MILLETT
OF BOSAVERN AND MARAZION
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Third
Revised Edition
Tony Millett
tony.millett@xtra.co.nz
November 2018
Illustrations
Introduction
1.
John Mylet
(living 1435)
2. Henry Myllet
(d. 1500)
3. William Milliton (about 1515-1571)
4. Henry Millett (b. about 1570)
5. Peter Millett (d. 1615)
6. Emmanuel Millett (b. about 1628)
7. Humphry Millett (1630-1704)
8.
Martin Millett (about 1630-1723)
9.
Leonard Millett
(about 1658-1713)
10.
Leonard Millett (d. 1686)
11.
James Millett (1647-1732)
12.
Robert Millett (1665-1707?)
13. Ellianor Millett
14.
William Millett (1690-1753)
15. Leonard Millett (1692-1740)
16.
James Millett (1692-1743)
17. Robert Millett (1695-1732)
18. Ann Millett
(1702-1738)
19. Grace Millett (1708-1757)
20. Humphry Millett (1723-1757)
21. Ann Millett née Sandys (1724-1806)
22. James Millett (b. about 1729)
23. Humphry Millett (1745-1774)
24. John Millett
(1749-1815)
25. Richard Oke Millett (1749-1832)
26. Grace Millett (1750-1826)
27. Leonard Millett (1755-1841)
28. Martin Millett (about 1756-1836)
29. Sampson Millett (1757-1794)
30. William Millett (1759-1791)
31. George Millett (1762-1816)
32. Richard Millett (1770-1826)
33. John Curnow Millett (1771-1848)
34.
Richard Oke Millett (1772-1819)
35. Grace Millett (1772-1868)
36.
William Millett (1774-1829)
37. Hannibal Curnow Millett (1776-1865)
38. Leonard Millett (1778-1798)
39.
Betsey Millett (1783-1871)
40.
Nicholas Millett (1785-1828)
41. Robert Millett (1788-1844)
42. William Millett (1789-1841)
43. George Thomas Millett (1790-1824)
44. Richard Millett (1791-1828)
45. John Boulderson Millett (1791-1870)
46. Elizabeth Millett (about 1791-1861)
47. Charles Millett (1792-1873)
48
Thomas Trevorian
Millett (b. 1792)
49. George Millett (1793-1850)
50.
Henry Millett (1795-1834)
51. Frederic Millett (1798-1856)
52. Louisa Millett (1801-1871)
53. Edward Millett (1801-1821)
54. Ann Emily Millett née Michell (1804-1886)
55. Matilda Millett (1805-1855)
56. Richard Millett (1807-1865)
57. William John Honey Millett
(1807-1881)
58. John Nicholas Richards Millett (1807-1885)
59. Nicholas Richards Broad Millett (1809-1859)
60. Honey Millett (1809-1847)
61. Leonard Millett (1811-1860)
62. Thomas Samuel Cornish Millett
(1813-1879)
63. Richard Oke Millett (1815-1897)
64.
William Smith Millett (1818-1854)
65. Humphry Davy Millett (1818-1867)
66. Hannibal Curnow Millett (1818-1881)
67. Caroline Millett (1820-1821)
68. Janet Millett née Webster (1821-1904)
69. Leonard Millett (1823-1881)
70. Cecelia Millett née Panormo (1823-1907)
71. John George Mudge Millett (1825-1865)
72. Richard Oke Millett (1827-1893)
73. John Curnow Millett (1828-1870)
74.
Arthur Hill Millett (1831-1879)
75. John Millett (1832-1867)
76. Fortescue William Millett (1833-1915)
77. Hugh Ley Millett (1833-1879)
78. Philip Richards Millett (1834-1871)
79. James Halse Millett (1835-1890)
80. Sydney Crohan Millett (1836-1879)
81. Edwin Ley Millett (1836-1902)
82. John Nicholas Millett (1837-1918)
83. Charles Frederic Millett (1838-1917)
84.
Henry Millett (1839-1916)
85. Montague Millett (1839-1901)
86.
Josepha Joanna Millett (about 1840-1899)
87. William Halse Millett (1840-1877)
88. Robert Edward Michell Millett (1840-1907)
89. Richard Tracey Millett (1840-1875)
90. Cecil George Millett (1840-1865)
91. Arthur Fenning Millett (1841-1885)
92. Edward Waugh Millett (1842-1886)
93. George Bown Millett (1842-1896)
94. Anne Nicholls Louisa Millett (1844-1925)
95. Henry Halse Millett (1846-1877)
96. Claude Henry Millett (1846-1924)
97. Reginald Millett (1847-1886)
98. Olave Turner
Millett (1848-1923)
99. Kate Millett née Leslie (1851-1921)
100. Towers Trevorian Millett (1852-1882)
101. Maurice Millett
(1853-1946)
102. Frederick
Millett (1853-1889)
103. Henry Millett (1853-1922)
104. Walter Millett
(1854-1911)
105. Sarah Matilda Millett
(1855-1940)
106. Minnie Millett (1856-1938)
107. Elizabeth Mary Leslie
(1857-1940)
108. John Edwin George Millett (1859-1921)
109. Lucy Constance Marion Millett
(1862-1950)
110. George Prideaux Millett (1863-1950)
111. Humphry Davy Millett
(1865-1926)
112. John Lester Vivian Millett (1865-1943)
113.
James John Millett (1866-1916)
114. Henry Stansbury Millett (1867-1947)
115. Ethel Maude Millett (1867-1920)
115a. Henry Lancelot Tennant (1866-1933)
116.
Georgina Curnow Millett
(1868-1957)
117. Cornish Collins Tyson Millett
(1871-1947)
118. Edwin Richard Collingwood Millett (1874-1956)
119. William Hugh Millett (1875-1967)
120. Maurice Palmer Millett (1877-1948)
121. Martin Leslie Millett (1878-1951)
122.
Angelina Lena Millett (1880-1957)
123. George Nicholls Millett (1880-1962)
124. Isabella Robertson Millett née Fletcher (1881-1965)
125. Leonard Stanley Millett (1881-1950)
126. Vernon Leichhardt D’Israeli Millett
(1881-1937)
127. Leopold Arthur Millett (1882-1930)
128. Alfred Clyde Millett
(1884-1910)
129. Nina Davy Millett
(1885-1966)
130. Kate Maud Millett
(1886-1976)
131. Humphry John Curnow Millett (1897-1987)
132. Marjorie Helen Millett
(b. 1899)
133. Charles Trevorian Fletcher (Charlie)
Millett (1903-1995)
134.
William Hugh Millett (1904-1954)
135. Nigel Stansbury Girtin Stansbury Millett (1904-1946)
136. Edward Tracey Fletcher (Ted) Millett
(1906-1989)
137. Mary Blanche (Molly) Millett (1908-2006)
138. Mervyn Richard Oke Millett (1910-1988)
139.
Rex Spencer Beaconsfield Millett
(1911-1951)
140. Margaret Vivian Millett (1914-2017)
141. Guy Neville
Millett (1917-1918)
142. Leopold Ian Adrian
Millett (1920-2010)
143. Vincent Vivian
Millett (1928-2013)
144.
Millett Family
145. Milletts of Bosavern
146. Bosavern
147. Milletts in Marazion
148. Ennys
149. Gurlyn
150.
Penpol House and Estate
Bibliography
of Cited Sources
Subject Index
Coat
of arms
Map
of West Cornwall
Henry
Myllet family memorial brasses, St Mary’s Church, Perivale
Pengersick
Castle, Praa Sands, Breage, Cornwall
Ennys
House, St Hilary, Cornwall
James
Millett (1647-1732)
Board in St
Just-in-Penwith Church listing Parish Vicars
Humphry
Millett (1745-1774) monument in St Hilary Churchyard
Memorial
plaque in St Just-in-Penwith Church to John Millett (1749-1815) and his sons
Richard
Millett (1770-1826)
Will
of Richard Oke Millett (1772-1819)
Grace
Short née Millett (1772-1868)
Nicholas
Millett (1785-1828)
Memorial
plaque in St Just-in-Penwith Church to George Thomas Millett (1790-1824)
Will
of Richard Millett (1791-1828)
Elizabeth
Davis née Millett (about 1791-1861) and John Davis (about 1780-1852)
Tayles
Hill House, Ewell, Surrey
John Nicholas Richards
Millett (1807-1885) and Mary Millett née
Ley (about 1804-1888)
Nicholas
Richards Broad Millett (1809-1859)
Janet Millett née
Webster (1821-1904)
Fortescue
William Millett (1833-1915)
Hugh
Ley Millett (1833-1879)
Julia Maria
Woodthorpe Millett née Childs (1846-1935) and Hugh Ley Millett (1833-1879)
James
Halse Millett (1835-1890)
Sydney
Crohan Millett (1836-1879)
Josepha
Joanna Murray née Millett (1840-1899) and John Murray (1816-1886)
William
Halse Millett (1840-1877)
19-20
Chapel Street, Penzance
George
Bown Millett (1842-1896)
Kate Millett née
Leslie (1851-1921)
Kate
Millett née
Leslie (1851-1921) with sister Elizabeth
Mary Leslie (1857-1940)
Towers
Trevorian Millett (1852-1882)
Frederick
Millett (1853-1889) and Annie Hoggins Millett née Dewar (1855-1929)
Minnie
Templer née Millett (1856-1938) and James William Templer (b. 1852)
Elizabeth
Mary Leslie (1857-1940) with sister Kate Millett née Leslie (1851-1921)
Elizabeth
Mary Leslie (1857-1940) with grand-nephew Edward Tracey Fletcher Millett (1906-1989)
John
Edwin George Millett (1859-1921)
John
Lester Vivian Millett (1865-1943)
Cutty
Sark
Yarns
of an Old Shellback
James
John Millett, 1866-1916
Ethel
Maude Millett (1867-1920)
Richard
Rowe (1870-1963) and Georgina Curnow Rowe née Millett (1868-1957)
Edwin Richard Collingwood
Millett (1874-1956)
Loch Sloy
Martin
Leslie Millett (1878-1951) monument at Mount Wesley Soldiers’ Cemetery, Dargaville
Angelina
Lena Englebretsen née Millett (1880-1957)
George
Nicholls Millett (1880-1962)
Delphic
Dog
Island Lighthouse, Foveaux Strait, Southland
Isabella
Robertson Millett née Fletcher (1881-1965)
Papanui
Leonard
Stanley Millett (1881-1950)
Nina
Davy Hobdell née Millett (1885-1966)
Kate
Maud Harvey née Millett (1886-1976)
Humphry
John Curnow Millett (1897-1987)
Charles Trevorian
Fletcher (Charlie) Millett
(1903-1995)
With
mother Isabella Robertson Millett née Fletcher (1881-1965)
Margaret
Ellen Millett née Brookes (1903-1999)
Virginia on Charlie Millett’s Tauranga slip, 1929
Gamefishing (Charlie
Millett second from right at back) about 1933
William
Hugh Millett (1904-1954) with
niece Joan Beryl Swiney (1927-2002)
Edward
Tracey Fletcher (Ted) Millett (1906-1989)
Fairmile
Q 408, commanded by Lieutenant E. T. F. Millett, RNZNVR
Eleanor
Florence Millett née Upton (1910-1973)
Mary Blanche (Molly)
Millett (1908-2006)
Mervyn Richard
Oke Millett (1910-1988) with
Margarete Eva (Greta) Millett née Reiss (1915-1982)
Rex
Spencer Beaconsfield Millett (1911-1951) and Hazel May Millett née Sellars (1916-1986)
Leopold Ian Adrian
Millett (1920-2010)
Coats
of arms
Maps
of Bosavern, Cornwall
Bosavern
House, Cornwall
Saint
Just-in-Penwith Church, Cornwall
List
of Mayors, Marazion Town Hall
Ennys
House, St Hilary, Cornwall
Penpol
House, Phillack, Cornwall
As a genealogist I am, of course,
vitally interested in “hatched, matched and dispatched” information. But
as a family historian (albeit an amateur
one) I am far more interested in the lives of my forebears – who they were,
what they did, and where they did it. I
have therefore spent considerable time researching my ancestors, in libraries,
via the Internet, using newspapers, books, journals and websites etc. All that
I have found out has been entered
into my two family trees, Millett of Bosavern and Millett of Marazion,
both in my own Family Tree Maker files but also, more publicly, on Ancestry.com
with links from my website. However,
this information is not easily findable, as it usually requires knowledge of
the name of the person to whom the information or “story” has been attached.
This publication is intended to
assist in making the information I have discovered more easily accessible. The
“stories” are still recorded under the
names of the persons to whom they relate, but a broad subject index has been
provided to assist retrieval. The
entries are arranged chronologically by birth date.
All information is sourced, and a
bibliography of the sources quoted is provided.
The Milletts included in this
publications are only a tiny proportion of those listed in my two family trees,
being restricted to those about whom I have been able to discover some
interesting fact or account beyond birth, baptism, marriage, occupation, death
and burial data.
Tony Millett
10 O’Neills Avenue
Takapuna, Auckland
New Zealand 0622
Email: tony.millett@xtra.co.nz
Website:
http://tonymillett.tripod.com
November 2018
Note: The Web version of this
publication omits illustrations, which are given in a separate file on my
website: Images for
“Biographical Notes”.
1. JOHN
MYLET (living 1435)
Millett of Marazion
John Millett came to England from
France in 1419 as Ambassador and was a Privy Councillor in 1435.
Source:
Boase, George Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes
relating to the County of Cornwall.
Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 581.
John Mylet came to England in
1432 as an ambassador from John of Lancaster, First Duke of Bedford
(1389-1435), son of King Henry IV and Regent of France for his nephew King
Henry VI, who was technically also heir to the throne of France. It was agreed
that 40 marks should be paid to
the ambassador from the Duke of Bedford.
See Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England.
Sources:
Millett, George Bown.
Genealogical
memoranda as to the Millett Family.
Penzance, March 1870 (manuscript), p. 1.
Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Lancaster,_1st_Duke_of_Bedford.
The first publicly recorded
instance of the [Millett] name in England is that of John Mylet, who came in
1432 as an ambassador from the regent of France, the Duke of Bedford, eldest
uncle of Henry Sixth. It is thought that
he never returned to his native country.
Source:
Stinchfield, John Clark. History
of the town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine, from its settlement, June 10,
1780. Lewiston, Me, Press of
Lewiston Journal, 1901, p. 42. https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofl00stinrich.
2. HENRY MYLLET (d. 1500)
Millett of Marazion
Henry Myllet was the son of John
Mylet (living 1435). Henry lived at
Perivale or Greenford Parva, Middlesex.
He married first Alice ?, and second Johanna ?. Henry died on 5
February 1500 at Perivale,
and was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Perivale.
Children
Henry Myllet had 3 sons and 6
daughters by his first wife Alice, and 3 sons and 3 daughters by his second
wife Johanna.
Source:
Millett, George Bown. Genealogical
memoranda as to the Millett Family.
Penzance, March 1870 (manuscript), p. 1.
Death
Henry Myllet, probably son of
John Millett, died 1505 [i.e. 1500] and was buried Perivale, Middlesex, leaving
issue by 2 wives 15 children.
Source:
Boase, George Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes
relating to the County of Cornwall.
Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 581.
Memorial brasses
Some of the monuments in the
church [at Perivale] have already been referred to, the most ancient of these
being the brasses to the memory of Henry Mylett, his two wives and fifteen
children; it bears the date a.d. 1500.
There are in all five small brasses in good
preservation.
The centre one is the figure of
Mylett, with that of his wife, Alice, on one side and Joan on the other; beneath
which are the presentments, on
separate brasses, of the three sons and six daughters of the former, and the
three sons and three daughters of the latter.
The engraved detail of all the figures is well preserved, and the
costumes of the period (Henry VII.) are so well shown as to render the monument
of great interest. A brass plate is
inserted between the two groups of figures, which contains the following partly
obliterated inscription : —
“Orate pro anibus Henrici Mylett
ac Alicise et Johannse Uxor sua ; qui quidem Henricus obiit V die Februar. Anno
dom millia VO. quorum anibas [(?)] p.pioietur Deus — ame.”
The brasses are on the floor near
the altar railing.
Source:
Brown, John Allen. The
chronicles of Greenford Parva; or, Perivale, past and present. With divers historical,
archæological, and
other notes, traditions, etc., relating to the church and manor, and the Brent
Valley. London, J. S. Virtue, 1890,
p. 78. https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofgree00browrich.
Descendants
Henry Millett was several times
constable of Perivale (Greenford Parva). ... From Henry Millett descended the
family of Millett of Perivale, who seem to have come to an end with Elizabeth
Millett, of Perivale, who died 20 April, 1655, at Agmondisham, Bucks. She married
first Sir Thomas Knightley, and
secondly John Lane, of the Inner Temple;
and her monument at Perivale shows the Millett arms: argent, a fess gules
between three dragons
heads erased vert.
Now these very same arms had been
granted in 1616 to John Millett, of Hayes Court, the elder brother of Richard
Millett, of Denham, Bucks., who died in 1638.
So it seems probable that the Millett of Hayes were a branch of the
Perivale family, and descended from one of the sons of Henry Millett, who died
in 1500. One of these sons was probably John
Millett, Clerk of the King’s Signet (see The Armorial, iii (1962) p.
160).
Source:
Evans, Charles. Millett, of
Hayes, Middlesex. Notes and Queries
v. 208, November 1963, p. 403.
3.
WILLIAM MILLITON
(about 1515-1571)
Millett of Marazion
Family tradition, and several
sources, suggest that William Millett was Sheriff of Cornwall in 1566. However,
a number of lists of sheriffs of
Cornwall state that William Militon was High Sheriff in 1566.
William Milliton (the surname is
also spelt Meliton, Melton, Milaton, Mileton, Militon, Millaton, Milleton,
Milynton, Millyton, Myliton and Myllyton) was the son of John (or Job) Myliton
(or Militon, Milliton or Myllyton) (about 1483-1549) and Alice (or Avice) Dennis
(or Dennys) (about 1493-1551), who married in 1514 at Bicton, Devon. William
was born about 1515 in Breage, Cornwall. He resided at Pengersick Castle, Breage. He married Honor Godolphin (about 1518-1579)
in 1537 at Godolphin; between 1538 and
1554 they had 9 children – 8 girls and 1 boy.
William was Captain of St Michael’s Mount, and High Sheriff of Cornwall
in 1566. He died on 18 March 1571 at
Breage aged 56, and was buried there on 20 March 1571.
William’s only son, William
Milliton, was born about 1554. He died,
unmarried, at sea on 31 May 1571 aged 17, and was buried on 1 June 1571 at
Hartland, Devon. His father William,
therefore, was without male issue.
Sheriff of Cornwall
William Millett, Sheriff of
Cornwall, eighth year of the Reign of Elizabeth, 1566.
Source: Millett,
George Bown. Genealogy Manuscript
Book (unpublished), p. 100.
William Millett was sheriff of
Cornwall in 1566.
Source:
Stinchfield, John Clark. History
of the town of Leeds, Androscoggin County, Maine, from its settlement, June 10,
1780. Lewiston, Me, Press of
Lewiston Journal, 1901, p. 42.
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofl00stinrich.
One William Millett was Sheriff
of the county in the reign of Elizabeth
Source:
Gay, Susan Elizabeth. Old Falmouth:
the story of the town from the days of the Killigrews to the earliest part of
the 19th century. London, Headley
Bros, 1903, p. 197. https://archive.org/details/oldfalmouth00gays.
It is said that a William
Millett of Marazion was High
Sheriff of Cornwall in 1566. He is shown
on Richard Oke Millett's family tree of 1888 with a date of 1558.
Source:
Millett Roots: Cornwall. http://roots.milletts.net/cornwall.htm.
William
Millett of Marazion was High Sheriff of
Cornwall in 1566.
Source:
Millett, Iain. Millett of
Penpol and Marazion. http://www.iain.millett.btinternet.co.uk/millett_Story.htm.
1566: William Militon
of Pengersick.
Source:
High Sheriffs of Cornwall: a
chronological list. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Sheriff_of_Cornwall#16th-century_Sheriffs.
16 November 1565-18 November
1566: William Mylliton.
Source: List of sheriffs for England and Wales from the
earliest times to A.D. 1831.
London, HMSO, 1898, p. 23. (Public Record Office. Lists and indexes,
no.
9). https://archive.org/stream/listofsheriffsfo00newy#page/22/mode/2up/search/Cornwall.
Millaton Family
Near Germoe, but nearer the sea,
is the very fine remnant of a castle, Pengersick. It was erected in the reign
of Henry VIII by
a certain man of the name of Millaton, probably of Millaton in Bridestowe,
Devon. He had committed a murder, and to
escape justice he fled his native county and concealed himself in the dip of
the land facing the sea at Pengersick, where he constructed a tower amply
provided with means of defence. The
basement is furnished with loopholes for firing upon anyone approaching, and
above the door is a shoot for melted lead.
The whole building is beautifully constructed.
Here Millaton remained in
concealment till he died, never leaving his tower for more than a brief
stroll. The land had not been purchased
in his own name, but in that of his son Job, who, after his death, was made
Governor of S. Michael’s Mount. Job had
a son, William, who was made Sheriff of Cornwall in 1565, and he married Honor,
daughter of Sir William Godolphin of Godolphin.
According to a local legend,
William Millaton and his wife Honor lived a cat-and-dog life. They hated each
other with a deadly hate, and
at length each severally resolved that this incompatible union must come to an
end.
William Millaton said to his
wife, “Honor, we have lived in wretchedness too long. Let us resolve on
a reconciliation, forget
the past, and begin a new life”.
“Most certainly do I agree
thereto”, said she.
“And”, continued William, “as
a
pledge of our reunion, let us have a feast together to-night”.
So a banquet was spread in
Pengersick Castle for them twain and none others.
And when they had well eaten,
then William Millaton said, “Let us drink to our reunion”.
“I will drink if you will drink”,
said she.
Then he drained his glass, and
after that, she drained hers.
With a bitter laugh she said,
“William, you have but three minutes to live.
Your cup was poisoned”.
“And you”, retorted he, “have
but
five, for yours is poisoned”.
“It is well,” said Honor; “I
am
content. I shall have two minutes in
which to triumph over your dead carcass, and to spurn it with my foot”.
On the death of this William, the
estate passed to his six sisters, who married into the families of Erisy,
Lanyon, Trefusis, Arundell, Bonython, and Abbot of Hartland.
Source:
Baring-Gould, Sabine. A Book
of Cornwall. New edition. London,
Methuen, 1906, p. 289-291. https://archive.org/details/bookofcornwall00bari.
Pengersick Castle
The alliance between the
Millitons and the Godolphins was cemented by the marriage of William’s
daughter, Honor, to John’s son and heir.
Much refurbishment of Pengersick appears to have taken place in
celebration of the event, including elaborate decoration of the panelling in
the tower’s main room, illustrating the two houses thus united. A copy
was made by Dr Borlase when he visited
what remained of the castle in 1738. His
original drawing still hangs in the Morrab Library in Penzance. Unfortunately
he didn’t bother to copy the
portraits of William and Honor which were said to have hung above the
fireplace.
John died in 1549 but his family continued to prosper. William succeeded his
father as Captain of
the Mount. The Muster Roll for 1569
indicates that he must have taken precedence over Francis Godolphin from the list
of contributions which the size of his property caused him to furnish:
“One gelding
with his
furniture for a light horseman, corslet, pike, haquebut, morion, long bow and
sheaf of arrows”.
However, material success did not lead to long term security. The only son of
William and Honor was lost at
sea in 1571. His father died almost
immediately afterwards. The property was
divided between the six surviving daughters and with none of them having
sufficient of the property to preserve it as a home, it fell into disuse and
was dissipated amongst their successors, finally reverting to the Godolphins.
Source:
Evans, Angela. Pengersick
Castle: a brief history. Praa Sands,
Out of Town Design and Print,
1998. Cited in Huntley, Dorothy
Hosking. The Home Page of Dorothy
Hosking and Dan Huntley’s Families.
https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/u/n/Dorothy-H-Huntley/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1074.html.
4. HENRY MILLETT (b. about 1570)
Millett
of Marazion
Henry Millett was the son of Peter Millett
(d. 8 June 1615) and his wife Elizabeth (d. June 1615). Henry was born about
1570 at Ludgvan,
Cornwall. He married Maryinatt Skaden
(b. about 1574) on 9 April 1592 at Ludgvan, where they lived. Henry’s
date of death is unknown.
Name
One of the
first persons of the name in Cornwall.
Source: Boase, George Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of
biographical and topographical notes relating to the County of Cornwall. Truro,
Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 568.
5. PETER MILLETT (d. 1615)
Millett of Marazion
Peter Millett was possibly
descended from William Milliton (or Militon) who was High Sheriff of Cornwall
in 1566. Peter lived in Marazion, Cornwall.
He married Elizabeth ? (buried 8 June 1615 at
Madron); they had 3 children, Henry
(born 1570), Leonard (died 1631) and Robert (died 1630). Peter died on 8 June
1615 at Madron,
Cornwall.
Marazion Charter
Peter Millett was one of the 12
chief inhabitants of Marazion mentioned in the Charter of 1595. He is one
of the first persons of the name of Millett found in Cornwall.
Source: Boase, George
Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes
relating to the County of Cornwall.
Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 581.
6. EMMANUEL
MILLETT (b. about 1628)
Millett
of Bosavern
Emmanuel Millett was a son of
Christopher Millett (died February 1700) and Honour Angwin (died July
1719). Emmanuel was born about 1628 in
Cornwall. He died without issue.
Bosavern
The family of Boson was
established at Newlyn as early as 1584, when “Nicholas Bossen of Newlin,
husbandman” purchased some land at Keygwyn and Bojuian (Bojewyan) in St. Yuste,
from Thomas Keygwyn, of Plymouth, sailor, for £45.
In 1634 “William Bosen, merchant”
and Nicholas, his son and heir, granted a lease of his land to James Nycholas,
“Tynner”. They sign their names “Boson”. In 1657 “Nicholas Bosen of
Newlvn, gentleman,” apparently the son of the last named Nicholas, having
married Elizabeth the daughter of John Webber, gentleman, deceased, made a
jointure settlement on her. Her marriage portion had been £300. In return
for this, her husband appointed John Oliver of Sithney, gent and Arthur Paynter
of St. Erth, gent, as trustees to see that she received £30 a year for life if
she survived him. This annuity was to be raised from his lands in
Treungle and Hellwyn in Pawle, Keigwin and Bosèuian in St. Just, Brane in
Sankrett, Chirgwin and Raftra in St. Levan, Penzance, Mousehole, Newlyn and
Brewinny in Paul. She was to have the use of the mansion-house and
gardens (in Newlyn) for her life.
This Nicholas Boson was evidently
the student of Cornish. In 1663 he sold his lands in Keigwin to Martyn
Angwyn of St. Just, gent., and in 1664 we have a deed whereby he conveys his
two stitches of land (3/4 acre) in the close called Parke-an-Chappell in
Bojewyan alias Bosuyan in St. Just, to Richard Angwyn of St. Just, gentleman.
In a deed of 1670 “Richard Angwin
of Bojewyan, gent.,” is described as son of one Martin Angwin of Bojewyan, who
was alive in 1605. In 1646 he married Grace the daughter of Thomas
Fleming of Landithy in Madron. ...
The original will of Richard
Angwyn is dated October 4, 1671. ... The testator appears to have had no
children, but made his sister’s son Emanuell Millett his sole executor and
residuary legatee. ... To his nephew Emanuell Millett (son of his sister Honor
by Christopher Millett) he left all his house and lands in Bojewyan, where he
lived, with the residue of his property. ...
Source: Henderson, Charles. Nicholas
Boson and Richard Angwyn. Old
Cornwall: Journal of the Federation of
Old Cornwall Societies v. 2, 1931-1936, p. 29-32.
7. HUMPHRY MILLETT (1630-1704)
Millett of Marazion
Humphry Millett was the son of
William Millett. He was born in 1630 at
Marazion. He lived at Ennys, Enys or
Ninnis, St Hilary, Cornwall. Humphry
married Margaret Rogers (1639-1712);
they had 3 children, John (about 1666-1743), Margaret (about 1673-1699)
and Elizabeth (about 1685-1760). Humphry
died in April 1704 at St Hilary aged 74, and was buried on 28 April 1704 at
Marazion.
Ennys
Humphry Millett is believed to
have built Ennys in 1688. The house still exists in 2002, and has an
inscription on the lintel “16 H + M 88”.
Source: Millett, Stephen Oram
Fearon. Modified register for Peter Millett, 14 November 2005
(unpublished), p. 4.
8. MARTIN MILLETT (about 1630-1723)
Millett
of Bosavern
Martin Millett was the eldest child of
Christopher Millett (d. about 1700) and Honour Angwin (d. July 1719). Martin
was born about 1630 at St
Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall. He married
Ann Borlase (1646-1729) on 29 April 1671 at Buryan, Cornwall; between 1671 and
1690 they had nine
children. They lived at Higher Bosavern,
St Just-in-Penwith. Martin died on 6
January 1723 at Higher Bosavern aged 93, and was buried at St Just-in-Penwith.
Lease of land
Lease of land,
Killynack, St Just in Penwith, 19 January 1674
Parties: (1)
Francis Paynter, gentleman of Boskenna (2) Martyn
Millett gentleman of St Just in Penwith. Lease by (1) to (2) of land in
Killynack [Kenidjack?], St Just in Penwith. Term: 99 years or lives of
Christopher and Jane Millett, son and daughter of Christopher Millett of St
Hilary. Consideration: £100.
Source: Cornwall Record Office . http://crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo==%27AD613%2F5%27).
9. LEONARD MILLETT (about
1658-1713)
Millett of Bosavern
Leonard Millett was the fifth child of Christopher
Millett (d. 1700) and Honour Angwin (d. 1719).
Leonard was born about 1658 in Cornwall.
He married Thomasin Vibert (about 1662-1717) on 7 July 1683 at St
Hilary, Cornwall. Leonard died in 1713 at
St Hilary aged 55, and was buried there on 4 November 1713.
Will
In his will written 16 July 1712, Leonard
of St Hilary leaves bequest to wife Thompson [i.e. Thomasin], £1 each to
sisters Jane (and her children), Anos [i.e. Agnes] (and her daughter), Elizabeth
(and her son and daughter), Cousin Robert, Honor daughter of brother Martin,
with sums to servants David and Mary, godchildren in that order. Also a bequest
to William Millett, his
brother Martin’s younger son if he survives his Uncle Christopher and Aunt
Julyan. His brother Christopher and
sister Julyan are executors.
Source: Stephen Millett.
10. LEONARD MILLETT (d. 1686)
Millett of Marazion
Leonard Millett was the son of
Leonard Millett (d. 1631). Leonard
resided in Marazion, Cornwall, and was Mayor of Marazion in 1675 and 1680. Leonard
married Wilmot Dunstan (d. 1694) in
1663. They had two sons, Robert Millett
(1665-1707) and Leonard Millett (d. 1716).
Leonard died in 1686 and was buried at St Hilary, Cornwall.
Wife and marriage
George Bown Millett, in his Genealogy
Manuscript Book (unpublished) p. 100, gives the name of Leonard Millett’s
wife as ? Willmott.
Stephen Oram Fearon Millett, in
his Modified Register for Peter Millett, 14 November 2005
(unpublished), p. 3, states that Leonard Millett married Mrs Wilmot
Dunstan in 1663, and cites Vincent Vivian Millett: “Wilmot (Unknown) widow
of ... Dunstan who died ... ”.
No marriage is recorded in the International
Genealogical Index or in Cornwall
Online Parish Clerks.
The date of marriage could
perhaps be determined by the birth date of their son Robert Millett.
However, Millett Roots: Cornwall at http://roots.milletts.net/cornwall.htm gives this date as 1650;
Stephen Millett gives 1665; and the IGI gives both 1669 and 1685.
11. JAMES
MILLETT (1647-1732)
Millett of Marazion
James Millett was the second
child of James Millett (1627-1688) and Ellinor Clies (d. 1687). James was born
in 1647, and educated at
Trinity College Cambridge where he graduated A.B. in 1670 and A.M. in
1678. He was a clergyman, Vicar of St
Just-in-Penwith from 18 July 1678 to his death in April 1732 (54 years). His
Patron was Charles II. James married first Clarinda Treweeke (about
1651 to 1676) on 1 February 1673 at Camborne, Cornwall; they had one child,
Clarinda (about
1674-1753). James married second Loveday
Martin (about 1651-1698) on 27 July 1684 at Launcells, Cornwall; between 1686
and 1697 they had 6
children. James married third Thomasin
Sanders (about 1651-1736) on 27 April 1703 at Sancreed, Cornwall; they had one
child, Thomasina or Thomasin (b.
about 1704). James died in April 1732 at
St Just-in-Penwith aged 85, and was buried there on 20 April 1732.
Wives
Rev James Millett is reported to
have had four wives. It is also said that the posy on his last wedding
ring was “If I survive I will have five”.
Sources:
Millett,
George Bown. Genealogy Manuscript Book
(unpublished), p. 143.
Boase, George Clement.
Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to
the County of Cornwall. Truro,
Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 575.
Wrecking
Rev James Millett is remarkable
as being the parson who, on the news being brought into church during service
of a wreck (at a time when wrecking was notorious at St Just) exclaimed “Hear
but five words – let us all start fair”, and then hurrying down from the pulpit
he and his congregation left the church for the scene of the disaster.
Source: Millett, George Bown. Genealogy Manuscript Book
(unpublished), p. 143.
Parish register
Mr. Millett wrote all the entries
in the Register, in a good clear hand, to the close of 1731, within a few
months of his death, and showed but little marks of age.
Source: Buller, John. A
statistical account of the Parish of Saint Just in Penwith in the County of
Cornwall, with some notice of its ecclesiastical and druidical antiquities.
Penzance, R. D. Rodda, 1842, p. 44 footnote.
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=s4kLAAAAYAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA44.
12. ROBERT
MILLETT (1665-1707?)
Millett of Marazion
Robert Millett was the elder son
of Leonard Millett (d. 1686) and Wilmot Dunstan (d. 1694), who married in
1663. Robert was born in 1665 in
Cornwall. He married Margaret Oke (1673-1712)
about 1694 at Marazion; they had 3
children, Leonard (1692-1740), Robert (b. 1694) and Jane (b. 1703). Robert was
Mayor of Marazion in 1694. He was a mariner, master of the Prosperous. He has been named as the Secretary to Admiral
Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1650-1707). If
so, he died on 22 October 1707 off the Isles of Scilly aged 42.
Death
Secretary to Admiral Sir
Cloudesley Shovel, and drowned with him in the wreck of H.M.S. Association
off the Isles of Scilly at 8.00 p.m. on 22 October 1707, along with 800 other
men.
Sources:
Boase, George Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to
the County of Cornwall. Truro,
Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 568.
An account of the families of Boase or Bowes, originally residing at
Paul and Madron in Cornwall, & of other families connected with them by
marriage.
Second edition. Truro, Netherton
and Worth for Charles William, George Clement and Frederic Boase, 1893, col.
110.
But Robert Millett, mariner, was almost
certainly not the Secretary of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (in 1707 Shovell’s
secretary was René Jontin *) – if
so, his death date is not known, although it must have been before 1708.
His wife may have been Jane Hill – see his will admon dated 29 April 1708,
which refers to wife Jane. St
Hilary Burials 1700-1709 states that “Millet, Robert, of the town, son of
Jane, widow” was buried on 3 March 1706, but this must be a different Robert
Millett.
* See Harris, Simon.
Sir Cloudesley Shovell: Stuart admiral. Staplehurst, Kent, Spellmount,
2001, p.
362. See also
the third section of my publication Some Millett myths un-masked at http://tonymillett.tripod.com/myths.html.
Millett of Marazion
Ellianor Millett was the daughter
of Richard Millett (b. about 1658) and Honor Trenhayle (b. about 1662), who
married on 27 January 1683 at St Hilary, Cornwall.
The will of Ann Pascoe (née
Millett), written in July 1740, refers to “Ellianor Millitt, dau. of late uncle
Richd Millett”.
Source: Millett, Stephen Oram
Fearon. Modified register for Peter
Millett, 14 November 2005 (unpublished), p. 11.
14. WILLIAM MILLETT (1690-1753)
Millett of Bosavern
William Millett was the ninth
child of Martin Millett (about 1630-1723) and Ann Borlase (1646-1729), who
married on 29 April 1671 at Buryan, Cornwall.
William was born on 1 October 1690 at St Just-in-Penwith, and baptised
there on 18 October 1690. He married
Hannah Cornish (1696-1784) on 24 February 1717 at Sancreed, Cornwall, where
they lived. Between 1719 and 1733 they
had seven children. William died in
February 1753 at St Hilary, Cornwall aged 63, and was buried there on 7 February
1753.
Tin bounds
In 1703 William Millett had a
licence agreement on tin bounds at Gweals Vean at Treviscan, Sennen, Cornwall.
The bounds belonged to Henry Vingoe, and were let by him to William
Borlase, the son of Joseph Borlase of St Just-in-Penwith, William Millett,
the son of Martin Millett also of St Just-in-Penwith, and his own son
Henry Vingoe Jnr. These bounds were bordered on the four sides by Carn
Colwidrocke, Sowen Peddenantes, Vaan Vrease and Mean Sebmen.
Source: Pritchard, Sandra and
Pritchard, George. Sennen OPC: Mining in Sennen. http://sennenopc.vingoe.name/mining.htm.
15. LEONARD MILLETT (1692-1740)
Millett of Marazion
Leonard Millett was the eldest
child of Robert Millett (1665-1707) and Margaret Oke (1673-1712), who married
about 1694 at Marazion. Leonard was born
in 1692, and baptised on 7 May 1692 at St Hilary, Cornwall. He was a merchant,
residing in Marazion. Leonard was Mayor of Marazion in 1718, 1719
and 1721. He married first Jane Millett
(1692-1730) on 23 June 1716 at St Hilary;
between 1716 and 1729 they had eleven children, six of whom were living
in 1643. He married second Grace Millett
(1708-1757) on 8 June 1731 at St Just-in-Penwith; they did not have any children. Leonard died in December 1740 at Marazion
aged 48, and was buried on 25 December 1740 at St Hilary.
Fishing dispute
Leonard Millett of Marazion owned
both seines and drift nets and later stated that because he and the others had
been unwilling to contend any further with St. Aubyn they had agreed that he
should have a decree against them “for the recovery of the tithe and they
had since paid tithe for all pilchards taken in the codds and meased in the
sleeves of the seines, also for pilchards taken in drift nets and for all hook
fish taken by them”.
Source: North, Christine and
Palmer, June (eds). The charter town
of Marazion. Marazion, Marazion Town
Council, 1995, p. 114.
Number of children of Leonard and
Jane Millett
George Bown Millett’s Genealogy
Manuscript Book (unpublished) on page 100 gives 4 children: Oke, John, Leonard
and Jane; and states that they “had 6 sons living in
1743 (see will of John Millett of Gurlyn)”.
On pages 104-105 he gives 8 children:
Humphry, Robert, George, William, James, John, Leonard and Jane.
George Clement Boase’s Collectanea
Cornubiensia (1890) cols. 568-569 gives 8 children: Humphry, Robert, George,
William, James,
John, Leonard, Jane.
Colin Kennedy’s FTM tree gives 12
children: Jane, Jane, Oke, John,
Humphrey, Leonard, James, Robert, William, George, John, Leonard.
Stephen Millett’s FTM tree gives
8 children: Oke, John, Jane, Humphrey,
Robert, William, George, James.
Will
The Will of Leonard Millett
written 15th July 1738, and proved 19th February 1740
In the name of God Amen. I
Leonard Millett of the Town of Marazion in ye County of Cornwall Mercht being
in pritty good health of body, & of sound mind, memory, &
understanding, (praise be to God for the same) considdering ye frailty &
uncertainty of this mortal life, do make & ordain this my last Will &
Testament in manner & form following.
Impr : I commend my Soul into ye hand of Allmighty
God my Creator, hoping for a full & free pardon of all my sins through ye
merits & mediation of my blessed Saviour & redeemer Jesus Christ, &
my body I commit to ye earth to be decently buried at ye discretion of my Executrs
herein after named, & as touching ye disposition of all my temporal estate
wherewth it hath pleased God to bless me wth, I give & dispose thereof, as
followeth.
Item : My will & desire is yt all my just Debts
& funeral charges be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my Death.
Item : My will & desire is yt my Executrs
hereafter named & herein mentioned do pay immediately after my Death ye
summ of Thirty Pounds unto my dearly beloved wife Grace Millett in lieu of her
first years annuity, made due & payable to her in & by my Marriage
Articles wth her, & I do hereby order, direct, & appoint yt (as a
farther & better Security of ye Payment of ye sd Annuity settled upon her
in & by my Marriage Articles wth her) my Premises called the new Premesis,
? , the Barn, Stable & ? , adjoining to my garden Situate lying & being
in Marazion aforesaid do stand & be subject & lyable to ye Payment of
ye sd Annuity in such manner & form as is mentioned in & by ye sd
Articles, any thing contained to ye contrary hereof in & by ye Marriage
Articles in any wise not wthstanding & be lyable to entry & distress
from time to time for non payment in ye like manner as my other Lands in ye sd
Articles mentioned are subject to for payment thereof, & I do hereby order
& direct yt my sd Executrs do at ye end of Twelve months hence next after
my Death pay unto my sd wife ye Summ of one Hundred Pounds the delivering up to
them one Bond or penal Bill bearing date on or abt ye 10th day of 9br 1731,
entred into by me unto Tobias Harry of ye Parish of Ludgven Gentleman for the
same in trust for her, my said wife to have all my ? , my best Tea Kettle, and
also ye side or dressing table wth the Glass belonging, & new Chest of
Drawers, all wth stands in my own Lodging Chamber a silver Ladel & sauce
pan her own, the Sum of Fifteen pounds to buy her a mourning suit, I give her
likewise during her life the best fire things, ye Tea Chest, ye best Diaper
Table Cloth, one dozen and half of ye London Pewter Plates & the four
London Pewter dishes, I give her also in case she will live in it & no
longer the House wherein my Sister in Law Ann Pascoe widdow now lives in, in
Marazion aforesd, after ye death of ye sd Ann Pascoe during ye life time of my
sd wife (she living in it as aforesd, & not otherwise) in case my Estate
& Term (?) therein shall so long continue, the repairing of ye same &
paying a proportionable part of ye Lords Rents, dues, Taxes & out goings to
be paid for the same.
Item : I give & bequeath unto my Sons, Humphry,
William, George & James, the Summ of Two Hundred & Eighty Pounds each,
to be paid to them respectively as they shall respectively attain ye age of
twenty one years, & if any or either of yin happen to die before they come
to yt age of twenty one years, or if my Daughter Jane die before she attain yt
age of twenty one years, or be married, then & in such case, the legacy of
such of them so dying shall go & be distributed among ye Survivours of them
& my sd daughter Jane & son Robert, share & share alike, & my
Will is yt they be maintained all ye six of them & educated at ye charge of
my Executrs until they come to age according to ye directions & discretion
of my Trustees herein after named.
Item : I give unto my Daughter Jane ye Summ of
Three Hundred Pounds to be paid her when she shall attain to ye age of twenty
one, but in case she marries wth Walter Thomas of Scilly who served his time
wth John Hill carpenter, I only give her then five pounds & ye other Two
Hundred & ninety five pounds I give to be divided equally between my Son
Oke Millett & his younger brothers, share & share alike.
Item : I give unto my Son Robert, one Hundred &
Eighty pounds of lawfull mony of Great Brittain, to be paid him when & as
soon as he shall attain ye age of twenty one years & to be maintained &
educated at ye charge of my Executor until he comes to ye age of one &
twenty years, & I do hereby give devise & bequeath unto my Said Son
Robert all ye dwelling houses, messuages, Fields, Closes, & stitches a parcel
of land wth the appurtances called ye Millways, wth in as large & ample
manner as ye same is granted by ye Lease, I lately took to Lease from Lord
Godolphin to hold to him during my Esate (?) & Tearm (?) therein after he
shall attain ye age of one & Twenty years, after ye death of my Sister in
law Ann Pascoe (excepting only ye House where in my Sister in law Ann Pascoe
now lives) during ye life time of my sd wife she living in it, & in case my
son Robert die before he attaind ye age of Twenty one years when ye sd Hundred
& Eighty Pounds herein & before given shall be divided between ye rest
of my younger children who shall be then living share & share alike.
Item : I give to ye poor of ye Town of Marazion
Fifty shillings to be paid them immediately after my death.
Item : All yerest of my Goods, Chattels, Lands,
Tenements, Hereditaments & premises wtsoever & wheresoever, I do hereby
give devise & bequeath unto my Eldest Son Oke Millett, he paying my Debts
& Legacies thereout, & I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my
beloved friends Humphry Millett of Ennis Gentl, James Millett of Penzance
Mercht, Tobias Harry of ye Parish of Ludgvan Gentl & George Blewett of
Relubbas Mercht, Trustees & Executrs of this my last Will & Testament
in Trust for my Son Oke Millett & yerest of my Children & I do desire
my said executors to bind out my younger Children to such Trades &
employments as they shall think most convenient, ye charge of binding out my sd
Children to be educated & taken out of their respective Legacies, & my
will & mind is yt if my said son Oke shall happen to die before he shall
attain ye age of Twenty one years, yt then all my Lands, Tenements, Goods,
Chattels, & effects, he shall die ? of as executr of this my will, shall
descend & fall to my son Humphry if he be living, & if he shall happen
to die, then to my third son Robert, & if he shall happen to die, then to
my fourth son William & so on to each of my Sons, as they shall be in
seniority of age & priority of birth yt the same may not be divided among
my younger children.
Item : I give to each of my sd Executrs one guinea
to buy a mourning ring, & I do hereby revoke, disa??, & make void all
former wills by me, at any time heretofore made, In witness hereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal this 15th day of July in ye yr of our Lord God
one Thousand Seven hundred thirty Eight. being writ on two sheets of paper
annexd to each other.
Signed, Sealed, published &
declared by ye Testator in our presence & we have hereunto subscribed our
names as witnesses hereunto in presence of ye Testator.
Codicil to the Will of Leonard
Millett
The Twenty Third Day of December
1740.
I Leonard Millett of the Town of
Marazion in the County of Cornwall Merchant being weak and sick in body but of
sound & disposing mind memory and understanding do hereby make this as a
Codicill to my Last Will and Testament.
Impr : That who was my Daughter Jane is very lately
deceased (?) to whom I bequeathed two hundred pounds now I do hereby give
bequeath the said two hundred pounds to my son Humphry Millett to be paid when
the Legacy given him by my will shall become due and that my said Son Humphry
be bound out an apprentice to an apothecary.
Item : That my wife shall have the house I now live
in in Marazion during her life and tis my desire that my son Oak (sic) Millett
after his apprenticeship is expired shod move home and live in friendship with
his mother and live with her therein.
Item : I desire that eight pounds be given to the
poor of Marazion with Forty shillings to be paid immediately at my death and
forty shillings quarterly until the full sum be paid.
Witness my hand and seal this day
and year abovementioned.
Signed sealed published and
delivered as a codicill to the last Will and Testament of the said Leonard
Millett in presence of [signatures].
Notes
The original will was written on
15th July 1738. The codicil was dated 23rd December 1740. The will
was proved on 19th February 1740, however in the probate document reference is
made to the fourteenth year of the reign of King George the Second (1727 + 14 =
1741?) as well as the conventional form 1740, otherwise the error would be in
the date of the codicil which perhaps should be 1739.
It must have slipped Leonard’s
mind that in his original will he gave £300 to his daughter Jane, not the £200
he mentioned in the codicil.
In the handwritten text a
character similar to y is used for the sound th, so ye means the. Other strange
spellings and grammar are as in the original. Some words not decipherable are
replaced or indicated by a ?.
Source:
Transcription.
Bequests
Leonard was described as a
merchant. His status can be clearly seen for he was able in his will to
leave his six sons well provided for: four of them were left £280 each,
Robert was left £180 together with some land, and the residue of the estate was
left to his eldest son, Oke. His daughter Jane was to have £300 but “in
case she marries Walter Thomas of Scilly who served his time with John Hill
carpenter, I only give her £5”. This provision was never queried for Jane
died after the will was written but before her father.
His widow, Grace, died twelve
years after her husband. She, as many others in Marazion, left some money
to charity, in her case £16 to poor widows in the town, as well as other
charitable bequests. The possessions mentioned in the wills of both
Leonard and Grace, including a best tea kettle, a dressing table with glass, a
diamond ring, a silver ladle, a swing looking glass and a silver snuff box, her
clothes and books suggest a family living in some style.
Source: North, Christine and
Palmer, June (eds). The charter town
of Marazion. Marazion, Marazion Town
Council, 1995, p. 27-28.
16. JAMES MILLETT (1692-1743)
Millett of Marazion
James Millett was the fourth
child of James Millett (1647-1732) and Loveday Martin (about 1651-1698), who
married on 27 July 1684 at Launcells, Cornwall.
James was born on 6 July 1692 at St Just-in-Penwith, and baptised there
on 6 August 1692. He was a merchant,
resident at Kelynack, Penzance, Cornwall.
James married Elizabeth Angwin (about 1693-1745) on 9 September 1718 at
St Levan, Cornwall; between 1721 and
1732 they had 5 children. James died in
April 1743 at Madron, Cornwall aged 51, and was buried on 17 April 1743 at Penzance.
Bosavern
The manor of Kalinack or
Killenick was formerly very extensive, embracing several of the adjoining
farms, viz: Bosavern, Hendra, Dowran, Letcha, Bosorn, and perhaps other
tenements. ...
In the beginning of the last
century the manor of Collinack or Killinack was in possession of John Nicholls,
by whose trustees it was sold for the purposes mentioned in his will. Mr.
James Millett became purchaser of one part, by whom it was again sold to Mr.
George Blewett in 1742, and by whose descendants it was conveyed to the present
highly esteemed Proprietor, Joseph Carne, Esq., of Penzance, who has much
improved the farm and the village. To this gentleman I am indebted for
this latter information. There is still one bed room which had its
ceiling a little ornamented, and over the chimney-piece are some mutilated
initials; an M is apparently that of a surname probably the James Millett
mentioned above: the date, 1691, is perfect. ...
Source: Buller, John. A
statistical account of the Parish of Saint Just in Penwith in the County of
Cornwall, with some notice of its ecclesiastical and druidical antiquities.
Penzance, R. D. Rodda, 1842, p. 60. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=s4kLAAAAYAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA60.
17. ROBERT MILLETT
(1695-1732)
Millett of Marazion
Robert Millett was the fifth
child of James Millett (1647-1732) and Loveday Martin (about 1651-1698), who
married on 27 July 1684 at Launcells, Cornwall.
Robert was born on 7 January 1695 at St Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall, and
was baptised there on 22 January 1695.
He graduated A.B. from Pembroke College Cambridge in 1716. He was a clergyman,
Vicar of St Stythian’s
Church, Stithians, Cornwall. Robert
married Isabella ? about 1721 at Saltash, Cornwall; between 1723 and 1731 they
had 5 children. Robert died in March 1732 aged 37, and was
buried on 1 April 1732 at St Stythians.
Life and death
Robert Millett was born at St.
Just on 7 January 1695; matriculated at Pembroke College, Cambridge in
1713; B.A. 1716/7; curate at St. Just 1718, (perpetual curate 9
June 1718); at Saltash 1724; at Perranarworthal & Stithians
1726-1732, (perpetual curate of Stithians 14 Sept. 1728); and for some
time in 1730 also curate at Falmouth. ... “Mr. Robert Mellat” was buried at
Stithians on 1 April 1732, aged only 37. There is little doubt that the
news of his early demise came as a very heavy blow to his old father at St.
Just, who may well have been hoping for his son in due course to “step into his
shoes”. As it was he followed him only nineteen days later.
Isabella was appointed administrator of Robert’s goods, being bound in the sum
of £300 together with his elder brother, James Millett of St. Just, gent., and
Hugh Busvargus of St. Just, who was Robert’s half-sister Clarinda’s husband.
Under their grandfather’s will,
Thomasine received 40/-, and James 20/-. Their mother received
nothing. Robert was to have received a half-share of the residue of his
father’s estate; but due to his dying first, the whole of this may have
remained to James Millett’s third wife, Thomasin (nee Sanders), who was
childless. ...
Source: Millett, Vincent
Vivian. A Hampshire sailor in Devonport. Devon and Cornwall
Notes and Queries vol. 29, 1962-64, p. 227-230.
18.
ANN MILLETT (1702-1738)
Millett of Marazion
Ann Millett was the eighth child of
John Millett (about 1666-1743) and Joan Davies (about 1670-1731), who
married on 17 December 1691 at St Hilary, Cornwall. Ann was born in 1702, and
baptised on 28
December 1702 at St Hilary. She married
William Rogers (about 1696-1734) on 8 January 1723 at St Hilary. Ann died in
February 1738 at Camborne,
Cornwall aged 36, and was buried there on 4 February 1738.
Inheritance of house at Skewis
An event occurred at Skewis in
1734, that should not pass unnoticed. Skewis had been for a long time the
freehold patrimony of a succession of proprietors of the name of Rogers.
About this time there were two brothers; the elder married and lived on the
farm, but without a family; the younger brother, Henry Rogers, married and had
children. He carried on the trade of a pewterer in Helston. He has
not been represented as having been a bad man, but as one little in the habit
of restraining his passions, of great bodily strength, and of a wilful
disposition; and his prejudices were
probably supported by an opinion, generally prevalent, that freehold lands,
which have once descended to an heir, cannot be alienated without the
concurrence of the next heir.
The elder brother died, and by
his will gave the whole of his freehold property to his widow, whose maiden
name was Millett. Under the impression that the will was spurious, and
despising legal remedies, he waited for an opportunity when his sister-in-law
was from home, turned the servants out of the house, and took forcible
possession. The widow appealed to the law, with the voice of the whole
country, however, against her; and it is universally reported that Sir John St.
Aubyn would have supported Rogers, in a legal proceeding. However that
may be he prepared for violence, and refused to yield up possession when
judgement was given against him; so that the sheriff was at last directed to
eject him by force. But Rogers got several persons to remain with him in
the house, which had been barricaded for defence, and great numbers of people,
partly from curiosity, but in part also to countenance his resistance, having
assembled on the spot, the civil power was completely resisted, and two men
killed by shots from the house; the under sheriff himself having narrowly
escaped, the discharge of a gun from the house having burnt his wig and singed
his face. This occurred on the 8th of June, 1734.
On the following day the under
sheriff came back assisted by some soldiers, who were fired on, and one
killed. They returned the fire, but without effect. And then,
strange as it may appear, Rogers was allowed to remain undisturbed till March
of the following year, when he was again blockaded by soldiers; and the siege
continued for some days with the loss of two more men, when at last cannon were
brought from Pendennis Castle. On the night following their arrival,
Rogers effected his escape. He travelled on foot as far as Salisbury,
with the intention, as he stated, of making his case known to the King.
Sir John St. Aubyn now took an
active part in endeavouring to secure the fugitive, and being through his
marriage, connected with the Earls of Pembroke, who resided in the
neighbourhood of Salisbury, handbills descriptive of Rogers were circulated
round that town. It was said that a post boy, driving homewards a return
chaise, was accosted by a stout man walking with a gun in his hand, requesting
to ride. The post boy drove him to the inn, where he procured a bed; but
the circumstances and description had excited strong suspicion, and he was
secured in his sleep. He was at once removed to Cornwall. At the
time of his escape he had on a drab fustian frock, with bastard pearl buttons,
and a blue riding coat. A reward of £350 was offered for his capture.
At the assizes at Launceston,
August 1st, 1735, came on before Lord Chief Justice Hardwick, the trials of
Henry Rogers, and John Street, one of his assistants, for the murder of William
Carpenter, George Woolston alias Wilson, and Andrew Willis, alias Tubby.
They were both found guilty, and sentenced to death. After conviction
they appeared to be very penitent, particularly Rogers, who did not care for
any sustenance but bread and water. He said he was guilty of one of the murders,
but knew nothing of the other, yet had it been in his power, he would have
killed as many more, and thought he committed no crime. Street, who was
his servant, had little to say, but that what he did was to defend his master,
and he was willing to die, for by the course of nature he could not live much
longer, and he hoped God would receive his poor soul. They were executed
on the 6th August, 1735.
Although no one attempted to
justify the violence, and especially the murders committed by Rogers, yet long
after the occurrence a strong feeling of compassion was entertained for
him. The marks of the bullets are still to be seen in the house at
Skewis; and there is a popular notion in the neighbourhood that none of the
subsequent proprietors have prospered in its possession. The property is
still in the family of Millett.
Sources:
Polsue, Joseph. A complete parochial history of
the County of
Cornwall, compiled from the best authorities and corrected and improved from
actual survey. Truro, William Lake, 1867-1872. 4 v.
Vol. 1, p. 269-270.
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MBsiAQAAIAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA269.
See also Gilbert, Davies. The parochial history
of Cornwall,
founded on the manuscript histories of Mr. Hals and Mr. Tonkin; with additions
and various appendices. Vol. 1. London, J. B. Nichols and Son,
1838, p. 267ff.
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=F7TRAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA267.
Another account
A strange circumstance occurred
in 1734 at Skewis, close to the line from Gwinear Road Station to Helston.
Skewis had been for many generations the freehold patrimony of a
yeoman family of the name of Rogers.
There were two brothers. The
elder married and lived on the farm, but without a family. The younger brother,
Henry Rogers, was
married and had several children. He
carried on for several years in Helston the trade of a pewterer, then of
considerable importance in Cornwall, although it is now at an end. A large portion
of the tin raised was mixed
with lead and exported in the form of pewter made into dishes, plates, etc.,
now superseded by earthenware. At the first introduction of earthenware, called
cloam, in the West of England, a strong prejudice existed against it as liable
to damage the tin trade, and it was a popular cry to destroy all cloam, so as
to bring back the use of pewter.
The elder Rogers died, and bequeathed the house of Skewis and the farm
and everything thereon to his wife Anne.
Henry was indignant. He believed
in the inalienability of “heir land”.
He was suspicious that Anne Rogers would make over Skewis to her own
relatives, of the name of Millett. Henry
waited his opportunity, when his sister-in-law was out of the house, to enter
it and bring in his wife and children and servants. He turned out the domestics
of Anne, and
occupied the whole house.
The widow appealed to law, but the voice of the whole county was
against her, and the general opinion was that the will had been extorted from
her husband. Even Sir John St Aubyn,
living at Clowance, hard by, favoured him, and had Henry Rogers acted in a
reasonable manner would have backed him up.
But Rogers took the law into his own hands, and when a judgment was
given against him, he still refused to surrender.
The Sheriff of Cornwall accordingly was directed to eject him by
force. Rogers, however, barricaded the
house, and prepared to defend it. He
supplied himself with gunpowder and slugs, and cut loopholes in his doors and
shutters from which to fire at the assailants.
On June 18th, 1734, the Under-Sheriff and posse went to Skewis and
demanded the surrender of the house.
From two to three hundred people attended, for the most part
sympathisers with Rogers, but not willing to render him effectual assistance.
As the Under-Sheriff, Stephen Tillie, persisted in his demands, and
threatened to break into the house, Rogers fired. The bullet passed through
Tillie’s wig,
singed it, and greatly frightened him, especially as with the next discharge
one of his officers fell at his side, shot through the head.
Several guns were fired, and then the Under-Sheriff deemed it advisable
to withdraw and send for soldiers.
On the arrival of a captain with some regulars, Tillie again
approached, when Rogers continued firing, and killed a bailiff and shot a
soldier in the groin. Two more men were
wounded, and then the military fired at the windows, but did no harm. Mrs.
Rogers stood by her husband, loading and handing him his gun.
The whole attacking party now considering that discretion constituted
the best part of valour, withdrew, and Rogers was allowed to remain in
possession till March in the following year, that is to say, for nine
months. Then he was again blockaded by
soldiers, and the siege continued for several days, with the loss of two more
men, when at last cannon were brought from Pendennis Castle.
Many years after, one of Rogers’ sons gave the following account of his
reminiscences of the siege:–
“He recollected that his father was fired at, and had a snuff-box and
powder-horn broken in his pocket by a ball.
He recollected that whilst he himself (then a child) was in the bed
several balls came in through the window of the room, and after striking
against the wall rolled about on the floor.
One brother and sister who were in the house went out to inquire what
was wanted of their father, and they were not permitted to return. On the last
night no one remained in the
house but his father, himself, and the servant-maid. In the middle of the night
they all went out,
and got some distance from the house. In
crossing a field, however, they were met by two soldiers, who asked them their
business. The maid answered that they
were looking for a cow, when they were permitted to proceed. The soldiers had
their arms, and his father
had his gun. The maid and himself were
left at a farmhouse in the neighbourhood”.
Henry Rogers, whom the soldiers had not recognised in the darkness,
managed to escape, and pushed on in the direction of London, resolving to lay
his grievances before the king. He was
dressed in a whitish fustian frock, with imitation pearl buttons, and a blue
riding-coat over it.
As soon as it was discovered that he had decamped, a reward of £350
was offered for his apprehension. He had already shot and killed five
men, and had wounded seven. He was not, however, taken till he reached
Salisbury Plain, where he hailed a postboy, who was returning with an empty
chaise, and asked for a lift. He was still carrying his gun. The boy
drove him to the inn, where he procured a bed;
but the circumstances, and the description, had excited suspicion; he
was secured in his sleep, and was removed
to Cornwall, to be tried for murder at Launceston along with his servingman,
John Street.
His trial took place on August 1st, 1735, before Lord Chief Justice
Hardwicke. Rogers was arraigned upon
five indictments, and Street upon two.
Both received sentence of death, and were executed on August 6th.
The house at Skewis has been recently in part rebuilt, when a bag of
the slugs used by poor Rogers was found.
It is in Crowan parish.
Source: Baring-Gould, Sabine. A Book
of Cornwall. New ed. London,
Methuen, 1906, p. 292-296. https://archive.org/details/bookofcornwall00bari.
Henry Rogers (about 1698-1735)
was the brother of Ann Millett’s husband, William Rogers (about 1696-1734).
19. GRACE MILLETT (1708-1757)
Millett of Marazion
Grace Millett was the seventh
child of Robert Millett (about 1651-1728) and Honor Trefuses (about 1670-1735),
who married in 1691 at Manaccan, Cornwall.
Grace was born in 1708 in Cornwall.
She married Leonard Millett (1692-1740) on 8 June 1731 at St
Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall. Grace died without
issue in 1757 at Marazion, Cornwall aged 49.
Bequests
Grace died twelve years after her
husband. She, as many others in Marazion, left some money to charity, in
her case £16 to poor widows in the town, as well as other charitable
bequests. The possessions mentioned in the wills of both Leonard and
Grace, including a best tea kettle, a dressing table with glass, a diamond
ring, a silver ladle, a swing looking glass and a silver snuff box, her clothes
and books suggest a family living in some style.
Source: North, Christine and
Palmer, June (eds). The charter town
of Marazion. Marazion, Marazion Town
Council, 1995, p. 27-28.
Will
The will of Grace Millett, second
wife of Leonard Millett of Marazion, who died in 1760. The will was
proved on 12th May 1760.
In the Name of God Amen I Grace Millett of the Town of Marazion in
the County of Cornwall Widow being of a sound and disposing Mind Memory and
Understanding (Praise be to God for the Same) altho weak in Body duly
considering the frailty and uncertainty of this Mortal Life do make
and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to
say
First and principally I resign my Soul unto God my Gracious Creator who
gave it me utterly disdaining all hope or belief in the efficacy of my own
merits, but entirely trusting in the Sole merits of my Blessed Saviour &
Redeemer Jesus Christ for a perfect forgiveness of all my Sins & a joyfull
Resurrection to Life Eternal.
Secondly I request my Executor herein after named to cause
my Body to be buried in a decent and Christian Like manner and as near the Body
of my late Husband as conveniently may be, and my debts and funeral Charges
to be paid as soon after my Death as conveniently may be done by them.
And as to those worldly Goods Chattles and Effects wheresowith it hath
pleased God of his Goodness to bless me in order to prevent any Dispute which
may arise after my Death concerning the same, I do hereby give bequeath
and direct them to be distributed in Manner following that is to say
Impr I give and
bequeath unto the Mayor Alderman Chapple Wardens and Overseers of the poor of
the Town of Marazion aforesaid for the Time being, and to the Vicar of the
parish of St Hillary for the time being Sixteen pounds to be paid them by my
Executor herein after named at the End of One Year next after my Decease, which
said Sum I do desire and direct may be by them lent or placed out at Interest
on good Security, and the annual Interest thereof laid out in Beef and
distributed annually on Christmas Eve to such poor widows of Marazion aforesaid
as shall receive no Relief from the poor rates of the said Town, and in such
manner as the said Mayor Alderman Chaplewardens and Overseers shall think most
proper.
Item I give and bequeath to such
Poor
Widows aforementioned & described fifty shillings to be distributed
among them by my Executor herein after named imediately after my Death in such
Manner as they shall think most proper.
Item I give and bequeath to such
poor
widows of the parish of Illogan in the said County as receive no Benefit or
Relief from the poor rates of the said parish five pounds to be paid to the
Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the said parish some or one of them
immediately after my Death, and to be by them distributed in Such Manner
as they shall think most proper.
Item I give and bequeath to such
poor
Widows of the parish of St Hillary aforesd as receive no Relief
from the poor rates of the said parish fifty shillings to be paid to the Church
wardens & Overseers of the poor of the said parish some or one of them
immediately after my Death, and to be by them distributed in such manner as
they shall think most proper.
Item I give and bequeath to the
Mayor
Aldermen and Chapelwarden of Marazion aforesaid for the time being Seven pounds
for the use of the Chaplain or Lectivror (?) of Marazion aforesaid, to be paid
him seven equall payments of twenty shillings each annually at Easter, the said
seven pounds to be paid to the said Mayor Aldermen and Chaplewardens at the End
of One Year next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto Leonard Son of my Son in Law Mr Oke
Millett of Marazion aforesaid ten pounds, and to Elizabeth and Jane his
Daughters five pounds each, and to his wife five pounds to be paid the said Oke
Millett for their use at the end of one year next after my decease. I
likewise give and bequeath to the said Oke Millett a folio Book called an
Exposition on the new Testament together with the swing looking glass, the
Dressing table and the tea chest which were given me by his late father.
I likewise give to his wife my Chest of Drawers and my black Paduasoye Gown to
be delivered them immediately after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath to my
Son in
Law Mr Humphrey Millett of Penzance twenty pounds and to his Daughter Grace
five pounds to be paid the said Humphrey Millett at the End of one Year next
after my Decease. I likewise give and bequeath to the said Humphrey the
Silver Snuff box which was given me by his late father I likewise give to his
wife my green paduasoye Gown, and to his daughter Jane my diamond ring, I also
give to the said Humphrey the two China Mugs which Mr Tyson gave me to be
delivered them immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to my
Son in
Law Mr George Millett of Helstone, twenty pounds to be paid him at the End of
One Year next after my Decease, I likewise give him a Blew and white China Bowl
to be delivered him immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and Bequeath to my
Son in
Law Mr James Millett of Helstone twenty pounds, and to his daughter Grace my
Goddaughter five pounds to be paid him at the End of One Year next after my
Decease. I also give him one Dozen of Blew and white China plates to be
delivered to him immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to my
Son in
Law Mr William Millett of Marazion twenty pounds and to his wife five pounds to
be paid him at the End of One year next after my Decease. I also give him my
China Caudle cup and my Book called Nelson’s Feasts and fasts to be delivered
him immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath all my
best
Lace between the wives of the aforementioned William Millett George Millett and
James Millett to be equally divided between them.
Item I give and bequeath to Mr Humphrey Cole and to Mr William Thomson both
of Marazion aforesaid One Guinea each to be paid them at the End of one Year
next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to Elizabeth
Hugh Spinster who now lives with me, Daughter of William Hugh of Marazion
aforesaid Mason Thirty pounds to be paid her at the End of One Year next after
my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to Mrs Sibella Fudge and to Mrs Mary Laity of
Marazion aforesaid widows One Guinea each and to Catharine Davy and to Honour
the wife of John Meyer of the same ten shillings and six pence each to be
paid them respectively immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to Mrs Martha Thomas the Mourning Ring which
I had from her Aunt Mrs Elizabeth Ekinos.
Item I give and bequeath to my Sister Jane Millett twenty pounds I
also give and bequeath unto Ann the Daughter of the aforementioned William Hugh
and Wife of James Millett of Marazion aforesaid five pounds, to be paid them
respectively at the End of One Year next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto Eleanor
Millett and Honour Millett of Marazion aforesaid five pounds each to be paid
them respectively at four equall quarterly payments of twenty five Shillings
each at Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas successively, the first
quarterly payment whereof to be made at the first of the said feasts which
shall happen next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my
sister Hannah Millett five pounds to be paid her at the end on One Year next
after my Decease, I likewise give her for her own use only during her life time
all my plate, and from and immediately after her Death I give and devise the
same to Leonard the Son of my Son in Law Robert Millett of Marazion aforesaid.
Item I give and bequeath unto
Elizabeth the Daughter of Edward Mellen late of Marazion aforesaid Taylor five
pounds to be paid her at the End of One Year next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah
the wife of Mr John Vigurs of Penzance and to Loveday her Sister the wife of Mr
John Maddern Junr of St Just to each a Gold Ring with a Ruby
Stone.
Item I give and bequeath unto the
two
Youngest Children of my Cosin Robert Millett of Marazion aforesaid One Guinea
each to be paid them immediately after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my
Sister Elizabeth the Wife of the aforementioned William Hugh my long hood and
Cloak, my Scarlett cloak and Velvet Hood, four of my common Shifts, two Holland
Aprons, a Large Silk and Muslin Handkerchief and two inside petticoats, And to
my sister Jane aforenamed I give and bequeath my lustring Gown, and all the
peires belonging to it, two of my best Holland aprons A white Quilted outside
petticoat my Striped Muslin Cap and Ruffles, Two of my plain Cambrick half
handkerchiefs and one of my best inside quilted petticoats, also I give my said
sister Jane, the Comon prayer book I use in the Chaple together with my Book
called the Imitation of Jesus Christ, To be delivered them respectively,
immediately after my Death. And all the rest of my Wearing Apparell of what
Kind or Quality Soever I give and bequeath unto Hannah the wife of the
aforementioned Robert Millett my Son in Law and to the aforenamed Elizabeth
Hugh Spinster who now lives with me, to be equally divided between them.
Item I give and bequeath unto my aforementioned Sister Elizabeth Hugh the
Wife of the said William Hugh an Annuity or Yearly Sum of four pounds to be
paid her during her natural Life at four equall quarterly payments of twenty
shillings each at Easter Midsummer Michaelmas and Christmas, the first of
the said Quarterly payments to be made at the first of the said feasts which
shall happen next after my Decease And my will is that the said annuity
and the Several Quarterly payments thereof shall be paid Her independent of her
said Husband and be for her Sole and Separate Use and Benefitt and not lyable
to any Debt or Demands of her said Husband.
Item I give and bequeath unto Leonard
the Son of my said Son in Law Robert Millett the Sum of two Hundred pounds and
to Robert the son of the said Robert twenty pounds to be paid them respectively
as and when they shall have attained the Age of twenty one Years respectively In
the mean time my Will is and I do hereby direct that the said several
sums of two hundred pounds and twenty pounds shall be laid out in the
same publick Security by my executor herein aforenamed as soon after my
Death as he conveniently can, and from and out of the yearly interest and
produce thereof that my said Executor shall and do pay to my aforenamed Sister
Elizabeth Hugh the annuity of four pounds herein before mentioned in such
mannor as is hereinbefore specified concerning the same.
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Millett Daughter of Mr James Millett
late of Penzance deceased One Guinea to be paid her at the End of One Year next
after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath farther
to
Jane the Daughter of my aforementioned Son in Law Humphrey Millett ten pounds
to be paid at the End of one year next after my Decease.
Item I give and bequeath to Mrs Amy Mowgham of ... widow such of Dr
... Works as I have and to Mrs Mary Clutterbuck Wife of Mr Thomas Clutterbuck
of Marazion aforesaid the book which Mrs Spry gave me being Archbishop
Tillotson’s Works to be delivered them immediately after my Death.
All the Rest Residue Remainder of
any Goods Chattles Rights Credits and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give
and bequeath unto my aforenamed Son in Law Robert Millett of Marazion
aforesaid, And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Son in Law Robert
Millett to be whole and sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and
my aforementioned Sons in Law William Millett and James Millett adjudicators
and Overseers of the same, to see my said Will duly performed and
Executed. And I do hereby revoke all
former Wills by me at any time heretofore made, and do hereby publish and
declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereto
set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of Aprill in the Year of our Lord One
thousand Seven Hundred and fifty Seven.
Signed Sealed published and
declared
by the said Testatrix as and for
her last Will and
Testament the day and year afore
written (the same
being written on three sheets of
paper) in Presence
of us
(Thos Clutterbuck
John Kier)
Source: Transcription.
Which parents?
The International
Genealogical Index states that Grace Millett, who married Leonard Millett
on 8 June 1731 at St Just-in-Penwith, was the daughter of John Millet and Joan
Davis. However, an analysis of the bequests given in Grace Millett’s will
shows this to be incorrect.
Here is a
list of the Milletts referred to in Grace’s will of 13 April
1757, arranged by
relationship:
Sons-in-law
Children
Wife
Oke Millett
of
Marazion
Leonard, Elizabeth,
Jane Unnamed
Humphrey Millett of Penzance
Grace,
Jane
Unnamed
George Millett of
Helstone Unnamed
James Millett of Helstone
Grace
Unnamed
William Millett of
Marazion
Unnamed
Robert Millett of Marazion
Leonard,
Robert Hannah
Sisters
Jane Millett
Hannah Millett
Elizabeth Hugh, wife of William Hugh
Cousin
Robert
Millett “2
youngest children”
Other
William Hugh
of Marazion
Elizabeth Hugh, “spinster, who now lives with me”
Ann, “wife of James Millett of Marazion”
Elizabeth, “daughter of James Millett late of Penzance”
Elizabeth Millett “of Marazion, aforesaid”
Honour Millett “of Marazion, aforesaid”
The term “sons-in-law”
usually refers to the husbands of the person’s
daughters, but as Grace did not have any children, here it appears to refer to
the sons of her husband Leonard by his first wife Jane. Their children
included Oke Millett (whose children included Elizabeth (by first wife) and Leonard
and Jane (by second wife)); Humphry Millett (whose children included
Grace and Jane); George Millett; James Millett (whose children
included Grace); William Millett; and Robert Millett (whose
children included Leonard and Robert, and whose wife I have as Anna which is
close to Hannah).
If Grace was
the daughter of John Millett and Joan Davies, she would
have had a sister Jane and a sister Honour (= Hannah), but not a sister
Elizabeth. However, if she was the daughter of Robert Millett and Honor Trefuses,
she would have had a sister Jane and a sister Honour, and a sister Elizabeth
who married William Hugh and had daughters Elizabeth Hugh (who was a spinster)
and Ann Hugh (who married James Millett).
It would appear
from the evidence of her will, therefore, that the IGI
is wrong and that Grace Millett is the daughter of Robert Millett and Honour
Trefuses.
20. HUMPHRY MILLETT (1723-1757)
Millett of Marazion
Humphry Millett was the sixth
child of Leonard Millett (1692-1740) and Jane Millett (1692-1730), who married
on 23 June 1716 at St Hilary, Cornwall.
Humphry was born about 1723 at Marazion, Cornwall,, and baptised on 13
October 1723 at St Hilary. He was a
mercer. He lived in St
Just-in-Penwith. Humphry married
Elizabeth Adams (1721-1757) on 20 February 1746 at St Just-in-Penwith; between
1746 and 1754 they had 5
children. Humphry died on 3 June 1757 at
Penzance aged 34.
Children
Humphry and Elizabeth both died
of fever in June 1757. Mr John Tonkin, M.R.C.S., was lodging in the house
at the time of the early deaths of Mr and Mrs Millett, he took care of the
children and supplied the place of a father to them. The children were
under the charge of a cousin, Miss Peggy Williams, who also carried on the
mercery business.
Sources:
An account of the families of Boase or Bowes, originally residing at
Paul and Madron in Cornwall, & of other families connected with them by
marriage. Second edition. Truro, Netherton and Worth for Charles
William, George Clement and Frederic Boase, 1893, col. 110.
Boase, George Clement. Collectanea Cornubiensia: a
collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to the County of
Cornwall. Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col. 568.
21. ANN MILLETT
née Sandys (1724-1806)
Millett of Marazion
Ann Sandys was the fifth child of
Sampson Sandys (about 1690-1764) and Philippa Thomas (about 1694-1766), who
married on 12 September 1715 at Gunwalloe, Cornwall. Ann was born in 1724, and
baptised on 22 June
1724 at Helston, Cornwall. She married George
Millett (1724-1781) on 4 February 1752 at Helston; between 1753 and 1764 they
had 12
children. Ann died on 26 March 1806 at
Helston aged 82, and was buried there on 30 March 1806.
Ann’s husband George Millett was
the seventh child of Leonard Millett (1692-1740) and Jane Millett (1692-1730),
who married on 23 June 1716 at St Hilary, Cornwall. George was born in 1724
at Marazion, and
baptised on 29 December 1727 at St Hilary.
He was a saddler at Helston. He
died on 26 March 1781 at Helston aged 57.
Monument in Helston Church
Near this place are deposited the
remains of Mrs. Ann Millett; whose
unaffected piety, meekness, and resignation, were equally conspicuous.
After an inoffensive life of eighty-two years she died with a composed spirit,
and in a firm hope of redemption, on the 26th of March, 1806; beloved,
honoured, and lamented.
Source: Polsue, Joseph. A
complete parochial history of the County of Cornwall, compiled from the best
authorities and corrected and improved from actual survey. Truro,
William
Lake, 1867-1872. 4 v. Vol. 2, p. 171. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MRsiAQAAIAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA171.
22. JAMES MILLETT (b. about 1729)
Millett of Marazion
James Millett was the fourth
child of Robert Millett (1695-1732) and Isabella ?, who married about 1721 at
Saltash, Cornwall. James was born about
1729, and baptised on 9 August 1729 at Stithians, Cornwall.
Family
For possible marriage and
descendants of James Millett, see Millett, Vincent Vivian. A Hampshire sailor
in Devonport. Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. 29, 1962-64, p.
227-230.
Which
James?
The International
Genealogical Index, the Cornwall Online Parish Clerks, and Vincent Vivian
Millett’s article
“A Hampshire sailor in Devonport”, all state that the James christened on 9
August 1729 at Stithians was James Mellat, son of Robert or Robart
Mellat. It seems very likely that this James was the son of Rev. Robert
Millett and Isabella ?, since Robert was Curate at Perranarworthal and
Stithians from 1726 to 1732.
The IGI
does list another James Millet, son of Robt Millet,
who was christened on 14 January 1722 at St Hilary, and this is confirmed in St
Hilary Baptisms 1699-1840 and the Cornwall
Online Parish Clerks, which state that James Millet son of Robert was
baptised on 14 January 1721 (which is usually written as 1720/21). This
James is less likely to have been the son of Rev. Robert Millett and Isabella
?, particularly if Robert and Isabella were married in Saltash in 1721 or 1722
(Robert was curate at Saltash from about 1724 to 1726), both because of the
date, and because a baptism in St Hilary seems unlikely. If this James is
their son, the child must have died in infancy prior to 1729.
Alternatively,
James could possibly have been the son of Robert Millett
(baptised 2 September 1693 at St Hilary), son of Richard Millett and Honor
Trenhayle who married on 27 January 1682/83 at St Hilary. However, there is
no evidence at present that this is so.
23. HUMPHRY MILLETT (1745-1774)
Millett of Marazion
Humphry Millett was the elder
child of Humphry Millett (1694-1750) and Grace Polwhele (about 1698-1760), who
married on 26 June 1740 at St Clement, Cornwall. Humphry was born on 1 March
1745, and
baptised on 2 April 1745 at St Hilary, Cornwall. He matriculated from Exeter
College,
University of Oxford on 11 March 1762.
He was a clergyman. He resided at
Enys, St Hilary. Humphry married Mary
Sandys (1742-1819) on 19 December 1765 at Helston, Cornwall; they had two children,
Mary (1766-1855) and
Grace (1772-1868). Humphry died on 16
November 1774 at Enys, St Hilary aged 29, and was buried at St Hilary.
Ennys
See 148. Ennys (below).
Legal action
Humphry Millett brought an action against John
Blewett, the son of
George Blewett, one of his father’s executors, to recover some shares in the
Great Work Mine near Helston, Cornwall and the dividends on them. The
case was tried in the Exchequer 17 December 1772 and decided in his favour, and
on an appeal to the House of Lords 28 February 1774 the judgement was
affirmed. Cf. Josiah Browne’s Cases
in Parliament (1803) vii, 367-374.
Source: Boase, George
Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes
relating to the County of Cornwall. Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col.
574.
John Blewett v. Humphry Millett
Nothing is better established as a general proposition
than that where a
trustee for an infant renews a lease in his own name, the renewed lease shall
enure for the infant’s benefit. This is
a doctrine founded on general policy to prevent frauds, and has long been an
established rule in the Courts of Equity.
The present is a glaring instance of the apparent
contradiction between
the state of the case as adopted by the original Editor, and the determination
of the courts.
28th February 1774
John Blewett,
Appellant
Humphry Millett,
Respondent
HUMPHRY MILLETT, the respondent’s father,
was in his lifetime a
considerable adventurer in mines; and
his concerns therein were attended with that variety of success, which is usual
in all undertakings of so precarious a nature.
Among other shares of mines which Mr. Millett was entitled to at
the time of his death, were seven thirty-second parts of a certain tin mine in
the parish of Breage, in the county of Cornwall, called the
Western Great Work, and one-tenth part of an adjoining tin mine called the
Eastern Great Work; both these mines
having been granted by the Earl of Godolphin, as the lord and owner of
the soil, to one Stephen Pearce and his co-adventurers, under a
reservation of every sixth dish of fine ore, deliverable on the grass, as the
Lord’s Dole, according to the laws and customs of the stannaries.
Mr. Millett, sensible of the uncertainty
of advantages arising
from this species of property, and of the many casualties to which it is
liable, appeared very anxious, upon the final disposition of his fortune, to
guard as much as possible against them;
and as his son, the respondent, for whom the bulk of that fortune was
intended, was then an infant, the most probable method which suggested itself
to him of effectuating this intention, was to invest his executors with a
discretionary power of carrying on or relinquishing his mine adventures, as
time, accident, or other circumstances, should render it most for his son’s
benefit. Accordingly on the 6th of April
1750, Mr. Millett made his will, and after giving several legacies, he
thereby disposed of the residue of his estate, in the following words : viz.
“Lastly all the rest, residue and
remainder of my goods and chattels both real and personal, rights, credits, and
effects whatsoever, I do hereby give, devise, and bequeath the same unto my son
Humphry Millett; and I do hereby make, ordain, constitute, and appoint
my well-beloved wife Grace Millett, Edward Collins, John
Millett and George Blewett (the appellant’s father) executrix and
executors of my last will and testament, in trust for my said son Humphry
Millett; and to be guardians and
trustees over my said children, until they shall respectively attain the age of
21 years: And I do hereby will and
desire, direct, authorize, and empower my said executrix and executors from
time to time, during the minority of my said son Humphry Millett, to
carry on and adventure my several and respective parts and shares of adventure,
in the several tin and copper mines, in which I shall adventure at the time of
my death, for my said son Humphry Millett, and in trust for him, or to
discontinue the same, or such of them as they in their discretion shall
think fit: And moreover, for them my
said executrix and executors to retain, deduct, and keep, out of my goods and
chattels, all their charges and expenses in adventuring as aforesaid, or
otherwise relating to the trust I have hereby reposed in them.”
On the 13th of June 1750, the testator
died, without altering or
revoking his will; at which time the
respondent was an infant of about five years old; and soon afterwards the executrix
and
executors duly proved the same, and acted in the execution thereof for the
respondent’s benefit, by carrying on the testator’s shares in such mines as
were deemed profitable and advantageous, and discontinuing his shares in such
as were in a contrary situation.
Among the latter sort were the two mines abovementioned,
called the
Western Great Work and the Eastern Great Work;
for both of them having been wrought deep, and the charges of working
and drawing the water from the bottoms becoming consequently very great, they,
in a short time after the testator’s death, became losing and unprofitable
adventures.
George Blewett the
appellant’s father was a co-adventurer with the testator, and several other
persons in these two mines; he having
one-eighth share in the Western Great Work, and one-tenth share in the Eastern
Great Work.
About two years after the testator’s death,
a meeting of the several
persons interested in these two mines was held, in order to consider and
determine on what was most proper to be done concerning them; when as well on
account of the very
unpromising condition thereof, as because the Lord Godolphin had by his
steward insisted, that the sets of the mines, and the right of working the
same, was become forfeited according to the Stannary Laws: It was unanimously
agreed, to discontinue
working the mines and surrender the sets thereof; and some of the old partners
agreed to make an
application to the Lord, to consolidate both the mines into one, and to grant a
new set thereof, when so consolidated, to such of the old adventurers, and such
other persons as should be willing to become partners, upon more beneficial
terms than before; and in pursuance of
this agreement, the working of the mines was accordingly discontinued, the sets
surrendered, and the materials sold for the benefit of the partners. But many
of the old partners declined any
concern with the new partnership, which was formed and consisted of some of the
old partners, and some new persons. The
mines were also consolidated, and called by the name of the Great Work.
On the 1st of May 1753, a new set thereof
was granted to the said
George Blewett, for the benefit of himself and the new partners therein,
under the reservation of every ninth, instead of every sixth dish of the ore,
deliverable on the grass, as the Lord’s dole.
It is usual for sets of mines, or tin works
in the county of Cornwall,
to be granted to one of the adventurers only;
who, though he is considered as a trustee for himself and his
co-adventurers, yet he never makes any assignment of, or executes any
declaration of trust touching the respective shares of such co-adventurers, but
only enters their names and shares in a book called the Mine Book, which is
deemed a sufficient evidence of their right and property in the mine.
Accordingly, in the month of February
1754, the names and shares
of the several co-adventurers in this consolidated mine, were entered and
declared in the Mine Book as follows: viz.
John Rogers, one fourth; George
Blewett, one eighth; the executors
of Humphry Millett, one eighth; William
Tremayne and son, one eighth; Humphry
Cole, one sixteenth; the executors of John Millett, one
sixteenth; Captain John Richards,
one sixteenth; Captain Hugh Roger,
five ninety-sixths; Richard Jones,
one thirty-second; Captain Samuel
Lemon, one forty-eighth; John
Nancarrow, one forty-eighth; and the
said John Nancarrow was then appointed manager of the mine.
At the time of this transaction, Mr. Blewett,
Mrs. Millett
and Mr. Collins were the only surviving executors of the testator’s
will. It did not appear that either Mrs.
Millett or Mr. Collins was consulted upon the propriety of
subscribing an eighth share in this new mine for the infant’s benefit, and
therefore it was presumed that Mr. Blewett subscribed this eighth part
for the infant’s benefit conditionally, if the other two executors should think
proper to confirm the act by their approbation;
and this presumption was confirmed by Mr. Blewett’s advancing to
Mr. Nancarrow several considerable sums on account of this eighth part,
to the amount of £253 and upwards, without charging the same or any part
thereof to the account of the testator’s estate, until such approbation should
be obtained.
Proper measures were soon afterwards taken for
improving the mine, by
erecting a fire-engine, driving adits, sinking shafts, and in other necessary
works, at an expense of £7000 and upwards.
But it was for a long time a matter of very great doubt, whether the
mine would ever turn up sufficient quantity of tin stuff to repay such expense,
and satisfy the current charges of working it.
The apprehension of loss arising from the state
of the mine, occasioned
Mr. Collins and Mrs. Millett to express their uneasiness and
dissatisfaction with Mr. Blewett’s conduct, in engaging any share of it
for the infant; they being apprehensive
that the expense of working the mine being very considerable, and the
probability of profit very uncertain, it could not be for the infant’s interest
to continue his concern therein any longer;
but they declined being explicit on the occasion, and would not in
positive terms either assent or dissent to the continuance of such concern.
However, as the annual period of settling the
accounts of the mine approached,
and as Mr. Blewett did by no means relish the conduct of his
co-executors, or the equivocal situation in which he stood with respect to
them; he thought it absolutely necessary
for his own safety that they should come to a precise determination, whether
the share which he had subscribed for the benefit of the infant should be
continued or not: For this purpose Mr. Blewett
in the beginning of October 1754, wrote the following letter to Mr. Collins:
“I have again considered of what passed between us when I last saw you,
relative to the carrying on the late Mr. Humphry Millett’s adventures,
and more particularly that of the Great Work;
and am still of the opinion it would be for the child’s benefit to
adventure therein: However, as you were
pleased to express yourself of a different opinion, and we are very soon to
settle the accounts relating to that mine, I desire your’s and Mrs. Millett’s
final resolution in answer, for my government therein.” To this letter
Mr. Collins on the 9th
of the same month returned the following answer: “I am so much a stranger to
the state of all Mr. Millett’s adventures, both in mine and at
melting-house, that it is my final resolution not to engage in any of them as
one of his son’s trustees, and therefore utterly decline being concerned in
that particularly which you call the Great Work.”
This letter from Mr. Collins conveying
only his own negative, Mr.
Blewett thought it necessary to obtain Mrs. Millett’s direct
sentiments upon the matter; and
accordingly, on the 20th of the said month of October 1754, he sent Mr. Collins’s
letter to her by Mr. William Cornish his clerk, requesting her final
resolution on the subject of it: And
after reading that letter, and entering into some conversation with Mr. Cornish
about the condition of the mine, and the expenses likely to be incurred in
adventuring the same, Mrs. Millett desired Cornish to acquaint
Mr. Blewett that she would concur in everything relative to her son’s
affairs with Mr. Collins, and that therefore she could by no means
consent to the carrying on the one-eighth part of the said adventure called the
Great Work, on her son’s account.
Mr. Blewett, in consequence of these
concurring sentiments of his
co-executors, thought it incumbent on him to get rid of the said one-eighth
share which he had so subscribed in the best manner he could. And as it is never
customary in mine
adventurers to expose any relinquished share to a public or open sale, but to
offer it to the other co-adventurers;
Mr. Blewett at a public meeting of such co-adventurers held in December
1754, for the purpose of auditing and settling their annual accounts, informed
them of what had passed between Mr. Collins, Mrs. Millett and
himself, respecting the share which he had originally subscribed in the name of
Humphry Millett’s executors; and
offered the same to such of them as would accept it, and in case of their
refusal, proposed to carry on that share for his own benefit. But none of the
co-adventurers seeming
inclined to increase their respective concerns in the mine, by taking up such
relinquished share, nor in any manner objecting to Mr. Blewett’s taking
it up on his own account, his name was accordingly at such meeting, and with
the unanimous consent of every person present, entered in the Mine Book for
one-fourth part of the said adventure, consisting of the one-eighth part which
he had originally taken up for himself, and the eighth part which had been
entered for the infant’s benefit, but was afterward relinquished in the manner
above mentioned. And thereupon Mr. Blewett
was charged therewith, and paid one fourth part of the costs attending the said
mine, from the time of the new grant, and which included the before mentioned
sum of £243 and upwards, which he had formerly paid on account of the
testator’s estate, but had never charged the same therewith, because the object
of such charge had not been approved of by his other co-executors.
In December 1765 Mr. Blewett died
intestate, leaving the
appellant his only son, who soon afterwards obtained letters of administration
to him, and thereby became his personal representative.
On the 1st of March 1766 the respondent
attained his age of
21; and soon afterwards thought it
proper to file his bill in the court of Exchequer against Mrs. Millett his
mother, and against the appellant as the personal representative of his late
father, charging the whole of his said father’s conduct respecting the mine to
be fraudulent; and therefore praying
that the appellant might come to an account for the profits which had been
received by Mr. Blewett in his lifetime, or by the appellant since his
death, for or in respect of the said one eighth share of the mine, from the
time that such share was changed into the name of Mr. Blewett as
aforesaid; that the appellant might pay
the respondent what should appear due to him upon the balance of such account
with interest; and that the appellant
might procure the respondent to be entered in the Mine Book as an adventurer
for the said one eighth share of the mine, together with all the gains and
profits thereof unreceived and unaccounted for.
To this bill the appellant put in an answer,
and thereby, after stating
the several facts before set forth, he insisted that the respondent was not
entitled to any share or interest in the mine, whereon to ground the relief
prayed by his bill; and that the whole
of Mr. Blewett’s conduct, as one of the respondent’s trustees under his
late father’s will, was in every respect fair and honest, and free from the
least imputation of fraud.
The cause being at issue, and several witnesses
examined on both sides,
came on to be heard before the Barons of the Exchequer on the 17th of December
1772, when the court was pleased to declare, That the respondent was entitled
to an eighth share of the said mine; and
to decree the appellant to account for the profits thereof received by the said
George Blewett in his life-time, and by the appellant since his
death; and it was ordered that the
appellant should do all necessary acts in order to vest the interest of such
share in the respondent, and that the respondent should pay the defendant Grace
Millett her costs to be taxed, and should have the same over again,
together with his own costs, against the appellant.
The appellant apprehending himself aggrieved
by this decree, appealed
from it: And on his behalf it was
contended that this case did not fall within the general rule, that no trustee
shall benefit himself out of his trust estate;
for here the testator invested his executors with a discretionary power
to carry on or discontinue his mine adventures as they should see proper. This
power, with respect to the share of the mine in question, was actually and
deliberately executed by the major part of the surviving executors; and the
share being thus relinquished, became
free for any person to take it up who should be inclined to do so. Besides,
the ground of that relinquishment
plainly shewed in what light the object of it was then considered, namely, as an
unprofitable not a beneficial interest;
and that therefore it was at the respondent’s advantage to get rid of
it. Mr. Blewett in this
transaction must be considered as acting in two different capacities: As a trustee,
he recommended the continuance
of the share upon motives the most disinterested and conclusive with respect to
himself, because he was thereby determined to continue his own share; and as
a trustee he was controlled by the
joint negative of the other two, and the share in question was consequently
relinquished and given up. Here then an
end was put to Mr. Blewett’s conduct as a trustee, quoad this
part of the respondent’s property; and
in everything that happened afterwards he acted in his own private and personal
capacity. If therefore the general rule
could be extended to this case, it must of necessity follow, that if any one of
the other proprietors of the mine, or indeed any other person, had taken up
this relinquished share, he would have been considered as a trustee thereof for
the respondent’s benefit; which no one would
contend.
It had been, and might again be urged on the
part of the respondent,
that upon the relinquishment of the share in question, Mr. Blewett ought
to have sold the same in an open and public manner, and to the best
advantage: But to this it was answered,
and was in evidence of the cause, that the mine was at that time in debt to the
proprietors in upwards of £6000 and that the prospect of its ever clearing
itself of this debt was then very uncertain: The relinquished share was not
therefore a marketable commodity, being loaded with a proportionable part of so
heavy a debt. And with respect to the
manner in which it was transferred, the offering it to the several
co-adventurers at a public meeting, and with the most explicit declaration of
the occasion of such offer, was actually exposing it to sale in the most open
and public manner that could be, and had all the effect which could be expected
from any other mode; inasmuch as the
purchaser took it cum onere, and no claim was ever made by him upon the
respondent, or his estate, for any part of the expense which had been
previously incurred upon this share.
Further : By this decree, the
respondent was to pay Mrs. Millett’s costs, and to recover them over
again from the appellant, whereas it did not appear that she was in any shape a
necessary party to the suit, having no kind of interest in the matter in
question; but, on the contrary, had been
examined as a witness for the respondent:
His bill therefore, as against her, ought to have been dismissed with
costs; and those costs paid by the
respondent himself.
On behalf of the respondent it was said, that
nothing is better
established as a general proposition, than that where a trustee for an infant
renews a lease, the renewed lease shall enure for the benefit of the
infant. This is a doctrine founded on
general policy to prevent frauds; and
the known case of Rumford market, has established it as a rule of
equity. The trustees situation in
respect of the estate, gives him access to the landlord; and it would be dangerous
to permit him to
make use of that access for his own benefit.
In this case the new grant which was obtained, was in the nature of a
renewal; it came in the place of the old
adventures, which subsisted in the time of Humphry Millett. George
Blewett understood it so, and
by the indorsement on the indenture, or the entry in the Mine Book, allotted
one eighth to Millett’s executors;
and in consequence thereof, payments were made by the executors, and
they were debited in their capacity of executors.
But it is objected, that the executors had power
to abandon any of the
adventures that should be thought fit to be abandoned; and in that moment when
great expense was
likely to be incurred, Mr. Blewett was obliged to abandon the one eighth
in dispute, as executor, because Mrs. Millett and Mr. Collins
refused to concur in carrying it on. It
was conceived, however, that the facts did not warrant the objection. Mr. Collins’s
letter only imported,
that he was a stranger to the matter, and could not judge what was
expedient to be done, and that therefore he could not personally engage in any
of the mine adventures. But it was not
from thence to be inferred, that all were to be abandoned; and it was plain,
that this was the manner in
which Mr. Blewett understood Mr. Collins’s letter; for though
Mr. Collins had declared he
would not engage in any of the mine adventures, yet, with Mr. Blewett’s
approbation, many other adventures were carried on, on account of the
executorship. As to what passed between
Mr. Blewett and his agents and Mrs. Millett, it appeared by her
evidence, that she left it to his discretion, to carry on or sell the
share belonging to the infant; but she
did not appear to have an idea that the share was to be wholly abandoned; she
only desired that he would act for her
infant son, as he meant to act for himself.
If the evidence of Cornish (examined on the part of the
appellant, and to whom George Blewett gave one 48th share of the
adventure) was attended to, it did not show that Mrs. Millett
determined, on a clear and full state of facts, to abandon the adventure: Cornish
stated, that before Mrs. Millett
signified her dissent, some conversation passed between him and her about the
state of the mine, the prospect it afforded, and the charges likely to be
incurred in carrying it on. What the
conversation was, or what account the witness (Mr. Blewett’s messenger
and favourite clerk) gave to Mrs. Millett’s enquiries, was not
stated; but if she acted upon that
conversation, it might be supposed, that Cornish represented the
adventure as not worth pursuing; and
though Collins’s letter was produced to her, yet she did not appear to
have been at all apprised of the contents of Blewett’s letter to Collins.
Besides Mrs. Millett resided 20 miles
from the mine; but Mr. Blewett in
the neighbourhood of it. What the
general opinion of the neighbourhood in respect to the mine was, could not be
unknown to him, though it probably had not travelled 20 miles; and many witnesses
proved, that so early as May
1753, more than a year before the application to Mrs. Millett, it was
the general opinion, that the mine would turn out advantageous. But none of
the witnesses said, that this
opinion was carried to Mrs. Millett; and it was no unfair intendment to
suppose, that Mr. Cornish’s conversation with her (which he had thought
proper to withhold) gave her a very different state of things. And that the
mine would probably prove a
beneficial adventure at the time when Mrs. Millett was applied to, and
when it was admitted she enquired after the prospect of things, was proved
decisively against Mr. Blewett and Cornish, by their continuing
adventurers in it.
After hearing council on this appeal it was
ORDERED and ADJUDGED, that
the same should be dismissed, and the decree therein complained of, affirmed.
Source:
Blewett v. Millett. In Brown,
Josiah. Reports of cases upon appeals
and writs of error determined in the High Court of Parliament, 1702-1779. 2nd
edition, with notes and many
additional cases, brought down to the year 1800, by T. E. Tomlins. London, J.
Butterworth, 1803, vol. 7, p. 367
ff.
Publications
John Blewitt v. H. Millett.
An appeal to the House of Lords concerning
the conduct of the Executors of H. Millett.
1779. 2 pts.
Source: Boase, George Clement and
Courtney, William Prideaux. Bibliotheca
Cornubiensis: a catalogue of the writings, both manuscript and printed, of
Cornishmen, and of works relating to the County of Cornwall, with biographical,
memoranda and copious literary references.
London, Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer, 1874, vol. 1 p. 360. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=JV0vAAAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA360.
Blewett, John. House
of Lords. Between John Blewett, Esquire, the only son
and administrator of George Blewett, gentleman, deceased, appellant, and
Humphry Millet, clerk, the son and residuary devisee of Humphry Millett,
deceased, respondent. The appellant’s
case. London, 1774. 6 p.
(Heard before the House of Lords, February 1774).
Millett, Humphry. John
Blewett, Esq (administrator of George
Blewett, Esq, deceased, who was one of the surviving executors in trust of
Humphrey Millett, Esq, deceased, during the minority of Humphrey Millett, Esq,
his son), appellant. And the said
Humphrey Millett, Esq, respondent. The respondent’s case. London,
1774.
3, 1 p. (Heard before the House
of Lords, February 1774).
Source:
English short-title catalogue.
http://estc.bl.uk/.
Monument in St Hilary Churchyard
Attached to a lofty stone obelisk
are the family arms and the following inscription, sculptured in marble:–
“In memory of Humphry Millett, of Enys, Esq., who died November XVI, MDCCLXXIV;
aged XXVIII years”.
Source: Polsue, Joseph. A
complete parochial history of the County of Cornwall, compiled from the best
authorities and corrected and improved from actual survey. Truro,
William
Lake, 1867-1872. 4 v. Vol. 2, p. 189. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MRsiAQAAIAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA189.
24. JOHN MILLETT (1749-1815)
Millett of Bosavern
John Millett was the eldest child
of John Millett (1724-1793) and Dorcas Trevorian (about 1724-1799), who married
on 15 December 1748 at St Mary’s, Truro, Cornwall. John was born in 1749,
and baptised on 19
March 1749 at Ludgvan, Cornwall. He was
a miner. He married Eliza Smith (about
1756-1836) on 20 March 1777 at Mylor, Cornwall;
between 1778 and 1796 they had 13 children. They lived at Bosavern, St
Just-in-Penwith. John died intestate on
29 September 1815 aged 66 from the effects of a fall, and was buried on 4 October
1815 at St Just-in-Penwith.
Monuments
Monuments and tablets in the
Church at St Just-in-Penwith bear the following inscriptions:-
Sacred to the memory of John
Millett, Esqr. of Bosavern in this parish, who died Septr. 29th, 1815; aged 65.
Also to the memory of his sons.
Edward Millett, who died at Trinidad
May 24th, 1803; aged 16.
Samuel Cornish Millett, who died March
15th, 1813; aged 18.
William Smith Millett, who died April
27th, 1814; aged 32.
And John Millett, who died May 4th,
1814; aged 33.
Their remains are deposited in
the family vault beneath.
His widow who survives to deplore the loss of her affectionate husband and
children, erects this monument to their memory.
Sacred to the memory of George
Thomas Millett, Surgeon, fifth son of John Millett, Esqr., of Bosavern, in this
parish, who died Septr. 23rd, 1824, aged 34 years. This memorial is erected
by his sisters in
testimony of their affection.
Source:
Polsue, Joseph. A complete parochial history of the County of
Cornwall, compiled from the best authorities and corrected and improved from
actual survey. Truro, William
Lake, 1867-1872. 4 v. Vol.
2, p. 292. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MRsiAQAAIAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA292.
Death of wife
Her sufferings, which towards
the close of her days were very great, were borne with that christian patience
and resignation, which she ever displayed through life.
Source: Cornwall
Royal Gazette (Truro) Friday 26 August 1836.
25. RICHARD OKE MILLETT (1749-1832)
Millett of Marazion
Richard Oke Millett was the eldest
child of Oke Millett (1718-1777) and Mary Tyacke (about 1719-1782), who married
on 2 April 1746 at St Germoe, Cornwall.
Richard was born on 29 March 1749 at Marazion, and baptised on 18 April
1749 at St Hilary. He resided at Penpol,
Phillack, Cornwall. Richard married
first Jane Curnow (about 1742-1806) on 3 April 1770 at St Clement,
Cornwall; between 1771 and 1784 they had
9 children. Richard married second
Elizabeth Richards (about 1772-1842) on 5 September 1807 at St Hilary; they
had 1 child, Caroline (1808-1817). Richard was a surgeon. He was Captain of one Corps of the
Copperhouse Company of Volunteers, and a Partner in the Deed of 25 October 1779
in the Cornish Copper Company (with £1,000).
Richard died on 3 September 1832 aged 83, and was buried on 8 September
1832 at Phillack.
Cornish Copper Company
Richard Oke Millett was the
son-in-law of John Curnow (1697-1780).
Through his wife Jane, one of the three co-heirs of John Curnow, and by
an arrangement with the other co-heirs, he was able to lease the Penpol estate
and move into the ancient Penpol house, where his presence proved to be an
asset for the Cornish Copper Company in what came to be known as the “Thirty
Years War” with rival company set up by John Harvey.
Richard was always “willing and
ready to contest, on CCC’s behalf, the rights which John Harvey was claiming to
the waters of the Penpol River”. In
January 1795, probably on a suggestion from John Edwards (Manager of CCC from
1765-1807), Richard “withdrew the permission given some time previously to
Harvey to make a small leat [an open watercourse conducting water to a mill] on
the edge of the Penpol wastrel to carry off the water from the working of a
Boring Mill. This was followed by a
threat to fill in the leat if Harvey’s men did not stop using it. If this
threat of force were carried into effect
it would result in the Boring Mill coming to a halt. In the event Harvey did
fail to act and so
John Edwards sent in his men to fill in the leat”.
In February 1795 Richard Oke
Millett, Captain Henry Prideaux with about 40 men “knocked off the stocks a
lighter being built by Harveys”; Harvey
complained that “the timber was put in a place where the tide flows and this
morning [25 February 1795] the sea carried off a great many pieces which is a
great loss”.
Source:
Pascoe, W. H. CCC: the history
of the Cornish Copper Company.
Redruth, Dyllansow Truran, Cornish Publications, 1982, p. 39, 40, 59,
62-64, 78, 159.
26. GRACE MILLETT (1750-1826)
Millett of Marazion
Grace Millett was the fourth
child of Humphry Millett (about 1723-1757) and Elizabeth Adams (1721-1757), who
married on 20 February 1746 at St Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall. Grace was born
in 1750 at St Just-in-Penwith,
and baptised on 7 March 1752 at Penzance.
She married Robert Davy (1746-1794) on 16 September 1776 at Madron,
Cornwall; between 1778 and 1794 they had
6 children, including Humphry Davy (1778-1829), later Sir Humphry Davy, chemist
and inventor. Grace died on 3 September
1826 at Penzance aged 76, and was buried on 9 September 1826 at Ludgvan,
Cornwall.
Upbringing
[Robert Davy’s] wife, whose
maiden name was Grace Millett, was remarkable for the placidity of her temper,
and for the amiable and benevolent tendency of her disposition: she had
been adopted and brought up, together with her two sisters, under circumstances
of affecting interest, by Mr. John Tonkin, an eminent surgeon and apothecary in
Penzance; a person of very considerable natural endowments, and whose
Socratic sayings are, to this day, proverbial with many of the older
inhabitants. ...
The parents of these children,
having been attacked by a fatal fever, expired within a few hours of each
other: the dying agonies of the surviving mother were sharpened by her
reflecting on the forlorn condition in which her children would be left;
for although the Milletts were originally aristocratic and wealthy, the
property had undergone so many subdivisions, as to have left but a very slender
provision for the member of the family to whom she had united herself.
The affecting appeal which Mrs.
Millett is said to have addressed to her sympathising friend, and medical
attendant, was not made in vain: on her decease, Mr. Tonkin immediately
removed the three children to his own house, and they continued under the
guardianship of their kind benefactor, until each, in succession, found a home
by marriage.
The eldest sister, Jane, was
married to Henry Sampson, a respectable watchmaker at Penzance; the
youngest, Elizabeth, to her cousin, Leonard Millett of Marazion; neither
of whom had any family. The second sister, Grace, was married to Robert
Davy, from which union sprang five children, two boys and three girls, the
eldest being Humphry.
Source: Paris, John Ayrton.
The life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D. London, Henry
Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831.
2 v. Vol. 1, p. 2-3. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=e5oEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA2.
Grace Millett,
Humphry Davy’s mother, was born in 1750, the youngest of
three daughters of Elizabeth and Humphry Millett of the mining parish of St.
Just. While the family had once been
well-to-do, her parents spent most of their lives in straightened
circumstances. To support the family
Humphry Millett kept a mercer’s shop.
Both of Grace Millett’s parents died suddenly and unexpectedly, he on 3
June, she on 9 June 1758. The oldest
daughter, Elizabeth, went to live in St. Just with her maternal grandmother,
but the two younger daughters, Grace and Jane, along with their two brothers –
the younger of the boys was five months old – passed into the care of Miss
Peggy Adams, a maternal cousin.
They also
claimed the protection of Mr. John Tonkin, bachelor, surgeon
and apothecary of Penzance. He assumed
responsibility for them because, at the time of the senior Millett’s death, he
had had lodgings in their house. For
many years he continued to make his home with them, functioning as surrogate
father. Since the mercer’s shop
continued to support the family his financial help was never needed. Tonkin,
obviously a man with strict ideas
about the behaviour of the Millett children, would not permit Grace Davy to
wait on trade. She was encouraged to
develop her talent for making hats, which were sold to “the very best families
in the neighbourhood”, and many of her customers were “her particular
friends”. After her marriage to Robert
Davy, Grace followed the business on “a very large scale”. John
Tonkin continued to play an important
role in her life; many times she told
her children how much she was indebted to him “for the protection and for the
great interest he took in all that concerned them, but not for their
maintenance”.
Source: Fullmer,
June Z. Young Humphry Davy: the
making of an experimental chemist. Philadelphia, Pa., American
Philosophical
Society, 2000, p. 14-15. (Memoirs of
the American Philosophical Society, v. 237).
Husband
Robert Davy was a
wood-carver by trade, but had retired early from business on inheriting a small
income from Humphry’s grandfather, a successful builder. Davy’s
mother was Grace Millett, the third
and youngest daughter of a mercer of Penzance, and was remarkable for “the
placidity of her temper and the amiable and benevolent tendency of her
disposition”. There was nothing
particularly striking about Robert Davy.
The fact that, with but a small income, he was, even whilst a
comparatively young man, content to do nothing to supplement it, speaks pretty
much for itself.
Source: Hart, Ivor B.
Makers of science: mathematics,
physics, astronomy. London, Oxford University
Press, 1923, p. 210.
27. LEONARD MILLETT (1755-1841)
Millett of Marazion
Leonard Millett was the first
child of Robert Millett (1725-1809) and Anna Tresaddern (1728-1793), who
married on 31 July 1754 at St Hilary, Cornwall.
Leonard was born on 2 November 1755 at Marazion, and baptised there on 7
November 1755. He resided in Marazion,
and was Mayor of Marazion in 1797, 1801, 1807, 1813, 1817, 1822 and 1826. He
was Dutch Consul for Penzance and St
Ives. Leonard married Elizabeth Millett
(1754-1820) on 27 July 1796 at Madron;
they probably did not have any children.
Leonard died on 15 March 1841 at Marazion aged 86, and was buried on 22
March 1841 at St Hilary.
Consul
His Royal
Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased to approve of Mr.
L. Millet, as Consul for His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange Nassau,
Sovereign Prince of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, at Mountsbay and
St. Ives.
Source: London Gazette 3 December
1814; Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post, or Plymouth and Cornish
Advertiser (Exeter) Thursday 8 December 1814.
Children
Query issue two children:
a daughter who died in Penzance of a
lingering illness in 1820, and another daughter who died in Penzance in October
1821.
Source:
An account of the families of Boase or Bowes, originally residing at
Paul and Madron in Cornwall, & of other families connected with them by
marriage. Second edition. Truro,
Netherton and Worth for Charles
William, George Clement and Frederic Boase, 1893, col. 110.
Bequests
Leonard Millett left charitable
donations to his native town. There are memorial tablets in Marazion and
St Hilary churches.
Source: Boase, George
Clement. Collectanea Cornubiensia: a
collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to the County of
Cornwall. Truro, Netherton and
Worth, 1890, col. 569.
Memorial in St Hilary Church
A tomb in the Church is
inscribed:
Sacred to the memory of Leonard
Millett, Gent. of Marazion, who died on the 15th of March, 1841; aged 86.
His bequests for charitable uses
to his native town survive as a memorial of his benevolent and amiable
disposition.
Also to the memory of Elizabeth,
his wife, who died on the 19th of December, 1820; aged 66. Blessed are
they who die in the Lord.
Source: Polsue, Joseph. A
complete parochial history of the County of Cornwall, compiled from the best
authorities and corrected and improved from actual survey. Truro,
William
Lake, 1867-1872. 4 v. Vol. 2, p. 189. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MRsiAQAAIAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA189.
28. MARTIN MILLETT (about 1756-1836)
Millett of Bosavern
Martin Millett was the fifth
child of John Millett (1724-1793) and Dorcas Trevorian (about 1724-1799), who
married on 15 December 1748 at St Mary’s, Truro, Cornwall. Martin was
born about 1756 at Ludgvan,
Cornwall, and baptised there on 14 November 1756. He lived in London. Martin married Elizabeth Bunster (about 1759-1833)
on 4 March 1784 at Mylor, Cornwall; between
1785 and 1797 they had 5 children.
Martin died in January 1836 at Poplar, Middlesex aged 80, and was buried
on 24 January 1836 at St Pancras (old church), London.
Possible descendants
The following were possibly
descendants of Martin and his 3 sons:–
H. R. Millett in business in Camomile st. and Bishopgate st. 1801-48;
James Millett of Drum lane, Brentford 1807;
Charles Millett, attorney 19 The Terrace, Gray’s inn 1807 and his son Charles
Millett, attorney, 1817;
George Millett of High st. Fulham 1840;
Edwin Millett of 4 Little Chapel st. Westminster 1843;
Henry Millett of 34 Peel st. Church lane, Kensington 1850;
John Millett of 76 Brunswick st. Blackwall 1850;
William Millett of 5 Lion st. New Kent road 1850.
Source: Boase, George
Clement. Collectanea
Cornubiensia: a collection of biographical and topographical notes
relating to the County of Cornwall. Truro, Netherton and Worth, 1890, col.
576.
29. SAMPSON MILLETT (1757-1794)
Millett
of Marazion
Sampson Millett was the fifth child of
George Millett (1724-1781) and Ann Sandys (1724-1806), who married on 4
February 1752 at Helston, Cornwall.
Sampson was born in 1757 at Helston, and baptised there on 1 June 1757. He
died, unmarried, on 14 April 1794 aged 37,
blown up in HMS Ardent, which
caught fire and exploded near
Corsica in April 1794.
HMS Ardent
HMS Ardent was a Royal Navy 64-gun third
rate ship of the line, launched on 21 December 1782 at Bursledon,
Hampshire. In April 1794 Ardent was stationed off the harbour of
Villa Franca to watch two French frigates. It is presumed that she caught
fire and blew up. HMS Berwick encountered some wreckage while
cruising in the Gulf of Genoa in the summer that suggested fire and an explosion.
A part of Ardent’s quarter deck with some gunlocks deeply embedded in
it was found floating in the area, as was splinter netting driven into
planking. No trace was ever found of her crew of 500.
Source: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ardent_(1782).
The
Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust’s Royal Navy Loss List,
1512-1947 gives the Ardent’s date of loss as 14
April 1794.
See http://www.thisismast.org/assets/downloads/rn-loss-list-2018-02-04.pdf.
30. WILLIAM MILLETT (1759-1791)
Millett of Marazion
William Millett was the sixth
child of George Millett (1724-1781) and Ann Sandys (1724-1806), who married on
4 February 1752 at Helston, Cornwall.
William was born on 6 July 1759 at Madron, Cornwall, and baptised on 30
July 1759 at Helston. He married
Elizabeth Stidiford (1757-1838) on 7 October 1784 at St Mary’s, Isles of
Scilly, where they lived. Between 1785
and 1792 they had four children. William
died at Scilly on 25 August 1791 aged 32, shot by James Dunkin, and was buried
at St Mary’s, Penzance.
Account of death
Penzance, Cornwall.
In consequence of an
information, Mr. Millet, Exciseman, of Helston, and several other Officers,
were proceeding to board a smuggling cutter, which lay off the Land’s End,
supposed to belong to a person at Penzance : as the boat drew near they were
hailed by the people from on board the cutter, who desired them to keep off, as
they were determined not to be searched; but the Officers persevering in
their intention, the crew of the cutter fired upon them, by which Mr. Millet
was shot through the head, and another person in the breast, both of whom instantly
expired; a third died this morning of the wounds he received; and a
fourth had his arm broke, but is in a fair way of recovery. The smuggling
cutter escaped – little doubt is entertained but she will soon be taken.
Source: The Oracle (London) Saturday 3 September 1791.
August 25th, 1791, Mr.
Thomas Hall, Surveyor of the Customs at Scilly, having received information of
a smuggling vessel, called the Friendship, of Penzance, belonging to
James Dunkin, and commanded by George Bramwell, went out in his boat in search
of her, and about ten o’clock at night fell in with her, in Old Grimsby
Harbour, near the island of Tresco; on
his rowing towards the said vessel for the purpose of boarding her, a person
from the deck hailed and asked, “What boat is that?” and upon the said Hall’s
answering, “The custom boat”, two muskets or blunderbusses were immediately
fired by the said James Dunkin into the said boat, by which William Millett and
John Oliver, two of the boatmen, in the said custom-house boat were killed, and
John Jane, another of the boatmen, dangerously wounded. The coroner’s
inquest sat on the bodies of
the said William Millet and John Oliver, and brought in their verdict Wilful
Murder, against the said James Dunkin, or others, on whom he had vast
influence.
His Majesty for the better
discovering and bringing to justice the persons concerned in this most
atrocious offence, was pleased to promise his most gracious pardon to any one
of the said offenders, who shall discover his accomplice, or accomplices
(except the said James Dunkin, or any other person who actually fired), so that
any one or more of them may be apprehended and convicted of the offence.
And as a further encouragement,
the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, in order to bring the said
offenders to justice, promise a reward of five hundred pounds to any person or
persons who shall discover and apprehend, or cause to be discovered and
apprehended, the same James Dunkin; and
a reward of two hundred pounds, for the discovery and apprehending any one or
more of the other persons concerned in these murders, to be paid by the
Receiver General of his Majesty’s Customs upon conviction.
Sources:
London Gazette 20
September 1791, p. 529-530.
Troutbeck, John. Survey
of the
ancient and present state of the Scilly Islands… Sherborne, Printed
and sold by Goadby and
Lerpiniere, 1794, p. 233-234. https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=GUYOAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA233.
James Dunkin was not apprehended
for this murder. He died in 1817. See
MacKenzie, Charlotte. Merchants and smugglers in eighteenth century
Penzance: the brothers James and John Dunkin.
Troze: the Online Journal of the
National Maritime Museum Cornwall v. 7
no. 2, December 2016, p. 3-20. https://nmmc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dunkin-brothers.pdf.
31. GEORGE MILLETT (1762-1816)
Millett of Marazion
George Millett was the tenth
child of George Millett (1724-1781) and Ann Sandys (1724-1806), who married on
4 February 1752 at Helston, Cornwall.
George was born in 1762 at Helston, and baptised there on 17 December
1762. He joined the Honourable East
India Company’s Maritime Service, and was a director of the H.E.I.C.
He married Elizabeth Coggan (about 1764-1823) on 21 October 1786 at St
Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street, London;
between 1787 and 1801 they had 8 children. He was a Master Mason in 1790. George died on 17 February 1816 at
Walthamstow, Essex aged 54, and was buried at Wanstead, Essex in the Coggan
vault.
Maritime service
Born in England, seaman King
George packet three voyages Falmouth to Lisbon; midshipman Valentine
(2) 1769/70; midshipman Royal Henry 1771/2; 2nd mate Molly
to America; 4th mate London (13) 1779/80 (approved 12 November
1779, aged 24); 2nd mate Rodney (2) 1781/2; 1st mate Rodney
(2) 1784/5; captain King George (4) 1786/7; captain Princess
Amelia (3) 1789/90, 1792/3 and 1794/5.
Source: Farrington, Anthony.
A biographical index of East India Company Maritime Service officers
1600-1834. London, British Library, 1999, p. 543.
Served in the Honourable East
India Company’s navy and became Commodore of their fleet; Colonel of the
2nd Regiment of the Royal East India Volunteers, raised amongst the employees
of the H.E.I. Company in Leadenhall Street, London, England 1809.
Source: Boase, George
Clement. Collectanea Cornubiensia: a
collection of biographical and topographical notes relating to the County of
Cornwall. Truro, Netherton and
Worth, 1890, col. 569.
Commander of the ship King
George, in the East-India-Company’s service.