ROSCARROCK, John (by 1520-64 or later).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. by 1520, s. of John Roscarrock of Roscarrock in St. Endellion, Cornw. by 2nd w. Mary, da. of Nicholas Cavell of Treharrock in St. Kew; half-bro. of Richard Roscarrock and William Roscarrock. educ. L. Inn, adm. 8 Jan. 1534, called 1539.1

Offices Held

Butler, L. Inn 1553-5.

Under steward, stannary ct. Kerrier and Penwith, Cornw. by 1563.2

Biography

Soon after John Roscarrock had been called to the bar, his advice was sought by his kinswoman, Viscountess Lisle: an important letter from the viscountess in 1539 was entrusted to George Rolle for its delivery to Roscarrock in the south-west, and several months later another servant was sent unsuccessfully to his inn to seek him out. The fall of Viscount Lisle in 1540 probably blighted Roscarrock’s early hopes of advancement, and nothing has been discovered about his career in the years immediately following, until his return in 1545 as the senior Member for Liskeard, a borough where his family had property. Roscarrock presumably stood for election in the hope of commending himself to the King or another patron by service in the House, and in this he evidently had the backing of his superior at Lincoln’s Inn, Sir Thomas Arundell, who supervised the elections in the south-west on this occasion, as well as his own Cornish connexions; he was related to both of the knights of the shire in 1545, John Beauchamp and Richard Chamond, and to the returning officer, Sir Richard Grenville. Roscarrock’s practice in Cornwall flourished during the middle years of the century and from 1546 onwards he received occasional employment, often in association with Henry Chiverton, from the crown in matters of local administration. A dispute over some cattle with Martin Trewynnard in 1546 brought him and John Killigrew into Chancery as plaintiffs: this is the last certain reference found to Roscarrock. He may be identifiable with the man who held the manor of Trehane in Trevalga during the 1570s and who probably died during the following decade, leaving his property to a namesake who lived until 1606.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: J. J. Goring

Notes

  • 1. Date of birth estimated from education. Vis. Cornw. ed. Vivian, 440.
  • 2. St.Ch.5/T22/12.
  • 3. LP Hen. VIII, xiv; Duchy Cornw. RO, 491, m. 21v; C1/1367/82; St.Ch.2/16/22A; 3/6/89; APC, ii. 204; E. Coke, Institutes, iv. 230; J. Maclean, Trigg Minor, iii. 295.