Michael Vivian, MP

Family and Education

b. 1576, 2nd s. of Hannibal Vivian by Philippa, da. and coh. of Roger Tremayne of Collacombe, Devon. educ. Exeter Coll. Oxf. 1594; M. Temple 1597, called 1605. m. 1603, Catherine, da. of James Nanspian of Gurlyn, 1da.

Biography

If the date of Vivian’s birth given in the heraldic visitation is correct, he went up to Oxford and the inns of court older than was usual at the time. He was returned for St. Mawes through his family influence (his father was captain of St. Mawes castle) while still a law student. The references to him in the Middle Temple records are almost entirely concerned with payments for his chambers, or with fines incurred through absence from vacation readings, or other breaches of the regulations. In November 1611, when he was described as a ‘master of the utter bar’, he vacated his chamber at the Temple, but as late as 1622 he was once more fined, this time for not reading.

He died and was buried at St. Erth on 19 Oct. 1639. His will, proved at Bodmin less than a fortnight later, styles him ‘of Phillack, esquire’. His only daughter Jane married William Williams of Roseworthy, Cornwall.

Vivian, Vis. Cornw. 529, 627; M.T. Recs.i. 372, 381, 403; ii. 453, 464, 476, 484, 676; Vis. Cornw. (Harl. Soc. ix), 259.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: R.C.G.

Source: History of Parliament Online