RESKYMER, Sir John (d.1391), of Reskymer and Treloweth, Cornw.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Feb. 1388
Sept. 1388
Nov. 1390

Family and Education

s. of Roger Reskymer of Joan, da. of Roger Whalesborough. m. (1) ?Philippa, da. and h. of John Deviock; (2) by 1379, Maud, 1s. 2da. Kntd. by Nov. 1387.1

Offices Held

Tax collector, Cornw. Dec. 1380.

Commr. of arrest, Cornw. Aug. 1383; inquiry Nov. 1387 (theft of tin), Feb. 1390 (enemies’ goods), June 1390 (theft of wines).

J.p. Cornw. 20 May 1384-Feb. 1385, 16 July 1387-9.

Jt. dep. havener, Devon and Cornw. by 18 Feb. 1390. Sheriff, Cornw. 7 Nov. 1390-d.

Biography

There is no direct evidence of Reskymer’s parentage nor of his first marriage, visitations of heralds being the only source. However, he seems to have succeeded his father by December 1374 when he demised land in Porthminster, Cornwall, for a rent of 10s. a quarter and suit of service at his court of Treloweth. In the following year he enfeoffed, among others, Master Ralph Tregrisiou (afterwards dean of Exeter) of his property at Treloweth and elsewhere, and Master Ralph was again one of his feoffees in 1380-1, this time for premises at Tredower which were to be held for Reskymer’s life ‘with remainder to the child in the womb of Maud his wife, if God will that it be a male’. Some five years later Tregrisiou and his fellows received the manor of Reskymer and other holdings in the area, in order to pay Reskymer’s debts and provide a marriage portion for his daughter, Joan (who later married John Urban* of Helston). His other daughter, Elizabeth, is only mentioned in the episcopal licence for an oratory issued in 1390. The lands forming the subject of all these transactions lay mostly in the vicinity of Helston, and it was only logical that Reskymer should be ordered to reside there when there was need to prepare against a threat of invasion in May 1383. Witnesses to the deeds of conveyance included Sir William Lambourne*, John Whalesborough* (a kinsman of Reskymer’s) and Sir Richard Cergeaux*. Another acquaintance of his was Sir Henry Ilcombe*, in whose company he witnessed a grant to Cergeaux and stood surety for Oliver Wyse*. In March 1388, when attending Parliament for the first time, Sir John provided securities at the Exchequer for the prior of St. Michael’s Mount.2

Reskymer’s public career was not particularly distinguished. His appointment as joint deputy havener came only three months after he had been found in possession of two tuns of wine illegally taken from the King’s enemies at Falmouth, and his third election to Parliament contravened the statute forbidding the return of sheriffs. He died during his tenure of the shrievalty, probably on 27 July 1391, from which date his successor, Sir William Talbot, accounted for the issues of the bailiwick. His heir was his son Ralph, who was still a minor in 1400.3

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Notes

Variants: Rescarmer, Reskemere, Riscomer.

  • 1. Ibid. 402; CAD, iv. A9605, 10426; CCR, 1392-6, p. 147; CPR, 1385-9, p. 4; Vivian, Vis. Cornw. 395; J. Maclean, Trigg Minor, iii. 385.
  • 2. CAD, ii. C2372; iv. A9605, 9981, 10426; v. A10440, 12086; Reg. Brantingham, 708; CCR, 1381-5, p. 270; 1385-9, p. 490; CFR, x. 213.
  • 3. CPR, 1388-92, p. 212; CFR, xi. 6-7; PRO List ‘Sheriffs’, 21; CAD, v. A10485.