'In memory of Stephen Jose, died 1788 aged 78.

Also Capt Timothy Jose son of Stephen. Dyed 1808 aged 59.

Corruption, earth and worms

Shall but refine this flesh,

Till my triumphant spirit comes
To put it on afresh.

Also Mary daughter of Timothy, died 1812 aged 13.'

'In memory of Agnes wife of Thomas Grenfell, died 1793 aged 68.'

(This tombstone, a slate one grotesquely ornamented in the style of the period, is nailed to the south wall of the church, near the cross.)

The following are north of the church, a position against which there seems to have been none of that traditional prejudice which is or was common in many other parishes:

'In memory of Mary wife of Thomas Richards, died 1830 aged 44.

Also Edward their son, died 1826.'

'In memory of Henry Curnow, died 1835.'

Vault, the slab inscribed to the memory of:

'Frances wife of James Young, died 1825 aged 29.

Also Frances Maria their daughter, died 1822 aged 2 months. Also Edward son of the above James by Martha his second wife; died 1835 aged 4.

Also the aforesaid James Young, died 1848 aged 50.'

In this Repository is layed the mortal remains of William Maine of Bideford, aged 40, lost at sea off this harbour with his dear relation Samuel Spencer aged 14, Dec1 the Seventh 1807. Though saild in lower seas and drownd,

That victory and peace the, found

On the celestial shore.'

Obliterated headstone, only this being legible:

. . obiit æt. 10.

Oh parents dear! for me do not lament' . .

'In memory of Mary widow of Capt W. Christian, died 1819 aged 79.'

'In memory of Phillis wife of Capt S. C. Clark, died 1856 aged 37.'

Vault:

'Edward Stephens esquire died 1776 aged
Also Elizabeth his wife, died 1810 aged 86.
Also Francis their son, died 1791 aged 39.
And Susannah his wife, died 1775 aged.
And Jane his second wife, died 1794 aged --.
Also Hugh Ley Esqre M.D., died 1826 aged 64.
And Elizabeth his wife, died 1848 aged 83.'

Vault:

'Paul Tremearne died 1807 aged 66.

Also Ann Phillipps widow, his daughter, died 1848 aged 71. And Ann Tremearne Phillipps his granddaughter, died at Nantes 1855 aged 42.

Also three infant grandchildren.'

'In memory of Thomas Quick, died 1811 aged 67; and his four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.'

In memory of Eldred Roberts, died 1831. Also Matilda his wife.'

(Also others of the same family.)

'In memory of Richard Jenkyns gent, died 1815 aged 66. Also Elizabeth his wife, died 1823 aged 82.

Also Anna Maria their daughter, relict of Capt. Daniel Sydal, died 1864 aged 83.'

In memory of Joanna daughter of Uddy' [Bray?] (obliterated).

'M. G.-T. D.'

'T. S. 1812.'

An obliterated headstone.

In memory of Thomas Rowe, died 1831 aged 65.

Also Nathaniel Hicks Rowe, his son, master of the brig "Importer" of London, died in Jamaica 1825 aged 30.

Also Mary Ann Rowe who is buried in the church.

Also Ann Rowe, died 1806 aged 1 year.

Also Mary Biron his granddaughter, died 1825, aged 2.'

In memory of Nathaniel Toms, master of the brig "Henry," who died at Giberalter 1827 aged 35.

And Nath Toms senior, officer of H.M. Customs in this port, who died 1830, aged 72. And Frances his wife, died 1818 aged 56.'

Vault:

'The Family of Stevens lie interred here, 1797.

Martha the wife of John Stevens esquire (Collector of his Majesty's Customs in the Port of St Ives) lies interred here.

John Stevens esquire died 27th March 1807 aged 68.

Also of Page second wife of the above; who departed this life Feby 26th 1835 aged 80 years.

Also of Captain Andrew Thomas of this town, who departed this life Feby 18th 1854 aged 41 years.'

'In memory of Jane daughter of Anthony and Margaret Johns, died 1789 aged 18 months.

Also the above Margaret, died 1813 aged 52.'

'In memory of John Major of Carva, died 1786, aged 47.'

'In memory of Robert Morton, died 1819, aged 37.'

'In memory of Johanna wife of John Martins, died 1830 aged 58.

Farewell, dear friend, again farewell!

Soon I shall rise to thee;

And, when we meet, no tongue can tell
How great our joys shall be.'

'In memory of John Stevens, died 1834 aged 74.
And Mary his wife, died 1821 aged 64.'

'In memory of Martin Williams, died 1800 aged 48.

Also Martin son of Martin and Thomasin Williams, died 1807 aged 22.

Also Mary daughter of Thomas and Mary Williams, died 1819 aged 2.

Also Thomasin their daughter, died 1821 aged 3.'

'In memory of Thomas Stevens, died 1834 aged 80.'

Vault:

In memory of Mary wife of James Rosewall, died 1849 aged 34.

Also the above James, died 1854 aged 34.'

In memory of James Bray, died 1802 aged 1 year.'

(Another obliterated headstone here.)

Another slate headstone, complete, but is turned with the face downwards, and partly fixed to the wall of the church, at the west end of the north aisle.

It will be seen that nearly all these graves are modern. It is said that in past times, when quite full of corpses, the churchyard was covered with several feet of sand, and interment went on anew. As many as thirty mules have been seen, in a line, carrying sand from the beach to the churchyard. Three times the graves were covered in a deep layer of sand; and then it was found that to repeat the process would be to bury the church itself. It then became the custom to bury in the garden at the back of the present parsonage in Shute Street, which was used as a supplementary churchyard until the opening of the new cemetery at Ayr.

When it blows hard from outside, the spray and foam from the sea dash against the east windows of the church and even over the roof, sprinkling the resting-place of the countless dead.

The following are interred in the New Churchyard, the burial-place behind the parsonage :

Henry Willey, 1812, aged 57.
Samuel Kelly, 1822, aged 58.

Thomas Mathews, 1848, aged 88.

James Williams Mathews, 1840, aged 9.

And many members of the families of Stevens, Berriman, etc.

The New Churchyard (formerly the vicarage garden) is situated between the ancient and the modern parsonages, and is strewn with fragments of old carved stone which seem to have formed part of the former clergy-house.

In the Borough Accounts, largely transcribed in a later chapter, will be found numerous records relating to the church and its furniture, such as the erection of a gallery in 1640, and the removal of the roodscreen and organ in 1648.

A selection of tombstone inscriptions from the Cemetery.

'John Tregerthen Short, died 1857.'

[He was in the French prison with Thomas Williams.]

'Sacred to the memory of Thomas Williams, who died 1862, aged 75. He was prisoner of war in France, from 1804 to 1814. He held the office of parish clerk for St Ives from 1816 until his death.

Also of Mary his wife, who died 1875 aged 86.'

[Surmounted by a cross, flags, guns and shot :]

'To the memory of Thomas Matthews of Saint Ives, who died April 6, 1863, aged 72 years. He was attached to H.M. Coast-guard service for 21 years; also an effective member of the St Ives volunteer corps in the years 1812 and 1863.

This stone is raised as a mark of esteem and respect by the officers, non-commissioned officers and gunners of the 11th (St Ives) Battery, Duke of Cornwall Artillery Volunteers.

Requiescat in pace.'

[See the regimental brass in the parish church. Thomas Matthews was Drum-Major of the corps, and also gunnery instructor. He was brother to Mary Williams above named.]

'To the memory of Nancy [née Kempthorne] wife of Andrew Stevens Williams.

Also of Elizabeth the wife of Roger Wearne.

Also of Andrew Stevens Williams; born 14 July 1802, died 1873.'

'Henry A. Martin, coast-guard officer; died 1873.

Also Grace, mother of the above; died 1881, aged 81.'

CHAPTER VII.

CHURCHES OF LELANT, TOWEDNACK AND ZENNOR.

PREVIOUS to the commencement of the fifteenth century, Saint Ives and Towednack were merely hamlets in the parish of Lelant. Saint Ives appears,' says Hicks, 'to have first consisted of a few fishermen's huts, after which a few merchants settled there, who did trade and traffick with Ireland, France, etc.' The inhabitants were then obliged to repair to the church of Lelant, a distance of about three miles, to hear mass, and for baptisms, marriages, and burials. In the Inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester, 1294, ecclesia de Lelant in decanatu de Penwith 'is taxed at £22 18s. 4d., without mention of Saint Ives or Towednack, which were not then erected nor endowed as parishes. (Hals.)

In 1306 Robert de Cardinan confirmed to the Priory of Tywardreath the churches of Lelant and Zennor, together with certain lands (Oliver's Monasticon') :

'Carta Regis Henrici tertij, cartam Roberti de Cardinan ratificans. [Cart: 33 Edw. I., n. 38, per Inspex.; et Cart. 12 Hen. III., m. 9.]

'Robertus de Cardinans omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis salutem Sciatis me pro Dei amore et anime mee salute concessisse et presenti carti mea confirmasse ecclesie sanctorum martirum Sergii et Bacchi Andeg: et ecclesie sancti Andree de Tywardrait et monachis ibidem Deo servientibus et servituris omnes donationes et concessiones quas antecessores mei sue quicunque fideles de feodo meo ipsis fecerunt scilicet. . . . . Ecclesiam Sancti Euny cum terris decimis et aliis pertinentiis suis et nominatim cum villa que dicitur Lananta et Tredrait et dimidiam acram terre in Hendre quam Thomas presbiter tenuit, solutam et quietam ab omni servitio excepto tantum regali. . . . . Ecclesiam Sancti Sinari quam dedit eis Radulphus de Sicca-villa et uxor ejus Margareta et unam acram terre apud Sanctam Sinaram solutam et quietam ab omni servitio excepto tantum regali. . . . .'