The (Chafford Park) estate is said to have come into the family's hands during Henry’s reign. The purchaser was probably Richard’s son, John Rivers, who prospered as a grocer in the City of London and in 1573-4 was to serve as Lord Mayor, for which he was knighted.
Sir John Rivers (died 27 February 1584) was born to Sir Richard Rivers, Knight, Baron of Penhurst, aka Sir Richard De La Rivers (b. 1470, Penshurst, Kent, England, and died 1550, Penshurst, Kent, England), and Alice Rivers. Richard had been a steward of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham's lands. Alternate spelling includes John Ryver or De La Rivers.
In 1540, Sir John Rivers, Knight of Chafford, Earl of Kent, (1510-1584) married Elizabeth Barne (1527-aft. 1560), daughter of another Lord Mayor, Sir George Barne II in London, Middlesex, England. Her arms: Quarterly: 1 and 4. Argent, on a chevron engrailed azure three trefoils or, between as many Cornish choughs sable. 2 and 3. Argent, on a fess, engrailed sable a rose between two fleurs-de-lis argent between three greyhounds' heads erased sable collared or.
They had the following children:
Wealthy Sir John Rivers is likely to have replaced Ralph de Cobham’s old manor-house, which was probably made of wood, with a more splendid one of brick. The grandeur of the Tudor mansion may be gauged from the adjacent stable block which partially survives, as an L-shaped barn. It is a solid brick structure with arched doorways and an ancient paneled door. The house was entered through an impressive gateway, on which the arms and crest of the Rivers family were engraved.
Sir John Rivers was a grocer and member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. He was Sheriff of London in 1566, and Lord Mayor of London in 1573. He was knighted at Greenwich on 2 May 1574 and served as President of St. Thomas' Hospital between 1580 and 1584. He also served as Alderman of London for the London wards of Farringdon between 1565-1568, Broad Street between 1568-1574, and Walbrook between 1574-1584.
He was chosen as an executor to the will of his mother-in-law Dame Alice Barne on 5 July 1559. He died on 27 February 1583/4 and was buried at Hadlow, County Kent, England.
His will was dated 31 January 1583/4 and proved 10 April 1584 (P.C.C. 37 Butts), Inq. p.m. taken at Greenwich 11 July 1584 (C Vol. 205 No. 200). Mrs. Elizabeth Rivers was the executrix of her husband's will on 10 April 1584.
When Sir John Rivers died in 1584, having had several children, he was succeeded at Chafford by his eldest son, Sir George Rivers. Born in about 1553, he seems to have been educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then at the Middle Temple in London. Sir George Rivers owned another estate at Withyham, a few miles away in Sussex, close to the seat of the Sackville family at Buckhurst.
Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure, 2 bars dancetté or, in chief 3 bezants of the last, by the name of Rivers; 2nd and 3rd, azure, a fess engrailed argent, surmounted of another gules, charged with three roses of the second, between as many swans proper, which last was an augmentation of honor given to Sir Bartholomew Rivers, Knight, by King Edward IV, for his good and faithful services to the House of York. Crest: On a wreath, a bull at gaze, argent, horns, hoofs, and point of the tail, or, charged with a collar and chain of the same.[2] Sir John Ryvers, Knight, Alderman, confirmed and crest granted 2 May 1581, by Cooke. Harl. MS. 1359, fo. 87b; MS. Ashm. 834, fo. 37; (1583 in Harl. MS. 1422, fo. 117b, and Add. MS. 14,295, fo. 34b); Guil. 358; Add. MS. 4966, fo. 58, ? copy of grant, Bodleian Library.[3]
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