Phillimores Marriage Records show that on 3 May 1615 Elizabeth Lanyne married Oliver Neilder at Menheniot in Cornwall. Despite several attempts I couldn’t initially place Elizabeth on the Lanyon tree, who was she?
Early marriage records rarely mention the parent’s names and Elizabeth is one of the most common names in the Lanyon family so I decided to look at Oliver Neilder in more depth to see if I could discover anything useful.
Oliver Neilder baptised at least four children at Menheniot in the early 17th century: Marye 1619, Jane 1621, John 1624 and Elizabeth 1627. The Menheniot parish register also lists the following burials: Elizabeth Neilder was buried on 15 Jan 1659 (she was noted as being ‘old’) and Oliver Neilder was buried the following year on 26 Sep 1660 (he’s noted as ‘old senr’.)
Neither Oliver nor Elizabeth left a will so that avenue for research was closed. I did find Oliver Nealder (sic) listed on the 1641/2 Protestation Return for Menheniot but that was it. I then turned to Kresen Kernow (The Cornish Record Office) and the National Archives to see if there was anything useful there.
I found just one relevant record at Kresen Kernow. Assignment of land at Trenant, the parties were Oliver Nealder, yeoman of Menheniot and Peter Carveth also a yeoman of Menheniot (BRA991/120).
The National Archives were more forthcoming. I found records of litigation between the Neilder family and the Kekewich family. I’ve come across the Kekewich family before whilst researching the Lanyons so I was curious to find out more.
The Kekewich’s were one of the most powerful families in Cornwall in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The family resided at Catchfrench near Saltash and Trehawke near Menheniot. So Oliver and Elizabeth Neilder were neighbours of the Kekewich family.
The Herald’s Visitation of Cornwall gives us the Kekewich family tree for that period.
George Kekewich married Katherine/Catherine Courtney, descended from an aristocratic family. Her mother Margaret, daughter of Thomas Trethurfe, was one of the co-heirs of Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon. Margaret married three times; first to John Boscowen, second to Edward Courtenay of Landrake and third to Richard Buller of Tregarrick.
Edward Courtenay 1509 brass – Dunkin, E.H.W. The Monumental Brasses of Cornwall, 1882, Plate XXIKekewich – Courtenay family tree
George and Katherine Kekewich had several children but we’re interested in their first born daughter Katherine and their fourth son Edward. Edward Kekewich of Trehawke was baptised on the 17 Aug 1561 at Menheniot, he married Jane, the daughter of John Coode of Morval on 22 Nov 1603 at Morval. Edward was buried at Menheniot on 18 Dec 1621. Edward and Jane’s second son, Peter Kekewich, was born in 1605 and he was the man involved in litigation with the Neilder family.
The children of George & Catherine Kekewich
National Archives document C9/47/58 Neilder v. Kekewich 1668 states that Nicholas Honey on behalf of his stepchildren, Oliver and Elizabeth Neilder, who were under 18 started the litigation. Honey stated that in 1657 Oliver Neilder was 83 years old (giving him a birthdate about 1574) and he was blind and decayed in memory. Honey alleged that Peter Kekewich and his brother-in-law Roger Porter were not related to Oliver Neilder and had conned the elderly man.
Peter Kekewich and Roger Porter (the husband of Peter’s sister, Elizabeth) responded that Oliver wasn’t quite so blind or so poor in memory, despite his age. They also pointed out that Oliver Neilder’s wife Elizabeth (Lanyne) was cousin germane to Peter Kekewich and Roger’s wife. (National Archives C10/178/69 & C8/352/249)
A cousin germane is a first cousin so Elizabeth Neilder (Lanyne) must have been the daughter of one of Edward Kekewich’s sisters. Edward had five sisters: Katherine, Grace, Anne, Mary and Margaret. We know that Anne married Oliver Clobery of Bradston, Devon and Mary married John Crewse so we can discount them.
That leaves Katherine, Grace and Margaret as possible mothers. George Kekewich’s will of 1581 is in the National Archives (PROB 11/64/488) and it shows that his eldest daughter Katherine/Catherine had married a Lanyon.
His will states that his daughter “Cate Lanyan have the sixe pounds thirtene shillings Fower pence given her by her grandmother Buller and three poundes sixe shillings eighte pence for to make the whole somme Tenne poundes.”
PROB 11/64/488
So ‘Cate’ had married a Lanyon, but which one?
Richard Carew’s ‘Survey of Cornwall’ states:
“Diverse other Gentlemen there dwell in this Hundred: as Lanyne the husband of Kekewich his father married Militon and beneath s. a castle a. standing in waves b. over the same a falcon hovering with bells o.”
Richard Carew National Trust, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We know that John Lanyon (the son of Richard Lanyon Esq) married Phelype Militon on 18 Jan 1562 at Breage. Their eldest son Francis married Alice Trewren in 1584. John & Phelype’s second son William married Jane at Sancreed in 1592. There is one other son, John who is described as the son of John Lanyon esq. and he was buried at Madron in 1587, he appears to be a child but his age isn’t given. Phelype Militon was buried 29 Dec 1578 at Breage.
So which ‘son’ of John Lanyon married Cate Kekewich?
John and Phelype’s son Francis was born at the earliest in 1563 and he married Alice Trewren in 1584. He was still married to her at the time of his death in about 1593. Cate Lanyon was named in her father’s will which was dated 1581 so whilst it was just about possible for Francis to have married her when he was aged 17 or 18 years old she would have to have died before 1584, when he married Alice. There is no evidence that Cate Lanyon was buried at this time. Francis did have an illegitimate daughter called Elizabeth who was baptised in 1587 however I think it highly unlikely that Cate Kekewich would have had an illegitimate daughter who was later described as a cousin germane by her nephews. I think we can safely disregard Francis as a possible husband to Cate and father to Elizabeth Neilder.
That leaves his second son William Lanyon as a possible candidate. We don’t know when William was born but it must have been 1564 at the earliest and it could have been a few years later. The oldest he could have been was just 17 and that’s if Cate married the same year as the will was written. If she was married a year or two before that William would have been only 15 or 16. We don’t know when Cate was born but she was the eldest daughter of George Kekewich and Katherine Courtenay. Their date of marriage is suggested as 1555 at Landrake, in Cornwall. We know that their eldest son and heir was baptised on 14 Aug 1556, it seems likely that Cate was born soon after. Her mother Katherine Courtenay died in 1571 so all nine children must have been born before that date. This makes Cate several years older than William Lanyon.
William Lanyon did marry a woman called Jane at Sancreed in 1592 and they had six children. He died in 1624 and his will survives and names his children. He had two daughters, both called Elizabeth! The eldest was born in 1593 after his marriage to Jane so Cate couldn’t be her mother. The youngest was born in 1607 and would be too young to marry Oliver Neilder in 1615.
William Lanyon’s 1624 will naming his children
George Kekewich was an MP for Saltash and Sheriff of Cornwall, Katherine Courtenay was descended from an aristocratic family, would they have married their eldest daughter to a teenage second son?
It seems much more likely that Cate Kekewich married the recently widowed John Lanyon, the eldest son and heir to Richard Lanyon Esq and the head of the Lanyon family.
Whilst there is no record of a marriage for John Lanyon and Cate Kekewich there is a record which may help prove the relationship. In 1589 Richard Lanyon Esq and his eldest son John sold Tregemynion in Morvah to Richard’s fourth son William. The agreement is signed by Richard, John and Katherine his wife. (Hendersons MSS Vol XII p.83)
Abstract from Hendersons MSS
So it appears as though sometime after 29 Dec 1578, when Phelype Militon died, and before 1581 when George Kekewich’s will was written, that John Lanyon married for a second time to a woman named Katherine.
Breage parish register also has an interesting entry for a burial. On 29 Oct 1592 there is the following entry ‘uxor Johis Lanyon armiger’. Sadly the page is damaged so the wife’s name is not legible but John Lanyon, who has the right to bear arms, buried his wife. There is only one John Lanyon who has the right to bear arms at this time.
Breage Parish Register Burials
There are no records of any children of this marriage being baptised or buried. However looking at the wills of Cate’s brothers gives us some more clues. George Kekewich the younger’s will was written 22 Jun 1607 and proved 20 May 1612. It states:
“I give the blynde Lanian, my kinsman xx s a year towards his mayntenance untill my heire accomplish the age of xxj years.”
National Archives PROB 11/119/518
So Cate’s brother had a ‘kinsman’ called Lanian who was blind.
Cate’s brother Francis also left a will which was written 20 May 1633 which states:
“I give George Lanion twenty shillings a year during my lease of Manoby with the proviso that he wander not the country as a beggar contrary to God’s and Man’s laws. Hoping the rest of his friends will make up the rest that must be paid for his board.” (National Archives PROB 11/164/299)
So it appears as though Cate Lanyon had a son called George who was blind. He’s not mentioned in any Lanyon wills however most of the 16th century Cornish wills were destroyed during World War II bombing.
There is no record of a baptism, marriage or death of George Lanyon and we wouldn’t know anything about him but for these wills. None of the wills mentions Elizabeth Lanyne or Oliver Neilder.
Whilst none of this is actual proof that Elizabeth Neilder was the daughter of Katherine Kekewich and John Lanyon Esq it’s probably as close as we’ll come.
We know what happened to Elizabeth, she died an old woman in Menheniot. Perhaps ‘Blynde George’ lived out his life with her?
The opera singer Cecile Lanyon performed in England and Australia in the 1940s and 50s but who was she?
Cecile was the daughter of Mabel Lanyon and Dr. James Charles Buckley. They married at Croydon on the 20 Sep 1906 (the groom’s brother Rev W.F Buckley married them).
Marriage certificate of Mabel and James
James Charles Buckley
Mabel was the younger daughter of John Charles Lanyon of Birdhurst, Croydon.
Birdhurst
Mabel’s first child, John Charles was born in Jun 1907 and a daughter Joyce Catherine Stacey Buckley arrived in 1911.
Joyce’s baptismal name
Stacey was a family surname and perhaps the name Catherine came from Mabel’s sister-in-law Catherine Septima Lanyon.
Joyce was born and raised in Nottingham where her father worked as a Doctor and venereologist. We don’t know much about Joyce’s early life but the 1939 register lists her as a musician’s singer.
In 1940 she appeared at the Gaiety Theatre in The Magic Flute as The Queen of the Night and her name is listed as Cecile Lanyon.
She chose her mother’s maiden name ‘Lanyon’ as her stage name and adopted the name Cecile.
In 1943 she was in Cinderella at the Palace Theatre, Hammersmith.
Her mother Mabel died in 1944 and her father the following year. We don’t know when or where she met William Montgomery but by 1948 she had decided to marry him.
In 1948 Cecile married William Conway Montgomery. She had emigrated to Australia the previous weekend! Their photo appeared in the News Adelaide on 18 Oct 1948.
William Conway Montgomery was born in Ceylon on 17 Sep 1895.
In 1948 she was described as ‘principal soprano’ for a performance of Schubert’s ‘Lilac Time’. The credits also mention BBC so perhaps she had also performed for them.
By 1949 she had changed her stage name to Cecile Montgomery.
1949
William died in Colombo, Ceylon in 1958. For the rest of her life Cecile lived with a friend and bred dogs.
She died in at Burnside City Australia on 24 Oct 1988 aged 77 years.
On her headstone she is named as Joyce Cecile Lanyon, loved daughter of the late J&M Buckley.
With thanks to Peter Duke of the Nottingham Family History Society who gave me the story.
1569 was the year the first lottery was held in England, the prize was £5000. It was also the year Mary Queen of Scots was first imprisoned and of the Northern Rebellion against Elizabeth I.
Mary Queen of Scots François Clouet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
It was also an important year for the Lanyon family.
In 1567 William Laniene esq died. We don’t know his date of birth but his eldest son was born about 1516 and he had older sisters so it is estimated that William was born in the 1480s. There is an Inquisition Post Mortem of William Laniene of Coswynwollard, Gwinnear from 1586 which gives the date 20 Mar 1567 as the date of his death. This Inquisition gives his son Richard’s age as 70 (in 1586), so he was already 51 when he inherited his father’s estate in 1567.
In 1562 at the time of his son John’s marriage to Phelype Myliton, Richard was living at Tregaminian in Morvah. In 1567 he moved to Coswynwollard in Gwinear (now called Lanyon.)
Map of the Lanyon Estate at Gwinear
We don’t know which lands, if any, William Laniene senior intended for his sons as there is no will. In 1569 Richard granted estates to his brothers.
William ‘Generosi’ Lanyon
Richard’s brother William had been living at the family estate in Gwinear. His first wife Tamson was buried there on 26 Jun 1563. His son Baldwin was baptised at Gwinear on 1 Apr 1561 and buried 24 Jun 1563 just two days before his mother.
William was given the estate Tregonen at Breage. He appears on the Breage Muster Roll of 1569 ‘Furnished long bow sheaf arrows steel cap and black bill’ and he lived there until his death in 1597. His burial is listed in the Breage parish register where he is described as ‘generosi’.
Tregonning Hill near Breage which may be the location of Tregonen
Walter Lanyon
Walter married Elizabeth Nanspyan of St Erth. He is listed on the 1569 Muster Roll for St Erth ‘Bow shaft arrows, ability B’. His father owned land at St Erth as it is listed on the 1523 Penwith Subsidy Roll as having a value of 41 shillings (the same as the Gwinear estate.)
In 1569 he was given the tenancy of the Barton of Lanyon (the ancestral family home) at Madron by his brother Richard. Hendersons MSS 30534 pt 7 gives details of the lease and confirms the names of Walter’s son (John) and three grandsons (Francis, Alexander and David) also their ages.
The ancestral home at Lanyon near Madron. Bosullow was also part of the estate.
Edward Lanyon
The only record we have of William Lanyon having a son called Edward is a record from Kresen Kernow (Cornwall Record Office) AR/3/39 dated 11 Feb 1586. It’s a lawsuit over Crugmoreck in St Merryn.
“…..that Richard Lanyen esquire, on 20 September 1569 (11 Elizabeth), had granted to party (1-Edward Lanyen) 30 acres of land, being one close called Crukemorecke (parish of Seynt Meryn), for (1) to hold for term of 6 years from St Bartholomew last past [24 Aug 1569]; on the following 26 Sep [1569], (2-George Arundell)-(3-John Michall) forcibly entered the tenement and ejected him from it…”
The case goes on to mention that the sheriff of Cornwall Peter Edgecombe esq was a kinsman of Edward. Peter was the son of Joan Tregian the daughter of Thomas Tregian and that Edward was the son of Thomasine Tregian the daughter of Thomas Tregian.
We don’t know what happened to Edward after 1586. We don’t know if he had any children. All we know is that Richard Lanyon esq granted him the lease of the estate in Crugmoreck in 1569. There is an Edward Leyne on the Padstow muster roll of 1569 ‘bow 6 arr, ability a-ar’. Could this be the same person?
We don’t know where Crugmoreck lies today but the Lanyons owned lands at Harlyn, St Ervan, St Merryn and Padstow. Perhaps Crugmeer is the location?
John Walburge was born about 1634. We don’t know where he was from. He was a haberdasher who married Christian Holloway on 20 Nov 1655 at St Michael Bassishaw, City of London and again on 21 Nov 1655 at St Giles Cripplegate, City of London! Perhaps the marriage was recorded in both home parishes?
(The name Walburge is variously spelt: Walburge, Walburghe, Walbarge, Wallbridge.)
St Giles Cripplegate Parish RegisterSt Michael Bassishaw Parish Register
John and Christian had several children. Our ancestor is Christian Walburge, she married John Trulock.
Both John Walburge and his son in law John Trulock were citizens of and had the freedom of the City of London. John Walburge apprenticed his son Simon to John Trulock, soapmaker in 1682
London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930, London Metropolitan Archives
John Walburge died in 1690 and was buried at Bishopsgate, Middlesex. He left a will proved 29 Jan 1690. His will mentions his dear and loving wife Christian, his daughter Christian ‘now wife of John Trulock’, his house at Tottenham which has a garden and orchard. He bequeaths various tenements and messuages to his children and grandchildren. Clearly he is a wealthy man. His wife Christian (Holloway) was buried in 1701.
John Trulock
John Trulock was born about 1650 and Christian Walburge was baptised 03 Oct 1656 • St Michael Bassishaw, London. They married at St Helens, Bishopsgate, London on 27 Nov 1674.
London & Surrey Marriage Bonds & Allegations 1674
John and Christian had several children all born towards the end of the 17th century. Their son Banister Trulock was born in 1684. He married Mary Ham at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on 23 Nov 1714.
John was buried in 1705 and Christian his wife was buried in 1715. She is recorded as being a widow who died of convulsions. Buried Tindals Ground/Bunhill Fields, London.
Banister Trulock
Thank goodness John and Christian chose such an interesting name for their son as it made research a lot easier! Banister was born in 1684 and was a successful soapmaker like his father. His name means: English (of Norman origin): from Old French banaste, banastre ‘covering for a cart or wagon; basket’, i.e. a large wicker container. Perhaps this had been a family surname in the past.
Banister Trulock Apprentice Indenture
In Oct 1711 Banister Trulock was the victim of a crime.
Whereas at the Sessions of the Peace holden for ye County of Midx in Febry last an Indictmt. was preferrd agt Thos Hatton of ye Pish of Tottenham High Cross in ye Sd County Yeoman & other for an Assault & Battery upon Banister Trulock These are to Authorize and require you that you enter or Cause to be entred a less at processd on the sd Indictmt. & stay all proceedings thereon agt. the sd. Thomas Hatton onely And for so doing this Shall be of Warrant Dated the 27th day of Novr. 1711
He married Mary Ham (possibly Horn) at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on 23 Nov 1714.
Their first child was born in 1718 and the second in 1720 then there is a gap of 10 years before their third child was born. Perhaps there were more children which died in infancy.
Banister was a non-conformist and lived at Tottenham, we know he was buried at Bunhill Fields as the burial was recorded. His wife was buried there in Sep 1777.
Banister’s will was proved on 23 Apr 1759 and he left his various property at Tottenham and East Grinstead to his wife and daughters. The will is several pages long and shows that this was a wealthy family.
National Archives PROB 11; Piece: 846
Their fifth daughter, Christian married Thomas Flight who was a porcelain manufacturer on 11 Sep 1751 at Allhallows London Wall,London.
London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P69/ALH5/A/005/MS05088
You can find out all about the Flight family from the posts: The Flight Family, Thomas Flight and the Royal Worcester China Factory and Banister Flight and his Descendants.
Paskis Lanion married Thomas Shetford at St Just in Penwith in 1625. Who was Paskis Lanion? If only the answer was straight forward!
A quick trawl through the Cornwall Online Parish Clerks database revealed no baptisms for a Paskis/Paksis/Pascha/Pasca/Paska/Paskes/Paskas Lanion/Lanyon.
However the Heralds Visitation for Cornwall 1620 does have a suitable candidate:
Vivian’s Herald’s Visitation of Cornwall 1620
Richard Lanyon Esq submitted his tree showing that his wife was Jane Mooring alias De La More from Devon and their eldest daughter was called Pasca but was she old enough to get married in 1625?
Their eldest son was John aged 10 in 1620 so therefore born in 1610. Could Pasca be older than John? When did Richard marry Jane? The Royal Institution of Cornwall has a marriage settlement between Richard Lanyon and Jane his wife dated 1608 so presumably they married about 1608. The letter from Mrs Rose Tolman confirms that Jane’s mother was called Pascha Risdon so eldest daughter was named after her grandmother.
Francis 2nd son – deposition taken 1635 when he is aged 16 so born in about 1619
Elizabeth baptised 17 Nov 1622 St Merryn
The children with no baptisms recorded are:
Pasca eldest daughter born before 1613 when Philippa is baptised
Jane 3rd daughter born after 1613 and before 1622
Richard not listed on Herald’s Visitation so presumably born after 1620
Thomas not listed on Herald’s Visitation so presumably born after 1620
Margerie – from Richard Lanyon Esq’s will it is implied that Elizabeth and Margerie are the youngest daughters
The latest Pasca could have been born was 1613 and with John born in 1610 and two unbaptised babies born in 1611 and 1612 it looks likely that Pasca was probably born about 1608/9 which would make her about 16 years of age at the time that the marriage to Thomas Shetford took place. So she is a possible candidate.
Richard Lanyon Esq’s will of 1636 left all his daughters £30 or £40 apart from Pasca who received 5 shillings which implies that in 1636 she was already married and had received her ‘portion’. Sadly the will does not mention her married name.
The only problem is that there is a second Paskas who is also a candidate.
Richard Lanyon Esq’s uncle William has a daughter also called Paskas.
William’s daughter’s baptism isn’t recorded but we know she existed from his will. Again we’ll have to list his other children and see where she could fit in:
Elizabeth baptised 31 Oct 1593 Sancreed
John baptised 8 Jun 1596 and buried 15 Sep 1601 at Sancreed
John born after Sep 1601
Jane baptised 24 Oct 1602 Sancreed
William baptised Dec 1603 Sancreed
Elyzabethe baptised 17 Jul 1607 Sancreed
Both daughters called Elizabeth survived and are mentioned in William’s will of 1624!
William’s Will of 1624 – Source CRO AP/L/256
Abstract:-
WILLIAM LANYON of Sancreed written: 24 Dec 1624 proved: 8 Feb 1624/5
poor of Sancreed – 3 sh. poor of St. Just – 5 sh. poor of Gulval – 12 d. poor of Maddern – 12 d. poor of Antony – 12 d. poor of Buryan – 12 d. daughter: ELIZABETH – mare, 3 sheep, calf, mare colt JOHN her son – calf & a sheep WILLIAM her son – calf & a sheep daughter: JANE – calf, 1 sheep, brazen crock daughter JANE’s child – a ewe lamb daughter: PASKAS – 4 kyne, mare, 10 sheep, 10 pounds youngest daughter: ELIZABETH – 4 kyne, 10 sheep, 10 pounds son: WILLIAM – all my part of tin and tin stuff, 13 pounds, 6 sh., 3 d. son: JOHN – all the rest & executor
The will implies that Paskas is younger than Jane and older than Elizabeth his youngest daughter which suggests that she was born between 1602 and 1607. So aged about 18-23 in 1625 when the marriage to Thomas Shetford took place.
It’s interesting that William leaves 5 shillings to the poor of St Just as that’s the town that Thomas Shetford comes from.
Who was Thomas Shetford?
The Shetford/Shutford (and occasionally Shitford!) family originally came from Somerset. They were cheated out of a half share in six manors in Cornwall by Sir Thomas Bodulgate during the Wars of the Roses.
Source – History of Parliament Edward IV
We know very little about Thomas, the parish registers for St Just in Penwith start quite late but with the little we know we can create a tree that might be correct.
We know that Paskis Lanion married Thomas Shetford at St Just in Penwith in 1625 so he was probably born about 1600
There is a baptism for a Margarett Shetfod (Sic) daughter of Thomas on 14 Nov 1630 at St Just listed in the Exeter Bishop’s Transcripts
16 Oct 1647 marriage at St Just between Elizabeth Shetford (daughter of Thomas) and John Rawlyn (Source – OPC)
Baptism of Alse Shutford, daughter of Thomas 20 Dec 1633 St Just (Source- FHL film number 0226217, 0226218, 962681)
Burial of Paskes Shetford, widow 19 Dec 1681/2 St Just in Penwith (Source – OPC)
The will of Joan Lanyon (Shutford) 1655 (Source – NA PROB 11/257/72) Joan was the wife of David Lanyon of Madron and her will mentions her Shutford relatives
There is also a record at Kresen Kernow (The Cornish Record Office) which mentions Thomas and William Shilford.
Lease, tenement, Treloweth Wartha, Illogan
Parties:
1) Right Honourable John Lord Robartes, Baron of Truro.
Term: 99 years, or the natural lives of [?] Lanyon, John Lanyon his brother and William Shilford, son of Thomas Shilford.
Annual rent: 46 shillings 8 pence, one capon or 12 pence, a harvest day or 6 pence.
Heriot: Best beast or £3.
Reference number
CL/1/124
Date
3 Oct 1635
I think it should be William and Thomas Shitford/Shetford rather than Shilford. Could Thomas have a son called William and could these Lanyons be Paskas’ brothers?
The Paskas born in Sancreed had brothers called John and William. ‘William Lanyon Yeoman of St Just’ listed in the lease is definitely not the St Merryn family of Lanyons.
There is a marriage of a William Shetford and Mary Edward at St Just on 26 Nov 1653, they had two daughters: Rebecea (sic) bapt. 1655 and Ellizabeth (sic) bapt. 1657.
There is a legal dispute between John Lanyon and William Shutford in 1659, the year Thomas Shutford died. Source – NA C 10/48/84
Lanyon v Shutford.
Plaintiffs: John Lanyon. Defendants: William Shutford, James Pratt and Robert Baynard. Subject: property in Sancreed, Cornwall.
This is the hypothetical tree I’ve created from all those snippets of information.
We still haven’t conclusively answered the question which Paskis Lanion married Thomas Shutford in 1625 but I think the Paskas born to William Lanyon of Sancreed is the more likely candidate.
William Lanyon died in 1624 (his wife had died in 1619) and left Paskas £10 and some cattle. The following year she married Thomas from the neighbouring parish of St Just in Penwith.
Ultimately geography may be the best clue, the distance between St Just and Sancreed (near Penzance) is a lot smaller than the distance between St Just and St Merryn (near Padstow).
With thanks to Louise Quigley who first posed this question in 2014 and the Penwith Genealogy Group who produced some great answers and evidence.
John Lanyon was born after 1596 and before 1600 at either St Agnes or Breage, there is no baptism recorded for him. His parents John & Tamsin were married at St Agnes in 1596 and his younger brother William was baptised at Breage in 1600.
By 1618 John is in London. He was listed on an indenture dated 19 Oct 1618-
John Lanion gent of New Place Essex in chancery indenture re- properties in Breage.
On 11 Jun 1624 John married Anne Goldsmith at Saint Giles Cripplegate, London.
St Giles Cripplegate Parish Register – Source London Metropolitan Archives
It appears as though they returned to Breage as some of their children were baptised there.
John – 1625 a John, son of John Lanyon, was buried at Breage in Jun 1625
Clemens 1626- baptised at Breage 11 Jun 1626 no further trace
Lawrence 1627- baptised at Holborn in London no further trace
Joseph 1629- baptised at Holborn in London no further trace
Mary 1630-1686 she was a spinster and was buried in Penzance in 1686, she left a great will which mentions lots of relatives
Source – NA/PROB/11/386
Partial transcript:
To my sister Anne Lanyon the sum of £6 yearly for her natural life
To my kinsman Thomas Glynn of Polkinghorne gent the sum of £100 which he shall keep in his house during my sister Anne’s lifetime to pay her £6 yearly and then to my sister Hester
Thomas Glynn’s daughter my goddaughter Jane Glynn the sum of £20
Cousins Glynn, cousin Jane Prisbe?, Mary Treshell?, cousin Jane Darby, cousin ? Tonkin, cousin Mary Moore, cousin Priscilla Goldsmith, Mr. King and his wife – 20 shillings each for a ring in remembrance of me
Poor of the town or parish £5
Glass candlesticks to Jane Prisbe?
Looking glass and brass candlesticks to Susanna Glynn
Sister’s picture and great cabinet to brother Yonge
Watch to cousin Thomas Glynn the younger
Chamber furniture to Hester Yonge
My china and earthenware as my sister will part with to cousin Jane Darby
My cousins Grace and Jane Daniell
My sister Yonge
We can place some of these cousins on the tree.
John and Anne’s other children were:
Ann 1633-aft. 1686 Ann was baptised at Holborn in London in 1633 she is mentioned in her sister’s will so presumably is still alive in 1686. She is called Ann Lanyon in the will however there is a marriage of an Ann Lanyon daughter of John Lanyon who married Gabriel Holmes in 1661. A Gabriel Holmes gent, died of plague and was buried at St Giles Cripplegate in 1665. (There is an Ann Lanyon buried at St Clement Danes on 19 Aug 1691- could it be this Ann? Why would she be called Lanyon and not Holmes?)
Hester 1635-1700 she was baptised in Holborn London, she married Thomas Yonge and she may have been married to her cousin John Lanyon.
Ann’s baptism (2906) Parish Register St Andrew HolbornLondon Marriage Licences 1521-1869 Gabriel Holmes, gent, died of Plague and buried 25 August 1665 -St Giles Cripplegate register – source London Metropolitan Archives
Hester’s sister Mary left a will (dated 1686) that refers to her as Hester Yonge and sister Yonge, Mary also has a clause giving her sister’s picture and great cabinet to brother Yonge.
Hester’s tree
Her possible first husband John Lanyon of Plymouth died in 1674 in Paris, he left a detailed will which helps us fit him into the tree. He mentions his uncle Mr Philip Lanyon, this confirms that John’s father William had a brother called Philip. He leaves a generous bequest to the town of Breage. John mentions various cousins among them are Hester Lanyon who he bequeathes £700 “in case she should survive me and acquit my executors of my obligation for £30 payable to her by me during her natural life”. The will continues “…out of this £700 my cousin Hester do pay or make good unto her sisters, my cousins, Mary and Ann £10 each during their natural lives.” (Source- NA/PROB/11/344/542)
After his death there are legal proceedings over his estate.
Chancery Proceedings Ante 1714 – Writ 297/99 Year 1679
John Lanyon merchant late of Plymouth personal estate valued at £20,000 did by his last will and testament dated 15 Sep 1674 bequeath a legacy of £50 to Totnes in Devon, which sum the Mayor and Burgesses were claiming of the Executors Captain Philip Lanyon, his sister Margaret Richards and niece Hester Lanyon.
In this chancery lawsuit the Totnes claimants speak of Hester Lanyon as John’s relict “who has since married Thomas Yonge”.
There is no trace of a marriage between Hester and either John Lanyon or Thomas Yonge but they are referred to in the Chancery proceedings. Although John Lanyon’s will describes her as his cousin rather than his wife. Was Hester Lanyon John’s second wife? Until we can find other documentary evidence we can’t be sure.
Hester Yonge was buried on 6 Apr 1700 at Colebrooke, Devon.
Colebrooke Devon Parish Register
Hester’s husband Thomas Yonge died in 1705 at Colebrooke.
We’ll look at Hester’s husband John Lanyon of Plymouth in more detail in another post.
What of Hester’s father John?
John Lanyon was Proof Master and Chief Engineer to Charles I from 1630-39. In 1640 John went to Flanders and wrote to Whitehall from Brussels sealing the letter with the Lanyon (Madron) arms. As the principal engineer he was responsible for forts and castles. It was his misfortune to land such an illustrious post just as the monarchy was about to be swept aside in the Civil War.
King Charles I and Prince Rupert before the Battle of Naseby 14 June 1645 during the English Civil War – Wikimedia Commons
During the Civil War John Lanyon had a tough time; he was plundered, sequestered and imprisoned. In 1661 he petitioned the Lord Treasurer to pay his fee due at Midsummer last. He had been promised £240 a year as chief engineer. Sir William Compton certified that John Lanyon had £240 a year granted him by the late King as chief engineer and that “he is well skilled in his art and deserving of the said salary.” (Source- Charles II State Papers Vol 36 – 1661).
His wife, Anne Goldsmith, must have died because John remarried Mary Latham (née Clarke) the widow of Ralph Latham Esq of Upminster, Essex, late barrister Middle Temple, London. Ralph died in 1642 so sometime after that date the marriage took place. There were no children of this marriage.
John died in Sep 1661 and was buried at Surrey. His widow Mary died in 1666 and her will mentions her children from her first marriage and step daughters Mary, Anne and Hester Lanyon.
Will of Mary Lanyon 1666 – Source NA PROB/11/320
As far as we can ascertain none of John’s sons survived and none of his daughters had children of their own so this little branch of the tree died out.
William Lanyon was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and twice sailed with Captain James Cook.
Captain James Cook – Nathaniel Dance-Holland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
William Lanyon joined the navy when he was about 15 years old. His first recorded service was as an Able Seaman on the Orford and then the Mars. He then served on HMS Jason as a midshipman. He moved onto HMS Terrible. In 1772 he joined HMS Adventure one of the companion ships on Cook’s second voyage. In 1773 he was promoted to Master’s Mate.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1774 but when he was taken on for Cook’s third voyage he was a Master’s Mate again on HMS Resolution. He was eventually promoted to Second Lieutenant on HMS Discovery in 1779.
John Cleveley the younger (1747-1786) (style of) – HMS ‘Resolution’ and ‘Discovery’ in Tahiti – BHC1939 – Royal Museums Greenwich.jpg
He supposedly collected vocabularies of the South Pacific languages which were published in 1979 by Peter Lanyon-Orgill but there is some doubt as to their authenticity.
Cook’s three voyages
Between 1790 and 1796 he was in command of the Spider a cutter based at Plymouth. In 1799 he commanded the Kent. In November of that year he captured a French privateer the Four Brothers out of Calais. His last recorded command was of HMS Genereux a prison ship at Plymouth.
By 1814 he was retired and living at St Austell. He was buried there on 26 Mar 1818, the register states he was ‘paralytic’. His wife Jane had been buried at St Austell almost exactly a year earlier on 27 Mar 1817. They had no children.
So where does William fit on the tree?
‘A Genealogical & Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain & Ireland enjoying Territorial Possessions…..’ Vol IV by Burke. has the following entry in the index.
Lanyon, John, 36.
‘Jane b. in November 1765 m. to John Lanyon of Lanyon in Gwinear, grandfather of lieutenant William Lanyon R.N., well known for his various acts of heroism and benevolence in his profession, the last survivor of those gallant officers who accompanied Captain Cook in his voyages. Twice he circumnavigated the globe with that distinguished commander and was with him at the period of his melancholy end.’
The Jane referred to is Jane Willyams and Burke has transposed her date of birth from 1675 to 1765! Vivian’s ‘The Visitations of Cornwall: Comprising the Heralds’ Visitations of 1530, 1573 & 1620‘ prints the family tree of the Willyams family and shows the correct date.
Visitations of Cornwall -Willyams Family
Jane is shown as the daughter of Humphry Willyams of Roseworthy and Dorothy Addington of Devon. Jane was baptised 11 Nov 1675 at Gwinear and married John Lanyon of Lanyon Gwinear.
So who is John Lanyon of Lanyon Gwinear?
Assuming John was a similar age to Jane we are looking for a John born in the 1670s who lived at Lanyon Manor in Gwinear. This would probably be a child of Tobias Lanyon and Susannah Reynolds but they don’t have a child called John and don’t mention a son of that name in their wills. Tobias and Susannah’s son Tobias does have a son called John however he must have been born after 1703 and would be at least twenty-eight years younger than Jane Willyams!
We need to go back and look at the information we have for William Lanyon. There is a note on his Lieutenant’s certificate dated 29 July 1774 which says ‘we have examined Mr. William Lanyon who by certificate appears to be more than 28 years of age and find he has gone to sea more than six years….’ (Captain John Campbell and Captain Abraham North). This implies that William must have been born before 1746.
There is a baptism of William Lanyon son of Mr. John Lanyon and Mary on 2 Apr 1745 at Cuby with Tregony. They have three other children baptised there: Mary 1747, Mary 1752 and John 1755. Of their children, only William survived to adulthood.
There is a marriage between a Mr. John Lanyon and Mrs. Mary Symons at Creed in Cornwall (not far from Cuby with Tregony) on 3 Jan 1742. There is a Mary Symons baptised at Creed in 1715, the daughter of William Symons. We can’t prove it is the same person.
There is a John Lanyon son of Tobias Lanyon, deceased who is apprenticed to Philip Webber of Falmouth, Attorney at Law on 25 Sep 1722 for £52. 10/-
Proposed tree for William Lanyon
Possible tree but Jane would be far too old to give birth to William in 1745. Perhaps John & Jane had a son called John Lanyon who married Mary Symons?
The Jane Lanyon that William married appears to be the daughter of Tobias and Prudence Pawley.
John Lanyon left a will which might have helped clarify this part of the tree but it has been lost!
The Admiralty Record Office wrote to Captian Wingfield D.S.O., R.N., D.G.W. on 17 Feb 1959 and confirmed that:
William was born in 1745
Enlisted Sep 1760
Appointed lieutenant Aug 1779
Retired on half pay plus pension from Greenwich Hospital
Superannuated Commander 1814
Served on Spider 1790-1795, Kent 1795-1799, Matilda 1800-1804 and Genereux 1805-1806
Served on HMS Nelson & Resistance under Captain Cook on the voyages of discovery
The Will of William Lanyon proven on 15 May 1818 (PROB 11/1604). This is the last Will and Testament of me William Lanyon of the Parish of Saint Austell in the County of Cornwall, Esquire, Commander in the Royal Navy.
I give, devise and bequeath all that my Leasehold Dwelling House situate in the said Parish of Saint Austell in which I now reside with the Garden Courtlage and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto Tobias Lanyon of Camborne in the said County, Surgeon, his Exors, Admors, and Assigns, for and during all the Estate and Interest which I shall have therein at the time of my decease, to and for his and their own absolute use and benefit, subject to the rent and other reservations payable by or under the Indenture of Lease by virtue of which I am intitled to hold the same.
I give and bequeath unto my Niece, Frances the Wife of Thomas Penna, all and singular my Household Furniture, Plate, Linen and China whatsoever which I may be possessed of at the time of my decease (except the Bed and Bedding hereinafter bequeathed to my Servant Mary Eplett) and I do will and direct that my Executors hereinafter named do and shall release and discharge the said Thomas Penna of and from all sum and sums of money which he may be indebted to me at the time of my decease, and particularly of and from the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds which I advanced him on a note of hand bearing date the 16th day of May last, which Note of Hand I hereby direct shall be given up to the said Thomas Penna.
I give and bequeath to my Servant Mary Eplett, if she shall be living with me at the time of my decease, over and above what may be due to her for wages, the sum of twenty pounds to be paid to her within six Months after my decease. Also I give to the said Mary Eplett the Bed and Bedding in the Garret on which she usually sleeps.
And as for and concerning all and singular other the property, Stocks, Funds, Money and Effects which I shall be possessed of or intitled to, or over which I shall have a disposing power at the time of my decease, of what nature or kind soever the same may be, I give, devise and bequeath the same and every of them unto the said Tobias Lanyon and John Carne of the said Parish of Saint Austell, Gentlemen, their Heirs, Exors & Admors upon the Trusts and to and for the several ends, intents and purposes hereinafter declared of or concerning the same, that is to say, upon Trust in the first place that they, my said Trustees, do and shall thereout with all convenient speed after my decease pay, discharge and satisfy all my just Debts and my Funeral and Testamentary Expences and the aforesaid Legacy of twenty pounds, and do and shall in the next place lay out and invest such of my Monies as shall not be already invested in the Stocks in the purchase of Parliamentary Stocks or Funds of Great Britain in the names of them my said Trustees, or the Survivor of them, his Exors or Admors and do and shall stand and be possessed of all such Stocks, Funds and Securities In Trust that they my said Trustees or the survivor of them, his Exors, or Admors do and shall pay the following Legacies (that is to say):
unto my Nephew Edward Lanyon (Son of the late William Lanyon of Surry) the sum of Eighty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain and my watch, unto my Nephew William Lanyon (Son of the said William Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of One hundred pounds of like lawful Money and my Sleeve buttons, unto my Niece Jane Lanyon, (Daughter of the said Willian Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of One hundred pounds of like lawful Money, unto my Nephew Richard Lanyon (Son of the said William Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of One hundred pounds of like lawful Money, unto my Nephew Henry Lanyon (Son of the said William Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money unto my Nephew James Lanyon (Son of the said William Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money, unto my Niece Elizabeth Lanyon (Daughter of the said William Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of Eighty Pounds of like lawful money, and unto my Nephew Joseph Lanyon (Son of the said Willaim Lanyon of Surry) the Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money,
such several Legacies to be paid to such of my said Nephews and Nieces respectively as shall have attained the age of twenty one years immediately after my decease, and to such of my said Nephews and Nieces as shall be under that age, as and when they shall severally attain the age of twenty one years,
and my mind and will is and I hereby direct that it shall and may be Lawful to and for my said Trustees to receive the Dividends and Proceeds of such of the said Legacies as shall not be payable at the time of my decease by reason of the Legatees being under the age of twenty one years and do and shall lay out and invest the same in the purchase of the like Stock there to accumulate to and for the use and benefit of such last mentioned Legatees which accumulations shall be paid to them with their original Legacies as and when they shall severally attain the age of twenty one years, Provided always that it shall be lawful to and for my said Trustees to apply so much of the Dividends arising from any such Legacy as they shall think proper in and towards the education of the Person intitled thereto, and I direct that the Residue of my Property after payment of the before mentioned Legacies and the expences incident thereto shall be divided equally between and among my said last named eight Nephews and Nieces, to be paid to them at the time the youngest of them shall attain the age of Twenty one years, provided always that if any of my said Nephews or Nieces shall happen to die under the age of Twenty one years then it is my will and meaning and I do hereby direct that the Legacy and accumulation or Legacies and accumulations of him, her or them so dying shall go and accrue to the Survivors or such nephews and Nieces or Nephew and Niece as shall not have attained the age of twenty one years at the time of the death of such Nephew and Niece so happening to die, to be equally divided between them and to be vested, paid and payable to them at such age and in such manner as their original legacies are hereinbefore directed to be paid, Provided also and I do hereby further declare and direct that it shall be lawful for my said Trustees at any time and from time to time when and as often as they shall think fit or adviseable to sell, transfer and dispose of or vary all or any of the Funds or Stock wherein the said Trust monies shall at any time be invested and to lay out and invest the money to arise by any such sale, transfer or disposition in the purchase of other or the same or like Stocks or Funds in the joint names of them my said Trustees, and all such new or other Stocks and Funds shall stand and be in the names of such Trustees and the Dividends and annual produce thereof and of every part thereof respectively shall be applicable and applied upon and for such and the same Trusts, end, intents and purposes as the original Stocks and Funds and the Dividends thereof were subject and applicable to at the time of such Sale, Transfer, Disposition or variance thereof.
And lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint the said Tobias Lanyon and John Carne Execuitors of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Seventeen – Wm Lanyon.Signed and sealed by the said Testator William Lanyon and by him publiched and declared as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses John Cary Maria Cary.
Proved at London 15 May 1818 before the Judge by the Oaths of Tobias Lanyon and John Carne the Executors to whom Admon. was granted being first sworn by Comm. Duly to Adminr.
Source NA/PROB/11/1604/220
(William Lanyon of Surrey is Tobias and Prudence’s son William born in 1741.)
We can’t prove that William Lanyon RN is the son of John and Mary Lanyon but it seems the most likely explanation.
To add to the confusion there is a newspaper cutting that further muddies the water by naming Tobias as the person who sailed with Cook!
It’s a valuable lesson on the accuracy of documents!
And finally another article where the dates aren’t quite right, is it any wonder that genealogists make mistakes?
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.
Bennett’s descendants
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.
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.
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.
Bennett’s Tree
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.
Sampson’s tree
Susanna Lanyon 1619-
Susanna was baptised at Madron in 1619. In 1640 she married William Tregeco. There are no further records of this family.
Alexander Lanyon married Philippa at Madron in 1614.
Alexander Lanyon’s tree
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 Lanyon’s tree
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.
John & Bennett Lanyon’s tree
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?
The Lanyons 