My husband recalled being told tales of a highwayman in the family when he was a little boy but just assumed it was a made up bed time story. A little research however reveals that it was probably true!
In 1814 Thomas Lanyon, William Butler and John Rymell were convicted at Warwick Assizes of shooting at Mr J Stanley with intent to kill on the highway at Leek Wootton, just outside Warwick.
There is a short newspaper account in Aris’s Birmingham Gazette dated 25 April 1814.
The jury retired for a few minutes to consider their verdict, they found them guilty and asked for mercy but Lanyon and Rymell were hanged at Warwick for their crime.
Thomas Lanyon was buried on the 1st May at Banbury in Oxfordshire. He was just 27.
Having discovered Thomas I needed to work out where he fitted on the Lanyon tree. It didn’t take long to find his parents and siblings. He was the son of Thomas Lanyon and Priscilla Nicholls who were married at Banbury on 12 July 1785.
Their children were born shortly after:-
- William Nicholls Lanyon 1786-
- Thomas 1787-1814
- Harriot 1788-
- Charles 1790-
- George 1792-
- James 1796-
- Sarah 1797
The parish record keeper has helpfully recorded the occupations of the men presenting their children for baptism so we know that Thomas was a hairdresser.
We don’t know if Thomas was a barber or a wigmaker, perhaps he was both.
In a crowded salon, a wigmaker fits wigs according to occupation; Coloured etching by J.E. Marcus after J. Smies, c. 1810.
Priscilla Lanyon was buried in February 1814 and her husband Thomas was buried on 11 Dec 1826 at Banbury.
There is a record of a Thomas and Mary Lanyon presenting a son John for baptism in 1803. This Thomas is also noted as being a hairdresser. It seems likely that this is the son Thomas who was executed, although he would be barely 16 years old.
Where did Thomas Lanyon senior come from? After quite a search there was just one Thomas who seemed to fit the bill. Thomas baptised 13 July 1760 at Madron, the son of Richard Lanyon and Margery Riccault.
Having worked out where they came from the family disappears and I cannot find where they went. Perhaps the stigma of an executed brother was too much for them to remain in Banbury? Perhaps they changed their names? Perhaps they emigrated?
The Lanyons 