Ralph Flexney II
Mayor of Oxford 1612/13
Ralph Flexney (or Flaxney) II (c. 1554–1624) was an Oxford butcher. He was admitted free in the mayoral year 1575–6.
On 8 June 1579 he married his first wife, Agnes Smith, at St Aldate’s Church: she was the daughter of Thomas Smith, who was Mayor four times between 1585 and 1600, and his wife Rose. They baptised one child at that church: Dorothie on 8 January 1580/1. Agnes died soon afterwards, and was buried there on 18 July 1580.
When his apprentice, William Sergeante, was admitted free on 21 September 1586, Flaxney is described as a chandler.
Flexney married his second wife, Beatrice (or Betonie) Jennings, at St Aldate’s Church on 30 November 1586 and they had the following seven children:
- Margaret (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 8 March 1588/9)
- Susanna (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 22 January 1590/1)
- Thomas (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 6 November 1594),
- Richard (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 5 December 1596)
- Mary I (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 12 September 1599, buried there on 8 September 1600)
- Anne (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 31 December 1601)
- Mary II (baptised at St Aldate’s Church on 6 April 1606).
Flexney was first elected on to the Common Council in April 1587, and was promoted to Bailiff in 1591. In January 1601 he was elected as one of the Thirteen.on the Mayor’s inner council, and in September 1612 he was elected Mayor. At the end of his year of office, he requested that William Chillingworth, a mercer, should have a Bailiff’s place gratis.
On 5 September 1615 Flexney’s second wife, Beatrice or Betonie, was buried at St Aldate’s Church.
Flexney continued to serve on the Mayor’s Council until his death. He was buried at St Aldate’s Church on 12 July 1624. Anthony Wood records the following inscriptions on the north wall of the chancel of that church:
- Ralph Flexney, Alderman, somtimes Mayor of Oxford, buried 12 July 1624
- Agnes, wife of Ralf Flexney, daughter of Thomas Smith by Rose his wife, buried 18 July, 1580
- Betonie, 2nd wife of Ralf Flexney, buried 5 Sept. 1615
See also:
- Ralph Flexney I, Mayor of Oxford 1551/2, 1552/3, 1562/3, 1577/8
- PCC Will PROB 11/145 (Will of Raphe Flexney, Gentleman of Oxford, proved 13 April 1625)