John Rashleigh (1554–1624)
John Rashleigh II (1554–12 May 1624) of Menabilly, near Fowey in Cornwall, was a successful English merchant, a Member of Parliament for Fowey in 1588 and 1597, and High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1608. He built the first mansion at Menabilly, making it the family home for many generations.
He was the only son of John Rashleigh I, a Fowey merchant, and Alice Lanyon. The Rashleigh family had long trading and privateering ties that helped expand Fowey’s port and ships. John II ran ships and traded widely, with journeys to the Guinea Coast and the Baltic, and he helped transport troops to Ireland in 1598. His ships were part of the Plymouth pilchard fleet, and he captained his own ship, the Francis of Fowey, during the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
In 1575 he married Alice Bonython, daughter of Richard Bonython of Carclew. They had two sons and two daughters. In 1586 he used his influence to help his brother-in-law John Bonython become MP for Fowey.
John Rashleigh II died on 12 May 1624. The Menabilly estate he built became the family seat and remained closely tied to the Rashleigh family for generations.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:56 (CET).