Richard Lanyne (the son of John Lanyen and Isabell Ruthfrey) married Isabel Trelissick. Richard’s son and heir was William Laniene born abt. 1480 but it’s not clear if Isabel Trelissick was his mother or if she was Richard’s second wife. William’s sister, Isabel was born in 1496. There is no trace of any other siblings but Benoit’s 1531 MSS states that Thomas Treuran married Isabell the 1st daughter of Richard Lanyne of Trylyswyke so that implies there must have been at least one other daughter.
William was the first recorded esquire
Heraldic visitations were tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms. Their purpose was to register and regulate the coats of arms of nobility, gentry and boroughs and to record pedigrees. They took place from 1530 to 1688, and their records provide important source material for historians and genealogists. Much of the Lanyon family information from the 16th & 17th century comes from these visitations. They visited Cornwall in 1531, 1573 and 1620. Families submitted trees to establish their right to bear arms. (The trees weren’t always correct!)
The definition of an Esquire is “the eldest son of a knight and their eldest sons in perpetuity”. Second sons were styled “Gentlemen” and the sons of gentlemen were given the title Mr. (daughters were addressed as Mrs. even when single). A Yeoman was a landowner but not considered genteel enough to be styled Mr or gentleman.
Below yeoman was a husbandman and below that serf/villein/cottar, then came domestic servant and finally in the pecking order vagabond and slave.
Whilst these terms started to fall out of use by the late 17th and 18th centuries in the 16th and early 17th centuries they were still generally adhered to and that’s a huge help to genealogists.
In 1531 William Laniene gave his family tree to the heralds and his right to ‘bear arms’ was documented. The first Lanyon to bear arms may have been born much earlier than William but this is the first documented esquire.
William lived at Gwinear. Perhaps a medieval long house was not sufficiently grand, perhaps it just wasn’t big enough for his large family or perhaps it’s just a bit too cold and windy in West Penwith compared to Gwinear!
William married Thomasine Tregian the daughter of Thomas Tregian of Tregian and Truro and Margaret (daughter of William Kingdon and widow of John Borlase) abt. 1505. William’s large family (at least nine daughters and four sons) married into the important families in the county.
We don’t know the dates of birth for all his children or the order they were born in-
- Alice born abt. 1520 died 20th Aug 1591 married John Rashleigh abt. 1540.
- Elinor married John Carveigh.
- Cecilia/Cicely born abt. 1520 married Martin Angwyn abt. 1540.
- Isabell married ? Tresprison.
- Anne married John Wood alias Atwood.
- Thomasine died 12th April 1593 married John Cosgarne.
- Jane married Alexander Arundel. Their descendants were the Arundel’s of Leigh.
- Philippa married Edward Noy Esq abt. 1556
- Johanna/Joan married Bennet Penrose 1553 (she was the first of his 3 wives so presumably died young.)
- Richard, his eldest son and heir born abt. 1516 and died 18th Dec 1592 married Margaret Treskillard.
- Edward died aft. 1586.
- William ‘Generosi’ died 7th Aug 1597. Married Tamsin and Margaret.
- Walter died 12th May 1605 married Elizabeth Nanspyan.
William Laniene died 20th Mar 1567. (Source- Inquisition Post Mortem 1586 of William Lanyon Coswinwollard, Gwinear. Source CRO/R/1168)
William owned substantial lands. Gilbert says “this William succeeded his father in considerable estates in Maddern, Morva and other adjoining parishes….”. The Penwith Subsidy Roll of 1509-1523 lists the following: value of land by the year – Willm Lanyine Gwinear 41s, St Erth 41s, Gulval 11s 8d, Madron 111s 8d.
In common with much of the landed gentry in Cornwall at that time William was frequently manipulating and speculating in land often with his relatives.
In a legal dispute from 1504-1515 William Laniene claims a right to part of the estate of the late Michael Ruthfos. Michael left his large estate to a Thomas Ruthfos and his heirs, with remainder to a John Ruthfos and his heirs, and a further remainder to a Richard Ruthfos and his heirs. William Lanyon appears to claim that as Thomas and John Ruthfos died without heirs he, as a son of Richard Lanyon, has a right to the property. If Richard ‘s mother Isabel Ruthfrey was the daughter or heiress of Richard Ruthfos this could explain how he got the name Richard. Variations of the name Ruthfos appear so Ruthfrey is possible.
Court of Star Chamber 1509-1547
PLAINTIFF: Alan Powe DEFENDANT: William Lanyen, Tamysen (Thomasine) his wife and Thomas Trewren. Messuage and land in Cosswyn Wulward.
PLAINTIFF: William Lanyon DEFENDANT: Thomas William, Jenett his wife, and John and Robert their sons. Source: National Archives STAC 2/30/48
PLAINTIFF: Thomas William DEFENDANT: William Lanyeyn and Thomasyn his wife, Richard Lanyeyn, William Lanyeyn, junior, John Breton, and John Trespryson. Source: National Archives STAC 2/30/48
PLACE OR SUBJECT: Forcible entries in Gwinear COUNTY: Cornwall, William Lanyeyn and Thomas William. Source: National Archives STAC 2/30/48
Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office:
John Nanscuvell and William, son and heir of Richard Lanyen. v. John Tremayle and Thomas Deane, feoffees to uses. Messuages, land, rents, and services in Treveben, Tregollas, Trehenben, Trewynnyan by Trewothek, Trearnan, Treneryn, Tregonvoen, Trevethen, Date: 1504 – 1515 Source: A C1/341/56
In 1533-38 Thomas Tresculard’s widow Isabel took action against William Lanneyen and others over the detention of deeds relating to messuages and lands in Tresculard and elsewhere. Source: C1/911
The History of the Family Borlase cites a legal dispute over woods at Bridockke involving Thomasina’s nieces where evidence was given that Thomasina’s brother John referred to William Lanyne as his brother in law. Source: The Genealogist Magazine Vol III 1886.
Mentioned in a deed, 1 Mar 1554, Cornwall, England. Grant of land, Penrose, Sennen and land in Sancreed. Parties: 1) Joyce Penrose of Penrose, gentleman, to 2) Radulph Penrose, John Treuryn and William Lanyon. Penrose [Sennen], Respletha, etc, and Brane, Bosence and Zelena in Sancreed.
William was also a ‘tinner’. In Oct 1556, Cornwall, England, William and his partner David Angove were given a licence, for two years, to search and dig for tin anywhere on the lands of the Earl of Oxford throughout Cornwall. Source: CRO AR/1/852
William is also listed on the ‘Tinner’s Muster Roll’ of 1539 for St Clement, Cornwall. Stannary of Tywarnhaile, Moreske Manor. Whole Harness (the harness and trappings for a horse which might include armour).
In 1539 William could have been almost 60 years of age (Henry VIII would have been 48) and there were threats from Scotland, the low countries, France and Spain so it was possible that he may have had to fight.
The Lanyons 