Family and Education

b. by 1506; prob. bro. of Gilbert.1

Offices Held

Constable, Dartmouth 1534-5, receiver 1535-6, 2nd bailiff 1536-7, churchwarden, St. Saviour’s 1537-8, 1st bailiff 1538-9, common councilman by 1541, mayor 1547-8, 1554-5.2

Biography

Nicholas Roupe was a Dartmouth merchant who traded with Spain. In 1527 his partnership with Nicholas Seymour broke down over a dispute about raisins imported from Malaga. As one of the richest townsmen he was assessed towards the subsidy in 1550 at 20s. on goods, 5s. more than Gilbert Roupe, who was probably his brother. His election to Mary’s first Parliament came after Gilbert’s to the previous one. Unlike his fellow-Member, Nicholas Adams alias Bodrugan, he did not oppose the restoration of Catholicism and he seems to have been a good churchman, serving as warden and as a caretaker of church property. The last trace found of him is during his second mayoralty in 1554-5.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: Roger Virgoe

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference.
• 2. Exeter city lib. Dartmouth mss 1982, ff. 194v, 207; 2002, f. 8v; 2003, ff. 6-6v; H. R. Watkin, Pre-Reformation Dartmouth, 178, 187, 293; Add. 24773, f. 93v; C219/23/43.
• 3. Exeter city lib. Dartmouth ms 1982; E179/99/321; Watkin, 268, 293.