David was the youngest son of John Lanyon and he was known as Davy. That name is used in the parish records. He was born about 1586 and married Joan Shutford before 1620, there is no record of their marriage. We know Davy died in 1641 and that his son Thomas was 21 at the time of his death so Thomas must have been born about 1620. They lived at Little Bosullow, near Madron, a Lanyon property since the 13th century.
A Property lease of 1559 and 1632 gives David’s age and confirms his father and grand parents’ names.
“Tenant Walter Lanyon, mort., Elizabeth ux and John (80) filius by grant of Richard Lanyon esq and John Lanyon 11 Eliz. Previous tenant John Angove. Also a corn mill and stamps. John Lanyon gent by grant of Richard Lanyon of Nancothan esq 5 James holds Lanyon Rysech (except the mills) on lives of Francis Lanyon, 50, Alexander, 48, and David ,46. Rent £6.”
Henderson’s MSS 30534 pt 7 (transcribed in a letter from Rose Tolman to William Lamparter 6 Jun 1970).
Davy and Joan had seven children:
Thomas 1620-1695 – Founder of the St Buryan branch of the family
Joan 1622-aft.1656 married Richard Edwards no further trace
Francis abt. 1623-aft.1656
Ann 1628-1628 died in infancy
Ann 1628-bef. 1634 (not mentioned in her grandfather’s will so presume died in infancy)
William 1634-1708
Barnard 1638-1714 – Founder of the St Hilary branch of the family
Davy & Joan’s Tree
Francis abt. 1623 – aft. 1656
Francis was probably born abt. 1623 and died after 1655 as he is mentioned in his mother’s will. She leaves him 1/- as he was married and had evidently already received his ‘portion’.
He married Rosamon on 23 Jun 1649 at Madron. Sadly we don’t know Rosamon’s surname as it wasn’t recorded in the Madron register. (I haven’t found a baptism for anyone named Rosamon either.) Rosamon is a favoured daughter-in-law as she inherits her mother-in-law’s best coat and best waistcoat.
They had five children:
Jonathan buried 1655 died in infancy
Jone 1649 – aft. 1656 – no further trace however she may be the Jone Lanyon who was buried in 1660 in St Buryan
David 1651 – 1752 (if these dates are correct that would make him over 100!) not married
Francis abt. 1653 – 1723 – married – one child
Joanithon abt. 1656 – 1751 – founder of the Helston branch of the family
Many of the Lanyons lived to a ripe old age and there are a number of octogenarians and nonagenarians and a couple of other centenarians so it’s not impossible that David lived to be 101.
As there were no more children it is possible that either Francis or Rosamon died but there are no burial records or wills.
Francis was a cordwainer, he was the first member of the family to become a leather worker and many of his descendants followed him into the profession. In the 21st century we tend to think of the ‘poor shoemaker’ but cordwainers were respected business men who made a very comfortable living.
In 1656 Francis was ‘paid 5/- towards the tannery, quit again to ye town.‘
Source: Penzance Mayoral Records – Guildhall
William Lanyon 1634-1708
David and Joan’s son William was baptised at Madron in 1634 and in 1665 he married Elizabeth Spreddell at Ludgvan. William was a cordwainer in Penzance.
His mother left him £12 in her 1655 will. He warrants several mentions in the Mayoral records for Penzance.
Thos. Elliott and John Peters of this towne, curriers, have given Mr Thomas Pearce, Richard Sandray, Mr Wm Lanyon and Isaac Symons for security to discharge the towne of Penzance of any charges that shall arise by their means and to pay the sum of 30 shillings each at or before 25th day of March next and to give Ann the widdow of John Christopher, late deceased, two shillings per week for each week she is able to work, the said fines to be paid to the Mayor now being at ye aforesaid time. (1684)
William Tonkin, Mayor (Mr John Carveth for three years had forcibly kept himself Mayor.)
Paid Carne Pendar to serve Carveth with attachment 5/-
Paid Mr Lanyon taking my affidavit of, with its cost in feeding Mr Carveth 1/-
Paid Mr Lanyon for drawing an Juste Instrument and waiting on the alderman and assistants for signing ye same and to have ye town halle 13/- 6d
Paid Mr Lanyon towards his Bill of Costs £5
Paid for expenses when arrested by Mr Benmar and alt several times attending this matter 16/-
Paid Mr Lanyon most for costs £4
Paid Mr Lanyon for bailbond and filing Baile alt Mr Usticke’s and other matters he charges more in his Bill £1. 13/- 6d
Indebted from 1696, Mr Pellowe’s Mayorality – the corpn debited for ye defence of a suite brought by Mr Benmar for a plott alt the key (quay?) as follows:- Paid Mr Paynter 10/-, paid for searching ye records above to find if any judgement entered against Benmar’s estate £34 (transcript unclear, it could be £3 or £4 or £34.) (1705)
6th Jun 1706: to 12 stamps and paid Mr Lanyon for administering oaths £1 4/- and 6d
Paid Mr Pearce for swearing Mr Lanyon and to ye post for staying for ye dispatch of ye affidavits and horses hire for myself and Mr Lanyon to Penryn and ye expenses there £1 8/- 6d
For two stampe papers to draw affidavits that Mr Carveth and Mr Gorse could not be found 4/- 1d
21st Nov 1706 Paid Mr Lanyon going to Bodmeyn later and expenses £1. 10/-
5th Dec 1706 to a guinea of gold given Mr Pearce £1. 1/- 6d
John Pellow’s money laid out on town’s liberties. To half ye cost and charges at ye assizes 1709. In prosecuting ye pretended constables (of Mr Groose.)
Mr Sam P Williams. Money laid out by him for charges for putting ye pretended constables to Bodmeyn.
(Jane Veale Mitchell – researcher – noted “William Lanyon, younger brother of Francis Lanyon (Lanion) cordwainer, Penzance died about July 1708/9. Wonder where this lawsuit is? I gather that Messrs Carveth and Grosse – during the formers forced mayorality – made the town constables (elected early) without usual formalities and William Lanyon was amongst these two or three men and the town had to see him through trial.”)
William and Elizabeth had three children:
Constance 1666-1714 she married Humphrey Pascoe at Wendron in 1702. She died at Gwinear in 1714 – no children traced
Elizabeth bef. 1669-1675 died young
William bef. 1669-1708
Elizabeth Spreddell died in 1669 at the age of 32. William died in 1708/9.
William Lanyon’s inventory- Source AP/L/1105
The will of William Lanyon the elder, cordwainer:
Two bedd in the chamber over the kitchen, verry old val’d at £2.0.0
One bedd in chamber over the hall verry old £1. 10/-
3 old boards and cupboard 10/-
Six old chiney 9/-
2 brass skellits and an old brass crock and an yron crock 9/-
3 old pewter plating and 6 plates 5/-
Total £5. 10/-
Jane Lanyon and Francis Lanyon Cordwynor, Penzance guardians of Elizabeth Lanyon and Constance Lanyon granddaughters of William Lanyon late of Penzance deceased.
William Lanyon bef. 1669-1708
William’s son was also called William, he too was a cordwainer. We don’t know when he was born but his mother died in 1669 so it was either before that date or perhaps she died delivering him. He married Jane in 1695 at Buryan (his name spelt Lenyon in the register).
They had two daughters confusingly called the same names as his sisters: Elizabeth and Constance and it is these two girls who are mentioned in grandfather’s will. Jane, presumably their mother) and Francis their uncle are to act as guardians.
William junior died at Lanteglos by Camelford in 1708. There are too many Jane Lanyons in the records to trace what happened to William’s wife. There is no further trace of Elizabeth but Constance married Charles Gwavas at Madron in 1726 – five children.
This is the end of William senior’s (and junior’s) line. Fortunately his brothers were able to continue the family line. (See post The Penzance Cordwainers and St Buryan, Helston and St Hilary branches.)
The Lanyons 