John Dawney was born to Nicholas Dawney [Dawnay] and his wife, Elizabeth at Madfordferry, Somerset

Somerset

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...

. He became a famous soldier and embarked with King Edward III of England

Edward III of England

Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...

 on his expedition to Honfleur

Honfleur

Honfleur is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie...

 in 1346. He fought in the victory at the Battle of Crécy

Battle of Crécy

The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...

, for which he was knighted. He died shortly afterwards. His will is recorded in Inquisitions Post Mortem in the year 1347/8.

He married Sybil Treverbin, of a Cornish family extraction. They had only one surviving child, Emmeline, called Emme, who married Sir Edward Courtenay of Goodrington [Godlington], third son of Hugh, 2nd Earl of Devon. Emme brought a great estate to the Courtenay dynasty.