The Golden Lanyons Grandsons

The Golden Lanyon had six surviving sons and sixteen surviving grandsons.

John Lanyon & Mary Borlase

His eldest son John married Mary Borlase. They had three sons who survived to adulthood and married. John, William and Tobias.

John Lanyon 1664-aft. 1708

John and Mary Borlase’s eldest son, also called John, married Lady Frances Brydges. They were married by licence on 14 Jun 1697 at Trinity Church, London, Frances Clarke widow aged 45 and John Lanyon bachelor of St Ives age 28. The ages on the marriage register don’t quite match the baptism records. If John was baptised in 1664 he would have been 33 not 28. But Frances was also somewhat economical with the truth about her age!

She was born circa 1644 at Wilton Castle, the daughter of John Brydges, 2nd Baronet of Wilton and his wife Lady Mary Pearle. Frances’s first husband was Dr William Brabourne and by him she had 4 sons and a daughter. William died in 1684 and she then married Henry Clarke. He must have died sometime before 1697 when she married for the third time to John Lanyon. She was aged about 53 and John was about 33.

London & Surrey Marriage Allegations and Bonds

Frances was the sister of James, Lord Chandos 1642-1714.

James Brydges Lord Chandos Government Art Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

James was the father of the James Brydges the first Duke of Chandos

Duke of Chandos by **Herman van der Mijn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons**

John and Frances had no children and there is no trace of their deaths. John appears to still be alive in 1708 and Frances was still alive in 1713.

Tobias Lanyon 1675-1709

Tobias married Ann Walscombe at Truro in 1696. (Name is spelt Leanion in the parish register.)

Their eldest child was John baptised 12 May 1699 at Truro. In 1722 Philip Webber of Falmouth, attorney was paid £52.00 to take on John as an apprentice. John married Grace Luke in 1716. Their children-

Ann 1717- no futher trace
Jane 1720 – married Roge Harding. Her sister Susannah’s will calls her Jane Harding.
Grace 1722-1724 died in infancy
Elizabeth 1725- no further trace
Tobias 1727-1796 he married Elizabeth Gray in 1752 at Redruth and they had one daughter Jane born in 1753. No further trace of Jane. He then married Catherine Brown in 1786. In 1742 a consideration of £8 was paid to Richard Stone for an apprenticeship for Tobias. He was later described as a shopkeeper of Redruth.
Susannah 1730-1780 spinster

John’s second wife was Mrs Ann Bolithoe, they married at Kenwyn near Truro in 1744.

We don’t know when John died but Ann died at Maker in Cornwall in 1782, Susannah also died at Maker so perhaps they were living together.

William Lanyon & Jane Keigwin

William was the Golden Lanyons second son, he and Jane had three sons that married. William, Martyn and Robert.

William Lanyon 1680-bef. 1776

William was baptised in Sancreed in 1680. I couldn’t trace a marriage, however a William Lanyon of Sancreed is excommunicated on 16 Jan 1722 for contumacy (stubborn refusal to obey or comply with authority, especially disobedience to a court order or summons.) Source: NA ARD/160/24 (National Archives – Archdeaconery of Cornwall.)

There is no trace of a marriage for William however Grace Chennall’s will leaves enough information for us to place John and Thomas Lanyon as his sons. John and Thomas lived in Fowey and it is possible that the family moved there following William’s excommunication.

William died before 1776 as he is mentioned in his brother Robert’s will as ‘my late brother’.

See more about John & Thomas in the post ‘The Fowey Boys.’

Martyn Lanyon 1682-1734

Martyn was baptised at Sancreed in 1682 and married Margery Luddard at Liskeard in 1722. (Name spelt Laynion in the register.) Forty was quite old for a first marriage but I haven’t found any trace of a previous marriage. There was a Martyn Lanyon who married a Grace Bonyface on 5 Aug 1736 at Plymouth St Andrew and a Martyn Lanyon married Grace Luddra at Yealmpton, Devon on 8 Aug 1742. Could this Martyn be a son of Martyn Lanyon of Liskeard? Liskeard is close to the border between Devon and Cornwall. Martyn is an unusual name in the Lanyon family, Jane Keigwin’s father was called Martyn so this seems to be the origin of the name.

Martyn was an innkeeper at Liskeard and was buried there on the 11 Aug 1734.

Liskeard

Robert Lanyon 1688-1776

Robert was baptised at Sancreed on 29 Sep 1688. He married Grace Chennall on 14 Oct 1755 at Perranarworthal, Cornwall when he was 67 years old! If he had an earlier marriage I haven’t yet found it.

On 21 Jun 1757 he took on Joan White age 13 as an apprentice in housewifery. She was indentured to him until the age of 21.

He was buried on 23 Feb 1776 at Feock in Cornwall. There is a tablet over the side door of Feock church “Robert Lanyon of Sancrete of this county, gent, 1776 age 83”.

St. Feock’s church, St. Feock, Cornwall by Derek Voller, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

His will mentions no children but it does mention other relatives.

Transcript of Will: Exeter Consistery Court 30 Aug 1773 – Proved 1776

Robert Lanyon yeoman of Penryn.

First my kinswoman Isabella Rogers, wife of John Rogers of St Michael
Kinsman Mathias Andrews. (the husband of his deceased sister Isabel) of St Michael, also Mathias Andrews my cloathes chest and all my wearing apparel.
To kinswomen Jane, Margery and Isabella, daughters of Mathias Andrews
To William Lapp, Plymouth and his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
To John Lanyon, grandson of my late brother William Lanyon, my silver goblet and my two handle silver cup and silver tankard.
To younger brother of said John Lanyon £10
To before named kinsman John Lanyon, his heirs and assigns, my messuage and tenement called Ennis-an-Mannen, St Creet, and dwelling house etc at Penryn called Chennalls House, also my several tin bounds called Ennis-an-Mannen bounds, Church lane Bounds and Tronach Mill Bound, also 1/5 part or share in all other tin bounds called Great Vrane, Wheal reeth, Wheal Yelt, and Wheal-an-Speeren Bound, St Crett, according to the customs of the Stannary of Penwith and Kirrier.
I give and bequeath to my old friend and acquaintance Samuel Tresidder, town of Falmouth, one guinea to buy him a mourning ring.
The rest to my beloved wife Grace.

Seal shows falcon’s wing extended over two large towers and a large door castle with one hole above each side of door and waves of the sea.

His wife Grace was 25 years younger than her husband and lived on at Feock until 1791. In 1784 she took in Jenefer Williams age 12 as an apprentice indenture for Housewifery. Grace was described as a widow of Perranarworthal.

Reproduced by kind permission of OPC Cornwall – transcribed by John Warren

Source: Source:- LDS Film No. 1596395 – Poor law records for Perranarworthal, 1724-1860

Grace died in 1791 and left a will which helps clarify her brother-in-law William’s grandson.

Partial Transcript: Will of Grace Lanyon widow of Robert Lanyon of Penryn

My silver tankard and silver goblet to my nephew Francis Jones Lanyon (in fact he was her great nephew) of the borough of Looe to keep in remembrance of me.
My niece Grace, daughter of my late brother John Chennall and Maria her sister, wife of William Mitchell of Penryn

(William Mitchell was a mason and Grace Lanyon appears very worried about her niece Grace Tiss ? marrying this man.) Source – Jane Veale Mitchell note.

Tobias Lanyon & Jane Tresilian

Tobias, the third son, married Jane Tresilian and had one surviving son, Charles.

Charles Lanyon 1689-1768

Charles was baptised at Sancreed on 8 Mar 1689. He married Joan Noye at Morvah on 5 Oct 1713. The parish register notes that they were both from the town of Paul. Charles was a merchant at Paul. They had four children: Sarah b.1716, Charles b.1718 and Mary b.1719 and Thomas b.1722. There is no further trace of any of the children.

Charles died at Penzance in 1768 and his wife died the following year.

Francis Lanyon & Phillipp Nicholls

Francis was the fourth son, he married Phillipp Nicholls and they had five sons.

Francis Lanyon 1686-1723

Francis was baptised at Sancreed 29 Dec 1686, he married Jane Edwards of Penzance at Morvah on 10th Aug 1715. They had five children:

Jane 1716-1716 died in infancy
Dorothy 1717-1757. She married John Tellum at Lostwithiel in 1750. They had 3 children and he died before the third was born. She died seven years after the marriage.
Francis 1719-1730 died young
Jane 1722-aft. 1778 She is mentioned in her aunt’s will of 1778.
Benoni John 1723-1777 Born three months after the death of his father. Benoni means ‘son of my sorrow’. He was an attorney and married Sybella Tremenheere at Madron in 1769. No children.

Thomas Lanyon 1691-1743

Thomas was baptised 10 Feb 1691 at Sancreed. He became a pewterer in Bristol. You can read all about him in the post ‘Thomas Lanyon Pewterer of Bristol.’

William Lanyon 1693-1756

William was baptised at Sancreed on 3 Mar 1693. He was a yeoman and married Jane Philips on 18 Aug 1725 at Zennor. They had four children.

William 1725-1770 He married Joan Esterbook 1751 and Elizabeth Murrish 1758.
Ralph 1727- no further trace
Jane 1730-1799 She married Thomas Woolcock. One daughter Grace.
Hugh 1732-1769 He married Anne Eady and had two sons.

1756 Lanyon William Madron Download

John Lanyon 1697-1738

John was baptised at Sancreed 15 Sep 1697 and was buried there in 1738. No trace of a marriage or children.

Tobias Lanyon 1702-1778

Tobias was born in 1702 and in 1717 he was apprenticed to John Tonkin of Penzance, a tobacconist, for a fee of £20. Tobias never married.

In 1769 Richard Carew’s book ‘Survey of Cornwall’ was rereleased and Tobias was listed as one of the subscribers. ‘Tobias Lanyon Esq of Penzance.’

He also left a will which details some of the family relationships.

Abstract: Tobias Lanyon of Penzance, gentleman.

Sister in law Jane Lanyon (Edwards) widow of my late brother Francis and his daughter Jane Lanyon.
Remembers his late housekeeper and gives her land in Camborne and Illogan
Nephew James Tellum
Godson John Tresilian Reichenberg, son of John Rodolpus Reichenberg, gent, his interest in tenement of Treledvas, Buryan.
God daughter Grace Pendar, daughter of Benjamin Pendar gent, £100
To my kinsman William Nicholls of Trereife, Esq. and his sister Mrs Francis Harris, wife of William Harris of Kenegy Esq.
To my kinsman John Nicholls Esq. of Lincoln’s Inn Fields
To sister Mary Lanyon of Penzance, spinster, and then to my nephew William Wayne, gent, late of Bristol (bought to Cornwall to teach the Cornish metallurgy) and niece Anna Maria Wayne, his daughter. In the end she inherits all his wealth and married Samuel Bird Esq.

William Wayne 1725-1787 married Ann Lanyon and their daughter Anna Maria Wayne 1763-1803 is the person mentioned in Tobias’ will. Ann Lanyon was the daughter of Thomas Lanyon, pewterer of Bristol.

Tobias’ sister Mary was born 1690 and died in 1779 a spinster. She left a detailed will which shows how wealthy she was.

Mary Lanyon’s will Source: NA PROB 11/105/117

Sister-in-law Jane Lanyon of the parish of Paul, widow of my brother Francis Lanyon annuity £10
Niece Jane Lanyon daughter of my brother Francis annuity £10
Nephew John Tellum late of Penzance annuity of £10
Mrs Sibilla Lanyon widow of my nephew Benoni John Lanyon £100
Joan Tresilian widow of John Tresilian £100
Sarah Lanyon of Penzance spinster daughter of the late Charles Lanyon £100
Spinster Jane Bullock who used to live with me £100
Nephew James Tellum carpenter £300
Jane and Catherine Ustick daughters of late Stephen Ustick Esq of Botallack in St Just £100 each
Cousin William Nicholls of Trereife £100 guineas
Mary Stewart Nicholls daughter of my cousin William Nicholls Esq. £20 guineas
Frances Harris wife of William Harris Esq £20 guineas
Mary Ustick widow of the late Henry Ustick of Breage £5 guineas
Catherine Lanyon daughter of late Henry Lanyon of Breage £100 (Gwinear branch)
David Dennis of Penzance gent £100 guineas
David Carthors of Penzance gent £100 guineas
Cousin John Nicholls of Lincoln’s Inn London Esq £1000
Nephew William Wayne late of Bristol and now of Penzance £1000
Mrs Olive? Gubbs of Penzance £10
Niece Anna Maria Wayne £2000
William Wayne & David Dennis executors £100 each

Thomas Lanyon & Margaret Paule

The Golden Lanyon’s youngest son was Thomas who married Margaret Paule in 1681 at Breage. They had two sons who survived to adulthood: William and John.

William Lanyon 1705-1791

William was baptised at Paul on 25 Mar 1705. 1733 he married Margaret Richards. They had three children:

Margaret 1737-1823 Married Thomas Cattran 1757 at Paul six children
William 1739-1827 Married Mary Pooley 1776 at Ludgvan, seven children
Henry Lanyon 1743-1748 died in infancy

John Lanyon 1711-1767

John was baptised at Paul on 8 Apr 1711, married Sarah Straight at St Erme in 1735. They moved to St Allen and lived at their farm at Henver Wartha.

They had a large family and this was the start of the St Allen branch of the tree.

Copy of the marriage entry of John Lanyon and Sarah Straight issued in 1906

See St Allen branch to continue with this family.

22nd Sep 202212th Nov 2025

The Children of The ‘Golden’ Lanyon

The Golden Lanyon was so named due to his great wealth. His first wife Ann/Nan Jopp died as did his first child, Alsen. He then married Mary Ellis and they went on to have 13 children (displayed over two trees below.)

John 1641-1720
Mary 1643-1723
Hugh 1644-1645
Phillip 1645-1646
William 1647-1726
Tobias 1648-1698
Jane 1648-1722
Francis 1651-1725
Joanne 1653-
Rebecca 1656-1705
Charles 1658-1721
Phillip 1659-1710
Thomas 1661-1738

John Lanyon 1641-1720

John was the eldest, born in Sancreed in 1641. Aged twenty he married his cousin Mary Borlase. Mary was the daughter of John Borlase and Cheston Pawley and the granddaughter of Walter Borlase and Mary Lanyon of Breage (see Breage branch). They married at Morvah on 27 Dec 1661.

John was Mayor of St Ives in 1685, 1690 and 1696. In 1697 there is a legal agreement between John Lanion gent of St Ives and his brother William Lanion gent of Botrea over the Balleswidden mine at St Just.

Balleswidden Mine

John and Mary had eight children:

Mary 1662-1733 married John Ustick at Morvah in 1883 – 11 children
John 1664-
Tobias 1666-1675 died young
Cheston 1670-1733 married Martyn Gubbs at St Ives in 1698
William 1673-1706 no marriage found.
Tobias 1675-1709
Jane 1678-1736 married John Hichens at St Ives in 1705 – 7 children
Elizabeth -1687 died young

Mary Lanyon 1643-1723

Mary married John Perrow at St Buryan in 1662 and they had one child also called John. Her husband died in 1668 and in 1673 Mary married Richard Tresilian, they had two children, Marye and James.

William Lanyon 1647-1726

In 1670 William married Jane Keigwin at St Burian. Jane was the great grand daughter of Jenkin Keigwin and Thomasine Rawe of Mousehole. Jenkin was killed by canon fire on 23 Jul 1595 when his home at Mousehole was attacked by Spaniards who sacked the town.

The Story of Jenkin Kegwin

The Spanish Raid on Cornwall 1595

Jenkin’s house is still standing in Mousehole, the oldest building in the village.

William and Jane had 10 children.

John 1671-1727 – mentioned in his father’s will of 1727 but no further trace.
Isabel 1673-1756 married Matthias Andrew and had six children.
Mary 1675-1679 died in infancy
Elizabeth 1677- no further trace, the name Elizabeth Lanyon is very common.
William 1680-1776 (he died aged 96!)
Martyn 1682-1734
Tobias 1685-1685 died in infancy
Francis 1686-1687 died in infancy
Robert 1688-1776 married Grace Chennall in 1755 when he was 67 years old! A second marriage perhaps but no trace of any children.
Jane 1691-1692 died in infancy

Jane Lanyon 1648-1722

In 1670 Jane married Richard Bosustowe at St Buryan. They had two daughters, Mary and Jane. Jane died at St Levan in 1722.

Tobias Lanyon 1648-1698

In 1670 Tobias also married at St Buryan to Jane Tresilian. They had seven children but only four Lanyon grandchildren and we don’t know what happened to them.

Jane 1672- married Abel Angove of Illogan (see post ‘Abel Angove’)
Tobyas 1674- still alive in 1714
James 1676-1684 died young
John 1678-1684 died young
Charles 1682-1683 died in infancy
Mary 1685-1691 died in infancy
Charles 1689-1768 married Joan Noye at Morvah in 1713, they had three children: Sarah, Mary, Thomas and Charles and no further trace of any of them.

I did find a legal dispute Lanyon v Lanyon – Chancery Proceedings Ante 1714

Tobias Lanyon gent having died, his wife Jane and his brother Charles said that the deceased had paid John Trewren for conveyance but that John Ustick (the husband of his niece Mary Lanyon) had not given Tobias the elder the receipt for Reprovance Vean asked for, and which Jane asked for after his death. (John Ustick would rather be torn by wild horses than do it!).

This legal dispute implies that Tobyas the younger was still alive at 1714.

Inventory of Tobias Lanyon will of 1698 – Source CRO AP/L/1003

Tobias’ inventory was signed by John Ustick and Richard Tresilian.

Francis Lanyon 1651-1725

Francis married Phillipp Nicholls on 31 Dec 1681 at Madron. They had ten children.

Dorothy 1685-1687 died in infancy
Francis 1686-1723
Phillipa 1689-1689 died in infancy
Mary 1690-1779
Thomas 1691-1743
William 1693-1756
Nicholas 1695-1706 died in infancy
John 1697-1738
Jane 1699-1738
Tobias 1702-1778

I found a reference to Francis Lanyon in ‘A Compendium of the History and Geography of Cornwall’ by Rev JJ Daniell 1908.

p 454 Sancreed

The author talks about the poor state of this parish church and adds the following footnote:-

“This question of seating was a trouble in many parishes. the vicar here, John Smyth, was sore tried…at a later time even Francis Lanyon of Sancreed, gentleman, being a man of considerable estate and married into a very worthye family, viz., Mrs Phillip Nicholl, niece to the worshipful Colonel Godolphin esq ‘was actually without a convenient seat.’ The Lanyons of Botrea and later Tregonebris were for many generations the leading family in Sancreed.”

These comments were apparently penned by Bishop Sparrow after his visitation to Sancreed on 15 July 1671.

Sancreed Church by Jowaninpensans, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Francis died at Tregonebris in 1725.

Joane Lanyon 1653-1703

Joane married John Edwards at Ludgvan in 1674, no further trace.

Elizabeth Lanyon 1654-1737

Elizabeth married Francis Elies at Sancreed in 1681, they had three children: Bennet, Anne and Caterina.

Rebecca Lanyon 1656-1705

Rebecca married her cousin Thomas Trenwith at Towednack, Cornwall in 1676. (Her name is spelt Rovena in the register). Thomas was the son of Renatus Trenwith and Joan/Johanna Lanyon of Gwinear. (see Gwinear branch.)

Thomas went to Oxford University and was Mayor of St Ives in 1684.

Thomas and Rebecca had eight children.

Charles Lanyon 1658-1721

The Sancreed parish register lists his baptism as Charels son of Mr John Leanyne and Marie.

Charles married Sarah Tresilian about 1686 and they had four children:

Mary 1688- married Paschoe Hockin at St Buryan 1710
Sarah 1690-1793 (age 102!!) she never married (see post ‘Sarah’s Pew’)
Catherine 1698-1751 married James Tremenhere at St Levan in 1720 – five children.
Abraham Lanyon 1699- no further trace.

Charles Lanyon’s will of 1722 (Source Bodmin Probate Registry) lists the following:

A purse, girdle and wearing apparel, one pair of pistols, one gun, one sword, to a friend.

Phillip Lanyon 1659-

Phillip was the seventh son but he still managed to inherit land in Sancreed and money from both parents.

There is an Ann Lanyon d/o Philipp baptised at Madron in 1678, she could be a daughter of this Philipp, it isn’t clear. Phillip married Mary Edwards at Ludgvan in 1683 but no further children traced.

There is a burial of a Phillip Lanion at Eastern meeting Society of Friends at Liskeard on 16 Jul 1697, also an Elizabeth Lanion buried 29 May 1689 of Liskeard. It is possible that it is the same Phillip. Could the Phillip buried at Liskeard be a woman?

Thomas Lanyon

Thomas was born in 1661 just three years before his father died. He was left land and money by both parents. He married Margaret Paule at Breage in 1681.

Phyllis 1695-1750 – spinster
Anne 1698-1699 – died in infancy
Jane Lanyon 1700-1782 – married John Tremethick
Jone Lanyon 1702-1784 – married William Perrow – 2 children
William 1705-1791 – married Margaret Richards – 3 children
John 1711-1767 – married Sarah Straight and started the St Allen branch of the family.

And just like that the Botrea branch of the family has grown! With so many children and grandchildren I have concentrated on the male grandchildren and their families. It becomes a journey of wealth to poverty over the course of the generations.

21st Sep 202218th Apr 2025

The ‘Golden’ Lanyon

John ‘Golden’ Lanyon was the eldest surviving son of William Lanyon who died at Sancreed in 1624 and the grandson of John Lanyon Esq. He was “commonly called ‘the Golden Lanyon’ as having gotten great riches by tin, which he divided among his numerous issue”. source – ‘The Parochial History of Cornwall’ – Davied Gilbert 1838 – Volume 2. He was also according H.L Douch in his article on John Smyth the vicar of Sancreed, a moneylender. (See the post ‘The Scandalous Vicar of Sancreed’).

His siblings were:

Elizabeth 1593- who married John Nowell alias Peares at Sancreed in 1617.
John 1596-1601 died in infancy
Jane 1602- married Thomas Flavell 21 Nov 1619 at Sancreed.
William 1603-1687 married Grace at Illogan 24 Nov 1636 (when he was aged 33), and was buried at Illogan 27 Feb 1687. (There is a Catheren Lanyne buried at Illogan in 1623, could this be a first wife to William?)
Paskas abt. 1606 – we’ll cover her in a separate post.
Elizabettie abt. 1607- Elizabettie was still alive in 1624 as she was mentioned in William’s will but we don’t know what happened to her.

John ‘Golden’ Lanyon’s baptism wasn’t recorded but he must have been born after the death of his elder brother in 1601 and before his brother William in 1603.

His first marriage was to Ann (Nan) Jopp on 29 Oct 1636 at Sancreed. Ann died in childbirth, she was buried on 2 Feb 1637 aged just 17. Her daughter also called Ann was baptised the same day. Baby Ann was buried on 2 Sep 1638 at Sancreed.

On 17 Feb 1639 John and Mary Ellis, the daughter of Charles Ellis and Alice Penwarne, were married by licence at Sancreed.

Mary was aged 20 and went on to have fourteen children of which only two died in infancy.

John 1641-1720
Mary 1643-1723
Hugh 1644-1645
Philippa 1645-1646
William 1647-1726
Jane Jan 1648-
Tobias Nov 1648-1698
Francis 1651-1725
Joane 1653-1703
Elizabeth 1654-1737
Rebecca 1656-1705
Charles 1658-1721
Phillip 1659-
Thomas 1661-1738

John & Mary were the founders of the Botrea branch of the Lanyon family and with twelve surviving children it was quite a branch!

The children of John Lanyon and the Botrea branch of the Lanyon tree.

John and Mary lived at Botrea house in Sancreed.

In 1659 his cousin John Lanyon of Morvah sold John Lanyon of Botrea House, Sancreed the Manor of Tregaminion for £1500. – Source Henderson MSS Vol XII p83 Bundle 15.

John was buried on 17 Apr 1664 at Sancreed. After his burial John Smyth the unconventional vicar at Sancreed stated ‘the old hog is dead!’ Mary Lanyon, his widow, prosecuted John Smyth in the Consistory Court in 1668 (see post ‘Scandalous Vicar of Sancreed’).

He left a detailed will – note the name Johannes Lamon!

In the name of God Amen Johannes Lamon Dated the Eleaventh day of Aprill In the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty and Foure 1664 I John Lamon of Bottreth in the parish of St Crett in the County of Cornwall gentleman being now in perfect mind and memory Thanks be to God doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following First I doe bequeath my soule into the hands of my Redeemer And my body to receive Christian burial Amen First I doe give and bequeath to the reparacion of the parish Church of St Crett Twenty shillings Item I doe give and bequeath To the poorest sort of the Parish of St Crett Twenty shillings Item I doe give the whole houses that I have built in the Trerise in the parish of St Crett to the poorest sort of people of St Crett parish for ever to remaine and the little plott of land which is excepted upon my deed for ever To be disposed by my Executor or their Assigns for ever.

Item I doe give and bequeath to the reparacion of the parish Church of the parish of St Just Tenn shillings
Item I doe give and bequeath to the poorest sort of St Just Tenn shilling
Item I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Mary the wife of John Perrow Five pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Joane Lamon Three Hundred pounds of good English money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Lamon Two hundred and Fifty pounds of good English money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Lamon Two Hundred and Fifty pounds of good English money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne William Lamon All my Estate in Bottreth and in Bossence and in Deanerall Chegwine vean Treronacke and Treronacke Mill and Lanes and Mannen within the parish of St Crett Lease and Fee And all my Estate of the houses and Land that I Did buy of Thomas Chergwine of Penzance And the Fee land that I did buy of David Graffe being the land that Mrs Margery Rogers hath a Lease of it in Penzance And the One halfe of all my houshould goods And the One halfe of all my Tynn Bounds And Two Hundred pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne Tobias Lamon all my Estate in Tredgion issueing Lease and Fee in Tregenebres within the parish of St Crett And all my Fee land in Brane in St Crett parish and two Hundred and Fifty pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne Francis Lamon All my Estate in Reynald Madderne ?‐‐‐ living in Trigenibres within the parish of St Crett and my Fee land in Cardeney within the parish of Burian And Two Hundred pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne Charles Lamon All my Estate in Bowanante and Bowanante Vean within the parish of St Crett and the Fee Estate of Boddeneak within the parish of St Crett and Two Hundred pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne Philipp Lamon All my Fee land in Laves Treaven and Nanceathon within the parish of St Crett and three Hundred and Fifty pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath To my sonne Thomas Lamon All my Fee land in Terdeny in Burian parish which I did buy of Mr William Keygwine and Mr William Madderne And Two Hundred and Fifty pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to the Child That is in my wife if shee be with Child att the tyme of my death Two Hundred pounds in money
Item I doe give and bequeath to my sonne John Lamon the Fee Estate of the Land in Keygwin within the parish of St Just which I bought of Mr Peeter Cely and Foure young mares which I have att Tregenminion And the one halfe of all my Tynn bounds
Item I doe give and bequeath To my wife Mary Lamon the living in Sennen parish called Bussume (words illegible) But if she doe stay Unmarried I doe make her my Childrens (words illegible) doe give her all my goods and Chattells moveable and unmoveable (words illegible) given But if shee doe marry she is to have the living in (words illegible) called Busume during her life and noe longer and Thirty pounds (words illegible) if doe stay a widow woman she is to have the benfitt and profits of the (word illegible) of Bownonce and Bownance vean And the one halfe of all the profits of Reonald Madderne is living and the one halfe of all the profits of ?‐‐‐ living in Tregenebres And the one halfe of the profits of Bottreth (words illegible) of yeares And the one halfe of all the benefit All the rest of my Children is portions towards their maintenance until they come of yeares But if shee doe not marry I doe make her my full and whole Executor and to fulfil this my last will and Testament But if shee doe marry I doe make my sonne William Lamon and my sonne Tobias full and whole Executor Joyntly and to fulfil this my last will and Testament ?‐‐‐ call their mother to give a Just ?‐‐‐. of what she did re come which should be due to them as to any of their brothers or sisters That they may have it from her to pay them I doe give to my man Francis Ellis Twenty shillings I doe appoint and ordaine my brother in Lawe Pascoe Ellis and my sonne John Lamon to see that my wife may be carefull to maintain my Children and to put their ?‐‐‐ in good hands whereby they may have it when they come to yeares.

By kind permission of the Cornwall OPC – Transcription: Kath Chaveli/Judith Upton

https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/more-info/?t=wills_transcriptions&id=7744

His will shows just how wealthy he was and how many of his children were still very young at the time of his death. His youngest child Thomas was just three years old.

His wife Mary outlived him by twelve years, she never remarried. She left a will which gives us the names of a number of her grandchildren and helps us to build the next generation on the tree.

Will of Maria Lanyon widow of St Levan – Source NA PROB/11/351

20th Sep 202212th Nov 2025

The Children of John Lanyon Esq

John Lanyon Esq had at least three wives (see the post ‘The Two Johns’) but surprisingly few documented children. His first marriage to Phelype Myliton produced two sons: Francis and William.

Francis Lanyon abt. 1563-1593

Francis Lanyon was born about 1563; in 1584 he married Alice (Ales) Trewren, the daughter of John Trewren and Elizabeth Chiverton. There were three documented children of this marriage: Richard baptised 8 Sep 1585 at Sancreed, (see the post ‘Richard Lanyon Esq ‘Outlaw’ ‘), John baptised 10 Dec 1587 and Anne born about 1590. Francis also had an illegitimate daughter who was baptised 11 Nov 1587 at Sancreed, a month before his son John was baptised. We don’t know what happened to Elizabeth or what his wife Alice thought!

Less than six years later Francis was dead, he was aged about 30. Administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 17 Oct 1593 (will lost). Eight year old Richard Lanyon becomes the heir to John Lanyon Esq. Alice appears to have raised her family at Sancreed, staying close to her own family.

Their daughter Anne Lanyon married John Tonken on 8 Nov 1612 at Madron. No further trace of their son John.

William Lanyon abt. 1570-1624

William was the second son, we don’t know when he was born, perhaps the early 1570s. On 19 Nov 1592 he married Jane at Sancreed. Their children were: Elizabeth, John, John, Jane, William, Paskas and Elizabettie. (Two daughters both called Elizabeth and both survived!)

See the Post about Paskis Lanion for more information.

William was buried on 17 Jan 1624 at Sancreed, fortunately he left a detailed will which helpfully names his children. He also leaves a great inventory of goods and chattels worth £170, a considerable sum at that time.

Source – CRO AP/L/256

1624 Lanyon William Sancreed Download

George Lanyon abt. 1586-aft. 1633

John Lanyon’s esquire’s second wife was Katherine Kekewich and they had at least one son called George who was blind. George was born about 1586 and was still alive in 1633 (see post “The Two Johns”).

We don’t know what happened to George, there is no record of his burial, no will and he’s not mentioned in any Lanyon wills.

Elizabeth Lanyne -1659

See post ‘The Neilder Connection’

Elizabeth lived at Menheniot in Cornwall. There is one other Lanyne living there at the same time, a woman called Grace Lanyne who married James Short in 1620. She may be a sister to Elizabeth as she doesn’t fit anywhere else on the tree!

John Lanyon – 1587

The Madron parish register records the burial of John Lanyon the son of John Lanyon Esq on 2 Jul 1587. This must be the burial of a child but there is no record of a baptism so we have no idea if he was baptised before or after Phelype’s death or whether his mother was Phelype or Katherine, he may even have been an illegitimate child.

Four, possibly five, children seems a small number of children for the time, perhaps John Lanyon Esq had others who weren’t recorded.

See also the post ‘John Lanyon of Penwinnick Estate’ under the Breage branch.

19th Sep 202212th Nov 2025

The Children of Richard Lanyon Esq

Richard Lanyon married Margaret Treskillard and they had at least twelve children, including two sons both called John!

His children were: John, John, Richard, William, Raphe, Edward, Clement, Syman, Thomasine, Maude, Joane and Jane.

To find out more about his sons see separate posts “The Two Johns’, ‘John the Younger’ and ‘Richard, Edward and Raphe Lanyon’. This post is about his daughters.

Thomasine Lanyon

Richard’s eldest daughter was Thomasine, named after her grandmother Thomasine Tregian. Thomasine married Simon George and they had at least two children: Simon and Salathiell George of Trenouth who was still alive in 1620.

Mention of Salathiell is found in a book of illustrations by Hans Holbein called Facsimiles of original drawings by Hans Holbein, in the collection of His Majesty for the Portraits of Illustrious Persons of the Court of Henry VIII, Francis Bartolozzi, 1884. This painting below is said to be of Simon George, Salathiell’s father, a minor figure in the court of Henry VIII.

Simon George by Hans Holbein the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From the Bartolozzi book;

“Simon George, of Quocoute, in the country of Cornwall, was the son of a private gentleman of his names, who acquired property at that place, and lived there, and whose father came from Gloucestershire into Dorsetshire, and settled at Osmondton, in the latter country; his mother was descended from a good family of the name Hussey. He married Thomasine, daughter of Richard Lanyon, a gentleman of an ancient Cornish house, and had by her two sons, Simon, who died without issue; and Salathiel, who settled at Trenouth, and was living there in 1620, having at that time three daughters, Anne, Elizabeth, and Thomasine.”

Maude Lanyon

Maude was the second daughter and born about 1539. She married Henry Rosewarne from Camborne, Cornwall. Their daughter Elizabeth was baptised 9 Feb 1558 at Camborne. There may be other children but I haven’t traced them. Henry died in 1570 and Maude was buried 24 Feb 1619 at Camborne.

Joane Lanyon

Joane was baptised 24 Jun 1548 at Gwinear. On 15 Feb 1567 she married Otes Merefeild (sic), gent of St Columb and St Ives and the son of Walter Merefild (sic) and Jane Beare, at St Columb Major/Gwinear. They had at least four daughters: Marye, Johan, Johane, Alse. No further trace of their daughters. Otes was still alive in 1605 as he ‘prayed’ over the will of his brother in law, John Lanyon Esq. Joane was still alive after 1630 as her brother Edward’s will mentions a legacy ‘to my sister Jane Merefield’. She would have been 82 at the time of his death.

Jane Lanyon

Jane married Richard Crane on 5 Oct 1561 at Camborne. The register records the name as Lawyne. She had three sons: Richard, and twins John and Richard. The twins were buried a day after they were baptised on 10 Sep 1578. Her first son also called Richard was baptised and the Herald’s Visitation shows him as the father of 5 children. Richard senior died in 1606 but there is no record of Jane’s burial.

Camborne

Syman & Clement Lanyon

Syman was the seventh son and Clement was the eighth. They were recorded on the Herald’s visitation so presumably they were still alive at that time however there is no trace of either man in any other records. Like many younger sons they may have been sent out of Cornwall or even overseas to find their fortune.

18th Sep 202212th Dec 2025

William ‘Generosi’ Lanyon of Breage

William Laniene and Thomasine Tregian had four sons: Richard, William & Walter and a previously undocumented son – Edward.

Richard was the son and heir, Walter lived at Madron, we lose track of Edward after 1586 and William founded the Breage branch of the Lanyon tree.

William ‘Generosi’ Lanyon had 8 children and with the exception of Baldwin it’s not clear who gave birth to each child. I’ve noted the dates of marriage as we don’t have dates of baptism for any of them except Baldwin.

William was probably born about 1520 in Gwinear. There is no mention of any Lanyon on the Breage Subsidy Roll of 1543 so his move to that area happened after that date, possibly 1569.

William’s first wife was Tamson, we don’t know the date of marriage nor how many children they had. William and Tamson had a son Baldwin who was buried on 24 Jun 1563 at Gwinear aged 2 and Tamson was buried two days later.

Sometime after 1563 William married Margaret. Variously I’ve seen her named as Margaret Tresilian or Margaret Kekewich but can’t find any proof for either.

There are a further seven children but it is not clear if they are from the first or second marriage.

William abt. 1550-1630
Phelype abt. 1558-
Mary -1614
Elizabeth abt. 1560-
Margaret abt. 1560-1634
Bennett abt. 1566-
Francis abt. 1566-

In 1553 William is mentioned in a pre-marital settlement on Benedict Penrose and Jone Lanyon, his sister. William is a trustee and is called ‘junior’ as his father William Laniene is still alive.

William is listed on the 1569 Muster Roll for Breage, Cornwall. “Furnished long bow sheaf arrows steel cap and black bill. Willm Lanyne”

In 1581 William Lanyon of Tregonen in Breage, gent, and William Lanyen (sic) junior his son and heir to William Painter of Trelysick heir in St Erth ‘Trelysick Walbert in Erghe’. (Source – Royal Institution of Cornwall.) This is the only mention of their home ‘Tregonen’ that I’ve come across. Tregonen may be Tregonning today.

In 1582 William was appointed overseer by John Rashleigh of Fowey (his brother-in-law).

William appears in the records again in 1595 at Helston, William Lanion (sic) gent of Breage, 4 pieces of tin of 1726lbs for coining.

He was buried on 7 Aug 1597 at Breage and left a will which is now sadly lost. In the Breage parish records he is described as ‘generosi’ due to his generosity.

Jane Veale Mitchell suggests that George Lanyon, gent, of Sancreed is the son of this William. I have found no documentary evidence but she did have access to wills which are now destroyed.

William Lanyon’s Children

William Lanyon abt.1550-1630

William Junior (eldest son and heir) married Elizabeth Kerne alias Tresilian the daughter of Paskowe Kerne alias Tresilian and Margaret Vivyan. They married at Breage in 1572 which makes it likely that he was born in the 1550s. They had two children:

William -1591 died in infancy
Maria -1592 died in infancy

William died at Breage in 1630 with no other heirs.

Mary Lanyon -1614

Mary married Walter Borlase at Breage in 1576 so was probably born in the 1550s. They had nine children:

William 1577-1653
Philippa 1579-1682 married Nicholas Hicks
Thomas 1583-
Walter 1584-1679
Harry 1585-1653
Mary 1586-1681
Dorothie 1587-1684 married John Keigwin
John 1600-1664 married Cheston Pawley, their daughter Mary Borlase married John Lanyon of St Ives (Botrea branch of the tree.)
Ann

Walter Borlase died in 1601 and Mary married William Chiverton.

Elizabeth Lanyon abt. 1560–

Elizabeth married Mychell Trelobus at Breage in 1581. No further information about them.

Phelype Lanyon abt. 1558-

Phelype Lanyon married Rychard Herryes at Breage in 1583. No further information about them.

Margaret Lanyon abt. 1550-1634

Margaret married John Code at Breage in 1584. They had five children: John, Blancia, Loveday, Thomasin and Elizabeth. John’s grand daughter Patience married Ralph Lanyon (the son of Thomas Lanyon and Mary Levelis of Madron.)

Francis Lanyon bef. 1566-aft. 1587

Francis is mentioned in a legal document of 1587 which shows he is at least 21 and therefore born 1566 or earlier. There is no further trace of him.

“ME Edgcumbe family of Cotehele, Calstock and Mount Edgcumbe, Maker.

Ref No ME/501Title: Quitclaim, land in Menyghye Veor, Wendron

Date 1 May 1587

Description

Parties: 1) Bennett Lanyen and Francis Lanyen, gentlemen of Breage

2) William Lanyen of Breage, gentleman, father of party 1.

Property: Land held of demise of Edward Sparnan, gentleman, deceased, in Menyghye Veor in Wendron.”

Bennett Lanyon bef. 1566

Bennett married in 1589 to Katheren Cocke and they had four children:

John aft. 1589-aft. 1626
Bennet 1601-1601 died in infancy
Grace 1609- no further trace
William – 1616 died young

His second marriage was to Margeri Wake in 1620 at St Michael Penkevil. No children traced from this marriage.

John Lanyon aft. 1589-aft. 1626

John, the son of Bennett, married Judith Nowell at St Michael Penkevil on 26 Apr 1618. They had four children:

In 1641/2 he or his son John, signed the Protestation Return for St Michael Penkevil – name spelt John Lanine. If he signed the protestation return he must have been alive in 1641/2. There is only one Lanyon that signed the Protestation Return so it seems likely that it was signed by his son and he was dead by this date.

Margrie 1622- a Margery Lanyne married Thomas Langdon at Truro St Mary in 1654, it’s possible that it is this Margery
Agnes born abt 1620. there is no evidence that Agnes was John & Judith’s daughter but she married William Ceely at St Michael Penkevil 22 Jun 1646 and there is no other Lanyon family in the town at that time.
John 1624- aft. 1664 married with five children
Kateren 1626-1626 died in infancy
Bennodine -1629 died in infancy

St Michael Penkevil Church is close to Lamorran on the map.

Lamorran

John Lanyon 1624-aft. 1664

John was the son of John & Judith. He is probably the person who signed the 1641/2 Protestation Return. In 1664 he paid Hearth Tax in St Michael Penkevil.

The Parochial History of Cornwall by Davies Gilbert. 1838 described him thus:

“Mr. John Lanyon of this parish, a sea sand barge daily labourer.”

John married Mary, we don’t know the surname of John’s wife as his marriage wasn’t recorded but they had five children:

Johane 1648- no further trace
John 1652-1726
Elizabeth 1657- no further trace
Anne 1662- no further trace
Bennett – 1661 died young

We don’t have any record of what happened to his daughters, but we do know what happened to his son John.

John Lanyon 1652-1726

John was the eldest son and heir of John Lanyon, a ‘sea sand barge daily labourer’ and his wife Mary.

The Parochial History of Cornwall stated that John senior:

“ had a son named John Lanyon who having had his education under Hugh Boscawen, gent, Master of arts, who kept a school at St Michael Penkevill Church, became afterwards a steward to Trefusis, St Aubyn, Coryton and lastly came into the service of Brook Lord Chandos, and having by these services accumulated considerable riches he gave lands and built and endowed an almshouse for poor people.”

The almshouses built in 1726 are still there today.

John may have married Sarah Symons although I cannot find a record for this. He didn’t have any children and died in 1726 at St James in London but left a very interesting will naming lots of Cornish people.

The Will of John Lanyon of St James Westminster – Source NA/PROB 11/620/334

In his will he asks to be buried ‘as near as may be to my wife Sarah.

Mentions brother -in-law Jonah Symons of Mylor (he was a clothier).

Niece Anne Tresidder, wife of Nicholas Tresidder of Budock.

Brother-in-law Richard Oliver, Wymouth, wool stapler.

Codicil dated 1726 mentions sister-in-law Mesdames Francis and Jobson.

Benjamin Brown, son of late brother-in-law Benjamin Brown.

My kinswoman Mrs Lanyon, widow of Thomas Lanyon and daughter. We don’t know which Thomas Lanyon he is referring to.

There is also a property transaction dated 29 Sep 1683 (Source – CRO CY/378) which links John to the Symons family.

James Tillie – Middle Temple Esq
Richard Symons of Kea, yeoman and John Lanyon of Kea, yeoman. Bargain and sale Lanner Wood and Lambe Wood in Kea, part of Manor of Landegay. To have two years ‘for the rynding, felling, cutting down, coaling, working upp and faggotting’ these coppice woods.
This was witnessed by a John Lanyon as well.

(See the post ‘Poisoned?’ in The Black Sheep category, for more information about John.)

And here ends the Breage branch of the tree.

In many parishes, during the Civil War and Interegnum, records were poorly kept or omitted altogether. The government appointed lay people to take on this task rather than priests and as there was a charge for registering births – 4d (and it was births, not baptisms at this time), marriages 1/- and burials 4d many people did not record their family’s life events. The Breage branch may end here but there were probably descendants of this branch that we just cannot trace.

The History of Parish Registers

18th Sep 202212th Nov 2025

Francis Lanyon’s Descendants

Francis Lanyon was the eldest son and heir of John & possibly Margaret Richard and he is described as a ‘gentleman’. He married Elizabeth on 19 Jun 1607 at Madron (sadly most women did not have their surnames recorded in the Madron register so we don’t know which family Elizabeth was from.) He was a Penzance merchant.

Francis signed the Protestation return of 1641/2. He appears on the Subsidy Roll for Charles I in Oct 1641 and paid £3 on goods.

I Oct 1655 the mayor of Penzance granted him the profits of ‘key and pier’ (quay) for one year for £25.

In Oct 1656 the ship Dunkerke landed at Mousehole and Francis was paid 12/-

The Penzance mayoral records also show that Francis and Thomas Jenkin were paid 12d for repairing the quay’s mansards.

Francis and Elizabeth had three surviving children: Bennett, Sampson and Susanna.

Bennett Lanyon 1615-1661

Bennett, Francis’ son and heir, was baptised in 1615 eight years after his parents married. Perhaps there were other children born before him? He too took the Protestation Oath in 1641/2. In 1647 he married Martha. They had four children:

Agnes 1648 – married Edward Polgrean at Zennor in 1687. Their only child was Benedict. He married Elizabeth Stephens in Jun 1721 and in Jun 1722, just a month after his son Benedict’s baptism, he died.
Francis 1651-1719 he married his cousin Dorothie Noy (née Lanyon) when he was aged 50. Their only child Martha died aged 4. His estate was left to his nephew Benedict Polgrean in 1719. Less than three years later Benedict was dead too.
Elizabeth 1654-1655 died in infancy
Elizabeth 1655- married Francis Ellis (Elies) – 4 children: Bennett, Sampson, Francis and Katherine

Bennett’s line finishes here.

Sampson Lanyon 1616-

Sampson was baptised in 1616 in Madron. In 1647 he married Margaret and had four children:

Agnes 1648- no further trace
Mary 1653- no further trace
Anne 1656-1661 died in infancy
Margaret -1661 died in infancy

Sampson’s line finishes here.

Susanna Lanyon 1619-

Susanna was baptised at Madron in 1619. In 1640 she married William Tregeco. There are no further records of this family.

Here ends Francis’ line.

17th Sep 202212th Nov 2025

Alexander Lanyon’s Descendants

Alexander Lanyon married Philippa at Madron in 1614.

The parish registers have lots of gaps at this time so wills can be an additional source of information. John Lanyon’s 1634 will mentions numerous grandchildren and from that we can start to build a tree.

Anne and Maud were still alive in 1634 but there is no further trace of them. They may have married and their marriages have not been recorded or they may have died.

Alexander aft. 1616-1624
Anne 1616-aft. 1634
Maud 1617-aft. 1634
Peter 1622-bef. 1634
Joane 1628-bef.1634
Walter bef.1634-1715
John bef.1634-1673
Alexander aft. 1634-1660
William -1624

The only children who have recorded marriages are Walter, John and Alexander.

Alexander Lanyon aft. 1634-1660

Alexander wasn’t mentioned in his grandfather’s will so must have been born after 1634. He and his wife died within nine months of one another in 1660. We don’t know what caused their deaths but given that they were both only in their twenties perhaps they both died of TB which killed so many young people. They had no children so this line died out.

Walter Lanyon bef. 1634-1715

Walter was the heir and he lived at the barton of Lanyon after his father. He married Mary and they had two sons:

John 1665-1733 married Margery Ustick – one son John
Thomas 1670-1723 married Alice Baynard – no children

Walter died 8 Sep 1715 at Madron and left a will.

Walter’s will 1715 – Source CRO/AP/L/1174

The will gives his son John the barton of Lanyon, son Thomas half his goods and cattle and his wife Mary land in Boswednan, Madron and Boswarva and these lands to go to his grandson John after her death.

He also leaves his suit of ‘best apparel’ to Francis Lanyon of Penzance and £3 to his beloved henchman Richard Wallish.

Walter’s son John married Margery Ustick in 1691 and their only child John was born the following year. John died in 1733 and the estate passed to his son, Walter’s grandson.

John junior married Elizabeth Huthnance the daughter of Henry Huthnance, the vicar of Breage. They had a daughter, also called Elizabeth, born in 1718. John’s wife died but there is no record of her burial. John remarried in 1725 to a Lanyon cousin, Jane Andrew. (She was the daughter of Isabel Lanyon and Matthias Andrew of Sancreed.) They didn’t have any children.

In 1954 William Lamparter corresponded with Miss Dorothy E B Hichens, the niece of John Hichens, who was then aged 90 and the great grandson of Richard Hichens who held the lease at ‘Lanyon’. She stated “The only thing I can tell you about Elizabeth Lanyon is a story handed down the family and told to me by my grandmother – that Elizabeth’s mother having died, the child was neglected by her father and her mother’s family paid a gypsy to steal her. They brought her up after which she presumably returned and married my ?? grandfather.”

His only daughter Elizabeth married Richard Hutchens (Hichens), they had four children: Richard, Jane, Elizabeth and Thomas.

John Lanyon was without a male heir and when he died in 1784 aged 92 he left the barton of Lanyon to his favourite granddaughter, Jane Hutchens. John was the last Lanyon to live at the old ancestral home.

John Lanyon’s will 1784 – Source CRO/AP/L/1878

Jane Hutchens renounced the bequest and from 1784 Mr John Hosking of Landithy, Madron took a 99 years lease of Lanyon for his two sons John and Thomas who failed to make a success of the farm and Mrs Elizabeth Hutchens’ grand sons, Richard and Thomas took the remainder of the lease and much improved the Lanyon estate. The old manor house was pulled down and a new house built. Thomas’ son, Richard Hutchens, died at Lanyon in 1889.

Jane Hutchens renounces the bequest from her grandfather. Source – CRO/AP/L/1878

This is the end of Walter’s line.

On 29 March 1927 Jane Veale Mitchell wrote the following:-

“Last Tuesday the weather improved and I went off to keep an appointment at Carne, in Morva with Mr John Hichens (St Ives family) whose great-grandfather Richard held Lanyon in Madron and Rissick in Madron, under 99 years lease or remainder. (For several weeks I have missed him when he came into Penzance; then we met and I went out). How glad I was, you can imagine when he brought in a great armful of oldish deed for me to see. Between us (and you too) we are sworn to secrecy in regard to these deeds, as the man would be pestered for them; as it is, he gave me the one I longed for and which explicitly explained what my instinct told me must be a fact i.e. that a Lanyon, as his fathers before him, lived and died at Lanyon in Madron in the year 1784, the very last one in the old Manor House, before Mr Hosking (who renewed the lease from Philip Rashleigh’s assigns) tore it down and built the present farmhouse.”

John Lanyon – bef. 1634-1673

John was the second surviving son of Alexander and Philippa. John Lanyon married Blanche about 1648, the marriage was not recorded but their first child was born about 1650.

They had seven children:

Mary – 1654 died in infancy
Margaret 1649-aft. 1673 no further trace
Bennett abt. 1650-aft. 1673
David 1650-1656 died in infancy
Dorothie 1659-1732 she married Thomas Noye in 1678 – six children. Then in 1701 she married her cousin Francis Lanyon – they had one daughter Martha who died age 4.
Rebecca 1661-1706 she married Humphrey Stodden – three children
Philippa 1666-aft. 1673 no further trace
Mary – 1654 died in infancy

We’re covered Dorothie in the post ‘Lanyons, Trewrens and Noys’.

Bennett Lanyon abt. 1650-aft. 1673

Bennett was born about 1650. He was the executor of his father’s will. We know he married but we don’t know his wife’s name. He had six children:

Mary 1673-1673 died in infancy
John 1673-1733 married Blanche Pendar
Mary 1675-1676 died in infancy
Ann 1677- married Alexander Johns in 1706 no further trace
Blanch 1678- no trace
Walter 1681- no trace

John Lanyon 1673-1733

John and Blanche married in 1723 when John was aged 50. His son John may have been from an earlier unrecorded marriage.

John died in 1733 and his will begins “being penitent and very sorry for my sins”. One wonders what he had done!

John Lanyon’s will 1733 source: CRO/AP/L/1371

There is no record of John and Blanche’s son being baptised, married or buried. His father left him 1/- in his will which suggests he had already inherited. In 1752 he had the role of Accessionable Manor’s Commissioner and we know nothing else about him.

And this is where we must leave Alexander’s line, there are no more traceable Lanyon descendants.

Interestingly on 5 Mar 1781 an Alexander Lanyon died in Penzance aged 100. There is no record of any Alexander Lanyon being baptised about 100 years earlier. Could he be a descendant of this line?

17th Sep 202210th Dec 2025

Lanyons, Trewrens and Noys

The Lanyons, Trewrens and Noy (Noye) families intermarried over several generations.

Lanyon & Trewren families in Tudor times

The Trewren family lived in Sancreed Cornwall. Driff or Drift was the ancient seat of the family—“Dryffe“ wrote Norden in 1584, “The howse of Thomas Tre-wryn.” This family was settled here as early as 1340; they moved from this place to Trewardreva, Constantine.

Sancreed

Map of Sancreed Cornwall – The Lanyon family had homes at Madron, Bosullow, Sancreed, Paul and Morvah in the 15th, 16th & 17th century.

Jane Trewren married Sampson Noy on 22 Jul 1587 at Madron, Jane died giving birth to her seventh child Chesten on 6 Feb 1600. Two years later Sampson married his friend, John Lanyon’s daughter, Ane Lanyon and he had a further ten children!

John Lanyon had a son called Alexander who married Philippa, he mentions them in his will of 1634. Their son John was also mentioned in the will but we don’t know when he was born. John junior married Blanche possibly in 1648 because their first child Margaret was born in 1649. Their fourth child Dorothie was born in 1659 and in 1678 she married Thomas Noy. Thomas died in 1699 and Dorothie then married her cousin Francis Lanyon at Morvah in 1701. Francis was fifty when he married for the first time and Dorothie was forty two. Their only child Martha died aged four.

Sampson Lanyon married Johane Noy at Madron in 1602. There is no record of his birth but it is possible that he was an unrecorded son of John Lanyon and Margaret Richard and was named after his grandfather Samspon John Richard. Johane Noy was a daughter of Johane Noy widow of Sancreed who died in 1606. I can’t trace a marriage for Johane who died in 1606 but it seems likely that she was connected to Samspon Noy as he took the inventory of her goods for her will in 1606 along with John Lanyon (gent).

The Noys also married into the Gwinear Lanyon branch of the family.

William Noy of Buryan married Phillipa Lenyne about 1556 at Gwinear. The Herald’s Visitation shows Philippa as the daughter of Edward Lenyne but Edward didn’t have any daughters. It seems more likely that Philippa was the daughter of William Laniene Esq and Thomasine Tregian. William and Philippa had at least three sons: William, John and Edward. Edward married Jane Crabb and their son William Noy of Carnanton and of Lincoln’s Inn became Attorney General to Charles I.

William Noy’s son was Humphrey Noy of Carnanton. He was born 1614. He married Hester Sandys, the daughter of Henry Lord Sandys. Humphrey served as a colonel in Charles I’s army. His estates were sequestered by Parliament and he was fined a tenth under the Articles of Truro. He lived for many years on the charity of his friends. He died at Mawgan in Pydar and was buried there on 12 Dec 1679. Hester was buried at St Buryan in Cornwall on 5 May 1676.

For a time Hester Noy lived at the home of John Lanyon in Essex. John Lanyon wrote to his cousin Rashleigh about Hester and the letter still survives.

Honored Sir,
In answer to your last of the 14th present there is all care taken as far as counsel can advise that there may be no prejedishe [prejudice?] by the conveying of Mr Harveys intrist [interest] first to Mr Trelawney which truly could we have avoided it should not have been done but I understand it will be so done as that there shall be [in or no] […?…] of either Perrimans or Spreyes ordering the estate the cause in particular you shall receive with the writings for we desire to act nothing without your [pre…?…] consent that is considerable being in the trust equally concerned and for what is done towards the sale of [land?] however you deem it in the west I may assure you it hath been acted with much difficulty and charge having had so many parties to satisfy closing the [tytell? title?] and satisfying Harveye who hath been very peevish and unreasonable in regard of the long delays he has had and being put to [sue?] ? to the extremety of the law, which [makes?] him stand on having his money at one payment, and caution that he shall for the time [to come?] never have more trouble by it, the transactions of which together with the [composing?] and moderating the deptes [debts?] I confess is a work of much trouble and charge and needs the help of friends much more then to drive a bargain for land being on the place where it is I should be glad it were in my [p..?..] to do both but I [c..?..] the greater necessity of my present assistance is here until the greater depts [debts?] are settledI can not as yet give you an account how moderate Harveye will be as to his intrist [interest?] he having never received any but we do hope to bring the younger sons of the late Countis [Countess?] of […?…] to reason for a thousand pound judgement that my cousin Noye [a…?…] 12 years since, we shall do what we may with the rest of the creditors here for what is done as to abatements must be done [save?] it be known (publicly) that land is sold, the in cloased [enclosed] in my letter I have conveyed to my cossen Noye who is with her child at my house in Essex as touching her behaviour how ever reported [following inserted] hath been honorable as formally, I do assure you as to her care in preserving her husbands estate I think it impossible (as her condition has been) for any body living to have done more by herself and friends, I have lived to see many good people in affliction, but from my soul I speak it, upon all occasions never saw the like of her in all herself. I have with no small compassion heard her sighs and protestations always desiring god that her husband would after all his neglects consider himself and his poor children what ever became of her and also her suffering should be [impass..?.. impossible?] yet without a [purse?] necessity she would never ask, although to her own subsistance, I must confess that which I have most taken notice of her laying to heart (of all miscarriages) was when she was told that my cossen should report that she had given him the foul disease and his never taking notice of her youngest child by letter or message these things indeed hath been bitter unto her and has drawn tears and many sad sighs from her. After all this I have heard her often aver that she would be so far from acting to the ruin of that estate which her dear [parent?] with so many years [patience?] and more then [than?] competencey of fortune had contributed to [preserve?] that she would not in the least out of it carve to her self, but desired the just debts to be paid a settlement without [charge?] to her poor infants and out of her husbands then fortune a base competency to her self, and this is all that ever I heard her thought arise unto by all which your self may be judge what temper she is of, and consequently what upon the settlement of the estate and care of the children she may without all doubt be persuaded to. Sir excuse my tedious lines and I shall as being obliged remain your faithful kinsman

and humble servant

John Lanyon

Source – Cornish Record Office RS/1/62 dated 19 Jul 1653
transcribed by Louise Quigley

John Lanyon’s daughter Hester (1635-1700) may have been named after Hester Noy.

15th Sep 202211th Nov 2025

Arthur Herbert Lanyon

Arthur was the third son of John Charles Lanyon and Jane Stacy Bennett. Their first son John Charles died as a baby and it was soon apparent that the second son Sydney Howard Lanyon had a variety of health problems.

Sydney suffered with severe eczema. After Wellington College he attended Cambridge University where he suffered from appendicitis and failed his degree. He was rejected by the army before the first world war and committed suicide on 24th Oct 1914 by jumping off Westminster Bridge in front of his nephew Noel Hindley. His body was eventually found at Rotherhithe on 4th Nov 1914.

He left his estate to his brother Arthur who was the reluctant heir to the family business.

Arthur’s other siblings were: Alice who married Walter Paton Hindley. Jane who never married or worked and died age 88 in 1949. Vivian who worked as a colonial agent and married his nurse, Eliza Crowe. They never had any children. Mabel who married James Buckley, a venereologist and had four children. Arthur’s youngest brother, Alfred Leonard Lanyon died in infancy.

Arthur left Harrow in Dec 1883 at the age of 17 to join the family business JC Lanyon & Sons. On 22 Apr 1899 he married Catherine Septima Lamotte at St John the Evangelist, Croydon. (Catherine was descended from Huguenot refugees).

Their son John Arthur Lanyon was born in 1900 and their daughter Joan was born three years later.

John Arthur Lanyon and baby sister Joan about 1903.

John with his father Arthur and formal portrait aged about 5.

John and Joan with their mother Catherine Septima Lamotte.

The early photos were taken at Sanderstead, Surrey, the family home. At age 11 John was a pupil at Farnborough school. In 1918 he was briefly in the Royal Artillery and then he went on to read chemistry at New College Oxford.

Joan didn’t attend school. She was mildly epileptic and her mother disapproved of school so a governess, Cath Blakeney was hired.

Joan became a senior commander in the ATS during the second world war however during peacetime she didn’t work. She travelled extensively, played polo and never married. Joan died aged 92 in 1995.