Family and Education

m. Agnes, da. of William Biddlecombe^† of Poole, 2s. 3da.

Offices Held

Bailiff, Poole 1549-50, mayor 1557-8.

Biography

If Scriven was related to Thomas Scriven, paymaster of the privy chamber and clerk to the cofferer of the royal household between 1552 and 1554 (his will included gifts to Thomas’s children), he must have come from the Shropshire landed family. Whatever his origins, by 1599 he was one of the ten wealthiest Poole merchants, trading in sugar, oil, fish, wine, canvas and lead. When he sued out a general pardon on Elizabeth’s accession he described himself as a merchant of Lyme. He presumably owed his return for Wareham to the Rogers family of Bryanston. Sir John Rogers was knight of the shire for Dorset in 1559.

Scriven made his will on his deathbed, 8 Dec. 1560, and probate was granted six days later. He asked to be buried in Poole church. There were charitable legacies, totalling £45, to the corporation of Poole, and £5 towards the never-ending job of repairing the cobb at Lyme Regis. Each of his two sons, Robert and John, was to have £200, and the three daughters £173 6s.8d. apiece. His wife Agnes was bequeathed £800. These legacies were to be reduced ‘if it should happen any part or portion of my goods be lost by misfortune of the sea or otherwise by evil debtors, as God defend’. The two sons were named executors, but probate was granted, during the minority of all the children, to their five guardians, local men apparently, who were appointed overseers.

Hutchins, Dorset, i. 34; J. Sydenham, Hist. Poole, 235-6; E122/122/4, 7, 21; 123/2; CPR, 1558-60, p. 161; APC, iv. 57; PCC 60 Mellershe.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes