Family and Education

bap. 18 June 1573, 1st s. of John Rivett of Brandeston and Anne, da. of James Bacon, alderman of London.1 educ. Brandeston (Mr. Rawson); Caius, Camb. 1589; G. Inn 1590, called 1600.2 m. by 1610, Mary (d. 25 Aug. 1659), da. of Thomas Sicklemore, merchant, of Ipswich and Bramford, Suff., 3s. (2 d.v.p.) 2da. (1 d.v.p.). suc. fa. 1616. d. 5 Nov. 1643.3

Offices Held

Commr. piracy, Suff. 1604, 1612, 1627, gaol delivery, Orford, Suff. 1611-at least 1635, Etheldred liberty, Suff. 1632;4 j.p. Suff. 1618-at least 1625, 1626-at least 1641;5 commr. sewers 1619-35,6 subsidy, Aldeburgh, Suff. 1624-26, 1629, Suff. 1641,7 Forced Loan, Suff. and Orford 1627,8 inquiry into lands of Robert Rookwood, Suff. 1628,9 swans, Essex and Suff. 1635, oyer and terminer and piracy, Suff. 1640.10

Recorder, Aldeburgh by 1623-at least 1642.11

Biography

Rivett’s grandfather bought the manor of Brandeston in east Suffolk in 1543 and built the Hall. He was imprisoned under Mary Tudor on the strength of a letter, allegedly forged, that was critical of the Catholic religion and the burnings of Protestants.12 Rivett himself, the great-nephew and godson of lord keeper Bacon (Nicholas Bacon†), was a lawyer.13 His London practice cannot have been extensive, for his chambers at Gray’s Inn were among those declared forfeit in 1603.14

A cousin of Thomas Rivett, who sat for Aldeburgh in 1604, Rivett may have been appointed recorder of that borough on the death of Robert Barker*, the first holder of the office, in 1618. This would perhaps explain his appointment to the Suffolk bench 11 days after Barker’s demise.15 He was certainly recorder by the time he was returned for Aldeburgh to the 1624 Parliament, in which he was named to only two committees, these being to consider bills to settle the estate of a Derbyshire lunatic (28 Apr.) and to prevent the murder of illegitimate children (29 April).16 He also attended a meeting of the committee for the bill to regulate the fees of customs officials on 17 Apr., which he was entitled to attend as the representative of a port.17 He made no recorded speeches and is not known to have sought re-election. Although he drafted his will on 2 June 1637, Rivett survived a further six years. He was buried at Brandeston, in accordance with his wishes. No later member of the family entered Parliament.18

Ref Volumes: 1604-1629

Author: John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Add. 19146, f. 277.
• 2. Al. Cant.; GI Admiss.
• 3. Add. 19146, f. 277; Vis. Suff. ed. Metcalfe, 162.
• 4. C181/1, f. 83v; 181/2, ff. 144, 174v; 181/3, f. 232v; 181/4, ff. 127, 200v.
• 5. C231/4, ff. 61, 207; T. Rymer, Foedera, viii. pt. 2, p. 15; C66/2859.
• 6. C181/2, f. 349v; 181/5, f. 24v.
• 7. C212/22/23; ‘Aldeburgh. Extracts from chamberlain’s acct. bk.’ ed. A.T. Winn, N and Q (ser. 12), viii. 226, 306, 426; SR, v. 66.
• 8. C193/12/2, ff. 56, 77v.
• 9. C181/3, f. 238v.
• 10. C181/5, ff. 28v, 176.
• 11. Suff. RO (Ipswich), EE1/H1/1, rot. 1; EE1/I2/2, f. 220v.
• 12. W.A. Copinger, Manors of Suff. iv. 89, 224.
• 13. Add. 19146, f. 312.
• 14. PBG Inn, i. 163.
• 15. C66/1708, m. 26.
• 16. CJ, i. 692a, 779a.
• 17. C.R. Kyle, ‘Attendance Lists’, PPE 1604-48 ed. Kyle, 219; CJ, i. 747b.
• 18. Suff. RO (Ipswich), W82/88.