Jonathan Trelawny (1568-1604)
Encyclopedia
Sir Jonathan Trelawny of Pool in Menheniot
, Cornwall
, was an English Member of Parliament
. Trelawny was the posthumous younger son of John Trelawny of Pool
(who had been a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of the county); his elder brother died in infancy and he inherited the estate. He entered Parliament as member for Liskeard
, representing that borough in three parliaments, and subsequently also represented Cornwall
in the Parliaments of 1597 and 1604. On one occasion he was sent to the Tower of London
for losing his temper during a parliamentary debate where he "dealt his opponent, Mr Ashe, a thundering box to his ear" and "flashed his sword".
He was High Sheriff of Cornwall
in 1595 and was knighted in 1597; he was also Recorder
of Liskeard
and Steward of the borough of West Looe. He died on 22 June 1604, while Parliament was in session. The Journal of the House of Commons records that the House was informed of his death the following day: he "being suddenly suffocated with a flux of blood, which came by breaking a vein with vehement coughing, and was said to found sick and dead within quarter of an hour"; the House of Commons voted to attend his funeral at St Clement Danes
, an unusual mark of respect.
In 1600, Sir Jonathan purchased the manor of Trelawney or Trelawn in Pelynt
from the Crown, and moved his residence there from Pool. (This was not the same Trelawney from which the family originally took its name, which was in the parish Altarnun
, a dozen miles away, and where they had not lived for some centuries.) He had married Elizabeth Killigrew, daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew
, which made him a distant connection of Sir Robert Cecil
, and Trelawny ensured that the Parliamentary seats he controlled at Liskeard were at Cecil's disposal in 1597 and 1601. Their eldest son, John
(1592–1664), was created a baronet in 1628.
Menheniot
Menheniot is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated 2½ miles southeast of Liskeard. The meaning of the name is "sanctuary of Neot" ....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, was an English Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. Trelawny was the posthumous younger son of John Trelawny of Pool
John Trelawny (died 1568)
John Trelawny , of Pool in Menheniot, Cornwall, was an English Member of Parliament. The son of another John Trelawny of Pool, who had been a co-heir of the Earl of Devon, he was the head of one of Cornwall's leading families. He served as Member for Lostwithiel in the Parliament of 1559, and for...
(who had been a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of the county); his elder brother died in infancy and he inherited the estate. He entered Parliament as member for Liskeard
Liskeard (UK Parliament constituency)
Liskeard was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.- History :...
, representing that borough in three parliaments, and subsequently also represented Cornwall
Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)
Cornwall is a former county constituency covering the county of Cornwall, in the South West of England. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of England then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in the Parliaments of 1597 and 1604. On one occasion he was sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
for losing his temper during a parliamentary debate where he "dealt his opponent, Mr Ashe, a thundering box to his ear" and "flashed his sword".
He was High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriff of Cornwall
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list:Note: The right to choose High Sheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall, rather than the Privy Council, chaired by the Sovereign, which chooses the Sheriffs of all other English counties, other than those in the Duchy of...
in 1595 and was knighted in 1597; he was also Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Liskeard
Liskeard
Liskeard is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Liskeard is situated approximately 20 miles west of Plymouth, west of the River Tamar and the border with Devon, and 12 miles east of Bodmin...
and Steward of the borough of West Looe. He died on 22 June 1604, while Parliament was in session. The Journal of the House of Commons records that the House was informed of his death the following day: he "being suddenly suffocated with a flux of blood, which came by breaking a vein with vehement coughing, and was said to found sick and dead within quarter of an hour"; the House of Commons voted to attend his funeral at St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
, an unusual mark of respect.
In 1600, Sir Jonathan purchased the manor of Trelawney or Trelawn in Pelynt
Pelynt
Pelynt is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated 20 miles west of Plymouth and four miles west-northwest of Looe. Pelynt has a population of around 1,124 ....
from the Crown, and moved his residence there from Pool. (This was not the same Trelawney from which the family originally took its name, which was in the parish Altarnun
Altarnun
Altarnun is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is located on the north-eastern edge of Bodmin Moor at .The parish of Altarnun includes the village of Fivelanes and the hamlets of Bolventor, Treween and Trewint, and had a population of 976 according to the 2001 census...
, a dozen miles away, and where they had not lived for some centuries.) He had married Elizabeth Killigrew, daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew
Henry Killigrew (diplomat)
Sir Henry Killigrew was an English diplomat and ambassador in the sixteenth century. He was several times employed by Elizabeth I in Scottish affairs and served as a member of the Council of States in the United Provinces in 1586 and 1587-1589....
, which made him a distant connection of Sir Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
, and Trelawny ensured that the Parliamentary seats he controlled at Liskeard were at Cecil's disposal in 1597 and 1601. Their eldest son, John
Sir John Trelawny, 1st Baronet
Sir John Trelawny, 1st Baronet was a Cornish baronet and soldier from Trelawne, Cornwall. He was High Sheriff of Cornwall.-Parliament:...
(1592–1664), was created a baronet in 1628.