Ralph Sheldon facts for kids

Ralph Sheldon (1623–1684) was an English Catholic Royalist and a history expert. He loved studying old things and family histories. In his will, he gave his huge collection of books and old papers to the College of Arms. This college is the official place in England for heraldry (family symbols) and family trees.

Ralph Sheldon's Family Life

Ralph Sheldon was born on August 1, 1623, in a place called Beoley, in Worcestershire. He was the oldest son of William Sheldon, a rich landowner. His mother was Elizabeth, whose father was Lord Petre. Ralph also had an uncle, Edward Sheldon, who translated Catholic religious books.

His family was one of the richest in their area. However, because they were Catholic, they couldn't take on important public jobs or roles in the government.

The English Civil War Years

In 1642, Ralph Sheldon left England and traveled to France and Italy. He came back just before he got married in 1647. His wife was Lady Henrietta Maria, whose father was John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers, a wealthy Catholic politician.

During the English Civil War, Beoley Hall, the family home, was burned down. This was probably done to stop it from being taken by the Roundheads, who were fighting against the King. The family's land was also taken over by the government for a while.

After the King returned to power in 1660, an award called the Order of the Royal Oak was planned. Ralph Sheldon was nominated for it because his family had been so loyal to the King.

Ralph Sheldon's Studies and Collections

Ralph Sheldon's wife passed away in 1663, and they didn't have any children. After this, he spent all his time on his hobbies: studying family trees (genealogy), heraldry, and old historical items. He even wrote a book called Catalogue of the Nobility of England since the Norman Conquest, which listed all the noble families in England since the Norman Conquest.

He built a large library at his home in Weston. Another history expert, Anthony Wood, helped him organize all his books. Ralph also had a special room filled with interesting and unusual objects, called a "cabinet of curiosities." In 1667, he traveled to Rome again and spent three years there, adding more items to his collection. Anthony Wood described him as someone who "generously supported learning and smart people."

Sheldon also paid a regular amount of money to another history expert named John Vincent. He bought a huge collection of old papers from Vincent. These papers had belonged to Vincent's father, Augustine Vincent, who was a herald (an expert in coats of arms and family history). Ralph Sheldon later gave this collection, along with many of his own treasures, to the College of Arms.

Sheldon Tapestry Maps

After the King returned to power, Ralph Sheldon ordered new copies of two special tapestry maps. These maps showed the counties of Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. The original maps were made around 1590 by his great-grandfather, who was also named Ralph Sheldon.

There were four original tapestry maps in total. Each one showed a county where the Sheldon family lived, owned land, or had friends: Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire. The new copies of the maps were almost exactly the same as the old ones. However, the decorative borders around the maps were updated to a newer style.

The two new maps (Worcestershire and Oxfordshire) and the older Warwickshire map were sold in 1781. They were bought by Horace Walpole. He then gave them to Lord Harcourt, who built a special room for them at his home, Nuneham Courtenay. Later, these maps went to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.

Today, the Oxfordshire map is on display at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The Warwickshire map is at the Market Hall Museum, Warwick. The Worcestershire map is kept safe in storage at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Ralph Sheldon's Death

Ralph Sheldon passed away at Weston on June 24, 1684. He was buried in the family chapel at Beoley, in the same place as his wife.