BLENNERHASSET, Ralph, of Carlisle, Cumb. and London.

The Blennerhassets were an old and influential Carlisle family, and it seems more than likely that Ralph was closely related to both the John Blennerhasset who represented the city in the Parliaments of 1381 and 1384 (Nov.), and the Alan Blennerhasset who served many terms as mayor there during the latter part of the 14th century. It is, indeed, interesting to note that another John Blennerhasset was bailiff of Carlisle at the time of Ralph’s only known return to Parliament, and that he was actually named as one of the witnesses to the election.A. Caiger, ‘Pre-1835 Recs. Carlisle’ (London Univ. Dip. Arch. Admin. 1964, rev. 1980), p. xii; C219/11/1. (John Blennerhasset, who may have been Ralph’s brother, was bailiff again in 1420-1: C219/12/4, 5.) By contrast, Ralph had little to do with the business of local government, and he remains a rather shadowy figure about whom little is known. In June 1423 he went surety at the Exchequer for Richard Ellyswyk as farmer of the manor of Ingoldisthorpe in Norfolk, being described then (and again in November 1425 and December 1426 when the lease was revised) as living in Cumberland. But by March 1430, when he obtained royal letters of protection preparatory to his departure for France in the retinue of Humphrey, earl of Stafford, he was said to have a home in the parish of St. Clement, London, as well as in his native county.CFR, xv. 39, 112, 161; DKR, xlviii. 271.