Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Family and Education
bap. 13 Mar. 1596, 1st s. of Robert Hopton† of Witham and Jane, da. and h. of Rowland Kemeys of Y Faendre, Mon.CP. educ. ?Lincoln Coll. Oxf. bef. 1614; M. Temple, 14 Feb. 1614; travelled abroad 1615-19.F.T.R. Edgar, Sir Ralph Hopton, The King’s Man in the West (Oxford, 1968), 5; M. Temple Admiss.; APC 1615-16, p. 158; 1619-21, p. 64. m. c. Feb. 1623, Elizabeth, wid. of Sir Justinian Lewen of Otterden, Kent and da. of Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham, Herts. s.p.Vis. Som. 1623 (Harl. Soc. xi), 56-7. Kntd. 1 Feb. 1626.Shaw, Knights of Eng. i. 162. cr. Baron Hopton of Stratton, Cornwall 4 Sept. 1643.Add. 15856, ff. 43-5. suc. fa. 1638. d. 28 Sept. 1652.Keeler, Long Parl. 222.
Offices Held

Military: vol. Low Countries and Bohemia c.1619–21;APC 1619–21, p. 64; lt.-col. regt. of Sir Charles Rich, army of Count Mansfeld, 1624–5.APC 1623–5, p. 386; CSP Dom. 1623–5, p. 404; 1625–6, p. 27. Capt. horse guards, royal army, c.May 1639.CSP Dom. 1625–49, p. 607. Lt.-gen. (roy.) western cos. Sept. 1642-Mar. 1646. Lt.-gov. (roy.) Bristol Aug. 1643–1645.Stowe 143, ff. 118–20. Gen of ordnance (roy.), 20 Aug.-aft. Dec. 1644.Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 238, 240–1.

Local: commr. for improving King’s Sedgemoor, Som. Sept. 1628.CSP Dom. 1628–9, p. 327. J.p. Som. 1629–1646.QS Recs. Som. Charles I, 94–203; C231/4, f. 265. Dep. lt. c.1629–42.T.G. Barnes, Som. 1625–40, 315–17. Commr. sewers, 3 July 1629-aft.July 1641;C181/4, ff. 21, 172v; C181/5, f. 204v. depopulation, 4 Apr.-aft. July 1635.C181/5, ff. 1, 22. Surveyor, Bath and Wells bpric. 1638–46.P.M. Hembry, Bishops of Bath and Wells (1967), 220. Commr. oyer and terminer, Som. 20 July 1640, 6 Oct. 1643;C181/5, f. 183; Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 81. Bristol 18 Oct. 1643;Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 88. array (roy.), Som. July 1642;Northants RO, FH133, unfol. impressment (roy.), Devon, Dorset, Hants, Som. and Wilts. 10 Oct. 1643; Hants 13 Jan. 1644; Wilts. 13 Jan., 3 Feb. 1644; Som. 13 Jan 1644, 16 Jan. 1645; contributions (roy.), Hants 10 Dec. 1644.Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 85, 130, 141, 243, 250.

Court: gent. of privy chamber, extraordinary, 1641–?LC3/1, f. 25.

Central: cllr. prince of Wales, 28 Jan. 1645-Jan. 1649.Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 252–3; Clarendon, Hist. iii. 450. PC, 1 Mar. 1645–?d.PC2/53, f. 110v; CP. Commr. admlty. (roy.) 11 Mar. 1645; letters of marque (roy.), 17 Apr. 1645.Docquets of Letters Patent ed. Black, 263, 269.

: of Witham Friary, Som.
Likenesses

Likenesses: oil on canvas, attrib. D. Mytens, c.1626;NT, Petworth. oil on canvas, double portrait with wife, 1637;Whereabouts unknown. oil on canvas, unknown;NPG. oil on canvas, double portrait with father, circle of A. Van Dyck.Ancient House, Thetford, Norf.

Volume
Commons 1640-1660
Web Title

HOPTON, Sir Ralph (1596-1652), of Witham Friary, Som.

Will
d. intestate.
Estates
townhouse at St John’s, near the Charterhouse, London;CCAM 33. lands in Som., Wilts., Kent, Essex, Herefs. and Mon. bef. 1642; in 1650 inherited land from his uncle, Sir Arthur Hopton, in Norf. and Suff.CCC 2301-5.
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
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