DYNOWE, John

Dynowe is first heard of in September 1420, when he was among the witnesses to a letter of attorney to receive seisin of property for Richard Meawy of Walreddon (in Whitchurch near Tavistock).1 Devon RO, Courtenay (Moger) mss, D1508M/Moger/411. He seems to have played a similar role in other land transactions, for a year later he was among the feoffees of William Were for other property in the neighbourhood of Tavistock.2 Devon RO, Fortescue mss, 1262M/T/1317. That same year he was present at the parliamentary elections held at Exeter castle in April, and set his seal to the sheriff’s indenture. It is not certain whether at this date he took some interest in parliamentary affairs, or was simply pursuing private litigation in the county court, but he was once again present in Exeter later in the same year, when he found surety for the MPs elected for Tavistock, the borough where he may by then have been resident.3 C219/12/5, 6. There is no evidence to suggest that Dynowe ever embarked on a public career beyond his sole recorded return to the Commons, although he is recorded among the jurors taking the inquisitions post mortem of Otto Champernowne and Elizabeth, wife of the prominent lawyer and later chief justice John Fortescue*, whose elections for Tavistock he had supported in 1421.4 C139/5/44, 43/6. Philip Dynowe, who in 1435 witnessed an arbitration award by John Julkin*, John Fitz* and others in a dispute between John Saull and John Honychurch*, was probably a son or other kinsman of the MP: Cornw. RO, Coode and French mss, CF/2/215/52.