Elizabeth Trewinnard
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Trewinnard, Lady Killigrew (b. before 1525; died after 1582), was an aristocratic Cornish
woman and an accused pirate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England
. She was the wife of Sir John Killigrew of Arwenack, Cornwall
. She and her husband received and stored stolen goods at their home, Arwenack House. In 1582, she was arrested and sentenced to death after she sent her servants to seize the cargo aboard a ship anchored in Falmouth
harbour. Queen Elizabeth eventually pardoned her, and she was released from prison.
Elizabeth was also known as "Old Lady Killigrew".
, Cornwall
, the second eldest daughter of James Trewinnard (1490-1523), of St Erth, and Philippa Carminow (died 9 August 1563).
She married Sir John Killigrew (died 1567) of Arwenack (Arwenack was sited within the present town of Falmouth which was not founded until 1613), by whom she had a total of ten children:
was built for King Henry VIII
on Sir John's lands and the latter became the first hereditary captain of the castle which meant he controlled all of the shipping in the Falmouth area; however, he used his privileged position to prey on the cargoes of the ships that came within his reach. In 1567, Arwenack House was fortified as a stronghold and used to store merchandise stolen in raids on ships. Elizabeth and her husband paid large fees to harbour and city officials, bribing them to look the other way when carrying out their illicit activities. Elizabeth played an active role in the piracy, and apparently enjoyed the adventure more than her husband.
Historian Neville Williams described Elizabeth as a "tough and unprincipled businesswoman" who managed Arwenack House and oversaw the burial of treasure in her garden.
Her husband died in 1567.
In 1582, Elizabeth, by that time in her 60s, heard a rumour that there was treasure aboard the Hanseatic
ship Marie of San Sebastian anchored in Falmouth harbour, and she sent her servants to seize the ship and search the cargo. Despite rumours to the contrary, it's not likely she ever personally went on a raid; however she was arrested for having received and fenced
stolen goods after the seizure of Marie of San Sebastian where a factor
was murdered when the ship was boarded by her raiding party. Her sons, Sir John, Peter, and Thomas, her grandson John, as well as her daughter-in-law, Mary Wolverston, and her grandson's wife, Dorothy Monk, were also charged with having engaged in acts of piracy. Elizabeth was brought to trial and sentenced to death, although she eventually received a pardon from Queen Elizabeth. Two of Elizabeth's sons, Sir Henry and Sir William, secured her release from prison after having paid substantial bribes.
One of her many descendants, Elizabeth Killigrew
, became a mistress of King Charles II of England
, to whom she bore a daughter in 1650. Other notable descendants were dramatist Thomas Killigrew
, poet Sidney Godolphin
, and Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
woman and an accused pirate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. She was the wife of Sir John Killigrew of Arwenack, 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...
. She and her husband received and stored stolen goods at their home, Arwenack House. In 1582, she was arrested and sentenced to death after she sent her servants to seize the cargo aboard a ship anchored in Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
harbour. Queen Elizabeth eventually pardoned her, and she was released from prison.
Elizabeth was also known as "Old Lady Killigrew".
Family and marriage
Elizabeth was born on an unknown date in St ErthSt Erth
St Erth is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The village is situated four miles southeast of St Ives and six miles northeast of Penzance....
, 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...
, the second eldest daughter of James Trewinnard (1490-1523), of St Erth, and Philippa Carminow (died 9 August 1563).
She married Sir John Killigrew (died 1567) of Arwenack (Arwenack was sited within the present town of Falmouth which was not founded until 1613), by whom she had a total of ten children:
- Sir John Killigrew MP (died 5 March 1584), married Mary Wolverston (1540-before 1571), by whom he had issue.
- Peter Killigrew, married Ellen Higgins
- Thomas Killigrew
- Sir Henry Killigrew, married firstly Katherine Cooke, by whom he had issue; married secondly, Jael de Peigne, by whom he had issue.
- Sir William Killigrew, married Margery Saunders, by whom he had issue
- Jane Killigrew, married John Michell
- Anne or Amy Killigrew
- Grace Killigrew, married John Tretherffe
- Alice Killigrew, married Richard Bonython
- Margaret Killigrew, married Sir Francis Godolphin MPMember of ParliamentA 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,...
, Governor of the Scilly Isles, by whom she had issue.
Piracy
In the 1540s, Pendennis CastlePendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle is a Henrician castle, also known as one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, in the English county of Cornwall. It was built in 1539 for King Henry VIII to guard the entrance to the River Fal on its west bank, near Falmouth. St Mawes Castle is its opposite number on the east bank and...
was built for King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
on Sir John's lands and the latter became the first hereditary captain of the castle which meant he controlled all of the shipping in the Falmouth area; however, he used his privileged position to prey on the cargoes of the ships that came within his reach. In 1567, Arwenack House was fortified as a stronghold and used to store merchandise stolen in raids on ships. Elizabeth and her husband paid large fees to harbour and city officials, bribing them to look the other way when carrying out their illicit activities. Elizabeth played an active role in the piracy, and apparently enjoyed the adventure more than her husband.
Historian Neville Williams described Elizabeth as a "tough and unprincipled businesswoman" who managed Arwenack House and oversaw the burial of treasure in her garden.
Her husband died in 1567.
In 1582, Elizabeth, by that time in her 60s, heard a rumour that there was treasure aboard the Hanseatic
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
ship Marie of San Sebastian anchored in Falmouth harbour, and she sent her servants to seize the ship and search the cargo. Despite rumours to the contrary, it's not likely she ever personally went on a raid; however she was arrested for having received and fenced
Fence (criminal)
A fence is an individual who knowingly buys stolen property for later resale, sometimes in a legitimate market. The fence thus acts as a middleman between thieves and the eventual buyers of stolen goods who may or may not be aware that the goods are stolen. As a verb, the word describes the...
stolen goods after the seizure of Marie of San Sebastian where a factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
was murdered when the ship was boarded by her raiding party. Her sons, Sir John, Peter, and Thomas, her grandson John, as well as her daughter-in-law, Mary Wolverston, and her grandson's wife, Dorothy Monk, were also charged with having engaged in acts of piracy. Elizabeth was brought to trial and sentenced to death, although she eventually received a pardon from Queen Elizabeth. Two of Elizabeth's sons, Sir Henry and Sir William, secured her release from prison after having paid substantial bribes.
Legacy
Elizabeth died on an unknown date in the parish of St Budock, Cornwall.One of her many descendants, Elizabeth Killigrew
Elizabeth Killigrew, Viscountess Shannon
Elizabeth Killigrew was an English peeress and courtier. One of the many mistresses of Charles II of England, she was also the sister of Thomas Killigrew and the wife of Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon...
, became a mistress of King Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, to whom she bore a daughter in 1650. Other notable descendants were dramatist Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew was an English dramatist and theatre manager. He was a witty, dissolute figure at the court of King Charles II of England.-Life and work:...
, poet Sidney Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin (poet)
Sidney Godolphin , was an English poet, courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1628 and 1643. He died fighting in the Royalist army in the English Civil War.-Biography:...
, and Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin, KG, PC was a leading English politician of the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
.