Ratcliffe Gerard Explained

Ratcliffe Gerard (c.1584  - in or before 1670) of Halsall, Lancashire was an English landowner who served in the Royalist army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Biography

Ratcliffe and Gilbert were twin sons of Ratcliffe Gerard, and Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Charles Somerset.

Gerard and his two sons, Gilbert and John, joined the Royalist army. Ratcliffe was a lieutenant-colonel in twin brother's regiment. He was in Raglan Castle at its surrender in 1646, and was one of the few English Royalists to take up arms for Charles II in 1651 and was captured at the Battle of Wigan Lane. In 1658 he was known to be a non-Catholic Royalist activist in Lancashire.

Family

Gerard married Jennet Barret, daughter of Edward Barret, of Pembrokeshire. They had several children including:

• Gilbert (died 1687) who was created Baronet of Fiskerton
• John (1632–1654), who was executed for his part in Gerard's conspiracy
• Charles (born 1635)

References

• Book: John . Burke . Sir John Bernard . Burke . 1838 . Gerard, of Fiskerton . A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies . 217–218.
• Stephen . Porter . 2004 . Gerard, John (1632–1654) . 10557.
• Book: Keightley, Thomas . 1841 . The History of England: From the Earliest Period to 1839 . 4 . Harper & brothers . 127–128.