PETIT, Peter

Several branches of the Petit family were resident in different parts of Cornwall in the later Middle Ages, the principal of whom were the Petits of Predannek. It seems, however, that the Lostwithiel MP descended not from this main line, but from a cadet branch seated at Carhayes in the parish of St. Michael Carhayes. The last 14th-century head of this branch, Ralph Petit, who was also known by the name of Arundell (his connexion with the more important families of that name, if any, is unclear), left no legitimate male issue, and his estates passed into the hands of his sons-in-law, Robert Trevanion and John Trevarthian†. Peter’s own place in the family tree has not been established, but it seems that relations between the different branches of the Petits were close: at the time of the death of John Petit of Predannek in 1430, Peter was among the feudal overlords of his manor of Trelan.1 CIPM, xxiii. 361.

Peter appears to have maintained close connexions with the Trevarthians, and in 1420-1 was serving as receiver of the estates of John Trevarthian’s recently deceased son, Otto.2 CCR, 1409-13, p. 325; SC6/823/35. It was probably through this route that he came to the notice of the formidable Joan Bodrugan, Otto’s mother, and eventually of her grandson, Sir William Bodrugan*. Sir William sat in the Parliament of 1426 as one of the knights of the shire for Cornwall, and it seems likely that his influence played a part in securing Petit’s return for Lostwithiel.3 Peter le Petit who went to France in the retinue of the earl of Salisbury in March 1426 was evidently a different man, perhaps of diminutive stature: Add. Ch. 94. Certainly, he was already one of the feoffees of the Bodrugan estates, and would continue as such after Joan Bodrugan’s death in 1428.4 CCR, 1422-9, p. 373; CIPM, xxi. 364; xxiii. 125.