# Robert Rugge

Robert Rugge (by 1503 – 18 February 1558/9), of Norwich, Norfolk, was an English politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Norwich in 1545 and mayor of the city in 1545–46 and 1550–51.

## Early life

Robert Rugge was the son of William Rugge (d. 1512) of Northrepps, by Agnes. He was the much younger brother of William Rugge, Bishop of Norwich (d. 1550), and the father of John Rugge, Archdeacon of Wells (d. February 1581/2), and Francis Rugge, Mayor of Norwich (1535 – 18 October 1607). He obtained properties from his brother, the Bishop. William Rugge, abbot of St. Bennet's, conveyed the manor of Greengate to Robert Rugge, his brother, and alderman of Norwich in 1533. William sold him Ashmanagh in Hoveton. The family owned property there until at least 1618.
Rugge married twice. The first time to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wood of Norwich, gentleman of the horse to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. They had 5 sons and 3 daughters. His second wife was Alice (1494 – 11 July 1566), daughter of William Wayte of Tittleshall, and widow of William Hare of Beeston.

## Records

Of the chapel of St. Mary, the south isle, in St. John the Baptist's Church in Madder-Market, Norwich, Frances Blomefield, Rector of Fersfield in Norfolk, writes:
   There is a stone in this isle, having the portraitures of a man and a woman; from his mouth, Pater de Celis deus miserere nobis. From her's, Fili Redemptor Mundi deus miserere nobis. At each corner a coat, viz. a chevron ingrailed between three mullets, and the mercers arms.
From the four sons' mouths, Deus propicius esto animabus parentum nostrorum. The daughters are pulled off, a label as that before, remains:
   Of your Charytie pray for the Soules of Robarte Rugge Esquier, somtime Alderman, and twyse Mayer of this worshipfull Citie of Norwich, and Elizabeth his Wyffe, which had Issue betwyrt them five Sonnes & three Daughters, and the said Rob. Rugge departed this trancitory life the xviii Daye of Februarie in the yeare of our Lord God 1558, of whose Soules say you, JESU have mercye Amen.
The Reverend Edmund Farrer in his travels through the church heraldry of Norfolk identifies the arms above, a chevron engrailed, between three pierced mullets, as those of Rugge, and adds the following poetic description of the Mercer's Company's coat of arms:
   A demi-virgin couped below the shoulders nebulée, vested
   and crowned with an Eastern coronet, and wreathed
   around the temples with roses (The Mercers Company,
   Gules, a demi-virgin couped below the shoulders, issuing
   from clouds all proper, vested, or crowned with an
   Eastern coronet of the last, her hair dishevelled, and
   wreathed around the temples with roses of the second,
   all within an orle of clouds proper. There is no sign
   here of the "orle of clouds," or what on a brass
   usually takes its place, "a bordure".
A loveknot is found on the stone in the isle, with the initials R & E.
His second wife Alice lies in Plumstead Parva.
On a grave-stone, in the church;—
   Here lyeth Alice Wayte, first wife to William Hare, Esq. and after to Robert Rugge, and mother to the lady Etheldred Warner, who dyed here in much vertue and quiet, 72 years, and departed hence to live for ever, the first day of July, A°. Dni. 1566.

## Step-daughter

This daughter, who was the daughter and heir of William Hare, Esq. of Beeston in Norfolk, married Thomas Hobart, Esq. son and heir of Miles Hobart, Esq., 2nd son of Sir James Hobart, by whom she had two sons, Miles and Henry. Thomas Hobart died on 26 March 1560. She then married Sir Edward Warner, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, who died on November 7, 1565. Her third marriage was to William Blennerhasset, Esq. She died on 16 July 1581.
She is the Audrey (common nickname for Etheldred) named in a tablet hanging in the church where her mother is buried.

## Background

"The family of Rugg, took their name from a lordship, or hamlet in the town of Pattingham in Staffordshire, and were of good degree and eminency; (fn. 7) the younger branch came into Norfolk: in the 49th of Edward III. Nicholas Rugg, second son of John Rugg, of Rugg, seated himself there, and was father of Clement Rugge, who was living in the 12th of Henry IV. his son William was father of Thomas Rugge, who occurs in the 23d of Henry VI.; and left Robert Rugge of North Repps, his son and heir, in the 2d of Edward IV. father of William, whose son Robert lived in the 1st of Edward V. and was father of William, of North Repps, Gent."
William Rugge, abbot and bishop, was the son of William Rugge (d.1512) of Northrepps and Agnes – who had four sons, Nicholas, Roger, William, Bishop of Norwich, and Robert.
Children of William Rugge and Agnes:
* William Rugge alias Repps, Bishop of Norwich 28 Henry VIII
* Roger Rugge, m. Alice Ederyke, and had:
** Alice, wife of Rob. Fayer
** Margaret, wife of Gybsonn
** Thomas, died without issue
* Nicholas Rugge, who married Elizabeth and had;
** Dorothy, wife of Robert Playford
** Margaret, wife of Kervyll
* Robert Rugge, Mayor of Norwich
The Bishop's much younger brother, Robert Rugge (by 1503 – 18 February 1558/9), of Norwich in Norfolk, became an English politician. «In the 24th of Henry VIII. William Rugge, abbot of St. Bennet's conveyed the manor of Greengate to Robert Rugge, his brother, alderman of Norwich, which the said Robert held in 1558, with that of Spicer's alias Berd's, in Hoveton St. John, and St. Peter, Tunstead, Belaugh, and Ashmanhaugh; the last sold to him also by the late abbot, his brother.» Robert m. 1) Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wood of Norwich, gentleman of the horse to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, they had 5 sons and 3 daughters; 2) Alice (d.1566), daughter of William Wayte of Tittleshall, widow of William Hare of Beeston. He made his will on 24 December 1558 and died on the following 18 February. He gave his wife Alice a life interest in certain lands and a house, furnishings and plate, and divided the remaining lands between his elder sons William and Francis. The executors were William and Francis Rugge. He had two sons-in-law, Robert Flint and George Thimblethorpe.
Children of Robert Rugge (d.1558/9) and Elizabeth Wood:
* William of Felmingham in Norfolk
* Robert, Archdeacon of Suffolk. He matriculated sizar from Trinity, Cambridge at Michaelsmas 1547.
* John Rugge (d.February 1581/2), 3rd son, Achdeacon of Wells, who married Jane Brune, the daughter of Sir John Brune (d.1559) and Jane Bampfield. He matriculated pens. from Trinity, Cambridge at Michaelsmas 1548. When his father made his will on Christmas Eve 1558, John was a priest who had gone into exile under Mary, spending some time in Italy with Thomas Wyndham. His father left him £4 a year, with the proviso that if on his return he remained in the ministry this should be exchanged for the advowson of the archdeaconry of Sudbury.
* Philip, s.p.
* Francis Rugge, 4th son (1535–1607), was Freeman, Norwich 1563, alderman from c.1570, sheriff 1572–3, and Mayor of Norwich 1587–8, 1598–9, 1602–3. He was the son of Robert Rugge by Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Wood, and married Anne, daughter of John Aldrich (by 1520–1582) and Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Sotherton, alderman of Norwich, on 14 June 1561 at Norwich. Anne had previously been married to Nicholas Bacon (d.1560), on 19 February 1559 at Saint Clement in Norwich. Rugge’s elder brothers became landed gentlemen or clerics, while he inherited his father’s position as a Norwich mercer. He was also left two manors and some money and plate on his father’s death in 1559. Children of Francis Rugge and Anne Aldrich:
** Robert, baptised on 12 July 1562, buried on 21 July 1562 at St. Clement's Church, Norwich
** Jone, a daughter, baptised at home in January 1563/4 in Norwich by the midwife, buried on 22 January 1563/4 at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, England
* Dyones (also spelled Dyonise or Dyonice), who married George Thimblethorpe
* Elizabeth, who married Robert Flint of Norwich
William Rugge of Felmingham and North Reppes in Norfolk (d.1616), Esq. son of Robert, was heir to his uncle, the Bishop, and lived in Brian's Manor in Felmingham in Norfolk, as did his son Thomas, whom he had by his wife Thomasyne. William Rugge, Esq. was lord of North Repps in 1572, and married Thomasine, daughter of Sir Robert Townshend of Guiest, Justice of Chester & of the Marches of Wales, a younger brother, and the widow of William Curson of Beckhall and Bilingford. Children of William Rugge and Thomasine Townsend:
* Thomas Rugge or Repps, who married Bridget Pennell of St. Margaret, Westminster, spinster, at St. Mary, Westminster, on 8 February 1607/8. Thomas matriculated Fell.-Com. from Trinity c. 1595. Bridget was the daughter of William Pencell of Lyndreth in Worcester. Children of Thomas Rugge and Bridget Pennell:
** Robert, matriculated Fell.-Com. from Corpus Christi at Easter 1626. He was probably the Robert Rugge who on 6 November 1634 at Bergh Apton married Constance Tayler, the daughter of Henry Taylor (d.1650), a justice of the peace and lord of Hardingham Hall, and had by her a son and three daughters. Constance survived Robert, and as his widow remarried twice. She married 2) John Cowper of Reymerston on 19 October 1654 at Reymerston, Norwich in Norfolk; 3) by 1658 Thomas le Hunt, and had by him a son, George Hunt. About 1713 George le Hunt of New Bukenham is said to have a 4th part of the lordship of Hardingham. He married Mary Hart on 21 December the same year, 1713, at Bunwell in Norwich. Mary, his wife, who died June 30, 1721, aged 51 years, lies buried in Shropham, Breckland Borough, Norfolk. Ambrose Meers of Easton by Norwich is said to have the other 3 parts of Hardingham in 1713. Around 1680 it appears that John Meres of London, Gent., John Palgrave, Esq. and Richard Parker, had a right in Hardingham. Thomas Rugge mortgaged the manor of Northrepps to John Palgrave in 1667. There is an altar tomb on the south side in the churchyard of Carleton Rode in Norfolk for Thomas le Hunt, Esq. son of Sir George le Hunt of little Bradley in Suffolk, 2 January 1703, and Margaret, his relict, 6 November 1716. George Le Hunt late of New Bukenham was buried at Carleton Rode on 5 February 1721/2. Three children can be found baptised to Thomas Le Hunt and his wife Margaret. Elizabeth Le Hunt baptised on 17 January 1669/70 at Flordon, George Le Hunt, born on 30 April 1672, baptised on 14 May 1672 at Carleton Rode, and Tabitha born on 30 November 1674, baptised on 15 December 1674 at Carleton Rode, who married Christopher Browne, gentleman, on 5 February 1713 at Bunwell. The entry for her marriage is the one directly preceding the entry of her brother's marriage. While it was not unusual in the period to start over again and give the children of the second marriage the same Christian names as the children of the first marriage (or even more rarely, sometimes even giving the children from the same marriage the same Christian name), the possibility that there was only ever one son born to this Thomas Le Hunt named George, and that he was the son of Margaret, not Constance, must be considered. Constance, the wife of Thomas Le Hunt, Esquire, was buried on 16 January 1662/3 at Reymerston, Norwich in Norfolk, perhaps next to her second husband, who had been buried in the same place on 11 February 1657/8. Children of Robert Rugge and Constance Taylor:
*** Thomas Rugge (1640–1668), gentleman and lord of Hardingham Hall in Norfolk. He may have been the Thomas Rugge who was admitted Fell.-Com at Caius, Cambridge, 1663, and gave the works of Paracelsus to the College Library. Thomas married Elizabeth Goldisborough (1648–1696+) of Brentwood, Essex, by allegation dated February 1663. According to An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Launditch he died without issue in 1660, and the estate was divided amongst his three sisters and coheirs, and their children. But he must have been the Thomas Rugg Genr (generosus, gentleman) who was buried on 24 November 1668 at Hardingham, Norwich. Elizabeth, the widow of Thomas, was living in 1680. She married again to Henry Beecher, Esq. of the Inner Temple, by marriage license dated 10 July 1671. She still had an interest in Hardingham Hall. In fact, Elizabeth was still alive in 1696, and still protecting her interest in Hardingham Hall. Thomas Rugge, Gent. in or about 1660, mortgaged North Repps, with the manor of Hardingham, to Robert Clayton, Esq. afterwards a knight, and lord mayor of London. Children of Thomas Rugge and Elizabeth Goldisborough:
**** Robert Rugge, baptised on 23 February 1665 at Hardingham
**** Thomas Rugge, baptised on 3 March 1667 at Hardingham
*** Elizabeth, baptised 21 July 1642 at Hardingham
*** Maria, baptised 24 December 1643 at Hardingham
** William, buried 19 September 1641 at Northrepps. He matriculated from Corpus Christi, Cambridge at Lent 1629/30
** Elizabeth
* Henry Rugge or Repps (b.1574), died without issue, admitted Fell.-Com. at age 17 at Caius, Cambridge, 7 October 1591. Born at Bylaugh, Norfolk. Went to school in Fakenham, Norfolk, with Mr. Ward. His father is referred to as William Rugge of Bylaugh, Esq., in 1587
* Frances Rugge, eldest daughter, (died before 30 November 1631), who married, as his second wife, Edward Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell and had three children
* Muryell, died without issue, baptised on 24 June 1575 at Norwich
* Mary, died without issue
* Thomazine, a twin with Mary, m. Thomas Flowerdew of Hetherset in Norfolk
* Elizabeth, m. 1) Robert Tilney, Esq., of East Tudenham in Norfolk; 2) Christopher Layer, the son of Christopher Layer (1531–1600) of Norwich, merchant, burgess of Norwich, and briefly a Member of Parliament, and Barbara Steward, the daughter of Augustine Steward, mercer, alderman and Mayor of Norwich
Thomas Rugge, the diarist, was also of this family. His great-grandnephew the Reverend William Rugge, Rector of Buckland (16 May 1740 – 2 November 1786), had the same coat of arms as William Rugge, Bishop of Norwich. The Reverend William Rugge was the grandson of the nephew of the diarist, John Rugge (d.1720) of the Inner Temple, London and Stirtloe, Buckden in the county of Huntingdonshire, gentleman, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Wright, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. Their son William Rugge of Conduit Street, St. George Hanover Square, London, was the father not only of the Reverend, but of Mary Rugge (1752 – 22 February 1838) who married Sir Charles Price, 1st Baronet (1747 – 1818), merchant in the City of London, shipowner, Lord Mayor of London and politician, on 16 December 1773 at St. James's Church, Piccadilly. Through this marriage they were the ancestors of the Price, later Rugge-Price baronets, of Spring Grove.
The Rugge-Price baronets of Spring Grove are therefore direct descendants of this family.
   [T]he family now quarter the arms of Rugge and use the Rugge crest in addition to their own
From his monument in Buckland Church, the coat of arms of the Reverend William Rugge, Rector of Buckland is described as:
   Arms: Gules a chevron engrailed between three mullets pierced Argent.
Of the arms of William Rugge, Bishop of Norwich, it is said:
   William Rugge, Esq. of Felmingham, is said to have changed his arms, per fess, sable and argent, and unicorn saliant, counterchanged, armed, mained and unguled or, to that of gules, a chevron engrailed, between three mullets pierced, argent; but Richard de Rugge, who lived in the 2d of Richard III. and the Bishop of Norwich, bore, as it appears, this last coat.
These two men shared one coat of arms: Gules, a chevron engrailed, between three mullets pierced, argent
Of this family was probably also the ship surgeon John Rugge (d.1761), surgeon of His Majesty's ship the Falmouth, who was buried in India on 2 June 1761. He leaves his entire estate to William Rugge of Conduit Street, Esquire, and appoints him sole executor.
Of this family was also the husband of Elnathan Rugge (d.1685), widow, of Buckden in Huntingdonshire, who mentions "my nephew John Rugg of Bugden". She gives him 'my silver tankard that hath his arms upon it' and a vast deal more.
The Rugge coat of arms can be seen on the monument of Francis Rugge (1535–1607), Mayor of Norwich at St. Andrew's Church in Norwich, though the chevron does not appear to be engrailed. Francis Blomefield, Rector of Fersfield in Norfolk, however, confirms this to be the coat of arms of Rugge in his An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 4, Containing the History of Norwich, Part II. The coat of arms of Rugge quarters, 1st, arg. a chevron ingrailed between six keys sab. 2d, arg. a chevron ingrailed sab. between three birds. 3d, Brome. There is a crescent for difference. The said quartered coats impale Aldrich, and there is a shield of Aldrich single.
Of the other coats of arms the Rugge coat of arms is quartered with, Argent, a chevron, between three birds (martlets), sable, appears to be the coat of arms of Elizabeth Wood, Francis Rugge's mother.
According to The Visitations of Norfolk the arms of Rugge were quartered with Argent, a chevron engrailed between three pairs of keys addorsed sable as early as in 1552. Edmund Farrer identifies this coat of arms as that of Mynshawe. This indicates a Rugge marriage to a Mynshawe heiress prior to that date.