Haviland Hiley, wealthy merchant of Poole

Haviland Hiley (1601-1669) was the father of Peter (see post of 4th March ) and son of William Hiley (see post of 12th February).

Haviland served three times as Mayor of Poole. His first spell in 1641 coincided with the outbreak of the Civil War and Haviland was therefore Poole's spokesman when the town allied itself with Parliament.

Copy of portrait of Haviland Hiley
Poole History Centre, origin unknown

In 1645 there was an outbreak of the plague in Poole and the people faced starvation. Some townsmen, including Haviland, rode to neighbouring towns to ask for help and donations in money and kind. Later that year the town clerk of Poole, Richard Bramble, wrote a letter of thanks to the parishioners of Christchurch for their charitable gift to Poole during the plague. Haviland Hiley was one of the signatories of the letter:

In 1652 Haviland and George Phillips bought Upton Farm near Poole. The estate at Upton is one of the oldest sites in Poole and the Hileys were to remain owners for the next 150 years. The final owner was William Hiley (1761-1819) who sold the estate to William Spurrier, a Poole merchant.

A tax assessment of 1662 shows that Haviland Hiley was probably one of the richest men in the town. Brewing was probably his main business. In High Street he owned a mansion house, brewhouse and garden, the Bull Head Inn, and another house down the street at Cole Corner. He also owned tenements in Market Street and Strand Street, three closes and other land, besides any property holdings outside Poole which would not be included in the assessment.
(The National Archives (TNA) PRO E179/245/24)

There are two memorials to Haviland in St James's church in Poole. At the east end of the south aisle:

                                                                

Underneath lyeth buried Havelland Hiley, Esquire

Mayor of this towne and county

of Poole,

Obit anno Domini 1669

On the South wall a black marble monument:

Here resteth in hope of a joyful resurrection the body of Havelland Hiley, merchant, who was three times mayor of this town and county, and chosen a fourth, left this life for a better the 19th day of September, in the 69th year of his age, A.D. 1699 Memento mori

With thanks to Jenny Oliver for her help and permission to use some of her research on Haviland Hiley.