RANULF "de Gernon", son of RANULF Vicomte du Bessin "le Meschin" & his wife Lucy --- (Château de Gernon, Normandy before 1100-[murdered] 16 Dec 1153, bur Chester, Abbey of St Werburgh). His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis[82]. He succeeded his father in [1129] as Earl of Chester, Vicomte d'Avranches. Stephen King of England appointed him Constable of Lincoln. Earl Ranulf fought against King Stephen at Lincoln in 1141 and was seized by the king at court in Northampton 29 Aug 1146. King Stephen nevertheless granted him the castle and city of Lincoln, probably after 1151. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1153 of "Ranulfus comes Cestriæ"[83]. The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 1154 of "Radulphus comes Urbis Legionum"[84]. A manuscript narrating the descent of Hugh Earl of Chester to Alice Ctss of Lincoln records the death "XVI Kal Jan" of "Ranulfus de Gernons" and his burial at St Werburgh´s, Chester[85]. It was alleged that he was poisoned by his wife and by William Peverell of Nottingham[86]. Ralph de Diceto records that "Willelmus Peverel de Notingeham" was disinherited in 1155 for poisoning "Ranulfo comiti Cestriæ"[87].
m ([1141]) MATILDA of Gloucester, daughter of ROBERT FitzRoy Earl of Gloucester & his wife Mabel [Matilda or Sibylle] FitzRobert (-29 Jul 1190). Robert of Torigny refers to the wife of "Ranulfus comes Cestriæ" as "filia Roberti comitis Gloecestriæ"[88]. The Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 records property "Wadinton de feodo comitis Cestrie" held by "Matillis comitissa Cestrie…filia Roberti comitis Gloecestrie, filii regis Henrici primi"[89]. It was alleged that she and William Peverell of Nottingham poisoned her husband[90]. "Hugo comes Cestrie" confirmed a donation of land in Thoresby donated by "Willelmus filius Othuer" to Greenfield priory, Lincolnshire, for the soul of "patris mei Randulfi", by charter dated to [1155] witnessed by "Matilla matre sua…"[91]. The Annals of Tewkesbury record the death "IV Kal Aug" in 1190 of "Matildis comitissa Cestria"[92].
Earl Ranulf & his wife had two children