Trengrouse - Introduction

In 1995, Daphne McMahon and I presented a document entitled "Trengrouse Family of Cornwall, England" to the Cornwall Family History Society (CFHS). It was revised in 1997 but a family history is never complete and the authors welcome further input for the continuing story, now on-line.

In March 1995 I wrote an article entitled "Regarding Henry" for CFHS. Henry Trengrouse spent his whole life around Helston and it was his impressions, gained as an observer, of the wreck of HMS Anson, with the loss of 100 lives, on Loe Bar in 1807 that led to his interest in effecting maritime rescues by rocket and line fired from the shore.

I was intrigued by the parallels between my brother, Ross McGlashan, who like Henry has had a life-long interest in rocket power and has invested his entire life savings in his project. After achieving an Australian Land Speed Record, Ross was honoured with the Order of Australia medal in 1997. He is currently attempting to break the World Land Speed record.

Many of our early Trengrouse ancestors appear to have been wealthy yeomen. According to "The Local Historian’s Encyclopedia" by John Richardson, a yeoman was a free tenant, usually a prominent farmer. As he worked with his hands, he could not be styled a Gentleman but his status was above that of most other copyhold", nb: common birth as distinct from noble birth, hence below the rank of gentleman.

Parish registers record the dates on which baptisms and burials took place and only occasionally also give a birth or death date in the margin. Baptisms can be some time after the birth (possibly years). Burial dates are obviously no more than a few days after death.

Spelling was not standardsed in England at the time of the early Trengrouse records and the surname has been recorded as Trengrowse/Trengroufe/Trengrouse/Trengro, etc. Old style spelling has been used in transcribing the ancient wills. An explanation of some of the words follows:

Messuage	A dwelling house with the ground around it and outbuildings. A capital Messuage was that of the Lord of the Manor, or of any other large residential property. Also sometimes referred to as a "mese".
Mowhay	A barn or silo where the mown hay is kept.
Chattel	Any kind of property, except a freehold and things appertaining to it. A more extensive term than goods and effects.
Annexed	Added, appended (added to a document).
Tenure	e.g. a freehold tenure passed at death.

We acknowledge the assistance of Shelagh and John Amor, Kathleen and Matthew Buckley, Marie Broughall (deceased), Patricia, Breno and Joana de Souza, H.L. Douch, Joy Franks, Elizabeth Lancaster, Iain MacGregor, Joan McPhie, John Mitchell, George Rounce, Lyn Schryver, Charles and Mairon Smith, Lilian Trengrouse and Rita Warmington. Early postcard images of Helston were kindly sent by Jim Goodwin.