Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Trelawny, John
TRELAWNY, Sir JOHN (fl. 1422), knight, who claimed descent of a family settled at Trelawne in Cornwall before the Norman conquest, was son of Sir John Trelawny, knt., by Matilda, daughter of Robert Mynwenick. The father held land in the vill of Trelawne by gift of his father, William, in 1366, was the first of the family to receive the honour of knighthood, and was alive in 1406–7 (8 Henry IV). The son John succeeded to the family estates in Cornwall and was elected M.P. for that county in 1413–14, and again in 1421. In the latter parliament another John Trelawny, possibly his son, sat for Liskeard. Sir John fought at Agincourt, and received from Henry V at Gisors a pension of 20l. a year, which was confirmed by Henry VI. He added to his arms three oak or laurel leaves. Under the figure of Henry V which was formerly over the great gate at Launceston was the inscription:
He that will do ought for me,
Let him love well Sir John Tirlawnee.
Sir John was alive in 1423–4 (2 Henry VI). He married Agnes, daughter of Robert Tregodeck, and left two sons, Richard and John. Richard was M.P. for Liskeard in 1421–2 and 1423–4, and died in 1449, leaving daughters only. Sir Hugh Courtenay, ancestor of Henry, marquis of Exeter, who was attainted under Henry VIII, made a grant of lands, 6 Oct. 1437, to one John Trelawny and his heirs, at a yearly rent of twelve pence and suit to his court twice a year. The beneficiary seems to have been Sir John Trelawny's second son, John, who succeeded to the estates on the death of his elder brother without male issue; he was M.P. for Truro in 1448–9, and was sheriff of Cornwall in 1461–2. He was direct ancestor of Sir Jonathan Trelawny [q. v.]
[Betham's Baronetage of England, i. 324–5; Official Return of Members of Parliament; Burke's Peerage and Baronage; Boase and Courtney's Bibliotheca Cornubiensis, ii. 768; Thirtieth Report of the Deputy-keeper of the Records, 1868–9, App. p. 188.]