| Name | 'Ranulf IV' de Meschines de GERNONS "Earl of Chester" |
| Birth | abt 1100, Gernon Castle, Normandy, FRANCE |
| Death | 16 Dec 1153 Age: 53 |
| Occupation | Royalty |
| Father | 'Ranulf III' le MESCHINES "Earl of Chester" (~1070-1128) |
| Mother | Lucy Malet TAILLEBOIS (~1070-~1140) |
| 1 | Maud Mable de Caen Fitz ROBERT "of Gloucester" |
| Birth | abt 1120 |
| Death | 29 Jul 1189 Age: 69 |
| Father | Robert "of Gloucester de MELLENT "de Caen" (~1090-1147) |
| Mother | Mabel Fitz HAMON (~1094-1157) |
| Children | Hugh "of Meschines" (1147-1181) |
| Richard | |
| Beatrix |
1121 Ranulf de Mescine becomes fourth Earl of Chester (-1129) William becomes second Abbot of St. Werburgh's. - [3]
1129 Earl Mescine died and was succeeded by [his son] Ranulph de Gernon (-1153) - [3]
1153 Earl Randle Gernon was poisoned "by witchcraft" - supposedly by William Peverell, Earl of Nottingham. Hugh of Kevelioc becomes Earl (-1181) - [3]
Ranulph IV, Gernones, Earl of Chester, De Gernon/Gernones/German. born 1100 died 1163, married Maud. Their son was Hugh De Keveliock, 3rd Earl Chester. Ranulph was poisoned by William Peverel III, the grandson of Wiliam I's illegitimate son by the same name in 1153. The Peverel family had their seat at Peveril Castle, Castleton, Derbyshire. As a result of this attempted murder, the Peveril's lost their lands and were forced into exile on the continent. It is noteworthy that William Smith gives Ranulph the title of Count [Earl] of Huntington. - [1]
Ranulph de Meschines (surnamed de Gernons, from being born in Gernon Castle, in Normandy), Viscount Bayeaux, was a leading military character. In 1139, King Stephen made Henry the son of King David of Scotland Earl of Northumberland and gave him Carlisle and Cumberland. This so incensed Ranulph that he took up arms against King Stephen along with the Empress Maud, and the young Prince Henry. In alliance with his father-in-law Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the king was defeated made prisoner at the battle of Lincoln on Candlemas day 1141. They committed him to the castle of Bristol where he remained until 1143. Ranulph subsequently however changed sides and fought with the King. This rebounded on him and finally, distrusted by all, he died under excommunication on 16 Dec 1153. It is suspected that he was poisoned by William Peverell, Lord of Nottingham, who, in turn is said to have turned monk in order to avoid punishment. His body was interred at St Werburgh Abbey in Chester (now Chester Cathedral). - [2]
[1] - http://members.tripod.com/~midgley/chester.html
[2] - http://freespace.virgin.net/c.crane/Kevelioc/Kevelioc.htm
[3] - http://www.bwpics.co.uk/phoenix.html