The present lord of this manor is Edward Penrose, Esq. who is yet unmarried. He succeeded Robert Corker, Esq. on his death, A.D. 1731, as receiver of the duchy of Cornwall, and is in the Commission of the Peace and Lieutenancy. His father, Edward Penrose, Esq. was a very worthy good-natured gentleman, and was likewise a Justice of the Peace. He married ——, the daughter of James Praed, of Trevetho, Esq. by whom he had also one daughter ——, married to James Keigwyn, of Mousehole, Esq. and since dead without issue. His grandfather Richard Penrose, Esq. was Sheriff of Cornwall 17 Henry VIII.
THE EDITOR.
There is not any thing remarkable about this parish church; it is distant no more than a mile and quarter from Breage Church, but divided from it by a deep valley, which runs down to Porthleaven, heretofore a small fishing cove, till some projectors induced credulous persons to contribute large sums of money, for the purpose of making a harbour for vessels at this place, under the vague pretence of saving human life, a matter on which all mankind are agreed, but without being able to show that their plans would have that effect: assuming it, however, they had the
hardihood to solicit from Parliament an impost on all vessels passing within a certain distance of the Land’s End and the Lizard. Several tens of thousands of pounds have been expended on this senseless undertaking, which has utterly failed of its object, and made the small harbour less commodious for boats than it was before.
The principal seat in this parish is Penrose, the residence for centuries of a very ancient family bearing the same name, till the heiress of Penrose married Pearce of Penryn, and their only daughter married Alexander Cuming, esq. from Scotland. They parted with this property to Mr. John Rogers of Helston, younger brother of Mr. Hugh Rogers of Treasow in Ludgvan, to whom he ultimately succeeded.
Mr. John Rogers left an only son Hugh Rogers, Sheriff of Cornwall in the year 1770. This gentleman married Ann, daughter of Mr. James of St. Columb. They also left an only son Mr. John Rogers, member of Parliament for West Looe and for Helston: he married Margaret, eldest daughter of Francis Basset, esq. of Tehidy: and died the 22d of February, 1832, leaving a very numerous family. He is succeeded by his eldest son the Rev. John Rogers, Canon Residentiary of Exeter, and Rector of Mawnan.
The late Mr. Rogers added very considerably to the property purchased by his grandfather, more especially on the sales by the Arundell family; so that the Penrose domain now extends round the Lake, and affords a scope for improvements, which may convert this place into one of the most beautiful in Cornwall, and such are expected from the talents, liberality, and taste of the present opulent possessor.
Antron appears to have been a place of consequence in former times. Mr. Lysons says that it belonged to an ancient family of the same name, from whom it passed with an heiress in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to the Paynters; that it was purchased of them by the Hoblyns in 1670, and sold by the Rev. Robert Hoblyn, to John Rogers, esq. late Captain in the Naval Service of the East
India Company, who restored the place by building a new house, and by other improvements. It now belongs to his son.
Trevarnoe was purchased by the late Mr. Christopher Wallis, a gentleman who made a large fortune in Helston and in this place, by the practice of the law. He had an only daughter, married to Captain Popham, a brother of the adventurous navigator who distinguished himself at Buenos Ayres. Their son now resides here; he served the office of Sheriff in 1834, and has married a daughter of the late Sir Vyell Vyvyan, of Trelowarren.