Peter Thomas Ryves and his desce

Peter Thomas Ryves and his descendants

The son of Captain THOMAS RYVES and his Canadian wife THERESE LOUISE daughter of CLAUDE BENOIST, Surgeon-Major of the French Troops in the Montreal Garrison,

PETER THOMAS RYVES, served in Militia and the Army from 1792-1825.

On 13th December 1803, at St.George's Hanover Square, London, he married MATILDA ELIZABETH, 2nd daughter of WILLIAM CASPER PIRNER of Arlington Street in Westminster, Joint Apothecary to their Majesties, by his wife ANNE, illegitimate daughter but sole heir of Sir THOMAS ROBINSON, 1st Baronet of Rokeby in Yorkshire. The witnesses to their marriage being the brides father and mother ; her elder sister Mrs Mary Anne Yonge and her husband James Edward Yonge ; the brides younger sister Elizabeth Sarah Pirner ; Jane Ryves (perhaps a sister of the groom?) ; and E Dawson.

At the time of his marriage he was a Captain in the 69th Regiment. However he was to rise to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel or Colonel, possibly in the 8th Hussars or 8th Royal Irish Dragoons. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General to the troops in the Ionian Islands under Major Drake in 1816. In 1817 a Lieut-Colonel P.T. Ryves was the subject of a court martial. This was probably our man. And according to a Graves family history website, he is styled 'General Ryves who raised the 8th Bengal Cavalry Regiment'.

Peter Thomas Ryves died in France and was said to have been buried at Versailles, having had issue

1. THOMAS JAMES RYVES, born in 1805, of whom later.
2. William Henry Ryves, younger son. Born on the 9th January 1812. He had a long career in the Army in India, becoming Adjutant in 4th Local Horse in 1838 ; Captain in 51st Native Infantry in 1845 ; and a Colonel in the 13th Bengal Lancers, finally rising to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Bengal Army and Brevet Colonel in the Bengal Staff Corps in 1870. On 19th October 1838 at Neemuch he married Emma (born in India on 15th September 1817), youngest daughter of Brigadier-General William George Maxwell of the Bengal Army by his wife Eliza Phillis. He died of cholera at Agra on 30th September 1873. At the time of the 1881 census Emma was widowed and living at 'Dalswinton', Howard Road, Croydon in Surrey. She died on 1st June 1896 in Cornwall, her death being recorded in St.Columb District. They had issue

i. Hervey Ekins Ryves, born 14th November 1841 and baptized at Bareilly on 2nd January 1842. He entered the Army in 1859 as a Cadet, rising to the rank of Colonel in the 1st Bengal Lancers. In 1875 he married Catherine daughter of Henry Graves of Hollybrook Park, Dublin, Chief Executive of the Preston Banking Co., by his wife Susan daughter of Higginson Johnson, attorney of Dublin.

Hervey served under Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught's personal command at Meerut, India (the Duke was third son of Queen Victoria), commanding the 13th (Duke of Connaught's) Bengal Lancers. It is said that Hervey and Catherine entertained and saw a great deal of the royal pair during the Duke's service in India between 1886 and 1890 ; the Duke escorting Catherine at social events and Hervey escorting the Duchess. The Duchess of Connaught presented Catherine with a full length autographed portrait of herself. Hervey died on 15th January 1891 at Bordighera in Italy. Catherine, who was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1846, died in St.Columb District in Cornwall in 1932. They had issue

(1) Hervey Maxwell Ryves, born in 1875.
(2) Benjamin Hervey Ryves, baptized on 4th February 1876. He was a Lieutenant in the Army at the time of his marriage to Hilda Agnes Elvira daughter of Frederick William Jarrad, at Mooltan on 14th December 1900. He may be the B.H. Ryves who was author of the book "Bird Life in Cornwall". Hilda appears to have died by 1907, at which time he appears to have been married to Irene, by whom he had a son

Hervey Frederick J Ryves, whose birth in St.Columb District was recorded in 1907. He died there in 1923.

(3) William Neville Ryves, born at Murree on 2nd September 1881. He became a Captain in the 16th Bengal Cavalry and died in Marylebone District, London on 27th September 1912.
(1) Catherine Nettie Ryves, born in Mooltan on 22nd January 1877. In 1908 in St.Columb District she married John Vivian Kitto, and had issue.
(2) Alice May Ryves, born in Rawalpindi on 25th December 1878. She died, unmarried, in St.Columb District in 1926.

ii. Charles Maxwell Ryves, born at Tegowlar, Bombay on 29th October 1843 and baptized at Dinapore on 17th December 1843. He became a Major in the Prince of Wales's Bombay Grenadiers. On 8th December 1870 he married Frances Maria, 3rd daughter of Francis Hird M.D., physician of St.James, Westminster by his wife Eliza Jamieson. In 1881 he resided with his family at 12 Blomfield Terrace in London. Charles died in Hastings District on 19th August 1884. His widow, who was born in St.James, Westminster on 5th September 1844, was living at 12 Lennox Road in Southsea in 1901. She died on 21st August 1905, having had issue

(1) Charles Fraser Maxwell Ryves, only son and heir. Born at Belgaum, Bombay on 24th February 1878. He served in the army in South Africa with the Cape Mounted Rifles, and was killed there on active service on 4th March 1900, unmarried.
(1) Ethel Maxwell Ryves, born in India in 1873, on 20th November 1901 in Portsmouth District she married Charles Cuthbert Eley J.P., a Barrister who resided at East Bergholt in Suffolk and was a founder member of the Rhododendron Society. He, who was son of William Thomas Eley by Louisa Hicks, was born in Hampstead on 4th February 1873, died on 14th June 1960, Ethel having died on 17th August 1949. They had known issue

(a) Charles Ryves Maxwell Eley, born in 1902. Awarded an O.B.E. In 1929 he married Violet E Peel, and had issue.
(b) Geoffrey Cecil Ryves Eley, born on 18th July 1904. Educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge, he became a Banker and was awarded a C.B.E. in 1947 and was knighted in 1964. In 1937 he married Penelope Hughes daughter of Sir William Frederic Wake-Walker by his wife Muriel daughter of Sir Collingwood Hughes, 10th Bt. Sir Geoffrey died on 17th May 1990 leaving issue.
(c) Humphrey Ryves Eley, born in 1912. In 1941 he married Anne daughter of Captain Charles Turner Packard by his wife Etha daughter of Harold Percival Varley. Anne was sister of Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Douglas Packard.

(2) Nina Maud Ryves, born in Aden on 11th December 1874. On 16th April 1902 in Portsmouth District she married Edward West Harding, an army officer of Shroton in Dorset. He, who was born in Ceylon on 29th December 1877, died on 15th August 1934. Nina died on 31st January 1943. They were parents of two sons

(a) Edward Archibald Fraser Harding, born on 1st October 1903 at 'Palmyra', Lermot Road in Southsea, Hampshire. Educated at Cheltenham College and Keble College, Oxford, he rebelled against his roots and became an 'Oxford intellectual Marxist'. In 1927 he entered the newly established British Broadcasting Corporation as an announcer, and the following year entered the special research section within the drama department, becoming a noteworthy producer of radio programmes.
Better known as Archie Harding, there is an account of his life in the Dictionary of National Biography online, which observes that his career hit a bump on the last day of 1932 when the broadcast "New Year over Europe" caused a minor diplomatic incident ; Following protests from the Polish ambassador in London to the Foreign Office and B.B.C., the Director-General (Lord John) Reith confronted Archie saying to him ‘You're a very dangerous man, Harding. I think you'd be better up North where you can't do so much damage’. He was, accordingly, banished to Manchester where happily he flourished.
Archie was married on 18th January 1928 to Christian Frances daughter of Ralph Barrett Macnaghten Blois 9th Bt. by his wife Winifred Grace daughter of Edmund Hegan Kennard. The couple divorced in 1940 and later that year, on 2nd May, he married Joan Clara, formerly wife of Patrick James Monkhouse, and daughter of the political journalist George Leach. Archie died of cancer at his home, Byron Cottage in Highgate, Middlesex on 25th January 1953 leaving no children.
(b) Philip John Ryves Harding, born in 1906, who became a journalist with 'The Times' newspaper. On 27th March 1940 at Faversham in Kent he married (as her 3rd husband) Ava Alice Muriel daughter of John Jacob Astor IV, the American millionaire businessman, author and inventor (said to be the richest man who perished in the sinking of R.M.S. Titanic) by his first wife Ava Lowle daughter of Edward Willing. They had a daughter.

iii. Neville T Ryves, born about 1848. He worked in the Opium Department and died at Hajeepore on 21st December 1885.
iv. Frank Maxwell Ryves, born in 1849, he died the following year.
v. Henry R Ryves, born in 1850, he died the following year.
vi. William Theodore Ryves, born at Lahore on 1st October 1853. He was employed by the Opium Department at Arrah. He married, on 17th February 1885 at St.Stephens, Talbot Road, London, Elizabeth Athenais daughter of C. A. Young. William died at Bognor on 17th February 1914 and Elizabeth, who was born on 15th May 1864, died on 1st September 1938. They had issue

(a) Vivian William Ryves, born on 17th November 1887 and baptized at Hazaribagh on 26th February 1888. He served in the army before settling at Temorlah Estate in Perak. He was author of "My Tiger - a Malayan story". He had a son

H T B Ryves, born at the European Hospital in Kuala Lumpur on 19th March 1916. He became a leading figure in the Malaysian security service in the struggle against "The Reds".

(b) Cyril Harry Ryves, born at Bankipore on 27th September 1889 and baptized at Patna on 27th October 1889. He settled at Senawang Estate, Sungei Gadut, Negri Sembilan. On 25th February 1937 in Penang he married Constance Munro Reid, only daughter of Dr. T A Reid. They had a daughter

Rita Ryves, who married Haji Omar bin Edin, a Captain in the Ministry of Defence at Kuala Lumpur.

Cyril married 2ndly Che Maimunah binte Haji Salleh, and died in Singapore on 5th July 1963. He was cremated there.

(a) Violet Gladys Ryves, born at Arrah on 26th March 1886 and baptized on the 9th May following.
(b) Mariquita Frances Dorothy Ryves, born on 12th November 1891 and baptized at Mozufferpore on 17th January 1892.

vii. Frederick Barstow Watson Ryves, born on 30th December 1854 and baptized at Jhelum on 3rd April 1855.
i. Amy Ross Ryves, born at Ferrozepore in West Bengal on 24th September 1840 and baptized at Simla on 12th May 1841. On 21st February 1859 in Bengal she married Louis Pereira. Louis was dead by 1881, when Amy was living at 16 Harewood Square in London with their son

Aloysius Pereira, born about 1860 in Calcutta. In 1881 he was a student.

Amy remarried in 1882 (as his 2nd wife) James William Ridgway, a retired Civil Servant of 'Ardmore', Ewell Road, Kingston on Thames. James, who was son of the bookseller and publisher James Leech Ridgeway, had at least three children by his first wife Helena Barnes (c 1823-1881). He was born in London on 21st April 1825, and died in Kingston in 1909. Amy died in Kingston in 1911.
ii. Emily (Minnie) Frances Ryves, born at Segowlee on 22nd February 1845 and baptized at Patna on 16th April 1845. On 19th June 1865 at Mussouri in Bengal she married (as his 1st wife) Paget Walter L'Estrange, subsequently a Colonel in the Royal Artillery. Paget, who was born at Dublin Castle in 1831 and died in Sussex in 1905, was son of Lieutenant George Burdett L'Estrange by his wife Louisa Vincentia daughter of Herbert Rawson Stepney. Emily died at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 16th December 1868 and was buried there. Paget remarried at Wimbledon in Surrey on 30th August 1870 to Eliza daughter of Frances Gibbes and widow of Colonel Colin Campbell of the 46th Regiment. Emily and Paget had issue

(a) Eudo Walter L'Estrange, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 16th December 1868. A Clerk working in Wellington, New Zealand. He served in the Boer War as a Private and then as Regimental Sergeant Major in the North Island Regiment. His death was recorded in Salisbury District in 1928.
(a) Rhoda Ankaret L'Estrange, born in Bundoran, Co.Donegal on 28th May 1867 and baptized there on 25th June 1867. On 17th April 1894 at Muncaster in Cumberland she married Charles James Stanley Howard, then styled Viscount Morpeth and subsequently (in 1911) 10th Earl of Carlisle. Charles, who was born at 122 Park Street in London on 8th March 1867, died in London on 20th January 1912. Rhoda died on 9th December 1857. They had one son and three daughters

(A) George Josslyn L'Estrange Howard, born on 6th January 1895. He became 11th Earl of Carlisle following his fathers death in 1912. He served as a Lieut-Commander in the Royal Navy during World War I and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Twice married, he died on 17th February 1963 leaving issue, and was grandfather of the present (13th) Earl of Carlisle.
(A) Constance Ankaret Howard. Born on the 20th January 1897. She died on 3rd September 1964 in an accident.
(B) Ankaret Cecilia Caroline Howard. Born on 23rd April 1900, in 1928 she became a Barrister at the Inner Temple. On 7th April 1927 she married (as his 1st wife) William Jackson, subsequently 7th Baronet of The Manor House, Birkenhead, and died on 9th April 1945 as the result of a riding accident, leaving issue including the present (8th) Baronet.
(C) Elizabeth Henrietta Howard. Born on the 24th October 1903, on 7th September 1934 she married Lawrence Robert Maconochie-Welwood, and died on 12th January 1969 leaving issue.

iii. Kate Lizzy Ryves, born in India on 29th October 1851 and baptized at Lahore on 6th April 1852. At the time of the 1881 census she was unmarried and living with her widowed mother. Kate may have died in Chepstow District in 1934.

1. Anne Arethusa Ryves. Nothing more is known of her.
2. Louisa Frances Ryves, baptized at St.Davids in Exeter, Devon on 7th July 1814. On 15th January 1835 at Kamptee she married Captain Edward John Hall of the Madras Cavalry. He was baptized on 2nd June 1813 and died on 26th February 1846. Louisa died on 13th January 1887, having had four children who all died young

i. William Hall, born in 1836, he died the following year.
ii. Edward Hall, born and died in 1837.
iii. Edward C Hall, born on 7th January 1839, he died on 29th November 1849.
iv. another child, who was born and died in 1840.

3. Matilda Waller Ryves, baptized at St.Thomas in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 24th March 1816.

The elder son of Peter Thomas Ryves and Matilda Elizabeth Pirner,
● THOMAS JAMES RYVES was born on 17th July 1805. He entered the Army as a Cadet in 1825, becoming an Ensign on 8th January 1826 ; and a Lieutenant in the 43rd Regiment of Native Infantry on 11th June 1827. On 30th May 1828 at Poonamallee near Madras in India he married JULIANA LOUISA, youngest (and probably posthumous) daughter of ROBERT HYDE COLEBROOKE, Surveyor-General of Bengal, by his wife CHARLOTTE BRISTOW. Their marriage ceremony was witnessed by Lt. Col. I Bell ; Captain I Clement ; and conducted by Chaplain T Wetherherd. Thomas was promoted Captain on 29th September 1837, and according to the Biographical Notes in "Historical Records of the Survey of India" he was appointed an assistant on the Hyderabad Survey on 7th July 1840, holding charge until relieved by Henry Morland at Jalna on 28th September. In November he took charge of the Nellore Survey, and on 29th October 1842 was ordered to rejoin his military unit, and handed over on 28th February 1843. He is said to have ended his career as a Major in the 1st Madras Fusiliers, however from the aforementioned Biographical Notes it appears he was invalided on 1st June 1847 and in November of that year was found insolvent for 52,000 Rupees and 'awarded' one years imprisonment! He retired from the army on 1st May 1849. Juliana, who was born about 1808, was to be a victim of the Indian Mutiny, dying of sunstroke as a result of exposure at Barwarie near Allahabad between 7th and 9th June 1857. Thomas and Juliana had issue

1. Henry Edward Ryves, of whom later.
2. William George Colebrooke Ryves, born at Masulipatam on 17th December 1831.
3. Thomas James Ryves, born at Kamptee on 17th January 1839. He became a Police Officer in India. After retiring from the Indian Service, he became a J.P. in Dublin. He married Charlotte Bolton Onions and died in London in 1912 leaving issue

i. Alfred Edward Ryves, born about 1865 in Allahabad. In the 1881 census he was a scholar attending Clifton College whilst living with his mothers sister, Mrs Kate B Bird, at 3 Victoria Place, Clifton, Gloucestershire. He Matriculated at Trinity College Oxford on 11th October 1884, graduating B.A. in 1888. Later he became a Barrister of the North West Provinces in India and a Judge at the High Court in Allahabad, retiring in 1926, and residing in London the following year at 21 Golston Road. In 1891 in India he married Kate Coleman Davies. They had two known children

(a) Thomas Evan Ryves, born on 13th September 1895. Educated at Charterhouse, he was to serve as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery during World War I. He published some poems in 1922 and was author of "Bandersnatch" in 1950. It is possible that he is the Thomas E Ryves whose marriage to Alice E Monckton is recorded on the FreeBMD website in the quarter Jan-Mar 1927 in Bristol District. If so, the birth of two children is noted in Lewisham District in the quarter Oct-Dec 1930, namely

(A) Thomas B Ryves
(A) Margaret E Ryves

(a) Delia Louisa Kate Ryves

ii. Robert Colebrooke Ryves, born at Shahjehanpore on 13th October 1869 and baptized on 30th November 1869.
i. Amy Frances Ryves, born on 24th July 1872 at Stalyehampore in India. In the 1881 census she was a scholar living with her mothers sister, Mrs Kate B Bird, at 3 Victoria Place, Clifton, Gloucestershire. She married John Champion Faunthorpe of the Indian Civil Service.
ii. Louisa Charlotte Ryves, born in Allahabad on 22nd September 1867.

4. Albert Lionel Ryves, born at Nellore on 6th August 1842.
5. Charles Sinclair Ryves, born at Arnee on 18th January 1844.
6. George Frederick Ryves, born on 26th June 1846. He died at Jaipigori in 1883.
1. Matilda Julia Ryves, born at Kamptee on 13th November 1833. She died at Nellore on 30th November 1841.
2. a daughter, stillborn at Kamptee on 17th June 1835.
3. Emma Sophia Ryves, born on 18th August 1836. On 14th March 1853 she married Harding Ackland, but died the following year.
4. ANNIE ARETHUSA RYVES, born at Secunderabad on 15th December 1840. On 6th October 1856 at Allahabad she married (as his 1st wife) Lieutenant WILLIAM DARE SLADEN of the 101st Regiment. She died on 31st July 1869 at Subathu, being buried there that same day, leaving three sons and a daughter.

On 31st March 1860 at Allahabad, Thomas James Ryves married, as his second wife, Georgiana Eliza Griffin. She, who was born on 22nd December 1837, probably died following the birth of her youngest child in 1865, having had four children

7. Frank Herbert Ryves, born on 24th December 1862.
5. Emma Lavinia Ryves, born at Allahabad on 27th April 1861. She died on 17th March 1862.
6. Isabella Louisa Frances Ryves, born on 24th March 1864. She died on 22nd November 1868.
7. Violet Georgina Eliza Ryves, born in India on 16th August 1865. At the time of the 1881 census she was a scholar at Tytherton School in Wiltshire.

Thomas James Ryves may have come to England following his second wife's death, for the FreeBMD website notes the marriage of a Thomas James Ryves to an Eliza Rosaline Griffin in the quarter Jan-Mar 1867 in Lewisham District. However, it is possible that this may refer to a marriage by Thomas's 3rd son (who is noted above). Curiously, later that same year on 1st October 1867, the marriage of Thomas James Ryves to a Rosaline Bertha Ripley Griffin is also recorded! This marriage probably took place overseas, perhaps in India. Rosaline, who was born on 10th May 1844 and baptized at St.Thomas's, Calcutta on 6th October 1844, was daughter of George John Benjamin Griffin, a Lieutenant in the Madras Army, by his wife Selina Maria Bean. Thomas James Ryves died on 1st March 1875 and was buried the following day in Boulogne, France. By Rosaline, who died on 7th February 1918, he left a posthumous son

8. George Webster James Ryves, born, presumably in India, on 29th March 1875.

The eldest son of Thomas James Ryves and Juliana Louisa Colebrooke,
● Henry Edward Ryves was born at Madras on 11th August 1829 and baptized in Secunderabad on 2nd September 1829. In 1847 he was appointed an ensign in the 19th Madras Native Infantry. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Madras Staff Corps. On 17th June 1854 he married Harriet daughter of General John James Clough by his 1st wife Louisa. Henry died on 16th March 1875 in Mangalore. His widow, who was born at Billary in India on 25th February 1829, was living in Hastings, Sussex in 1881, and died on 25th July 1886. They had issue

1. William Edgar Ryves, of whom presently.
1. Emma Ryves. Born in 1855, she died later that year.

The only son,
● William Edgar Ryves, was born at Vellore on 6th August 1856. At the time of the 1881 census he was residing at 3 Tufnel Place, Holloway Road in London and was employed as a surgeons assistant at the Holloway Workhouse. On 4th October 1881 in Leicester he married Fanny Blanche Maria daughter of Alexander Adolphus Couillien by his wife Katherine daughter of Jean Joseph Pirade. Fanny, who was born around 1855, was Belgian by birth. By the time of the 1901 census, William was a surgeon living in Sheffield, Yorkshire. He died in 1920 having had issue

1. Henry Edgar Ryves, of whom later.
2. John Clement Ryves, born in Sheffield in 1885, where he became a Chemist. He married Mary T Wilde in Sheffield in 1911 and had issue

i. Peter T Ryves, whose birth was recorded in Rotherham District in the quarter Jan-Mar 1923. In 1945 he married Margaret Turner.
i. Elvira M Ryves, born in Rotherham District in 1913.
ii. Josephine Ryves, born in Rotherham District in 1916.

3. William Arthur Ryves, born in Sheffield in 1888. In 1911 in Sheffield he married Annie H Smith and had issue

i. Leslie Ryves, born in 1914.
i. Joyce Ryves, born in 1921.
ii. Margaret Ryves, born in 1921.

1. Blanche Millicent Ryves, born in Sheffield in 1891. She is said to have married Charles Attenborough.

The eldest son,
● Henry Edgar Ryves, was apparently born in Scotland on 25th June 1882. In 1901 he was a Mechanical Engineer living in Sheffield. In 1906 in Sheffield he married Florence Agnes Robertson and had issue

1. Carl Edgar Ryves, born in Ecclesall Bierlow District in 1907.
2. John Ryves, born in Rochdale District in 1921.
1. Florence Millicent Ryves, born in Ecclesall Bierlow District in 1908. She married Norman Brooks.