William and James were the sons of James Lanyon and Mary Pearce. James was baptised at Breage in 1686 and married Mary Pearce at Breage in 1712. They had two sons and two daughters, this post is about their sons.
William Lanyon 1724-1804
William was baptised some twelve years after his parents’ marriage, presumably there were other children who died in infancy or stillbirths and miscarriages to account for the large gap. He married Florence Michell at Germoe in 1749. They had eleven children:
- Thomas 1750-1823
- Florence 1752-1791
- William 1753-1831 William’s first marriage was to Mary Gibbons at St Hilary in 1781 and they had a child, Mary baptised in 1803. She married James Pearce in 1823 and they had nine children. Mary was baptised in Feb 1803 and her father remarried in Jul 1803 so presumably her mother Mary Gibbons died in childbirth. William’s second wife was Honour King and they married at St Hilary (witnesses to the marriage Thomas Lanyon and Benjamin Rodda). Honour Lanyon died on 8 Mar 1807 at St Hilary age 44. On 11 Jul 1807 (he didn’t hang around!) William (widower) married Honour Edwards at Breage (Witnesses: Benjamin Rodda and William Edwards.) They had a daughter called Mary Anne baptised in 1809 and buried at St Hilary in 1813 age 4. So William had three wives, two called Honour and two daughters both called Mary! William was buried at St Hilary in 1831 and without any male heirs his line died out.
- Mary 1755- she married James Rodda a widower at St Hilary in 1781. They had seven children including Benjamin who was a witness at his uncle William’s weddings.
- James 1757-1758 died in infancy
- James 1758-1851
- Elizabeth 1760-1809 no trace of a marriage
- Catherine 1762- she was baptised at Breage and married Richard Ellis, a carpenter at St Hilary in 1781 – five children
- John 1763-1835
- Margaret 1765-1855 she was baptised at Germoe in 1765. At Sithney in 1792 a Margaret Lanyon baptised an illegitimate child also called Margaret (not sure if it is this Margaret or not) in 1796 she married Nicholas Edwards, a tinner, at Breage – five children. Nicholas died in 1814 and in 1827 Margaret married John Symons, a widower, at Breage. She died at Godolphin Cross in 1855 aged 89, she was living with her son Nicholas.
- Richard 1770-1848 married Jane Lanyon his cousin
With four sons having children of their own this branch of the family is thriving.
James Lanyon 1729-
James was William’s younger brother. He was baptised at Germoe in 1729 and married Catherine Brownfield there in 1755. They had nine children:
- Catherine 1755- no further trace
- James 1757-bef.Aug 1758 died in infancy
- James Aug 1758-bef. Dec 1759 died in infancy
- James 1759-1848
- Loveday – Apr. 1762 died in infancy
- Jennifred – May. 1762 died in infancy
- Loveday 1763-1763 died in infancy
- Jane 1767-1820 married Richard Lanyon her cousin, the son of William Lanyon and Florence Michell
- Loveday 1769-1854 married James Thomas at Germoe in 1801 – six children
Out of nine children only three survived to adulthood.
James senior died after 1769 (when his last child was born) but there is no trace of his burial, Catherine his wife was buried at Germoe in 1816/7 aged 88.
Saint Germochus or Germoe was an early 6th century saint active in Cornwall and Brittany. he was the patron saint of Germoe, he is said to have been a king and friend of St Breage. In the churchyard there is St Germoe’s chair. I wonder how many Lanyons sat in it?
The Lanyons 