Ralph St Leger


Ralph St Leger of Ulcombe in Kent was Sheriff of Kent in 1467/8 and was constable of Leeds Castle in Kent. He was a member of the St Leger family.

Family

He was the eldest son and heir of Sir John St Leger of Ulcombe, Sheriff of Kent in 1430 by his wife Margery Donet, daughter and heiress of James Donet of Silham in the parish of Rainham, Kent. Two of Ralph's younger brothers married prominent wives: Sir Thomas St Leger married Anne of York, elder sister of Kings Edward IV and Richard III, and Sir James St Leger, who married Anne Butler, a daughter of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond, great-aunt of Queen Anne Boleyn.

Marriage and children

Ralph married Anne Prophett, daughter of John Prophett. By his wife Ralph had children including:
He died in 1470 and was buried in Ulcombe Church, where his monumental brass survives showing figures of himself and his wife. It depicts the couple with their hands together in prayer. He is dressed in full armour, his bare head resting on his helm atop which is the crest of St Leger, a griffin passant. His wife Anne lies to his left, and wears a butterfly head-dress. Both figures rest their feet on dogs. The Latin inscription beneath is as follows :

Orate pro animabus Radulphi Sentleger Armigeri et Anne uxoris suae qui quidam Radulphus obiit undecimo die mensis Novembriis Anno domini millencimo CCCCLXX. Quorum animabus propicietur Deus Amen
Pray for the souls of Ralph Saint Leger, Esquire, and Anne his wife, the said Ralph died on the eleventh day of the month of November in the year of our Lord 1470. On whose souls may God have mercy. Amen