Our story begins with Raby Castle, which is mostly noted with the House of Neville which, at one time, was the most powerful family in England. Geoffrey Neville was the 1st owner of Raby and it remained with the Neville family until 1569.
Ralph Neville was the 4th Baron Neville of Raby and 1st Earl of Westmorland (bestowed upon him by Richard II) He later joined with the Lancastrians and helped to put his brother-in-law, Henry IV, on the throne. In return, Henry IV made him Earl of Richmond, a Knight of the Garter and Earl Marshal of England. Ralph fathered 7 children by his first wife, Lady Margaret Stafford and 14 by his second wife, Lady Joan Beaufort (granddaughter of Henry II).
Ralph Neville was a character in William Shakespeare's "Henry V". It is to Ralph that Henry makes his famous 'Crispian' speech before Agincourt.
Lord Neville strengthened his family by allied marriages. Daughter, Catherine, married John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. Anne married Humphrey, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Cicely married Richard, Duke of York and was the mother to Edward IV and Richard III.
Numerous marriages occured between the Percy family and the Neville's. Ralph's mother was Maud Percy, wife of John, Lord Neville. Ralph's daughter, Eleanor, married her cousin, Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (grandson of Margaret Neville and Henry Percy). Ralph, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (oldest grandson of Ralph) married his cousin Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Percy).
The Neville's remained loyal to the crown for the most part, however, in 1569, Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Westmorland and his uncle Christopher Neville joined forces in the Catholic rising of the north, which anticipated overthrowing Mary, Queen of Scots. After their failed attempt, Earl Westmorland fled with his brother, Edmund. In defiance, Edmund took the surname of Westmorland, which was carried to America by his grandson, James, in 1635. The spelling was later changed to Westmoreland.
Neville
