Remarks:
Lord of Wigmore, Seigneur of St. Victor-en-Caux, Normandy. He succeeded his father before 1086, when he appears in Domesday Book as tenant-in-chief in twelve counties. His possessions lay largely in Herefordshire and Shropshire, Wigmore in the former county being the caput of the honor. Both Wigmore and Cleobury, in Shropshire, had belonged to William FitzOsbern, earl of Hereford, and the grant must therefore have been later than the forfeiture of WilliamÕs son Roger in 1074. Domesday Book shows that Wigmore Castle was built by William FitzOsbern on a piece of waste which had belonged to one Gunnert in 1066. The manor of Wigmore was a member of Leominster and was held by Ralph in 1086. In 1088 he, Bernard de Neufmarche, and Roger de Lacy, at the head of a large body of English, Norman, and Welsh fighting men, attacked Worcester with the avowed intention of burning the town and pillaging the church. The bishopÕs men marched out and defeated them on the other side of the Severn. Florence of Worcester reports that the Òbroken troops were miraculously stricken by the bishopÕs curse.Ó In 1089 he was one of the barons of eastern Normandy who sided with William Rufus against Robert Curthose, but between 1091 and 1095 he is found at Lisieux witnessing with duke Robert a charter for Jumieges. In 1104 he adhered to Henry I against duke Robert. This is the last mention found of him, and the date of his death is unknown.