Ralph Fenwick

[0191alex11]

Hi! Can anyone help with any of the following?
I have a Ralph Fenwick being father to the following children - all baptised at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Eleanor - 18 September 1581
Anne - 26 August 1583
Dorothy - 10 June 1585
Phyllis - 8 July 1589
Dennis - 24 April 1591
Lucy - 27 August 1593
John - 4 March 1595
Elizabeth - 26 January 1598
Eleanor - 16 June 1600
Lancelot - 22 December 1601
Oswald - 27 August 1601

I believe Ralph Fenwick to be the son of John Fenwick of Walker who died 1580/1581 and his wife Isabel Heron who died in 1604 (Ralph being born around 1556?)?


Anne Fenwick married Anthony Morton at Berwick -upon-Tweed on January 16th 1606.

If anyone can help with any of the above especially who Ralph married i would be very grateful!

Thank you.

[QueenoftheWest]

Hi,

Have you seen Ralph's will? It can be viewed for free via Durham University's North East Inheritance database:
https://iiif.durham.ac.uk/index.html?manifest=t2mw3763725d&canvas=t2tw6634c54s

It is very detailed and contains a lot of good information. I skimmed through and saw mentions of his daughter Anne Morton and sons Lancelot and Oswald. I saw a few other children too; not all of them were included on the list you provided so there could be some missing baptisms. The first baptism I can see to Ralph was actually William Fenwick in 1580.

In his will, he names his current wife as Fortune Fenwick. He also mentions his father-in-law, William Tompson. William Thompson's will of 1589 can be viewed here:
https://iiif.durham.ac.uk/index.html?manifest=t2m7p88cg76w

His will mentions Hellen Fenwick, now the wife of Ralph Fenwick. So it appears that Ralph was married twice: his first wife was Hellen Thompson and his second was Fortune. I can see a burial for an Elenor, wife of Ralph Fenwick, on 5th August 1591:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WYXD-SJ2M

You mention John Fenwick of Walker as a potential father; his will is also available to view:
https://iiif.durham.ac.uk/index.html?manifest=t2m4x51hj12h&canvas=t2tfj236540q
Can see no mention of any children from a quick skim. Is there a particular reason you believe this is Ralph's father?

Queenie 

[0191alex11]

Wow that is great thank you so much! Will have a good look through it as some of it is hard to read and see if it helps which i am sure it will.
I think i saw a family tree which stated that Ralph was the son of John and Isabel Fenwick but now not so sure lol.
Thank you so much for this information i am very grateful!

[QueenoftheWest]

Glad I was able to help. If you need assistance deciphering any part of the will then please do head over to the Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition Board, where there will be lots of people (myself included) who are happy to help.

Queenie