John Penros facts for kids
John Penros (died 1411) was a Cornish lawyer and judge who held important positions. He served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and later as a High Court judge in England. Despite his important jobs, he faced many legal problems throughout his career. He was eventually removed from his position as a judge because of these issues.
Penros came from a family that owned land in Escalls, near Land's End in Cornwall. He was a skilled advocate (a type of lawyer who speaks in court). His name often appeared in Law Reports in the early 1380s, showing he was active in legal cases.
Early Life and Legal Troubles
John Penros quickly became known for breaking the law. For many years, he and his friends, John Trevarthian senior and his son Sir John Trevarthian junior, were major troublemakers in Cornwall. Penros also had a brother named Joss, who seemed to have minor legal issues too.
His serious legal problems began around 1370. In 1383, he was accused in Surrey of being involved in the death of Richard Eyre. Eyre was another Cornishman whose family had a long-standing disagreement with the Trevarthians. The next year, an arrest warrant was issued for Penros, but it was later canceled. This was likely because he was not seen as the main person responsible for the incident.
The list of serious accusations against the Trevarthian family grew quite long. Penros, his brother Joss, and his cousin Michael Trereise were said to have helped them. These accusations included their private conflict with the Eyre family, which led to the death of Richard Eyre. They were also accused of other serious crimes like piracy (robbing ships) and burglary (breaking into buildings to steal).
A Judge with a Past
Even with his history of legal problems, John Penros was sent to Ireland in 1385 to become the Lord Chief Justice. He arrived in Dalkey, near Dublin, in late September. Later, in 1393, he became a Justiciar (a chief judge) in South Wales.
In 1394, he was involved in reviewing petitions (formal requests) in the House of Commons. However, because of his past legal record, he was eventually removed from his position as a judge. Meanwhile, his friend Sir John Trevarthian junior continued to have a successful career.
Family Life
John Penros was married twice. His first wife was Joan Carnver, who passed away around 1391. Around 1395, he married Constance, but not much is known about her. With Joan, he had at least two sons, William and John. John Penros himself died in 1411.
