John Killigrew (c.1557-1605)

Arms of Killigrew: Argent, an eagle displayed with two heads sable a bordure of the second bezantée. The bezantée bordure indicates a connection to the ancient Earls of Cornwall

John V Killigrew (c.1557-1605) of Arwenack, near Falmouth in Cornwall, was thrice MP for Penryn in 1584, 1586 and 1597, and Vice-Admiral of Cornwall and like his father and grandfather was Captain of Pendennis Castle (1584–98). He had notorious dealings with local pirates. Due to his father's debts and his own extravagance he died in poverty.^[1]

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of Sir John IV Killigrew (d.1584) of Arwenack, Captain of Pendennis Castle, MP for Lostwithiel 1563 and for Penryn in 1571 and 1572, (elder brother of Henry Killigrew (c.1528-1603), MP and diplomat and of William Killigrew (d.1622), MP and Chamberlain of the Exchequer) by his wife Mary Wolverston, daughter of Philip Wolverston of Wolverston Hall, Suffolk.^[2]

Marriage & progeny

He married Dorothy Monck, a daughter of Sir Thomas Monk (1570–1627) of Potheridge,^[3] Merton, Devon, MP for Camelford in 1626, and a sister of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1608-1670).^[4] By his wife he had progeny 6 sons and 4 daughters, including:^[5]

• Sir John Killigrew (born 1583), of Arwenack, eldest son and heir, who died without progeny.
• Sir Peter Killigrew (1593-1667), 4th son, MP for Camelford.
• Sir William Killigrew, 1st Baronet (d.1665), created a baronet at the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, which event was largely brought about by his uncle the Duke of Albemarle.

Mural monument to Edmond Yeo (d.1636) of Chittlehampton and North Petherwin, in Chittlehampton Church, half-brother of Anthony Acland (1568-1614) of Hawkridge

• Elizabeth Killigrew, wife of Edmond Yeo (d.1636) of North Petherwin in Cornwall and Chittlehampton in Devon, son of Leonard Yeo (d.1624)^[6] of North Petherwin, a junior branch of the ancient Yeo family of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe in Devon,^[7] by his wife Gertrude Stapleton (d.1604), daughter and heiress of George Stapleton of Rempstone, Nottinghamshire and widow of Baldwin I Acland (1533-1572) of Hawkridge, Chittlehampton. Edmond Yeo's mural monument survives in Chittlehampton Church inscribed as follows:

"To the memorie of Edmond Yeo of North Petherwin, Esqr., who was borne and departed this life in this parish An(n)o D(omi)ni 1636 commending his godly loving wife of the noble family of the Kelligrews in Cornwall w(i)th two sonns and foure daughters living to God the Father of ye fatherles(s) defendor of ye cause of ye widow(s). Praemisimus non amisimus" (i.e. we have sent him ahead, we have not sent him away).

Heraldic escutcheons on monument to Edmond Yeo (d.1636) in Chittlehampton Church. Left: Yeo (Argent, a chevron sable between three ducks azure), with a crescent for difference, impaling Killigrew (Argent, an eagle with two heads displayed sable a bordure of the second bezantée), top of monument; right: Killigrew alone, bottom of monument

Above is an escutcheon showing the arms of Yeo (Argent, a chevron sable between three ducks azure) impaling Killigrew (Argent, an eagle with two heads displayed sable a bordure of the second bezantée); Inscribed underneath on the frame: "Edmond Yeo" (under the dexter side) "Eliz. Killigrew" (under the sinister side). On the sides of the frame is inscribed in Latin: left side: Leon(ardus) Yeo ducens uxorem ("Leonard Yeo taking as his wife..."), right side: filiam et haeredem Stapletoni ("the daughter and heir of Stapleton"). At the bottom is a shield displaying Killigrew alone, around which is inscribed in Latin: Elizabetha vidua relicta hoc monument(um) maerens posuit ("Elizabeth, widow left behind, placed this monument, sorrowing")

In fiction

He is the central character in the historical novel The Grove of Eagles by Winston Graham. The narrator, his illegitimate son Maugan, gratefully acknowledges the kindness shown to him by his father, who raises him as one of the family: yet in the end he judges his father harshly as a weak, foolish, self-indulgent man who brought his family to ruin. He remembers his stepmother Dorothy with great affection and pity: by contrast he judges that his father's wretched last years, as he went in and out of a debtor's prison, were no worse a fate than he deserved.

References

1. History of Parliament biography
2. Vivian, 1887, Cornwall, p.268
3. Vivian, J.L., ed. (1887). The Visitations of Cornwall: comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1530, 1573 & 1620; with additions by J.L. Vivian. Exeter: W. Pollard, p.269
4. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895 , p.569 (Monck)
5. Vivian, 1887, Cornwall, p.269
6. Date of death 1624 per his inscribed monumental brass in North Petherwin Church
7. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.834-7, pedigree of Yeo