Richard was the eldest son of Francis Lanyon and Ales (Alice) Trewren. Francis and Ales were married 24 May 1584 at Sancreed and their son and heir, Richard was baptised 8 Sep 1585 at Sancreed.
Francis also had an illegitimate daughter baptised at Sancreed on 11 Nov 1587 and one month later his wife gave birth to their son John!
Francis died in 1593 and his eight year old son Richard inherited his estate.
Richard married Jane Mooring alias De La More.
Ante-nuptial agreement:-
“Richard Lanyon of Nancothan in Madron esquire, to Philippa Risdon of Buckland Brewer esquire (sic) and John Allyn of Little Torrington gent. Conveyance in consideration of his late marriage with Jane his wife – of all the manor of Treveglos in St Merryn, the barton and demesnes of Nancothan in Madron, the manor of Lanyon etc. the life interest of Margaret Lanyon widow in Treveglos reserved. “
Source: Royal Institution of Cornwall – Rashleigh MSS dated 1608.
(The Margaret who had a life interest in the manor of Treveglos was the Margaret married to John Lanyon Esq who died in 1605 at St Merryn, Richard’s grandfather.)
Jane’s portion which she brought to the marriage was £360 and a tenement in Clawton, Devon. John Allyn was her stepfather.
“…I found the mother of Jane Mooring. I knew her father was Richard. Her mother was Pascha Risdon the daughter of Ambrose Risdon of Buckland Brewer, Devon and Melliore the daughter of William Braddon of Sutcombe, Devon. Her mother Pascha Risdon married 2nd John Allen. Pascha had a brother Phillip Risdon. This explains the marriage settlement above.”
Source: Letter dated 23 Jan 1967 from William Lamparter to Mrs Rose B Tolman.
Whilst John Lanyon Esq had left a very small estate valued at just £40 in 1605 it appears that Richard, his grandson, had inherited sufficient lands and funds to be able to marry Jane Mooring who had a marriage portion of £360 and a tenement.
Their son and heir John was baptised 13 Jul 1610 at Madron. Their next two children were born and died. After this they moved north to St Merryn/St Ervan. (RNAS St Merryn was a Royal Naval air station.)
Unfortunately the parish registers for St Merryn and St Ervan are lacking at this time so it is difficult to follow the family. Richard and Jane’s children were:
- John 1610 – 1644
- Pasca
- Philippa 20 Apr 1613 Padstow – aft. 1657 (we know she was still alive in 1657 as she is mentioned in litigation: Richard Lanyon V Elizabeth & Phillipp Lanyon. Source: NA C10/55/110
- Jane abt. 1615 – aft. 1636
- Richard abt. 1617 – abt. 1675 (Charles II – 15) St Ervan
- Thomas abt. 1618 – abt.1649 St Ervan
- Francis 1619 – 2 Mar 1689 St Merryn
- Elizabeth 17 Nov 1622 – 17 Oct 1662 St Merryn
- Margery bef. 1636 –
Outlawed
Like so many of the landed gentry at this time Richard Lanyon Esq liked property speculation unfortunately he got into debt and was outlawed by the Sheriff of Cornwall.
1634 Litigation describes him thus:
“Have you heard that Richard Lanyon was a man much indebted to diverse persons, including Edmond Phillips of Stratton, Cornwall, to whom he owed £300…..have you not heard that the said Richard by reason of his debts did much impeach (waste) his estate?“
Source: National Archives: E 134/10Chas1/Mich41
The deposition is very long (8 pages in total) but it does give some interesting facts about Richard and his children. The deposition was carried out by Walter Orchard and he questions Richard’s children, John and Jane, at length. He also questions ‘Francis Lanyon of St Ervan, gent aged 16 or thereabouts.’
Walter Orchard tried to show that Richard Lanyon deliberately divested himself of goods and chattels in order to stop his creditors from seizing them. He gave them to his children but still had the use and financial benefit of them.
We also learn that in abt. 1628 Richard had sold his lands at Harlyn in St Merryn which had an annual value of £20 or more.
From the deposition we learn that Jane Lanyon, Richard’s daughter, lived in the Scilly Isles. John Lanyon, his son, was living in the low countries, over the sea. It looks as though the elder children have placed themselves as far away as possible from the scandal.
In 1632, in debt, Richard and his eldest son John sold the barton of Lanyon, held by the family for over 400 years, to his cousin, Jonathan Rashleigh of Menabilly, for £500.
In 1636 Richard died at Treginegar (one of the few properties he retained) and was buried at St Ervan. Despite his financial problems his estate was still worth £558 and he left bequests to his wife and children.
Last Will & Testament of Richard Lanyon of St Ervan, gentleman – Proved 1 Mar 1636
- To Jane my wife £10 a year for life and my best bed.
- To my daughter Pascha 5/-
- To my son John Lanyon £20 and whereas he is indebted to his sister Jane, if she releases him, he shall release to her his right in Towen worth and Towen wola in St Merryn which he hath by demise of Hugh Boskowen of Tregothan in Cornwall Esq and hath since made over the same to Jane.
- To Francis Lanyon my sonne £40
- To Phillip Lanyon my daughter £40
- To Jane Lanyon my daughter £40
- To my two sons Richard and Thomas £50 each
- To my two daughters Elizabeth and Margerie £30 each
- To the poor of St Merryn 5/- and to the poor of St Ervan 5/-
- I make my son Richard and my daughter Jane my executors and to them I leave the rest of my goods.
Presumably Pascha was already married and had received her ‘portion’ which is why she was only given 5/-.
Jane Mooring was still alive in 1651 as she was mentioned in a ‘Plea of Trespass and Enactment’.(Source: 4 Car I, John Warne plaintiff and Katherine Trehill als Michel defendant. Rashleigh Papers. CA/B38/57). There is a burial of a Jane Lanyon on 12 Jan 1684 at St Ervan, not sure if this is mother, daughter or daughter-in-law (Richard junior’s wife).
The heir, John Lanyon, died and was buried on 14 Nov 1643. He was unmarried and left his estate to his mother.
Richard the younger married Jane. In 1669 at St Ervan he and his wife were presented for not cohabiting. In 1670 he was one of the trustees of the church lands in St Merryn.
Source: Episcopal Records Exeter
Francis married Honor Warne baptised 10 Sep 1620 at Padstow. She was buried in Padstow in 1655.
Their children:
- Katheryn 1645-1708 married John Williams Jun
- John 1649-aft. 1662
- Honor bef. 1655-aft. 1662
- Richard 1655-aft. 1662
In 1674 Francis Lanyon gent was presented for not attending church.
I later found the 1662 will of John Warne, yeoman of Padstow, which states:-
‘Item I give and bequeath unto Katherine Lanyon the daughter of Francis Lanyon twentie shillings. And also unto John Lanyon, Richard Lanyon and Honner Lanyon sonnes and daughter of the said Francis Lanyon to each of them twentie shillings.‘
John Warne had a daughter Honor who was baptised in 1620 and whilst there is no record of a marriage she appears to be the wife of Francis Lanyon. Honor died in 1655. This will gives us the names of Honor and Francis’ four children and Honor’s family.
A Katheryn Lanyon married John Williams at Camborne in 1668. Katheryn Williams may be Francis Lanyon’s daughter. There is no further trace of Honor, John or Richard. There are probably descendants of this line but it’s not possible to prove that.
The Lanyons 