Robert Schylbotyll was the ancestor of a Scarborough family who were once well known. He probably came from Northumberland to take up grants of land at two places in Scarborough in 1399 and 1403.
His descendants lived at what was later called Whitehead Hill near the harbour. He traded far afield, with Beverley, Newcastle, Filey, Whitby and with the Dutchmen from the Netherlands, who dominated North Sea fishing and trade in the 15th century. He was owed £36 for red herring and owed a Whitby man over £16 for wool in 1409.
His Scarborough house had a hall, another room, a chamber, a kitchen, a brewing and milling house and some outbuildings. He brewed his own ale, and kept two cows in the yard, along with his riding horse. His kitchen held spits for cooking meat, two frying pans and ample pewter vessels.
His chamber was well stocked with feather beds, blankets, mattresses, coverlets, pillows and thirty two pairs of sheets. The furniture was confined to arks, chests, a press and a longsettle. The hall had two trestle tables, four chairs, twelve stools, more folding tables and a well equipped fireplace.
His pride and joy, perhaps, was next door, where he had his five candle sticks, twenty five silver spoons and some fancy silver salts ,boxes and table pieces.
Here was a hint of the good life, near six hundred years ago, although there were rather a lot of unpaid debts, at the end. "Poppe, a Dutchman of Swartvale" was not the only one who "had nothing but owed £6.15."
