A Reporter's Story of Events

by Don R. Hender



     Mr. John Marten of Blisland and Ms. Elizabeth Hender of North Hill have solemnized their marriage by Banns posted at the local North Hill Church in which Parish the Hender family reside. The Banss were posted on the dates of the consecquetive Sundays of the 10th, 17th and 24th of January, 1768. And then from thence has Mr. Marten returned with his bride in the Parish of Blisland where they now live at his residence there in Blisland. As evidence of such is given the image copy below of the marriage banns recorded in the Parish Register of the Church of North Hill, the OPC record of such marriage at North Hill and the acessed, and also the OPC record of the recognition of that marriage in the Parish of Blisland.


The Banns as filled out reads: "Banns of Marriage between John Martin of the Parish of Blisland & Elizabeth Hender of this Parish [North Hill] were published on Sunday ye 10th on Sunday ye 17th & on Sunday ye 24th of January 1768 by J Wollcork CLK - No. 64 John Martin of the Parish of Blisland in this County and Elizabeth Hender of this Parish [North Hill] were Married in this Church by Publication of Banns this Ninth Day of February in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty & Eight by me J Wollcock Clk. This Marriage was solemnized between us{Jno Marten [signed] Elizth Marten [smugged out] Hender [signed] In the presence of Thos. Hender [Father of Bride] William Marten Junr. [Brother of Groom] Thos. Isacke


OPC Record North Hill

    More information about record ###### in the Marriages database Day Month 09-Feb Year 1768 Parish / Reg District North Hill Groom Fn John Groom Sn MARTIN Groom Age Groom Residence Blisland Groom Condition Groom Rank Profession Groom Sign/Mark (S/M) S Groom Father Name Groom Father Rank Pro Bride Fn Elizabeth Bride Sn HENDER Bride Age Bride Residence otp Bride Condition Bride Rank Profession Bride Sign/Mark (S/M) S Bride Father Name Bride Father Rank Pro Banns / Licence (B/L) B Witness Fn1 Thos. Witness Sn1 Hender Witness Fn2 William Witness Sn2 Martin, junr Other Information 3rd witness Thos. Isacke Transcriber Notes Transcriber John Evans

OPC - Blisland Banns Registery

    More information about record ###### in the Marriages database Day Month Year 1768 Parish / Reg District Blisland Groom Fn John Groom Sn MARTEN, Mr. Groom Age Groom Residence Blisland Groom Condition Groom Rank Profession Groom Sign/Mark (S/M) Groom Father Name Groom Father Rank Pro Bride Fn Eliz. Bride Sn HENDER Bride Age Bride Residence North-hill Bride Condition Bride Rank Profession Bride Sign/Mark (S/M) Bride Father Name Bride Father Rank Pro Banns / Licence (B/L) Witness Fn1 Witness Sn1 Witness Fn2 Witness Sn2 Other Information Transcriber Notes Phillimores. From Register of Banns. Transcriber P Hugo/K Halley
Much like today, the marriage took place in the bride's home 'town' but as the case is, when the husband is established, as Mr. John Marten was in Blisland, they go to live where the residence of the husband is located. Also, where the Church was so established in each Parish community, it was likely also given public notice that so and so was now married and to whom. And thus the question as to who Elizabeth Hender did marry, that is who her husband was, is thus simply resolved.

As would be the course of marriage, the mid-aged bride and groom did have two children, Elizabeth and Grace Marten as recorded in the Blisland Parish Register. And so also is the 'mystery' solved as to why when Elizabeth Marten married John Peter, that two of their children had the names of 'Thomas Hender' Marten and 'Elizabeth Hender' Marten after their grandparents and their mother's parents.

Now, while we here are concerned with John Marten and his wife Elizabeth Hender, we should pause to also consider the rank and position of the Marten/Martyn family and their family history. Though like many pedigrees, the Marten family has somme unknown generation brakes, what is known is they were a highly respect family of some position as does follow from the history of the county and of Trigg Manor as such:

"This family held a very respectable position in the parish. The name is found at the commencement of the registers. 'Thomas Marten de Penrose' was buried in 1594. William Marten of Penrose, yeoman, his great-nephew, died in 1664. Another branch was of Trehudreth, and intermarried with the Coles. The last of the name in the parish [of Blisland], William Marten (Jr.) of Penrose, gent., died in 1793,} s. p., and bequeathed his estate in Penrose to William Pascoe of Mevagissy, his sister's [Grace's] son, from whom it was inherited by Mr. William Roberts. Mr. Roberts sold it to Mr. Edward Pearce, who has been admitted tenant according to the custom of the Manor of Blisland, of which manor the estate is parcel."

Thus this family of Marten/Martyn was the prestigious Martyn family of Penrose in Blisland. And as the brief pedigree below shows, John Marten was the brother of William Marten Junr., and as will be seen, John Marten will only have two dauthers, and the estate** will be past to the male line of Pascoe and thence to the Robert's family in their male line.


Now thus the parentage of John Marten is on this manner: Mr. William Martyn, son of Ralph and Grace Marten. Res. Penrose (family 'estate')


                       Mr. William Martyn   =   Elizabeth
                        of Penrose          |
                       cb 4 Dec 1711        |   (1715-1769)
                        Blisland            |
                       m                    |
                                            |
                       db 1 Nov 1785        |   db 7 Mar 1769 
                        Blisland            |    Blisland
                                            |   Wife of Mr. Will.
                                            |
                 ___________________________|__________________________
                |                  |                |                  |
       William Martyn Junr.   John Martyn      Grace Martyn       John Martyn
       cb 17 Oct 1737         cb 29 Oct 1738   cb 17 Jun 1740     cb 7 Jun 1742
        Blisland               Blisland         Blisland           Blisland
       db 4 Apr 1793          db 2 May 1739    m 30 Oct 1771      m 9 Feb 1768
        Blisland               Blisland         Blisland           North Hill
                              son of William   = Roger Pasco Mr.  = Elizabeth Hender
                                                 of Mevagissey



More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 04-Dec Year 1711 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename William Surname MARTEN Sex son Father Forename Ralph Mother Forename Grace Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 01-Nov Year 1785 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename William Surname MARTEN, Mr. Age Residence [Penrose] Notes Trans Notes Src: Exeter BTs Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 07-Mar Year 1769 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename Eliz. Surname MARTEN Age Residence Notes wife of Mr. Will. Trans Notes Src: Bodmin BTs Transcriber Kay Halley

More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 17-Oct Year 1737 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename William Surname MARTYN Sex son Father Forename William (Mr.) Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Profession Notes Transcriber Notes Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 04-Apr Year 1793 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename William Surname MARTEN Age Residence Notes Trans Notes Src: Exeter BTs Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record 4679689 in the Baptisms database Day Month 29-Oct Year 1738 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename John Surname MARTIN Sex son Father Forename William (Mr.) Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 02-May Year 1739 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename John Surname MARTYN Age Residence Notes son of Mr. William Trans Notes Transcriber Kay Halley

More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 15-Jun Year 1740 Parish Or Reg District Blisland Forename Grace Surname MARTYN Sex dau Father Forename William, Mr. Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Profession Notes Trans Notes Src: Exeter BTs Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 07-Jun Year 1742 Parish Or Reg District Blisland Forename John Surname MARTYN Sex son Father Forename William, Mr. Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Profession Notes Transcriber Notes Src: Bodmin BTs Transcriber Kay Halley


** It has been noticed in the Introduction that the area of an ancient manor consisted of two portions, viz., the demesne lands, which, together with mills, fisheries, &c., were kept in the hands of the lord, and the remainder held by tenants of various degrees. In the 30th Queen Elizabeth an inquisition was issued out of the Exchequer, to ascertain what were the demesne lands of this manor, and it appears firom the depositions made in reply to certain interrogatories under that inquisition, that within the memory of man the only lands known to have been held in demesne were a tenement called the Farmer's House and seven acres of land, together with certain outmoors, and two acres of wood on Penrose, from which the tenants were entitled to receive timber for reparations. The Queen's farmer claimed the tenement of Atwell as part of the demesne of the manor, but he failed to establish his claim, it being shewn that Atwell had always been held as a customary tenement. Thomas Martin, of Blisland, husbandman, aged 74 years, deposed that the first tenant he ever knew in the tenement was one Johanna Raw, widow, sometime the wife of Nicholas Raw, and before that time wife unto one Bumard; that the said Joan did surrender unto John Olyver, father of Thomas Olyver, one of the defendants in the suit; that he hath heard that after the said surrender by Joan to John Oliver one John Bumard made claim to the said tenement of Atwell, and that a composition was effected. The seven acres of land consisted of a tenement called ** Dymyns " (demesnes ?), lying between Atwell on the east and Tregenna on the west. The farmer's house was in Blisland Church Town; one William Toser, bailiff of the manor under Anthony Ashfield, the Queen's farmer, then held it.
Now then, the resulting family of John Marten and Elizabeth Hender of our interest follows:
Res. Blisland and then Penhole, North Hill Elizabeth Hender: daughter of Thomas Hender and Joan Reed of North Hill.



                 John Marten, Mr.   =   Elizabeth Hender
                  Blisland          |   North Hill
                 cb 7 Jun 1742      |   cb 16 Jul 1733
                  Blisland          |    North Hill
                 m 9 Feb 1768       |
                  North Hill        |
                 db 26 Oct 1787     |   db 23 Mar 1804
                  North Hill        |    North Hill a70
                  of Penhole        |    of Penhole
                          __________|__________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
                         |                    |                  |
                 Elizabeth Marten        Grace Marten       Jenny Marten
                 cb 4 Aug 1769           cb 25 Aug 1771     cb 17 Apr 1776
                  Blisland                Blisland           North Hill
                 m 12 Jun 1788           m 30 Sep 1802      db 28 Mar 1795
                  North Hill              North Hill         North Hill a18
                 = John Peter            = Reginald Jenkin  daughter of late
                 db 5 Mar 1833                                John, yeoman
                  North Hill                                   of Penhole



More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 16-Jul Year 1733 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Elisabeth Surname HENDER Sex dau Father Forename Thomas Mother Forename Joan Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton
More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 07-Jun Year 1742 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename John Surname MARTYN Sex son Father Forename William, Mr. Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Src: Bodmin BTs Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ###### in the Marriages database Day Month 09-Feb Year 1768 Parish / Reg District North Hill Groom Fn John Groom Sn MARTIN Groom Age Groom Residence Blisland Groom Condition Groom Rank Profession Groom Sign/Mark (S/M) S Groom Father Name Groom Father Rank Pro Bride Fn Elizabeth Bride Sn HENDER Bride Age Bride Residence otp Bride Condition Bride Rank Profession Bride Sign/Mark (S/M) S Bride Father Name Bride Father Rank Pro Banns / Licence (B/L) B Witness Fn1 Thos. Witness Sn1 Hender Witness Fn2 William Witness Sn2 Martin, junr Other Information 3rd witness Thos. Isacke Transcriber Notes Transcriber John Evans
More information about record ###### in the Marriages database Day Month Year 1768 Parish / Reg District Blisland Groom Fn John Groom Sn MARTEN, Mr. Groom Age Groom Residence Blisland Groom Condition Groom Rank Profession Groom Sign/Mark (S/M) Groom Father Name Groom Father Rank Pro Bride Fn Eliz. Bride Sn HENDER Bride Age Bride Residence North-hill Bride Condition Bride Rank Profession Bride Sign/Mark (S/M) Bride Father Name Bride Father Rank Pro Banns / Licence (B/L) Witness Fn1 Witness Sn1 Witness Fn2 Witness Sn2 Other Information Transcriber Notes Phillimores. From Register of Banns. Transcriber P Hugo/ K Halley
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 26-Oct Year 1787 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename John Surname MARTIN Age Residence Penhole Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 23-Mar Year 1804 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Elizabeth Surname MARTEN Age 70 Residence Penhole Notes widow of John, yeoman Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton


England Compiled Record Source: First name(s): ELIZABETH Last name: MARTEN Gender: Female Birth year: 1769 Baptism year: 1769 Baptism date: 4 Aug 1769 Parish: Blisland Father's first name(s): John Father's last name: Marten Mother's first name(s): Elizabeth Mother's last name: - Relationship: Dau Place: BLISLAND County: Cornwall Country: England Record set: Cornwall Baptisms Category: Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Subcategory: Parish Baptisms Collections from: England, Great Britain
More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 04-Aug Year 1769 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename Eliz. Surname MARTEN Sex dau Father Forename John, Mr. Mother Forename Elizth Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Src: Bodmin BTs Transcriber Kay Halley

More information about record ###### in the Marriages database Day Month 12-Jun Year 1788 Parish / Reg District North Hill Groom Fn John Groom Sn PETER Groom Age Groom Residence otp Groom Condition Groom Rank Profession yeoman Groom Sign/Mark (S/M) S Groom Father Name Groom Father Rank Pro Bride Fn Elizabeth Bride Sn MARTEN Bride Age Bride Residence otp Bride Condition spinster Bride Rank Profession Bride Sign/Mark (S/M) S Bride Father Name Bride Father Rank Pro Banns / Licence (B/L) B Witness Fn1 Arthur Witness Sn1 Peter Witness Fn2 Edward Witness Sn2 Peter Other Information Transcriber Notes Transcriber John Evans
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 05-Mar Year 1833 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Elizabeth Surname PETER Age 62 Residence Illand Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton



England Compiled Records Source: First name(s): GRACE Last name: MARTEN Gender: Female Birth year: 1771 Baptism year: 1771 Baptism date: 25 Aug 1771 Parish: Blisland Father's first name(s): John Father's last name: Marten Mother's first name(s): Elizabeth Mother's last name: - Relationship: Dau Place: BLISLAND County: Cornwall Country: England Record set: Cornwall Baptisms Category: Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Subcategory: Parish Baptisms Collections from: England, Great Britain
More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 25-Aug Year 1771 Parish/Reg Dist Blisland Forename Grace Surname MARTEN Sex dau Father Forename John, Mr. Mother Forename Eliz. Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Src: Bodmin BTs Transcriber Kay Halley
More information about record ####### in the Baptisms database Day Month 17-Apr Year 1776 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Jenny Surname MARTIN Sex Father Forename John Mother Forename Elizabeth Residence Father Rank Pro Notes Trans Notes Transcriber Sue Mutton
More information about record ####### in the Burials database Day Month 28-Mar Year 1795 Parish/Reg Dist North Hill Forename Jenny Surname MARTEN Age 18 Residence Penhole Notes daughter of late John, yeoman Trans Notes aTranscriber Sue Mutton

In Blisland, John and Elizabeth successfully have two daughters, Elizabeth and Grace when Elizabeth would be about the age of 36 and 38. Perhaps then they thought they were through. It does appear from the evidence that John and Elizabeth moved their family 'back' from Blisland to Elizabeth's home town or to Penhole of North Hill where Elizabeth Hender did have her family there. There they would surprisingly have one more dauther named Jenny when Elizabeth would be about the age of 43. Jenny Marten would live to the age of 18 or nearly 19 and then die in 1795. By then father John Marten would have died in the third quater of 1787 as deduced from the death regitry by other genealogists. Of course Elizabeth would have married John Peter in 1788 after her father had died and John Peter would sign as the witness to the marriage of Elizabeth's sister Grace when she married Reginald Jenkin in 1802. Mother Elizabeth Hender Marten would live until 1804 when she died at age 70 thus confirming that she was that Elizabeth Hender born in 1733 to Thomas Hender and John Reed.

Now which of the other Elizabeth Martens buried in 1823 others make her I cannot tell for sure. They three found in the parish registers of Cornwall are but age 37 of Black lane, St. Mary Magdalene of Launceston, age 16 of Roskonwell of St. Keverne, daugher of William a pauper, or an infant child who died in Callington. Perhaps they have her dying in Devon or not reporting her death in a known parish register. I've not the time to find out as I have found her dying at the confirming age of 70 in 1804 in the same parish as her husband John Marten in North Hill. Or perhaps they have them traveling and migrating to Canada, Australia, South Africa or the United States? Further, I find not other marriages in or round about North Hill between a John Marten/Martyn/Martin and an Elizabeth to account for the John and Elizabeth Marten of North Hill who had Jenny Martin by Elizabeth Marten, wife of John who died in 1804 at age 70 confirming her birth to be of 1733 that matched Elizabeth Hender daughter of Thomas Hender and Joan Reed.


The RED marker pinpoints Penhole near Coad's Green

ver. 28 March 2020

Note first record transcribed correctly as is was miss with a long S of the old style which may have confused the clerk in transfering it to other record book as Mrs.

More information about record 
###### in the Marriages database

Day Month 30-Oct 
Year 1771 
Parish Or Reg District Blisland 
Groom Fn Roger 
Groom Sn PASCOE, Mr. 
Groom Age  
Groom Residence Mevagissey 
Groom Condition  
Groom Rank Profession  
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M)  
Groom Father Name  
Groom Father Rank Profession  
Bride Fn Grace, (Miss) 
Bride Sn MARTEN 
Bride Age  
Bride Residence  
Bride Condition  
Bride Rank Profession  
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M)  
Bride Father Name  
Bride Father Rank Profession  
Banns / Licence (B/L) L  
Witness Fn1  
Witness Sn1  
Witness Fn2  
Witness Sn2  
Other Information  
Transcriber Notes Phillimores 
Transcriber P Hugo/K Halley 


More information about record 
######## in the Marriages database

Day Month 30-Oct 
Year 1771 
Parish Or Reg District Blisland 
Groom Fn Roger 
Groom Sn PASCO, Mr. 
Groom Age  
Groom Residence Mevagissey 
Groom Condition  
Groom Rank Profession  
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) S 
Groom Father Name  
Groom Father Rank Profession  
Bride Fn Grace 
Bride Sn MARTEN, Mrs. 
Bride Age  
Bride Residence otp 
Bride Condition  
Bride Rank Profession  
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M) S 
Bride Father Name  
Bride Father Rank Profession  
Banns / Licence (B/L) L 
Witness Fn1 Wm. 
Witness Sn1 Marten 
Witness Fn2 William 
Witness Sn2 Marten, Jun. 
Other Information  
Transcriber Notes  
Transcriber Kay Halley 

More information about record 
####### in the Marriages database

Day Month 30-Sep 
Year 1802 
Parish Or Reg District North Hill 
Groom Fn Reginald 
Groom Sn JENKIN 
Groom Age  
Groom Residence Lewannick 
Groom Condition  
Groom Rank Profession yeoman 
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) S 
Groom Father Name  
Groom Father Rank Profession  
Bride Fn Grace 
Bride Sn MARTIN 
Bride Age  
Bride Residence otp 
Bride Condition spinster 
Bride Rank Profession  
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M) S 
Bride Father Name  
Bride Father Rank Profession  
Banns / Licence (B/L) L 
Witness Fn1 John 
Witness Sn1 Peter 
Witness Fn2 Walter 
Witness Sn2 Sleep 
Other Information  
Transcriber Notes  
Transcriber John Evans 

MARTEN. 

This &mily held a very respectable position in the parish. The name is found at the com- 
mencement of the registers. ** Thomas Marten de Penrose "* was buried in 1594. William Marten 
of Penrose, yeoman, his great-nephew, died in 1664. f Another branch was of Trehudreth, and 
intermarried with the Coles. The last of the name in the parish, William Marten (Jr.) of Penrose, 
gent., died in 1793,} s. p., and bequeathed his estate in Penrose to William Pascoe of Mevagissy, 
his sister's son, from whom it was inherited by Mr. William Roberts. Mr. Roberts sold it to Mr. 
Edward Pearce, who has been admitted tenant according to the custom of the Manor of Blisland, 
of which manor the estate is parcel.