Hearle family of Penryn

The Hearle documents consist of deeds, leases and papers relating to the various manors and properties owned by the family; there are also a number of setts and mining papers.

Manor of Bojewyan (St. Just-in-Penwith)

Title deeds, 1699-1757

Leases, 1724-1867

Estate Administration, 1771-1863

Manor of Carharrack (Gwennap)

Title deeds, 1731-1734

Leases, 1705-1912

Estate administration, 1910

Manor of St. Day or Tolgullow (Gwennap)

Leases, 1692-1908

Estate administration, 1799-1820

Manor of Penryn Corfe (Penryn)

Title deeds, 1708-1755

Leases, 1659-1867

Estate administration, 1750-1832

Manor of Penryn Forryn (St. Gluvias)

Title deeds, 1709-1879

Leases, 1679-1880

Estate administration, 1679-1934

Penryn lands

Title deeds, 1656-1745

Leases, 1657-1759

Estate administration, 1750-1895

Manor of Porthis, Denis Eya and Penzance

(St. Ives, Zennor, Morvah, Paul, St. Erth, St. Levan, Constantine).

Title deeds, 1748

Manor of Trelissick (St. Erth, Gwinear, Phillack).

Title deeds, 1772-1855

Leases, 1714-1925

Estate administration, 1707-1938

Manor of Trembethow (Lelant, Madron, Zennor).

Leases, 1722-1862

Estate administration, 1819-1923

Manor of Trevethan (Gwennap)

Title deeds, 1721-1727

Leases, 1703-1894

Estate administration, 1726-1804

Scattered lands

Title deeds, leases and estate administration for properties in parishes of Budock, Cuby, Egloshayle, Gwennap, Gwinear, Illogan, Kea, Kenwyn, Ladock, Manaccan, St. Minver, Paul, Perranarworthal, Stithians, Wendron.

Composite and whole estate

Title deeds, 1752

Marriage settlements, 1763-1798

Leaseholds, mortgages and trusts

Leasehold property (Budock, Cuby, Mylor, Penryn, Stithians), 1703-1809

Mortgaged property (St. Enoder, Gwennap, Paul, Penryn), 1684-1830

Trusteeships (Bosowsack of Kenwyn; Ludgey's charity, Penryn; Pender family trust; Vinicombe trust; Worth marriage settlement) 1666-1866

Sales of property (St. Erth, Gwennap, Gwinear), 1788-1930

Rodd estates

Deeds, leases and estate papers relating to Rodd property in Altarnun, St. Columb Minor, St. Neot, Northill, and whole Rodd estate, 1863-1930

Estate administration

Rentals, life books, partition papers, valuations and surveys, accounts, sale catalogues, 1684-1943.

Industrial

Setts, 1809-1883

Administration, 1801-1927

Public Office

Shrievalty, 1805

Manors are arranged alphabetically, and in each section are deeds, leases and estate papers for the particular manor. Industrial (mining) records form a separate section; documents relating to the administration of the whole estate are arranged under the heading "Composite and Whole estate".

<span class="wrapper"><p>CRO/1952: Sarah Gregor's memoirs (pages 292-296 of typescript).</p> <p>Vivian's Visitations of the County of Cornwall, pages 218-220.</p> <p>Lake's Parochial History vol. III pages 190-192</p> <p>"History of Gwennap" by C. C. James, page 66</p> <p>CRO AD.59/7: orders received and given by commander Sam. Wallis, various ships, c. 1760-70.</p> <p>Cornish Magazine vol. 1 no. 11 (March 1959): article by Cyril Noall on Stephens family of Tregenna, St. Ives.</p> <p>CRO RD: Rodd of Trebartha collection.</p> <p>CRO AD.72/9: diary contains good description of Stephens family home at Tregenna, 1882.</p></span>

The Hearle family originally came from Northumberland, a branch moving to Luxulyan in the early fifteenth century, when Thomas Hearle, second son of Sir John Hearle of Northumberland, married Joan Kernick of Prideaux, heiress to the manor of Prideaux which had been the property of the family of that name since the Conquest. The Hearles continued to own the manor until 1737, when, at the death of Northmore Hearle esq. of Landew, it was bequeathed to his six half-sisters, daughters and coheiresses of Dr. Charles Kendall who had married Mr. Hearle's mother.

A younger branch of the family lived at Penryn, first as merchants, then by gradual purchase of property and strategic marriages becoming gentlemen and esquires. Thomas Hearle, merchant, made a number of purchases of property in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, including lands in Gwennap, which his son John worked for tin, making a substantial sum of money.

In 1726 John married Mary Paynter of Trelissick in St. Erth, thus acquiring property in that parish. John made a number of important purchases including a considerable amount of property in Penryn and St. Gluvias. John and Mary raised a large family, but the only son, Francis, died soon after his father's death; a daughter, Sukey, had also died, leaving four girls to divide the inheritance. At the time of their father's death they were all under 21; in 1756 a Private Act of Parliament was passed "for enabling Mary Hearle, widow, Thomas Hearle, clerk (John's brother, rector of St. Michael Penkivel), and John Rogers of Helston, esq., guardians of Margaret, Jane, Betty and Harriet Hearle, infants, to make leases and setts; after they are 21 they are to participate in leases ..." Margaret died unmarried but her three sisters all married. They had inherited considerable fortunes and extensive properties, described in detail in their respective marriage settlements (WH1/3156-3162).

Jane married in 1763 Francis Rodd of Trebartha, Northill; they had three sons and two daughters. Sarah Gregor in her memoirs describes the family; the eldest son, Francis, married Mary Ann Coryton of Pentillie, Edward went into the church, and married one of Charles Rashleigh's daughters, Harriet. The third brother, John Tremayne Rodd, went into the navy; he married the daughter and heiress of "the celebrated Indian geographer Major Rennell". One daughter, Harriet, married Mr. Fursden of Fursden in Devon; the other daughter, Jane, never married, but lived for many years in Exeter, ..." her genuine hospitality is known to all her Cornish friends when public occasion calls them there". Jane died in 1780, and Francis remarried; his second wife was Anne Sandford, but the marriage was childless.

Harriet Hearle married Rev. Hen. Hawkins Tremayne of Heligan in 1767. Henry had intended to enter the church but after the death of his elder brother succeeded to the family property while only a deacon, and never went further. He was according to Sarah Gregor "most deeply attached to his wife and fully aware of her superior talents ... I have always looked on Mrs. Tremayne as a pattern to wives who are united to men of less ability than themselves. So invariably respectful was her tone in speaking of her kind partner, so cleverly did she continue to guide him as the speaker of every sensible remark, the author of every wise resolution, that she established for him a character far beyond his merit ... his overflowing kindness of heart rendered him the dupe of the artful, and his brother magistrates groaned over the mistaken leniency which led him to encourage those who merited punishment. Persons who were brought before him for petty thefts were sure to escape if they had the wit to profess great poverty, and after a lecture on the sin they had committed, were forgiven and rewarded with half-a-crown as an inducement not to do so any more! This worthy couple had been united many years when in the spring of 1780 they had a son, their first and last child, John Hearle Tremayne, who was ... my uncle's (Francis Gregor) successor in the representation of the County".

Harriet Tremayne's health failed many years before her death, in consequence of a stroke which rendered her a cripple; she was fond of reading, and well-informed. She was one of the original members of the Powder Book Club. John Hearle Tremayne married Caroline, daughter of Sir William Lemon of Carclew.

The third Hearle daughter, Betty, married Commodore Samuel Wallis of Stoke Damerel, Devon, who had undertaken a preliminary expedition prior to Captain Cook's voyage round the world. Their only daughter, Betty, married Samuel Stephens of Tregenna, St. Ives.

The Hearle properties were thus divided into three and became the property of the three families of Rodd, Tremayne and Stephens, being administered with their other estates.

ACQUISITIONS OF HEARLE PROPERTY

1679 Budock: James Hearle purchased 999 yr leasehold term on Roscarrack; sold 1759 by Mrs. Hearle to Peter Brown of Falmouth, mariner (WH1/3075).

1684 Kea: Thos. Hearle of Penryn, gent., purchased Chycoose from Margt. and Alice Paynter, both widows (WH1/3081, 3082).

1685 Penryn: dwelling-house bounded on w. with street and the Great Tree, purchased by Thos. Hearle of Penryn, merchant, from Sidney Bligh of Penryn, merchant (WH1/2736, 2737).

1692 Illogan: Thos. Hearle of Penryn, merchant, purchased Trevannel from Jn. Lanyon of Illogan, gent., and his mortgagee Jn. Foote of Truro (WH1/3078-3080).

1694 Penryn: houses in High Street and St. Thomas Street purchased by Thos. Hearle, merchant, from Bartholomew Melhuish of Penryn, gent. (WH1/2739, 2740).

1700. Penryn: Meneth Nanfan alias Terros purchased by Thos. Hearle of Penryn, merchant, from Taylder and Cock (WH1/2733-2735).

1702. St. Gluvias: Field and house in Gweal West, adj. lane to Goonreeth downs, purchased from Clemence Rider, wid. (WH1/2742).

1708. Stithians: Thos. Hearle purchased moiety of Tregollas from Jn. Nicholls of Trereife, esq. (WH1/3090).

1709. St. Gluvias: field in Gonean Gorras, part of manor of Penryn Porryn, purchased by Jn. Hearle from Jn. Hendra, who purchased it from Wm. Smally who purchased it from Wm. Trery (WH1/2686, 2687).

1711 Kenwyn: Thos. Hearle of Penryn, esq., purchased Vellanoweth mill and house and New Mill tenement from Thos. Haweis of Styncoose, gent. (WH1/3083).

1726 Gwennap: Thos. Hearle purchased ¼ part of Trevethan from Jn. Roskrow, gent., and s. Rich. R. (WH1/3034-3038)

1726 St. Erth, Gwinear, St. Just-in-Penwith and Phillack: Jn. Hearle married Mary Paynter of Trelissick in St. Erth, thus acquiring manor of Trelissick (see Lake vol. I p. 363-4); (WH1/2789-2796).

1729 Penryn: 2 dwelling-houses in High Street late in occ. of Jn. Bowyer, purchased by Thos. Hearle from Phebe Clether, wid. (WH1/2557).

1734 Gwennap: Jn. Hearle of Penryn, esq., purchased Carharrack Vean and Veor, and mill, from Reg. Haweis of Kea, esq. (WH1/2244-2246).

1745 Penryn: 1/3 part of stitch near High Cross adj. way to Goonreeve downs, and 1/3 part of passage piece behind Jn. Hearle's house, purchased by Jn. Hearle of Penryn, esq., from Jn. Hill of Trenethick, esq. (WH1/2741).

1748. Manor of Denis Eya, Porthia and Penzance: Bodreverian, Legha, and high rent of watercourse, in St. Erth, being part of manor, purchased by Jn. Hearle of Penryn, esq., from Phineas Checke of London; purchase price £351-9-0 (WH1/2787, 2788).

1749 Manor of Penryn Corfe: purchased by Jn. Hearle of Penryn, esq., from exors. of Earl of Radnor:

Tenement in St. Thomas Street

Close in Trewarthenean

Thos. Provis' property

Townsend meadow

Close in Green Lane

Tenements in Broad Street

Rail's tenement

4 close at Green Lane End

3 cellars, chambers, court and quay (Mead's)

Jn. Plint's house and 2 orchards

Gdn. at higher end of borough, with 2 old houses

Tenement bounded with street from Market House

Tenement in St. Thomas' Street

Orchard, lately a meadow, with house lately a barn

Stitch in New Close

In Penryn and St. Gluvias

Also tenement adj. Gwealan devas in Stithians

Also Treath in Constantine

(WH1/2556).

1752 Common recovery lists following acquisitions (no date of purchase given):

Mabe: Trevoan or Trevawnan, purchased by Thos. Hearle from exors. of Jn. Taylder of Hellan in Mabe, gent.

Manaccan: Burvansack, Trevaddra and Tregonwall, purchased by Jas. Hearle, merchant, from Sir Jn. Carew, Jn. Pendarves, esq., and Wm. Pendarves, gent.

Camborne: 3 stitches in Tolgarrack

Gwinear: moiety of Coonvrea, purchased by Thos. Hearle from Rich. Floyd, yeo.

St. Just-in-Penwith: Bojewyan, purchased by rev. Thos. Hearle and Mary Hearle, wid., from Jn. Angwin jun. of St. Just-in-Penwith, tinner.

Perranarworthal: Bargus, purchased by Thos. Hearle from Jas. Harrie of Redruth, yeo.

Wendron: 4/9 parts of Carthew Wollas, purchased by Thos. Hearle from Rob. Penwarne, esq.

(WH1/3155).

1768 St. Gluvias: stitches in Goonangorras, plot called Round Ring, and stitch in Resom meadow, all purchased by Mary Hearle from Arscott Bickford of Dunsland, Devon, esq. (WH1/2688).

1879 Penryn: stitch in Goonangorras purchased by Rodd, Tremayne and Stephens, from Ecclesiastical Commissioners (WH1/2690, 2691).

1763; 1767; 1770 Hearle lands divided into thirds and settled on Jane, Harriet and Betty on their marriages (WH1/3156-3158).

By marriage, Hearle daughters acquired Trebartha lands of Rodd (WH1/3156); Heligan lands of Tremayne (WH1/3157); and financial trust settled by Sam. Wallis on Betty H.

PROPERTY HELD BY HEARLE IN TRUST

1716 Pender trust deed, Mulwarne & mill in Cury, and Boscawen in Mawgan-in-Meneage (WH1/3277, 3278).

1731 Worth marriage settlement, Jn. Worth to Thos. Hearle

Hendriften Argals in Budock

Moiety of Great and Little Besowsack, Beswarren

Higher Tregledwith, Treveas Mean Pearn, Mean

Poll and Trebarva in Constantine

Gwarder, Vineyard, Gweal West and Besom

Meadow in St. Gluvias

Moiety of Tremough and Hills Halvossa in Mabe

Praze meadow, long meadow and barn ground, with houses, cellars and wharfs, in Penryn

Prospidnick-an-heyl in Sithney

Tregunsey with mill and stamps in Wendron

East Over in Bridgwater. Maunder's tenement in Taunton (WH1/3292).

1735 Ludgey settlement (for school) of Higher Treluswell in St. Gluvias (WH1/3225).