TRETHEWY, Robert

Throughout the fifteenth century the Trethewy family, originating from East Looe on the south coast of Cornwall, commanded some degree influence in the town of Liskeard, and several of its members were able to secure election to Parliament for the borough. Of these, Robert was by far the most obscure. The extent of his landholdings is uncertain, but he owned two tenements in East Looe,2 C1/58/197. and may also have held property in Liskeard, where he appeared in the mayor’s court in the autumn of 1472 suing a local woman for a debt.3 Cornw. RO, Liskeard bor. recs., B/LIS/92. His own return to Parliament aside, he is not known to have taken any interest in the affairs of the realm, for he never held office apart from the occasional service on local juries, and is only known to have attended a single county election – in 1467, when his younger brother, Thomas, was elected a knight of the shire.4 C140/22/48, m. 3; 29/38a, mm. 2, 4; 38/45; KB9/332/24.

Few details of Trethewy’s personal life have come to light. In early 1457 he was in dispute with Thomas Philip Sage alias Savage, a servant of Henry Bodrugan†, over a debt of 60s.,5 CP40/784, rot. 6. while ten years later he and his kinsmen Thomas and William Trethewy* were appealed of a robbery by one Edward Hydon. Yet, Robert’s own part in the offence is unclear: whereas his relatives were ordered to be imprisoned in Launceston gaol, he seems to have been exempted. It is possible that the Trethewys’ close links with the sheriff of Cornwall, Sir John Colshull*, ensured their escape from justice on this occasion, although within a few years this particular relationship had also turned sour.6 KB27/823, rot. 14; CP40/837, rot. 153d.

The date of Robert’s death is obscure, but he must have died childless by about 1480, by which date his brother and heir was engaged in litigation over his property in East Looe.7 C1/58/197.