Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Burial: 4 April 1549.
Place of Burial: Preston, Sussex, England (St Peter’s).
The burial is given by Renshaw (p. 221). Renshaw notes that the 1519 date often given is an error. Salmon gives 5 April.
Relationships
Father: Richard Scrase.
Mother: Alice.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Mary de la Chambre (died 1552).
This relationship is given by Renshaw (p. 221), noting that Thomas de la Chambre made “my brother, Richard Scrase, of Bletchington” an overseer of his will. Richard mentions his wife, Mary, in his will.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Richard Scrase (died about 1573).
Edward Scrase (buried 10 May 1576 in Preston) married Agnes.
Jane Scrase.
Cicely Scrase.
(apparently) Paquell Scrase married Robert Colbroke.
Evidence
In the 1524 Lay Subsidy roll for the Hundred of Whalesbone, Richard Scrase's goods are assessed at 33 pounds, 6 shillings, and 8 pence.
Cases from the Court of Common Pleas:
CP40 no 1038 (1523)
Sussex, debt
Plaintiffs: Richard Covert, esq.; John Dawtry, senior, esq.; John, prior of Heryngham (executors of John Goryng)
Defendant: Richard Scras of Blechyngton, gentleman
(indexed by Vance Mead)
CP40 no 1057 (1528)
Sussex, forcible entry
Plaintiffs: Thomas Darrell, gentleman; Richard Scras; Richard Jefferey; Robert Holter
Defendants: Edward Bray of Bysshoppys Preston, knight; Richard Belyngham of Newtymber, esq.
(indexed by Vance Mead)
CP40 no 1064 (1530)
Sussex, trespass and contempt
Plaintiffs: Thomas Darrell, gentleman; Richard Scras; Richard Jefferey; Robert Holter
Defendants: Edward Bray of Bysshoppys Preston, knight; Richard Belyngham of Newtymber, esq.
(indexed by Vance Mead)
CP40 no 1084 (1535)
Sussex, entry sur disseisin
Plaintiffs: Richard Scrase; John Caryll; Giles Covert; Edward Byllyngeham, son of Richard Bellyngeham, gentleman
Defendants: John Scrase
CP40 no 1127 (1546)
London, debt
Plaintiffs: Joan Baxster, widow, former wife of John Palterton of London, goldsmith
Defendants: Richard Scrace of Blachynton, Sussex, gentleman
(indexed by Vance Mead)
from the VCH of Sussex (7:243)
Presumably he had a lease of Blatchington Wayvill Manor, and on 4 November 1529 George, Lord Bergavenny, granted a lease of it for 57 years to the son, Richard Scrase, (fn. 28) who in 1534 was holding the prior's estate at Blatchington. (fn. 29) Richard died in 1549, and his widow Mary in 1552. (fn. 30)
from the VCH of Sussex (2:74-5)
The actual date of dissolution was probably the winter of 1534, at which time Robert, prior of the house of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, sold to Richard Scrase for £680 the manors of 'Heryngham' and Cokeham with 200 messuages, 4,000 acres of land, 300 of meadows, and 1,000 of pasture and other property in Hardham, Sompting, Pulborough, Petworth, and other parishes. (fn. 27)
from Dunkin (p. 201)
Hardham alias Herringham (Manor). Edmund Marvyn, Serjeant at law, John Kyngesmyll, esq., and Richard Scrase, gent., plaintiffs, and Eobert, prior of the House and church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Herynghain, deforciant Manors of HEEYNGHAM, COKHAM and COKEHAM, and tenements in Heryngham, Hardarn, Cokham, Cokeham, Somptyng, Brodwater, Pulburgh, Waltham, Westburton, Burton, Burketon, Petworth, Lurgesale, Byrdeham, Hasylmere, Mydhurst, Tullyngton, Yapton, Rugewyk, Byilyngeshurst, Sulham, Waruecampe, Kyrdeford, Worthy ng, Launcyng, Fyndon, Fyttelworth, Horley, Horsham, Nuthurst, Est Mardon, Elsted, Westpreston and Egden, quitclaimed to plaintiff's and heirs of Richard Scrase (Mich., 26 Hen. VIII. [1534]).
A Counterpart deed of exchange (East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Record Office, SAS/G4/47)
7 May 1537 Gage family of Firle
John Gage, kt and his wife Philippa and John Mascall of Wivelsfield, gent and his wife Alice
1 3 Messuages, 1 culverhouse, 4 gardens and 100a of land, 50a of meadow, 100a of pasture and 10a of wood in West Firle, to the use of JG and Philippa
2 The manor of Tarring [St Clere], 5 messuages, 143a of land, 80a of pasture, 120a of meadow, 3 5s rent and the advowson of the church of Tarring [Neville], with appurtenances in Tarring, Fletching and Plumpton, to the use of John Mascall and his wife Alice in tail, successive remainders in tail male to Thomas Collyn, John Hudson, Isabel Adam, Richard Scras, and ultimate remainder to the right heirs of Bartholomew Collyns
[I am not certain that this deed relates to the Richard of this page or, if it does, how Richard is connected to the other remaindermen.]
Richard's burial (Preston parish register):
Richard Scras of Bletchington was buryed the vth Aprill anno tertio Edwardi Sexti.
A transcription of the will of Richard Scras
In the name of god Amen I Richard Scras of Blachington in the Countie of Sussex gentelman have ordained and made this my last will and testament in maner & forme folowing First I bequeath to god Almightie and to his Sonne our lord Christ Jesu my Soule And my body to be buried in the pleasure of myne Executrix and that myn Executor have at my burying Ten poor men and ten poor women of severall houses that is to saye yf the man be of one house the woman of another and they to be at my burying and to have xyd apece sumd in the hole xxi Item I bequeth to the rep[ar]acon of the church of Chichester xyd Item to the poor people of Hove ten busshells of whete and as much of malt indifferentlye devided Item I will and bequeath to Mary my wyfe Sixe pounds yerely oute of the profits of my farme during her lyfe and she to have suche […] and mete and drynke [...] as shall stande in her pleasure. Item I will what my farme of Blachington for the space of vij yeres be used in maner and forme folowing that ys to saye to the occupacion of Richard Scras and he to have the profit therof towards his lyving and therwith to fynde his mother mete and drink lyke a naturall child paying yerely fourtie pounds into the handes of Mr Edwarde Belingham for the performance of this my last will and the residue of my stock upon the said farme to be in thandes of Richard my sonne to the performance of my will Item I will when al these thinges be performed, That than all my leases and farmes goo only to the profit of Richard Scras to whome I give all my leases and farmes and all other stockes and stock thereupon Item if it fortune hym to dye and have no wyf nor child then yt shall goo holy together to William Crewe my sonne in lawe, and he to performe this my will, and after my will is performed than he to give amongest the children of my sonnes and daughters twentie pounds a pece by the space of fiftyne yeres as they growe up indifferently devyded / Also if it fortune Richard Scras to dye havynge nother wyf nor child yet yt shalbe lawfull for hym to give will or bequeath Thirtie pounds to be payde within sixteyne yeres by the said William Crewe lymitted or apoynted. Item I will that Richard Scras be myne hole Executour and that he be bounde in ahundred pounds to Mr Edward Belengham of Hangwilton whom I make the overseer of this my last will to be performyd and he to gain for his labor my best horse at that tyme being Item I give to Mary my wyfe xxl of the profits that shall rise within in the foresaid vij yeres Item yf it fortune at any tyme my wyf to myslyke her bord or any other order therin that then if she goo at her pleasure to any other of her children she to be alowed for her borde foure pounds ayere Item I give to my sonne Edward towards his lyvinge threscore poundes to be paid within three yeres xx li ayere Item I give to Jane my daughter Twentie poundes Item to Cicelye my daughter fourtie poundes to be paide at her mariage and vi li towarde her apparell Item I give to the poor mans boxe at Preston xl s. Item to the poor mans boxe at Auldrington xxs Item to the poor mans boys at Hove xxs Item to the poor mens boxe at Portslade xxs Item I give to my brother John Scras fyve pounds Item to my brother Chayney fyve pounds Item to my sister Porrseley fyve pounds Item to Anne Porrseley toward her preferment and mariage fyve pounds Item to Chymer Dammpers xls Item to John Jefforth toward the […] of Richard Jefforth during the said vij yeres three pounds ayere Item I will it be considered by my frends that Robert Colbroke take payment towards hys lyvinge then I bequeth to hym fyve pounds or else the said v li to be bestowed upon rayment for his wyf as nede shall require and not to be delyvered her yn redye money. Item to Edward Scras the kings [… ..] fyve pounds yf he dye I will it unto his wif Item to mystere Lewes Davids wife the baker a [gownclothe?] at her pleasure or ells five marks Item I give to James Croft over and besides the money that I owe hym xl s Item I give to Thomas Pegge my man over and above his wages fyve marks Item I bequeth to any one of my servant present in my house xx s over and above their wages Item to Stephyn Bridge if he be than lyving xx s Item where I of my charitie have brought up a poore child being with an honest poor wydowe called Jack Jones wydowe to that child called Harry and to that woman called Jack Jones widowe I will and bequeth for this vij yeres xl s ayere Item I will that myne Executors paye my debts honestlye asked and of credable persones Item I will that yf ther be any thinge in this will be not efectuall and formable according to the lawe that my Executors and overseer shall at all tymes go to some lerned man and to reforme the wordes according to his discreton changing no matter in my will Item that myne Executour do leave Maister Belenghams allowances reasonable sustened in the [...] of my will The residue of my goodes not bequethed nor willed alwayes I give to Richard Scras, except two fetherbedds and half the nappery ware of the house with half the pewter vessels and brasses the whiche I will Mary my wyf to have This my last will dated the xvth daye of Marche in the thirde yere of the Reigne of Edwarde the sixte by the grace of god kinge of England France and Ireland and under god upon earth Supreme hedd of the churche of England and Ireland. These beinge witnesse of this my last will and were present at the signing and sealing therof Edward [...] Ric Scras exor William Tanner
[proved 4 July 1549 by Richard Scrase Executor]
A 1561 chancery case (C78/33 no. 6: digital image on the website of The Anglo American Legal Tradition, University of Houston; transcription) was brought by Edward Bellingham against Richard Scrace, partly concerning provisions in this will.
Commentary
Richard’s parentage
In the application of his great-grandson Tuppen for a coat of arms in 1616, the Garter Principal King of Arms states that Richard “was the sonne and heire of Richard Scras of Hangleton in the county of Sussex aforesaid and styled Valettus ad Coronam Dni Regis Edwardi Quarti, and sealed with a Dolphine, as by certein his Deeds and Evidences appeareth.” (Lower, p. 7).
Renshaw (SAC XLIX pp. 162-163), citing the Chancery proceeding Abergavenny v. Shelley, noted that:
Richard Scrase, who clearly held a lease of the manor [of Blatchington], by his will dated 1st February, 1499/1500, and proved 19th May, 1500 (P.C.C., 1, Moone), in which he is described as of Hangleton, directed that when his son Richard "is able to be at his Retenewe and hath discreacon he shal have the manor of Blachington with all the appurtenances with alle such store of corne and graynes shepe oxen horses and such beests he nedyth to mayntene his housholdrye there," &c. On 4th November, 1529, George, Lord Abergavenny, demised the manor of Blatchington to this son, Richard Scrase, for 57 years, from 29th September, 1530.
In his 1499 will, Richard Scras of Hangilton named his wife Alice and (among other chldren) his son Richard.
References
Anglo-American Legal Tradition (aalt.law.uh.edu).
Cornwall, Julian. The Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of Sussex 1524-1525. (Sussex Record Society, 1956).
Dunkin, Edwin Hadow Wise.Sussex Manors, Advowson, etc., recorded in the feet of fines, Henry VIII, to William IV, (1509 - 1833) Sussex Record Society Volume XIX. (London:Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1914)
Lower, Mark Anthony, “Genealogical Memoir of the Family of Scrase” in Sussex Archaeological Collections, Volume 8 (London: John Russell Smith, 1856).
Page, William, et al. The Victoria History of the County of Sussex: Volume 2. (London: A. Constable, 1905 -).
Page, William, et al. The Victoria History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7. (London: A. Constable, 1905 -).
The Parish Registers of Hove and Preston 1538 - 1812. Transcribed by Ernest Fredk. Salmon (London: 1912).
Renshaw, Walter Charles. “Notes on the Scrase Family of Co Sussex”, in The Genealogist (New Series) Volume XX, pages 217 to 221, 1904.
Will of Richard Scras, Gentleman of Latchington, Sussex, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/32/474.