daughter of William Balls of Hadley in
Suffolke Gent. and had issue five children, Theodore,
John, Ferdinando, Maria and Dorothy, and departed
this lyfe at Clifton the 21st of January 1636.
There is also a large tomb in the chancel, with a handsome marble slab to the memory of Sir Nicholas Lower and his lady.
The Parsonage House has been greatly improved, and commands a beautiful prospect of the river and Saltash. It contains a good library, and a few paintings by some of the antient masters. Much praise is due to the present incumbent, the Rev. F. V. I. Arundell, for having raised an embankment round the house, and for bringing the grounds into a high state of cultivation, and for improving the plantations.
About two miles from hence, in the parish of Botus Fleming, is Moditonham, the seat of Charles Carpenter, Esq. a commodious modern building, most delightfully situated, and commanding some extensive views of the surrounding country.
In the Church, a small venerable pile, is a recumbent figure of a crusader with a sword and target, which was accidentally discovered about three years ago, on the removal of some old wainscot.
In the centre of a field, at the north side of the village, stands a pyramidical monument, erected in memory of Dr. William Martin, of Plymouth, who died in the year 1762.
The town of Saltash principally consists of one long street rising abruptly from the Tamar, to a considerable eminence, and the houses in general have an antient appearance. It is a place, as Carew observes, which, owing to the steep ascent on which it is situated, “every shower washes clean.” It is also of great antiquity, and in the year 1393, the assizes for the county are said to have been held here. During the civil wars it was considered of much importance, being one of the principal passes into the county. It was first garrisoned by the Parliament, and surrendered without opposition to Sir Ralph Hopton, in the autumn of 1642. General Ruthen, finding it open after his defeat at Bradock-down, in January, 1643, took possession, and hastily fortified it; but it was soon afterwards taken by assault, by Lord Mohun and Sir Ralph Hopton: a garrison was left in it in the month of May that year, but on the approach of the Earl of Essex, it was given up the latter end of July, 1644. We are told that on this occasion Sir Edward Waldegrave gallantly defended the pass, and, as it appears, with temporary success. After the capitulation of Essex, Saltash was again taken possession of by Sir Richard Grenville: in the month of October following, it was taken by a detachment from the garrison at Plymouth: Sir Richard Grenville afterwards recovered it by assault: and it was finally abandoned by the King’s troops in the month of February, 1646.