Ralph Hough 1649/50-1699

Ralph HOUGH 1649/50-1699

Biographical Note

Matriculated at Wadham College, Oxford 1663, but did not graduate; admitted at the Inner Temple 1666. Possibly an examiner in the Court of Chancery 1692-99. Described in his will as "of the Inner Temple".

Books

In his will, Hough bequeathed to his footman James Davison "all my music books excepting such as my executors shall be minded to keep to themselves". Otherwise, the will, which is largely concerned with disposing of various property around London, has no mention of books; the residue of his estate was to be divided between his executors, his sister Ann Methven, and Anne Wilson alias Carnaby. His library was sold by auction in London in 1700; the catalogue lists 2077 lots, divided into 1595 miscellaneous in Latin and other languages, 96 dictionaries and lexicons in various languages, 344 English books, and 139 law books.

Characteristic Markings

None of Hough's books have been identified.

Sources

• Will of Ralph Hough, The National Archives PROB 11/454/180.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• A catalogue of the library of Ralph Hough, [1700], ESTC r178621.
• Foster, J. Alumni Oxonienses. Oxford, 1891.
• Randall, D. and J. Boswell, Cervantes in seventeenth-century England, 2009, p.626.