The Scriveners
We don’t have many photographs of the Scrivener family, but the one below is worth a lot of space by itself. It was taken in 1905 outside 1 Rye Bridge Cottages in Upper Froyle.
The Scrivener Family in 1905
Back row, left to right
Charles, Ada, Ernest, Lizzie, Robert, Edward

Front row, left to right
Matilda, William, Esther Mary, Emily
We may not have many pictures, but we do have quite a bit of family history about the Scriveners and their connection with Froyle.
The Scrivener Family of Suffolk
The family originates in the area around Framlingham, Suffolk, but soon migrated to Ipswich, and the surrounding villages where the name is still to be found today. Down through the generations members of the family have moved away from Suffolk, particularly to London, and from there to other parts of England. Other members of the family have settled overseas and descendants of the Scrivener family are now to be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.A.
In the earlier stages the Scrivener family fortunes grew, by marriages with the heiresses of knightly families. As time went on the Scriveners seem to have lost their power of acquiring well-dowered wives and their estates shrank as the generations multiplied.
In his book “Suffolk Miscellany”, Alan Jobson writes, referring to the extent of Dunwich: “Another tradition says there was a patent to the Scriveners to hunt in a forest fifteen miles east of Dunwich.” The family pedigree (which is held at Suffolk Record Office in Ipswich, having been handed over by Miss Agnes Scrivener of Ipswich) commences with: Thomas Scryvener, who was living at Bruisyard, Suffolk in 1320.

Amongst the many descendants, which include Sir Winston Churchill and Prince Rainier of Monaco, can be found, the following John Scrivener, and it is through him that a connection with the village of Froyle in Hampshire arises. To date, the maiden name of John's wife, Elizabeth, and the place of marriage have not been found, and there is some confusion in the fact that in 1841 Census, Elizabeth was stated as having been born out of the county i.e. Hampshire, but in 1851 Census, her birthplace is given as Netley.

John Scrivener was baptised 16th November 1777 at Tuddenham St. Martin, Suffolk. He married Elizabeth, and they lived at Froyle, Hampshire. He was buried as John Sciviner, at Froyle, 16th February 1834, aged 56.

As to the Scriveners in our photograph above,

William Scrivener was baptised on the 7th November 1852 at Froyle.
Esther Scrivener with Matilda (l) and Lizzie (r)
He married Esther Mary Knight at Froyle, 28th March 1879. He was aged 26 and a carpenter of Froyle, she was aged 25, a spinster, daughter of James Knight, deceased. Witnesses, Harry Scrivener and Emily Knight. The 1881 Census records him aged 28 and a carpenter, living at nearby Farringdon, Hants, with Esther and daughter, Lizzie. By the 1891 Census, he was a carpenter, and they were living in one of three households called Rye Bridge Cottages, the others being occupied by his parents and Esther's mother. With them were seven children, and an eighth was baptised later that year. He was buried at Froyle, 20th August 1906, aged 54, only a year after the photograph was taken. Esther was buried at Froyle, as Hester Mary, 27th December 1946, having died at Alton Hospital, aged 93.

Lizzie Evelyn Scrivener was born at Farringdon, Hants and baptised 1st Nov 1879 at Froyle. She married Alfred Knight at Froyle, 12th August 1905 (possibly the occasion was recorded by this family photograph). He was a porter, aged 27, of London, son of George Knight, labourer, and she was then aged 25. Witnesses, Ernest Knight, Matilda Ellen Scrivener and Ernest William Scrivener. They lived in London, but evacuated to Froyle in World War 2. They had at least one daughter.

Ernest William Scrivener was born in Alton in 1882. He married Sarah Louise Parfitt, 4th August 1906, at St.Peter’s, Norbiton, Surrey. He was then aged 24, and a cellar man living at 6 Orchards Cottages, Clifton Road. She was also aged 24, living at the same address, daughter of Thomas Parfitt, labourer. Witnesses, Charles Parfitt and Emily Dora Scrivener.

Matilda Ellen Scrivener was born in Froyle in 1883, and baptised at Froyle, 6th January 1884.

Ada Mary Scrivener was born in Froyle in 1885. Possibly married, 1913 at Lambeth, to John C.Palmer.

Emily Dora Scrivener was born in Froyle 1886 and baptised 2nd January 1887 at Froyle. She married George Saunders at Froyle, 24th Sep 1910. He was a bachelor, aged 30 and a railwayman of Battersea, son of George Saunders, deceased, carpenter. She was aged 24 and a domestic servant of Upper Froyle. Witnesses, Henry Knight and Ada Mary Scrivener.

Edward Scrivener was born in Froyle in 1887 and baptised there, 9th October 1887.

Robert Harry Scrivener was born in Froyle in 1889 and baptised there, 4th August 1889.

Charles Albert Scrivener was born in Froyle 1891 and baptised there, 7th June 1891. He possibly married in 1922 to Margaret L.Benfold. His death was registered at Aldershot in 1964, aged 73.