William R. Scriven was born in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA on 06 June 1727. His parents were James and Alice Scriven, nee Knowles. He was married to Mary "Mercy" Alice Lewis in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA in 1749. Following children of the couple are known: Alice Elsie (b. 1750), John Adams (1751-1830), James (1751-1845), Hannah (1754-1842), Joshua (1754-1824), William (1756-1842), Zebulon (1759-1821), Mercy (1761-1818), Thomas (b. 1762), and Joseph (1766-1820). After the death of Mary in 1768 was he married to Mary Mosher in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, USA abt. 1769. The children of the couple were: Isaac (b. 1770), Elipha (1775-1827), Matthias (1775-1827), Benjamin Henry (1777-1854), Sarah (1779-1851), and Polly (1780-1809). William R. Scriven fought in the Revolutionary War as a private under Captain Blevin in the Westerly Alarm Company in 1777. The family were among the first settlers of the town of Grafton, Rensselaer county, New York, USA in 1779. He died in Grafton, Rensselaer county, New York, USA on 01 January 1827. He was interred at the Scriven Cemetery, Petersburg, Rensselaer County, New York, USA (located on the Old Scriven Farm).