Ralph Cheyne

Sir Ralph Cheyne (c.1337-1400), of Brooke in Westbury, Wiltshire, was an English politician who was also a judge in Ireland.

He was the second son of Sir William Cheyne of Poyntington in Somerset; his mother was Joan Gorges of Dorset. His half-brother, whose estates he was ultimately to inherit, was Sir Edmund Cheyne, warden of the Channel Islands.

He married Joan, daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Pavely, from whom he inherited the manor of Brooke. They had one surviving son, William.

He spent part of his official career in Ireland, having apparently been recommended for service there by Robert de Ashton, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, who was his mother's cousin. He served as Deputy Justiciar of Ireland in 1373, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1383-4. Despite only serving a year in the latter role he was handsomely paid for it.^[1]

He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Wiltshire in 1378, 1386 and September 1388. He served on numerous official commissions throughout his career. He was Deputy Warden of the Cinque Ports.^[2]

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