silchester common, Hants. held by William Foorth before his death in 1507 (see Three Miles to one inch Road Atlas of Great Britain, London 1940). But see below for another interpretation.
George Mannock held at Monk’s Eleigh (Monk’s referring to the Muniac family) in ‘Sackwood’ manor. Monk’s Eleigh and several other manors next to Great Waldingfield, as well as Great Waldingfield itself, were owned by John de Vere of Lavenham (Suffolk), 16th earl of Oxford (father of Edward de Vere, putative author of ‘Shakespeare’). As we recall, the Muniacs earlier were at Shedy Camps, Chilford hundred, Cambs. also holding under the de Vere Earls of Oxford. George Mannock was apparently holding in 1507 under the same Earls in Monk’s Eleigh and in one IPM record for temps. Henry VII he was called (at Monk’s Eleigh) ‘George Veer’.
A brief Return to Lincolnshire
Several de Roos family members were holding lands in Lincs. up to c. 1500. In 1283 (15 Edward I) at Rouceby (Flaxwell hundred) 5 miles south of N. Kyme (Langoe hundred), a Henry son of Geoffrey and a John son of John of de Rouche were holding. John son of John de Rippingall (Aveland hundred, Lincs.) was holding temps. Edward I (1268-1274). John le Moyne held at Sleaford (Lincs.) and also at Saltfleetby (Walschcroft wap.) in 1271 . Robert de Tattershall (d. 28.7. 31 Edward I) held ‘Tyd’ next to Coningsby and N. Kyme.
A Robert son of Robert of Tattershall in 34 Edward I (1273 was his birthdate) was at Hunmansby, Yorks. Simon de Roos / Simon the constable of Holderness (Yorks.) was at Preston (Yorks.). Both de Ros (a quite other family from Bedfordshire) and Roos holdings can be found in the Holderness area and there was a Roos manor near Tunstall.
Also, there was a William de Meduana at Holbeach, Lincs. (‘Wash district’) (13th century?). A Thomas Rous was holding at Potter’s Hamon in Horncastle wapontake and a John Rous was holding at Askenby next Horncastle town c. 1500. A John son of Robert (of Tattershall (Horncastle) held at N. Kyme (Langoe wap.) 4 miles from Tattershall (temps. Henry VII).
It is possible that the Thomas Roos of Potter’s Hamon was the same as the man of same name in 1507 at Boxton next Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk holding under Cardenham manor there.
Early Roos / Muniac / Medwin holdings in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
John de Roos, nephew of William Roos and Emma (born 1288) was at Horkesley, Essex ‘le Wodevill’ manor). John de Roos would inherit. At Wirmondeforth next Horkesley, John de Roos would inherit. (Is this Wirmondeforth the origin of the Wm. Foorth family in Silchester (Hants.) mentioned above (where we have equated Wm. Rous with Wm. Foorth). William Foorth was also the one who held many manors around Gr. Waldingforth (Suffolk) where Thomas Rous and George Mannock held at Boxton and Monk’s Eleigh respectively. Horkesley (Essex) and its Wimondeforth manor are in Lexden hundred, Essex with Wimondeforth about 15 miles so. of Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk held by William Foorth (whose vassals were Thomas Roos and George Mannock). It appears here that the Foorth in William’s name comes from Wimondeforth. He may be the William Roos uncle of John de Roos at Horseley (above) but who took Foorth as surname.
Henry Marney, Kt. held at Little Marney next to Tey (Essex) between 1457-1484. Henry Rous of Dennington (Suffolk) at ‘Rousses manor’ had sons Edmond (whose son was Edward) and William. Edmund should receive ‘’Thorpys’ manor. These Edmund and Edward were holding with the abbot of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. A Henry Rous held Dennington (next to Badenham n.w. of Saxmundham, Suffolk ) where a Rous family also held).
Henry Marney held Horndon Homs (Essex) and William Tey enfeoffed Henry Marney at Old Ham next to Tey (Essex). Apparently, Henry Marney was a descendant of Thorold who had once held Layer Marney (10 miles s.w. of Colchester).
Conclusions
This research which includes a nine - century long genealogy of the Ruffle family was facilitated by a present-day commentator related to a Medwin descendant who has called our attention to the fact that they have researched both Medwin and Ruffle family members in Suffolk and Essex as belonging to the same family. The earliest Medwin ancestry (16th century) found were at Waltham S. Lawrence in Berkshire west of Windsor. This coincides with what we found about William Rous in Shinfield (8 miles from Waltham St. Lawrence, and William Foorth in Silchester, Hants. Moreover, at Burnham, Bucks. across the Thames from Windsor, Rous family members held (see above).
Moreover, we have informed the Suffolk Record Office (which has recently been transferred to Ipswich, Suffolk) that we shall re-contact them in 2025 to find (if any exist) documents about Gt. Waldingfield and the Rous and Mannock families there in the 16th and following centuries.
Finally, parts of the research outlined above may be included in my book Forgotten Families of Worcestershire in the section on Thorold and Ralf Riulfus of Bucknall, Lincs. Gilbert son of Thorold of Cardenham was holding with Walter de Douai (his son-in-law) in Worcestershire in 1086 as was William ‘filric’ son of Richard of Cardenham.
But a Rous family also held in Worcestershire up to 1729 at Rous Lench. Its first Rous holder was John Rous in 1381-2 whomgranted it to his father John Rous of Ragley (Glos.) and wife Christina. Then John (the younger) gave Rous Lench tohis brother Robert, and finally it was held by Henry Rous (another brother of John). Henry’s son Thomas Rous held it in 1445 followed by his son William Rous 1505 whose son Thomas held Rous Lench. He was followed by his son John and John by Edward (d. 1611) whose son Sir John (d. 1645) was sheriff of Worcs..Then the line continued down (with Baronets Rous and Boughton family members) to 1729 (see British History Online (BHO) article in Google).
The William Rouse 1505 above seems to be Wm. Foorth / Wm. Rous of Berks. and Essex who was lord of Thomas Rous at Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk in 1507 and it provides William’s predecessors: (John Rous senior and John Rous junior, as well as a Robert (Robert of Tattershall, Lincs.) and a Henry (Henry Marney).
Thus, at least three Thomas Rous items appear on the records in the beginning to mid 16 th century (at Rous Lench(Worcs.); at Boxton and Kersal next Gt. Waldingfield (Suffolk) and
at Potter’s Hamon (Horncastle wap, Lincs.) It probably is the same person and the BHO Rous Lench article may also be a mini-genealogy for a part of the millennial wide genealogy we have discussed here.
IPM 19 Edward III tells of John de Rous of the Hereford castle whereby John and his wife Mabel had son Thomas Rous 1346 who held of the bishop of Hereford. IPM Richard II vol. 17 Nos. 896-7 tells of John Rous of Ragley (Glos. / Worcs.) born 1367 whose wife was Christina, and whose son was John Rous.
These items support the Rous genealogical scheme outlined in this survey.
Charles Graves
7 February 2025
Thorold was apparently the vassal of important Norman families involved in William ‘the Conquerors’ conquest of England beginning with the Battle of Hastings 1066 when the Normans defeated King Harold of the English. By the time of the Domesday Book (DB)(1086) - a record of taxation in the new Norman/English realm - Thorold and his sons Ralph, Richard and Gilbert were shown as holding properties in Essex, for example, under Bishop Odo of Bayeux (half-brother of William Conqueror (king William I), the bishop of London, Count Eustace of Boulogne, Count Alan of Brittany and Richmond, Swain of Essex, Ranulf Peverel, and Geoffrey de Mandeville. Their most significant holding was in Tendring hundred, Essex, at Layer Marney (which became a family name held by descendants (Muniac, Marine, Moine, etc.)). But the main name of descendants was ‘Roos’ or ‘Rous’. The name Rous arose because Turold’s son was called ‘Ralf Rioulfus’ - the name attributed to him no doubt because king William I arranged for Thorold to marry the daughter of Raoul II d’Ivry (the d’Ivry and de Breval families were closely related to the earliest Norman dukes in France). It is from this Rous family that the Ruffle family of Suffolk originated, as we shall show.
Properties of the Rous family were often called ‘Rousses’ manor, and in old English script, the ‘s’ was written like today’s ‘f’ so ‘Rousses’ appeared as ‘Rouffef’ and was pronounced as Ruffles and Ruffle after king Henry VIII ordered every one of his subjects to have a recognizable family name for church records.
But there was also an early name ‘of Rochester’ attributed to Thorold and some of his offspring down to the fourth or fifth generation (see Victoria County History for Hertfordshire, at Barkway village which was one of the caput (leading estates) of the Rous family). The reason for the Rochester name is not known but Thorold and his family were associated with properties under the bishop of London in 1086 and perhaps also with the bishop of Rochester.
As for 1086 holdings of Turold’s family in Suffolk county we have only one record of a ‘Tored’ holding under Hugh de Montfort with Walter de Douai (Thorold’s son Gilbert’s son-in-law) in Lothingland hundred (on Norfolk border).
The caput of Thorold’s progeny’s holdings at Newsell’s manor in Barkway was less than 3 miles from the South Cambridgeshire border (cf. Hertfordshire VCH, Edwintree hundred).
In 1086 another main seat of the Rous / Rochester family was in Cornwall county (s.w. England) where they held Cardenham manor. The Rous family member there in 1086 (Domesday Book) was Richard of Cardenham / Richard son of Turold who, besides the sheriff Torstin or Reginald de Valletort, was the largest landholder in Cornwall (at least 26 villages).
Turold’s progeny to the 14th century
The Cardenham family of Turold consisted of Ralf Rioulfus, Richard of Cardenham and his son William ’filric’ (fils de Richard), and Gilbert son of Thorold. Richard was not son of the d’Ivry lady who legally married Thorold, but of Queen Maud (wife of William I). Thorold , Richard and William fil’ric were probably given the high number of properties they held in 1086 because of this. Moreover, members of the d’Ivry and de Bréval families - closely associated to the old Norman dukes - also held in Cornwall in 1086, including Erchambald of Thiburville-Faverolles (Eure province) who had married a daughter of Raoul I d’Ivry.
Richard of Cardenham and his son William as well as Gilbert held in other counties as well, and Gilbert’s daughter married the Flemish lord Walter de Douai.
Rous and Manioc family in Barkway (Herts.) and Cambridgeshire; Medwin family
Ralf Riulfus son of Thorold apparently had sons Baldwin (ancestor of the Rochester branch); and William le Roos (living 1170) (ancestor of the Roos, Muniac and Medwin branches). The Muniac branch was apparently named after Thorold’s descendants at Layer Marney and N. Ockenden (Essex) which Thorold, Ralf and Ralf’s son William ‘le Roos’ held from 1086. This William le Roos (1170) had a son Walter ‘de Meduana’ who was ancestor of the ‘Medwin’ branch descending from Thorold. The name came from a manor at Mead End village near Ebbesthorpe in Wiltshire, which Walter held after emigrating there from Essex. Walter de Meduana was also called Walter ‘de Marine’, referring to his Layer Marney (Essex) origins.
De Roos /de Rochester family in Barkway, Herts. and Cambridge
In the VCH article on Barkway (Herts.) the Ralph of Rochester mentioned was obviously (because of timing) not Ralph son of Thorold but a later Ralf of Rochester, probably the earlier Ralf’s grandson (because this one at Barkway was late 12th century). In the article he is considered son of a Baldwin of Rochester. The VCH editor notes that a certain Sir Eustice de Merck, Kt. temps. Richard I (1189-1199) was probably the same as a Eustice de Oye, son of Henry de Merck who was living 1190, and that this Eustice was styled ‘of Rochester’, and was succeeded by his nephew ‘Ralf de Rochester’. (cf. VCH Herts. item for Royston, Odsey hundred – the ‘de Oye’ may come from Odsey (hundred)). Turold’s son (Ralph I) apparently had a son Baldwin of Rochester (named after the many Baldwins who had been Earls of Boulogne) and Baldwin had a son who was the Ralph II de Rochester at Barkway, Herts.. In the above scenario, Ralph (I) son of Thorold perhaps married a de Merck girl, had son Baldwin and grandson Ralph II, and their progeny all took the name ‘of Rochester’ down to the 13th century.
In the Barkway material, Ralph II of Rochester had children Alice (married Robert de Scales); Peter of Rochester, parson of Rivenhall (near Layer Marney, Essex) who ‘took the habit of Knight’s Templar’; and William de Rochester who had died before 1249. No more material on this William was found in VCH for Barkway.
But the line of the earlier William Roos son of Ralf ‘Riulfus I (1170) (also called William of Oc (N. Ockendon) or William Muniac) was important at two places in Cambridgeshire not far from Barkway, Herts. namely Bassingbourne ‘Rousses manor’ and ‘Shedy Camps’ in Chelford hundred. At the first were the de Roos family and at the second the Muniac family – the Muniacs were vassals under the de Vere family, Earls of Oxford.
The William de Rous (c. 1170) son of Ralf Riulfus had son Walter of Meduana (above) but also a Simon le Rous who was at Bassingbourn (1197). These were also called William of Kyme and Simon of Kyme (in Lincs.). William also probably had a son Geoffrey who was under the Earls of Oxford at Shedy Camps, Cambs. and his progeny were called ‘de Muniac’ (probably named such from Layer Marney (Essex) and N. Ockenden (Essex) their 1086 home.
The VCH article on the Rous family at Bassingbourne, Cambs. shows progeny of Simon de Rouse as a William de Rous 1209 (d. c. 1250)(the William at Barkway who d. after 1249) and a Geoffrey de Roos (d. 1267 – at Shedy Camps above?) and a Robert. The VCH for Shedy Camps. Muniac family from the older William de Rous’s son Geoffrey shows Geoffrey 1209, William (1247) (William at Barkway and Bassingbourne) and John Muniac (d. after 1300). So at Arningford and Wetherlee hundreds (with its Clopton village) as well as in Chilford hundred the de Rous / Muniac family was holding c. 1170 to after 1300. The earlier William de Roos (c. 1170) was also continuing the family line at N. Ockenden (Essex) where his family held 1086 and perhaps also at Layer Marney (Essex) or nearby. Also, the de Kyme (Lincs.) family (e.g. Robert de Tattershall (Lincs.) and son Robert) were holding lands in this period.
This other branch of Thorold’s ‘de Rous’ descendants were holding properties in Tattershall, Lincs. (Horncastle wapentake, 4 miles south of Bucknall where Thorold was sheriff of Lincs. before. 1086). A Robert de Rous had held at Bassingbourne (Cambs.) (probably brother of the William de Rous at Barkway, Herts.) and his son Robert II was at Tattershall, Lincs. 1273 and there was a ‘John son of Robert’ at N. Kyme (Langoe hundred next Hardcastle) which was also the residence of a William and a Symon of Kyme (William de Roos 1170, Simon his son (1197) both mentioned at Bassinbourne, Cambs.).
One caput of Thorold’s progeny’s holdings was at Newsell’s manor in Barkway less than 3 miles from the South Cambridgeshire border (cf. Hertfordshire VCH, Edwintree hundred). The other manors were at Bassingbourne and Shedy Camps, Cambs. and N. Ockenden and Layer Marney (Essex). Walter ’de Meduana’ had progeny in Wiltshire, beginning with his arrival at Meads End nr. Ebbesborne Wake. Walter also held at Hill Croome, Worcestershire and was once tutor of Countess Cecelia of Gloucester. His ‘Meduana’ descendants in Wilts. have been shown in my upcoming book ‘Forgotten Families of Worcestershire’.
The de Rous family held also at Whaddon, Cambs. (see John ‘Muniac’ there 1350, perhaps the son of Robert II de Tattershall). There was also a Thomas Roos, Kt. noted at age 50 in Whaddon in 1320 (he may have been the father of John Muniac of Whaddon). These Thomas and John Roos of Whadden seem to be the line of the ancestors of the Ruffle family. Whadden is the village next to Bassingbourne, Cambs.
Review of the Ruffle family line up to c. 1350.
-Estori of Astreium (Estry nr. Vire (Normandy)
-Thorold of Bucknall
-Ralph ‘Riulfus’
-William Roos (1170) father of Simon of Kyme and of Bassingbourne (Cambs.)
-Simon of Bassingbourne
- William de Roos of Bassingborne d. 1250 whose brother was Robert of Tattenshall (Lincs.)
-John Roos of Whadden (next to Bassingbourne)
-Thomas Roos of Surfleet (Lincs. in ‘the Wash area’) and who was age 50 at Whadden (1320)
-John Roos of Whadden (1350)
- William Roos (with Walter Telle at Wangford hundred near Beccles (Suffolk). A William Foorth (Wm. Roos?) held at Horksley (Essex) not far from Gt. Waldingfield (Suffolk).
- Thomas Roos at Boxford and Kersey next Gt. Waldenfield (Suffolk).
Note: at Burnham, Bucks. a Thomas Rous was holding with son John (d. 1413) this John’s son was a William Rous. But there was also another John Roos at Burnham 1430 – perhaps a brother of William son of John. These may be the same as the Bassingbourne and Whadden Rous family. A Wm. Roos family was also holding at Shinfield, Berks. (next to Reading) and at Ross Munk manor (cf. Roos and Muniac) in Herefordshire.
The Rous family should not be confused with the Espec /de Ros family descending from Bedfordshire, which held at Helmsley, Yorks. and Belvoir castle (Lincs./Leics.)
Further history of the Rous family in the Eastern counties (Suffolk, Essex)
William Rous (son of John of Whadden (Cambs.) above?) held a fee of Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk in Wangford hundred, Suffolk near Beccles together with a Walter Telle (from Inquisitions Post Mortem (IPM Henry IV) in 1399. Moreover, a William Roos (d. 1417) was holding in Shinfield, Berkshire (just south of Reading) at this time when Henry IV was king. A certain William Foorth was holding Silchester (Hants.) 7-8 miles south of Shinfield, Berks. and because of the item which follows we ask ourselves if William Foorth was not the same person as William Rous of Shinfield. In c. 1505 (temps. Henry VII (in IPM) an item on a William Foorth appeared where his son Robert Foorth was heir. It speaks of various manors surrounding Great Waldingfield, Suffolk noted in the will of William Foorth, two of which were held by Thomas Rous and by George Munnack (Muniac).
Great Waldingfield and manors nearby
We have determined that the earliest known ancestor of the Rev. Glen Ruffle of West Bergholt (near Colchester, Essex) was probably (according to Mormon records beginning in c. 1540 and up to c. 1800 where Rev. Glen Ruffle’s records stop), a Walter Ruffle and his son William Ruffle at Great Waldingfield, Suffolk from 1567 (year of baptism of Walter Ruffle). A Richard and a Walter Ruffle followed at Gt. Waldingfield.
Thus, the connection could be made between Thomas Rous and George Munnack in Great Waldingfield 1507 and the later Ruffle family there in 1547. Apparently, Thomas Rous of Boxford and Kersey (villages within a couple miles from Gt. Waldingfield) had a son William Rous, who could be the father of the above- mentioned Walter Ruffle. By 1540s the edict of Henry VIII was being observed and names in all church records must have both ‘Christian’ and family surname and the Rous family members, seeing that their family name came from Rousses manor in Great Waldingfield (i.e. ‘Ruffef’ with elongated ‘s’s) they chose Ruffle as surname. Today perhaps the name is to be found in Rose Green, Rose manor etc. of which there are several around Gt. Waldingfield.
The best proof that these Ruffles (progeny of the Rous family) are descendants of Thorold and those at Cardenham manor in Cornwall 1086, is that William Foorth - whose last will and testament we are discussing - enfeoffed his heirs with a Cardenham manor in Boxford, Suffolk (where one heir -Thomas Roos - held in 1507). It also rather indicates that William Foorth was a Rous family member. The name Foorth may have come from a place called ‘the Forum’ situated at Silchester common, Hants. held by William Foorth before his death in 1507 (see Three Miles to one inch Road Atlas of Great Britain, London 1940). But see below for another interpretation.
George Mannock held at Monk’s Eleigh (Monk’s referring to the Muniac family) in ‘Sackwood’ manor. Monk’s Eleigh and several other manors next to Great Waldingfield, as well as Great Waldingfield itself, were owned by John de Vere of Lavenham (Suffolk), 16th earl of Oxford (father of Edward de Vere, putative author of ‘Shakespeare’). As we recall, the Muniacs earlier were at Shedy Camps, Chilford hundred, Cambs. also holding under the de Vere Earls of Oxford. George Mannock was apparently holding in 1507 under the same Earls in Monk’s Eleigh and in one IPM record for temps. Henry VII he was called (at Monk’s Eleigh) ‘George Veer’.
A brief Return to Lincolnshire
Several de Roos family members were holding lands in Lincs. up to c. 1500. In 1283 (15 Edward I) at Rouceby (Flaxwell hundred) 5 miles south of N. Kyme (Langoe hundred), a Henry son of Geoffrey and a John son of John of de Rouche were holding. John son of John de Rippingall (Aveland hundred, Lincs.) was holding temps. Edward I (1268-1274). John le Moyne held at Sleaford (Lincs.) and also at Saltfleetby (Walschcroft wap.) in 1271 . Robert de Tattershall (d. 28.7. 31 Edward I) held ‘Tyd’ next to Coningsby and N. Kyme.
A Robert son of Robert of Tattershall in 34 Edward I (1273 was his birthdate) was at Hunmansby, Yorks. Simon de Roos / Simon the constable of Holderness (Yorks.) was at Preston (Yorks.). Both de Ros (a quite other family from Bedfordshire) and Roos holdings can be found in the Holderness area and there was a Roos manor near Tunstall.
Also, there was a William de Meduana at Holbeach, Lincs. (‘Wash district’) (13th century?). A Thomas Rous was holding at Potter’s Hamon in Horncastle wapontake and a John Rous was holding at Askenby next Horncastle town c. 1500. A John son of Robert (of Tattershall (Horncastle) held at N. Kyme (Langoe wap.) 4 miles from Tattershall (temps. Henry VII).
It is possible that the Thomas Roos of Potter’s Hamon was the same as the man of same name in 1507 at Boxton next Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk holding under Cardenham manor there.
Early Roos / Muniac / Medwin holdings in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
John de Roos, nephew of William Roos and Emma (born 1288) was at Horkesley, Essex ‘le Wodevill’ manor). John de Roos would inherit. At Wirmondeforth next Horkesley, John de Roos would inherit. (Is this Wirmondeforth the origin of the Wm. Foorth family in Silchester (Hants.) mentioned above (where we have equated Wm. Rous with Wm. Foorth). William Foorth was also the one who held many manors around Gr. Waldingforth (Suffolk) where Thomas Rous and George Mannock held at Boxton and Monk’s Eleigh respectively. Horkesley (Essex) and its Wimondeforth manor are in Lexden hundred, Essex with Wimondeforth about 15 miles so. of Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk held by William Foorth (whose vassals were Thomas Roos and George Mannock). It appears here that the Foorth in William’s name comes from Wimondeforth. He may be the William Roos uncle of John de Roos at Horseley (above) but who took Foorth as surname.
Henry Marney, Kt. held at Little Marney next to Tey (Essex) between 1457-1484. Henry Rous of Dennington (Suffolk) at ‘Rousses manor’ had sons Edmond (whose son was Edward) and William. Edmund should receive ‘’Thorpys’ manor. These Edmund and Edward were holding with the abbot of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, near Bury St. Edmunds. A Henry Rous held Dennington (next to Badenham n.w. of Saxmundham, Suffolk ) where a Rous family also held).
Henry Marney held Horndon Homs (Essex) and William Tey enfeoffed Henry Marney at Old Ham next to Tey (Essex). Apparently, Henry Marney was a descendant of Thorold who had once held Layer Marney (10 miles s.w. of Colchester).
Conclusions
This research which includes a nine - century long genealogy of the Ruffle family was facilitated by a present-day commentator related to a Medwin descendant who has called our attention to the fact that they have researched both Medwin and Ruffle family members in Suffolk and Essex as belonging to the same family. The earliest Medwin ancestry (16th century) found were at Waltham S. Lawrence in Berkshire west of Windsor. This coincides with what we found about William Rous in Shinfield (8 miles from Waltham St. Lawrence, and William Foorth in Silchester, Hants. Moreover, at Burnham, Bucks. across the Thames from Windsor, Rous family members held (see above).
Moreover, we have informed the Suffolk Record Office (which has recently been transferred to Ipswich, Suffolk) that we shall re-contact them in 2025 to find (if any exist) documents about Gt. Waldingfield and the Rous and Mannock families there in the 16th and following centuries.
Finally, parts of the research outlined above may be included in my book Forgotten Families of Worcestershire in the section on Thorold and Ralf Riulfus of Bucknall, Lincs. Gilbert son of Thorold of Cardenham was holding with Walter de Douai (his son-in-law) in Worcestershire in 1086 as was William ‘filric’ son of Richard of Cardenham.
But a Rous family also held in Worcestershire up to 1729 at Rous Lench. Its first Rous holder was John Rous in 1381-2 whomgranted it to his father John Rous of Ragley (Glos.) and wife Christina. Then John (the younger) gave Rous Lench tohis brother Robert, and finally it was held by Henry Rous (another brother of John). Henry’s son Thomas Rous held it in 1445 followed by his son William Rous 1505 whose son Thomas held Rous Lench. He was followed by his son John and John by Edward (d. 1611) whose son Sir John (d. 1645) was sheriff of Worcs..Then the line continued down (with Baronets Rous and Boughton family members) to 1729 (see British History Online (BHO) article in Google).
The William Rouse 1505 above seems to be Wm. Foorth / Wm. Rous of Berks. and Essex who was lord of Thomas Rous at Gt. Waldingfield, Suffolk in 1507 and it provides William’s predecessors: (John Rous senior and John Rous junior, as well as a Robert (Robert of Tattershall, Lincs.) and a Henry (Henry Marney).
Thus, at least three Thomas Rous items appear on the records in the beginning to mid 16 th century (at Rous Lench(Worcs.); at Boxton and Kersal next Gt. Waldingfield (Suffolk) and
at Potter’s Hamon (Horncastle wap, Lincs.) It probably is the same person and the BHO Rous Lench article may also be a mini-genealogy for a part of the millennial wide genealogy we have discussed here.
IPM 19 Edward III tells of John de Rous of the Hereford castle whereby John and his wife Mabel had son Thomas Rous 1346 who held of the bishop of Hereford. IPM Richard II vol. 17 Nos. 896-7 tells of John Rous of Ragley (Glos. / Worcs.) born 1367 whose wife was Christina, and whose son was John Rous.
These items support the Rous genealogical scheme outlined in this survey.
Charles Graves
7 February 2025
Photograph: ‘rock painting’ in Australia photographed by Graeme Churchard, Bristol (UK)
