David de Kylminawis

David was born about 1280 and died after 1341. David may have been the brother of Sarah Lynyen. It’s not possible to say with any certainty but they were both living at the same time. The tree below shows the possible relationship.

Kylminawis – Kyl may be the equivalent to the Scottish Kil meaning church so Kylminawis possibly refers to St Minver in North East Cornwall.

A Cornish language expert has also suggested that the name Kylminawis is near identical to the earliest recorded spellings of Kilminorth, Talland on Cornwall’s southeast coast. Those spellings are ‘Kilminawyd’ and ‘Kylmynawyd’ 1284, It’s thought to contain the words ‘kyl’ meaning ‘nook, back, ridge’ and ‘menowes’ meaning ‘awl, or a hill, stone or piece of land shaped like an awl.’ I haven’t been able to find any connection to this area and the 1341 charter mentions David’s bake house in Portzwyhan which is now Port Quin which is on the north coast near St Minver. There are also family connections to St Ervan, St Merryn, Padstow and Harlyn.

In 1341 there is a charter which mentions David de Kylminawis and his son John who married Sibyl de Tregamynyan.

St Enodoc’s Church at St Minver by Peter Skynner,


Edward III – Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“David De Kylmynawis to John his firstborn son & heir, and to the heirs of his body by Sibyl daughter of Joceli de Tregaminion his wife, with remainder to the grantor and his heirs. Charter with warranty of all his messuages, lands etc. In Kylmynawis, namely yards, gardens, woods, meadows, moors, turbaries, launds an pastures, and his corn mill there with multiple, waters and watercourses or beads, his bake house with garden in the town of Portzwyhan, the rent and service of John de Landewarnek and his heirs for lands held of the grantor in Kylcoys, of Simon de Kylcoys there, of Paternus and Robert brothers of the grantor for lands of him held for their lives in Kylcoys, of Margery his sister likewise in Araweyte, and the reversion of all lands of the said John, Simon, Paternus, Robert and Margery which they claim to hold for life of the grantor and his heirs when it shall fall in.”

Dated Kylminawis, Friday before St Barnabas 15 Edward III

Source: CCR Calendar Curia Rolls, Henry IV, Vol.4, 1441-47, (Public Records Office, London, 1937), 452/3.

Portzwyhan is Port Quin today.

Port Quin and St Minver in North Cornwall.

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