He was a grocer,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society|first=|url=https://archive.org/details/norfolkarchaeol07socigoog/page/n314/mode/2up|title=Norfolk Archaeology|date=1852|publisher=Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society|others=unknown library|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=|language=English}}</ref> Sheriff of Norwich in 1501<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33lbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=Robert+Aylmer+A+compleat+history+of+the+famous+city+of+Norwich;+from+the+earliest+account,+to+the+present+year1728+-+published+1728&source=bl&ots=w6Zl3bOFLg&sig=ACfU3U2LZAfFJDUF7FoJLwaW_XO4KA9guA&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ8vCgsIjsAhVthosKHTD5A74Q6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=A Compleat History of the Famous City of Norwich: From the Earliest Account, to this Present Year 1728. ... Published at the Request of Several Ingenious Gentlemen, Citizens, ...|date=1728|publisher=William Chase|language=en}}</ref> and [[List of mayors of Norwich|Mayor of Norwich]] in 1511.<ref name=":032" /> He was married twice, first to Joan, and had by her two sons and two daughters,<ref name=":032" /> and secondly to Ellen/Elaine/Helen,Norfolk.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D974713|title=Will of Richard Rymere – The National Archives|date=26 February 1515|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> and had by her four daughters.<ref name=":032" />

He was the son of [[Robert Aylmer]], grocer<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/9917e2f7-efa7-492e-a2f7-dd39e8ca8c79|title=Catalogue Description: Indenture - Agreement. Indenture - Agreement. Description: 1) John Fyncham the elder, gent. and John Fyncham the younger his son and heir. 2) John Pagrave of Norwyche, Esq. and Henry Falyate of the same, merchant. Agreement re release made by John Fyncham the elder to Thomas Brewys, Knight, Hugh Fenne, William Tendale, Esq., Richard Holdich, Esq., John Sulyard, Robert Aylmer grocer and John Cook, draper of the manor of Grymston called Brokeles Halle, the advowson of the same with appurtenances and lands and tenements in Grymston, Congham, Rydon, Pawsey and adjoining towns. 9 Edw IV. Date: 3 Nov 1469. Held by: Norfolk Record Office, not available at The National Archives|date=3 November 1469|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=|language=English}}</ref>, Sheriff of Norwich in 1471,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33lbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=Robert+Aylmer+A+compleat+history+of+the+famous+city+of+Norwich;+from+the+earliest+account,+to+the+present+year1728+-+published+1728&source=bl&ots=w6Zl3bOFLg&sig=ACfU3U2LZAfFJDUF7FoJLwaW_XO4KA9guA&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ8vCgsIjsAhVthosKHTD5A74Q6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=A Compleat History of the Famous City of Norwich: From the Earliest Account, to this Present Year 1728. ... Published at the Request of Several Ingenious Gentlemen, Citizens, ...|date=1728|publisher=William Chase|language=en}}</ref> Alderman of Norwich<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/6360a09e-04e4-4143-9fb0-08a29466c1e6|title=Probate inventory of Robert Aylmer of Norwich, citizen and alderman. Date: 4th July 1492. Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives|date=4 July 1492|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> in 1480, and [[List of mayors of Norwich|Mayor of Norwich]] in 1481 and 1492,<ref name=":032" /> and Elizabeth (d.1518<ref name=":3" />).

Elizabeth Thursby, the 15-great grandmother of [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince Williiam, Duke of Cambridge]], is possibly Richard Aylmer's half-sister from his mother's third marriage to [[Thomas Thursby]] (d.1510<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D974043|title=Will of Thomas Thursby, Burgess and Merchant of Lynn Bishop, Norfolk – National Archives|date=23 October 1510|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=|quote=In the name of god amen the thirde day of May In the second yere of the Reigne of king Henry the ay^th [...] I give unto John G[...]dell son[?] unto Margerie my doughter to [...] above appoynted to Elizabeth my wif during hir life after the decesse of the same Elizabeth and also of the [...] my doughters or their heirs of their bodyes shalhave the same lands and ten[emen]ts after suche [...] any of the said Elizabeth Elyn Beatrice Margarete or the said John Gryndell [...]}}</ref>). Thomas Thursby was married several times, so there is some uncertainty as to who the mother of his children was.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Bannerman|first=W. Bruce (William Bruce)|url=https://archive.org/details/miscellaneagenea4191bann/page/n295/mode/2up|title=Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica|date=1906|publisher=London, England : Mitchell, Hughes & Clarke|others=Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> If the birth date given for his son of the same name, 1487,<ref name=":1" /> is correct, he cannot possibly be the son of Elizabeth, as she was still the wife of Robert Aylmer (d.1493) then. However, certainly Richard's daughter Cecily mentions ' ''my aunte Thorysby''<nowiki/>' in her will, leaving her a spoon of silver,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=CatalogueRef: NCC will register Attmere 338. Title: Aylemer (Aylmere), Cecily, dowghter of Rycharde Aylmere, citizen and alderman of Norwich. Date: 1541. Description: Will. Made of Myntlynge. Level: Item, Repository: Norfolk Record Office|url=http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=NCC3CL01&dsqIni=dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=((text)=%27Myntlynge%27)|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk|quote=In the name of God Amen The x daye of November in the yeer of o[u]^r lorde god y^e ccccc [...] I Cicely Aylmere made of Myntlynge doughter of Rychard Aylmere Citysyn and alderman of Norwich beynge in my hooll mynde and of good remembrance make my testament and last wyll in forme folowynge ffyrst I bequethe my Sowle [...] almyghtie god to o[u]^r lady and to all the holy company of hevyn and my body to be buryed in the in the church of Sayncte Mychaell of Myntlynge by my lady my mother It[e]m I bequethe to the hyeghe aulter xxd It[e]m I bequethe to the reparacons of the sayd church iijb iiijd It[e]m I bequethe to my aunte Thorysby one spone of sylver and six [...] It[e]m I bequete my salte with the conee [coin] to be devyded betwene my syster Bachecroft my syster Grenall and my syster Elisabeth Cressnore [Cressener] It[e]m I bequethe to my syster katheryn my corall beids and a spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to my syster Lane[?] my Ghete [gete = goats] It[e]m I bequethe to my syster Grenall my best worsted kyrtyll It[e]m I bequethe to Thomas Bachecroft my neppe w^e [nephew] a conee [coin] of sylver It[e]m I bequethe all my shepe to Alexander[?] Grenall and to Mary Grenall to be devyded betwene them It[e]m to Mary Grenall one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Jone Grenall one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Beatrix Bachecroft one spone of sylver and my botell It[e]m I bequethe to Margaret Bekhm[?] one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Manfold my best petycote and a apron of saye It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Plank[?] my worst petycote and my worst apron The resydue of my goods not bequethed I put them in the dysposycyon of my executor whom I do make my brother Rycharde Bachecroft to dyspose them for the welth of my sowle & These be the wittenes Anne Thorysby Elyn Grenall Thomas Buttler}}</ref> indicating that at least one of Thomas Thursby's children was by Elizabeth. She also mentions her 'sister' Grenall,<ref name=":2" /> which must be Margery Thursby, married name Grindell.<ref name=":1" /> Thomas Thursby spells the name 'Gryndell' in his will. Margery had already had a son, John, by 3 May 1510 when the will is dated.<ref name=":5" /> Curiously, Thomas Thursby is involved in a suit in 1504–15 with John, son of John Gryndell, and Margery, his wife, daughter and heir of Robert Pylly over a tenement built on a common lane in Lynn, allegedly fraudulently conveyed by Thomas Thursby to Richard Pepir, who married Margaret, another daughter of Robert Pylly.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7465586|title=Catalogue Description: Gryndell v Thursby. Plaintiffs: John, son of John Gryndell, and Margery, his wife, daughter and heir of Robert Pylly. Defendants: Thomas Thursby, merchant of Lynn, feoffee to uses, and Richard Pepir. Subject: A tenement built on a common lane in Lynn, fraudulently conveyed by Thursby to Pepir, who married Margaret, another daughter of the said Robert. Norfolk. 6 documents. Date: 1504-1515|date=1504-1515|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> Richard Aylmer writes of '''my brother ffrannces mountford''<nowiki/>', the husband of Thomas Thursby's daughter Margaret,<ref>{{Cite web|title=MONFORD, Francis (1474/76-1536), of the Inner Temple, London and Feltwell, Norf. {{!}} History of Parliament Online|url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/monford-francis-147476-1536|access-date=2020-09-27|website=www.historyofparliamentonline.org}}</ref> in ''his'' will.<ref name=":0" /> The names of Thomas Thursby's daughters, Elizabeth, Ellen, Beatrice, Margaret and Margery, correspond almost perfectly with known Aylmer given names. Richard's mother Elizabeth is not the daughter of John Burgoyne who in the ''Visitations of Cambridgeshire'' marries 'Thomas Thorseby of Norfolk', as that Elizabeth is still alive and apparently a wife in 1528, when she receives an inheritance from her mother Margaret.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Impington: Manors and other estates {{!}} British History Online|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol9/pp131-133|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.british-history.ac.uk|quote=John's widow Margaret held Impington until her death in 1528, (fn. 34) when it passed under a settlement of 1512 to their daughters Margaret, wife of George Heveningham, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Thursby.}}</ref> Nor can she be the wife of his son, as that Thomas Thursby was marrying Anne<ref name=":1" /> Knyvett in 1527.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-11-17|title=K|url=http://www.tudorwomen.com/?page_id=691|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-28|website=A Who’s Who of Tudor Women|language=en-US|quote=In the covenant for a marriage settlement dated May 31, 1527, Anne was described as “one of the queen’s gentlewomen and one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Knyvett deceased.” She was to marry Thomas Thuresby or Thoresby of Asshewykyne.}}</ref> Anne Thorysby along with Elyn Grenall are two of the witnesses of Cecily Aylmer's will in 1541.<ref name=":2" /> She is probably the Isabel, late the wife of Thomas Thursby, who is involved in a suit in 1532–38.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7479261|title=Catalogue Description: Thursby v Calybut. Plaintiffs: Isabel, late the wife of Thomas Thursby. Defendants: John Calybut of Castleacre. Subject: Profits of the manor of Southacre whereof defendant is tenant. Norfolk. SFP. Date: 1532-1538. Held by: The National Archives, Kew|date=1532-1538|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> Isabel and Elizabeth were considered the same name in the period.

* Elyne<ref name=":0" />/Helene/Helen<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=CatalogueRef: NCC will register Gylys 97. Title: Thursby, Elizabeth, widow, 'Robert Aylmer late my husbond', of Norwich. Date: 1518. Description: Will. Level: Item. Repository: Norfolk Record Office|url=http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqServer=NCC3CL01&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=41&dsqSearch=((Category=%27probate%27)AND(Date=%271518%27))|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-27|website=nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk|quote=In the name of god Amen the [...] daye the monyth of Decemb In the yere of o[u]^r lord god [...] I Elizabeth Thursby of norwiche widow in my good mynde and hole Remembrance beyng (laudyd be god) at norwiche make this my testament and last last wyll in this wyse ffirst I comend my soule to allmythi god and too o[u]^r blessed lady Sancte Marie and mother to criste Jhu. Sancte Laurance myn [...] and to Sancte Andrew and to all the holy sanctes in hevyn and my body for to be burid in the churche of Sancte Andrew in norwiche by the sepultcre of Robert Aylmer late my husband whos hey altar ther I bequethe xxd I bequethe to the Reparacons and admo[...] of the sayd churche x marcs It[e]m I will [...] candyll of a pownde [...] dayly upon my [...] by the space of one hole yere nexte after my decesse. And in the myghtye [...] the same yere I [...] the yere aforesayd, It[e]m I bequethe to the sayd churche of Sancte andrew my best [...] masse bok and my best chales gylte It[e]m I bequethe to the hey altar of the churche of Sancte Laurance in norwiche [...] and to the Reparacon of the same churche [...] marcs [...] and my nexte best chales gilte It[e]m I will thatt myn executores ffynde a seculer preist to syng and pray for my Sowlle my husbands Sowlles Robert John and Thomas, my childers Sowlles Richard Thomas and Cecyly my frende and benefactors Sowlles within the churche of Sancte Andrew aforesayd by the space of [...] yeres nexte after my deceasse takyng [...] yere to hir [...] It[e]m I wyll thatt myn executores shall ffynde & nothis [...] and praye for my Sowlle and for the Sowlles aforesayd [...] the churche of Sanete[?] Laurance aforesayd by the space of [...] nexte after my deceassse [...] It[e]m I bequethe to the curate in the sayd churche for the [...] the fyrst day of September nexte after the date hereof It[e]m I bequethe to same Elizabeth canf my goddoughter beyng a nune in blakburys[?] abbey xxb, It[e]m too Anne Canf xb, Item I bequethe to the [...] It[e]m I bequethe to the churche of Sanete Clement in London where my Sonne Thomas Aylmer lighe buryd [...] It[e]m I bequethe to the Reparacons of the of the churche of Sanete [...] It[e]m I bequeathe to Helene Ayllmer, Elizabeth, Margrett and Cecely Aylmer the daughters of my Sonne Richard Aylmer [...] of the sayd Helen, Elizabeth Margrett and Cecily or all to dcesse[?] by for the age of the sayd [...] I wyll thatt the sayd Legatt made to the sayd chylde and childers to [...] It I wyll thatt my place lyyng in Sanete Andrews parishe be sollyd by myn executores and the mony ther of [...] to Nicholas Gapston[?] Willm Amyes [...] pylgrimage for my Sonne Thomas to o[u]r lady of [...] I bequethe to Thomas Thursby [...] holy [...] in and too his wyff A Image of o[u]r lady [...] and give It I bequethe to Elizabeth Wytgate[?] A payre of Smalle corall be[a]ds of [...]}}</ref>

* Elizabeth,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> 'my syster Elisabeth Cressnore' in Cecily's will from 1541, married name Cressener<ref name=":2" />

* Margaret,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> ''m''. Richard Batiscroft of Bexwell, and had:<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Rye|first=Walter|url=https://archive.org/stream/visitacionievisi32ryew#page/22/mode/2up/search/Aylmer|title=The visitacion [i.e., visitation] of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarencieux King of Arms, anno 1563, enlarged with another visitacion [sic] made by Clarenceux Cook : with many other descents, and also the vissitation [sic] made|last2=Hervey|first2=William|last3=Cooke|first3=Clarenceux|last4=Raven|first4=John|publisher=|others=Family History Library|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref>

* Cecily<ref name=":3" /> (d.1541<ref name=":2" />) of Myntlynge<ref name=":2" />