Threemilestone/Kenwyn Search
prepared and presented by Don R. Hender
The putting together of families is not an easy task, particularly when that family is mobil and the land sites are so historically effected. In this particular case it seems best to begin with the historical land site of Kenwyn and its toponymy and topology.
Historically the church of Kenwyn is very early and is in fact the mother church of Truro, Truro developing later though becoming 'greater' than its mother Kenwyn. And in particular we will become interested in a once small hamlet village of the greater parish of Kenwyn that had become named Threemilestone, and that in particularly being named for its exact distance west of the city of Truro. A view of a couple of maps here will help one to visualize some of the particulars.
On a modern map it is of interest to identify the relationship and relative
short distances between such as the 'populated centers' of Kenwyn, Truro and
Threemilestone, as well as the site of such as Kea. The three miles distance
between Truro of today and Threemilestone is the greatest distance between
Truro and the other two sites of Kenwyn and Kea. That is both Kenwyn and Kea
are within a mile or two of Truro while Threemilesstone is the greatest
distance from Truro. Also recall that Kenwyn was the 'mother' of Truro
historically and thus as Truro began to develop its own identity apart from
Kenwyn, Kenwyn Street became located in Truro City and out of the later
Parish realm of Kenwyn. And though Threemilestone is even today still a part
of the Kenwyn Parish, Threemilestone is often more readily associated with
the city center of Truro, it being noted as one of the suburbs of that city,
which City Truro, is the only 'true' city of the county of Cornwall today.
Kenwyn itself has two distinctions today, it is a 'northern suburb' of Truro as well as being a more rural parish by definition which use to includes more than just that 'northern suburbean area' of the city of Truro. The next map will more clearly illustrate that fact, that the parish of Kenwyn encompasses much more rural land area than that immediately about Truro, which it once did but no longer includes.
The 'modern parish' of Kenwyn not only no longer enbodies Truro but the
northern suburb of Kenwyn of the city of Truro is also no longer a part of
the Parish of Kenwyn, which is marked out by the redline inclusion area of the
Parish of Kenwyn of today in the map at the left. Notice however that
Threemilestone is today still considered as being within the Parish of Kenwyn
though it also is frequently also spoken of as a suburb of the city of Truro.
St. Mary-Truro is the 'ancient' Truro parish church, but there is also St. Paul, St. George and St. John of Truro. The adjacent parishes that ought to be check also are Kea, Buldhu, St Clement as well as Kenwyn as well. But what if the person, say Thomas Hender, is a Ag. Labourer and will move about in order to obtain work? And what if Thomas' son Joshua becomes a mariner and does also move about as well. Just how do you keep track of them? Well in the case of Thomas Hender, though his name is common, his wife's name is not so common and the family of Thomas and Susanna Hender may be so linked in that manner. Also the namd Joshua Hender is almost unique for this area and this time frame, so he may be able to be traced via that manner. We will see.
We will attempt to weave together the various threads relative to the family of Thomas and Susanna Hender. We first find two Christenings of a Joshua Hender and a Mary Hender whose parents are Thomas and Susanna Hender. Joshua was christening is recorded in the Altarnun parish record and Mary's was recorded in the Kenwyn parish record. The place of residence on the Kenwyn record is Threemilestone. Looking at the Burials of Kenwyn we have one for Thomas Hender age 42 buried 1 December 1833 whose residence is also Threemilestone. Thomas is listed there as a 'Husbandman' and on the Altarnun record he is just listed as a 'Labourer' which he was likely hired as in Altarnun. A husbandman is a 'free tenant farmer' which was below the social status of a 'yeoman'. A 'yeoman' refers chiefly to a free man who owns his own farm rather than bening a 'tenant' farmer, that is one who leases or rents land to farm.
Thus is we make a story of this information we would see a relatively young husband age 33 and his wife working for hire in Altarnun at the Christening of Joshua in April 1824. And three years later at the time of the Christening of their daughter Mary Hender, Thomas may have lifted his status to a husbandman, know have a tenant's land lease of which to farm for himself. No mention of his profession is made upon his burial record in Dec 1833. But he is still at the time a resident of Threemilestone. The name for the hamlet or village of Threemilestone seems obvious, the hamlet being exactly three miles west of Truro with each mile being marked by a stone mile marker.
With Thomas Hender having died at age 42 in 1833, we must look to find a widowed woman Susan or Susanna with at least perhaps a son Joshua and a daughter Mary on the 1841 Census record. And this we do and with those treads of the tapestry be begin to weave the family together as follows:
(civil parish of kea)
Residence(s): Threemilestone Kenwyn
Occupation(s): Husbandman
Thomas Hender = Susanna/Susan 1841 Census ED4 Kea Book 12 Folio 40/1 Page 1/2
b1791 |
| Saveock,1,Susan Hender,,40,Ag Lab,Not in county The now widowed 'Susan' has moved from
| ,, Joshua Hender, 15,,, In county, the 'tenant' farm of Threemilestone to
| ,, Mary Hender, 14,, In county, Kea (note location of Kea on first map).
| ,, John Hender, 12,,, In county, On the 1841 Kea Census the family shows
| ,, Susan Hender,, 7,, In county, two more children John and Susan Hender.
|
db1Dec1833 | 1851 Census ED1d Kenwyn, St George's Folio 374 Page 41
Kenwyn a42 |
Threemilestone | 176, Kenwyn Street, Joshua Hender, Head, M, 25,, Mariner, Alternun Cornwall,,
| ,, Mary Ann Hender, ?Sister?, M,, 28,, Alternun Cornwall,,
| ,, Ellen Maria Hender, ?Sister?,,, 5,, Alternun Cornwall,,
| (The Census allegation of 'sister' does not match Joshua's sister's date/age)
| (Neither does the birth 'city' of Alternun as Truro is Ellen Maria's birth.)
488/ ________|________________________________________________
1248 | | | |
Joshua Hender = Mary Anne Mary Hender? John Hender Susan Hender
b1825a | b 1823a b1827a b1829a b1834a
c4Apr1824 | Altarnun? cb 15 Jul 1827
Altarnun | Kenwyn(Truro) 
m 1st1845 | Threemilestone
Dst Truro |
|
| Though on the 1851 Census of Kenwyn -
______| St. George such streets as Kenwyn and
217 | Fairmantle Street are well within the
Ellen Maria Hender Truro City bounds of the city of Truro
b 2nd1846 and are not now, though likely once
.. Truro Dist. were, a part of the Parish of Kenwyn.
cb 12 Mar 1851 This makes some confusion as to the
Truro, St George reported baptisms, marriages and
m 3rd1864 burials which are still reported as
Plymoth, Devon in Kenwyn though clearly also and
perhaps more markedly a part of
Truro and its expanded city area.
Now, before we continue on to attempt to build the family
of Joshua and Mary Ann Hender, there is another matter in
respect to the family of Thomas and Susanna Hender. From
the records of 'Malta Family History' - Royal Navy 1800-1900 comes a birth date and a christening date for a John Hender
son of Thomas and Susannah Hender which coorelates well with the John Hender son of our Thomas and Susanna Hender family.
This cites a John Thomas Hender, HMS Caesar as being born 11 January 1827 and he being christened at a much later date
of December 1861. If this is the same as the John Hender above, brother of Joshua Hender, then it helps to explain that
Joshua would also be connected to being a salior and mariner like his brother John.
Note: The Malta Family History site aims to assist family researchers, and contains information about British men and
women who were born, married, died and served in the Royal Navy, Air Force and Marines and the British Army who were
residents on the island, or in some manner are connected with Malta. Also: The HMS Caesar of this date was a 90-gun
battleship, screw-propelled second rate, launched in 1853 and sold in 1870.
Building Joshua and Mary Ann(e) Hender's Family
Despite the 1841 Census 'allegation' that Mary Ann Hender and Ellen Maria Hender are the sisters of Joshua Hender, there are a number of evidences against that situation. Beyond the possible sloppy 1851 census takers of wanting to take the time to get it right or even if the Joshua Hender family is feeding them careless answers, with perhaps something they want to hide, there are a number of 'good' reasons to discount the possibility of a brother to sister 'marriage' with children here. Mary Hender, Joshua's sister is shown it the younger ranking position to her brother on the 1841 census. Joshua being a 'rounded' age 15 and 25 on both the 1841 and 1851 census records despite his christening date of 4 April 1824 in Altarnun. And that is but a christening date as there is later evidence that Joshua's birth did occur in the Truro area. Getting the christening place and birth place as well as their related dates is not too uncommonly occuring. Second neither Joshua's wife or sister was born or apparently christened in Altarnun. Joshua's younger sister Mary was christened 15 July 1827 at Kenwyn/Truro. We have already noted the fuzzy line distinction between a birth and or christening occuring in Kenwyn and/or Truro, as they are often much the same by either name. Stated as strongly as possible, Joshua Hender's sister Mary was not born in Altarnun and neither was Mary Ann Hender, Joshua's wife.
In the 1851 census what can be determined is that Joshua had 'enlisted' to be a sailor or mariner, his age being 25. His wife's age is 28 and consistantly so upon later records, she being older than Joshua rather than younger as was Joshua's real sister Mary as supported both by the 1841 census picking order listing of the siblings there as well as by the two christening dates of Joshua be christened 4 April 1824 upon the Altarnun record and Mary his true sister being recorded as being christened 15 July 1827 in Kenwyn/Truro. Thus beyond the shoddy careless listing of sister titles in the 1851 Census, the facts of the matter stand against such being the case. And certainly Ellen Maria Hender age 5 in 1851, who was born the 2nd quarter 1846 in the District of Truro (NOT Altarnun), and there at Truro, St. George being christened at the age of nearly 5 on 12 March 1851, showing her parents to be father Joshua Hender and her Mother to be Mary Anne. Thus this all being said, it is time to precede to build the family of Joshua Hender Salior/Mariner and his wife Mary Ann(e).
1861 - Living Appart, Having Lost a Daugther and Gained Three Sons
Mary Anne Mansell daughter of James Mansell and Mary Mansell nee Allen
488/1248
Joshua Hender = Mary Anne Mansell 1861 Census Ed16 Truto St Mary Folio 82 page 19/20
b1824a | b2823a
c4Apr1824 | cb 11 Jan 1824 123, Castle Hill, 1, Mary Ann Hender, Head, M,, 37, Boot Binder, Truro Cornwall
Altarnun | Kenwyn, Corn. ,,, Ellen Hender, Dau,,, 15, Boot Binder, Truro Cornwall
m 1st1845 | ,,, Thomas Hender, Son,, 10, Scholar, Truro Cornwall
Dst. Truro | ,,, Fedrick Hender, Son,, 6, Scholar, Truro Cornwall
|
|
______|_________________________________________ ___________________________
217 | | | | |
Ellen Maria Hender Emmily Hender Thomas Hender Fedrick Hender (Frederick) Francis Hender
b 2nd1846 b 2nd/1849 b 2nd1851 b 3rd1854 b1859a
Dst. Truro Dst. Truro truro Truro Truro
c12Mar1851 d 3rd/1850 m 2nd1873
Truro, St George (in her 2nd yr) Plymouth Devon
m 3rd1864 Dst. Truro
Plymoth, Devon db21Jul1850
Kenwyn Street
(age 2/in 2nd yr)
Note: Mary Ann Hender is listed as Head of the house and married, NOT widowed. Also Francis Hender is not listed in 1861
though he is at age 12 in 1871.
Further, where is Joshua? Being a sailor/Mariner he is off on ship as the following record yields:
England and Wales Census, 1861 for Joshua Hendre(er)
Joshua is assigned, stattioned and aboard ship listed as such:
Name: Joshua Hender
Event: Census
Event date: 1861
Gender: Male
Age: 36 [1861 - 36 = 1824/25 birth]
Relationship to Head of Household:
Birthplace: Truro, Cornwall
Record Type: Vessel
Registratin District: British Ships In Home Ports
Sub-district:
Eddlesiastical Pariah:
Civil Parish: British Ships In Home Ports
County:
Thus while wife Mary Anne Hender is acting as Head of the family ashore, Joshua is
spending time assigned to and on board his Britis Vessel which is in Home Ports.
They are both alive, well and increasing their family size despite the death of their
daughter Emmily occuring such that Emmily did not become a part of the 1851
Census listing.
(The 1871 Census, Piece RG.10/2128 is found:) Though it is a bit confusing. Particularly
to the 1871 Census taker who jumbles the matter and perhaps with the aid of transcriber
as well. With Joshua for periods at sea, Mary Ann Hender has primarily assumed the roll
of the Head of the House at home. In the below listing, though Joshua appears to be on
leave and is at home, Mary Ann Hender continues to assume the roll and to be listed as
the Head of the house, thought NOT Widowed as the Census take either presumes or
merely mistakenly lists her as. Joshua the husband is there, though the census taker,
having already listed Mary Ann Hender as Head and a Widow, now lists Joshua the Sailor
as being but the son rather than as the husband. A lesser age is either written down
or devised by the transcriber because a son cannot be logically the same age as the
mother. I presume Joshua more porperly should have been transcribed as 46 or so him
self. Mary Ann Hender is listed as being born Kenwyn which we have already
discussed it being much the same as Truro and Joshua is again listed as being
born Truro. Son Frederick age 15 a 'shoemaker' born Truro is at home and newly listed
son Francis is shown to have joined the family.
Dwelling at 18 High Street, Plymouth St Andrew, Deveon, England.
(In 1881 Census RG11 Piece/Folio 2201/52 Page 4) The remaining family has
come together with Joshua still listed as a 56 year old Mariner.
Joshua (Henry) Hender, Head, M, 56, Launceston Cornwall, Mariner
Mary A. Hender, Wife, M, 58, Truro Cornwall
Thomas Hender, Son, U, 30, Truro Cornwall, Boot Finisher
Frederick Hender, Son,U, 26, Truro Cornwall, Book Reverter
Now as for 1891 we have a listing for Joshua Hender:
England and Wales Census, 1891 for Joshua Hender
Name: Joshua Hender
Event: Census
Event Date: 1891
Gender: Male
Age: 66 [1891 - 66 = 1824/25 birth]
Relationsip to Head of Household:Head
Birthplace: Truro, Cornwall
Record Type: Household
Registration District: Plymouth
Sub-district: St Andrew
Ecclesiastical Parish: Holy Trinity
Civil Parish: Plymouth
County Devonshire
Now with further record access more details are likely, but this is the
extent of the report which I currelty have access to. Yet here we now see
Joshua Hender at full retirement age of 66.
Currently I leave the development of this family with the intent to return as further details come to light.
Perhaps at the risk of fabrication, a deduction of why Joshua Hender may have been confused with being but a 'brother' upon one census (1851) and but a son rather than husband upon another (1871): Some of the Cornwall Hender family have been slight and small of build with an appearance of being much younger than they really are. Perhaps in the two cases referred to the census taker could or would not believe that Joshua was relatively 'old' enough to be what he really was and thus recorded him as but a brother rather than a father in 1841 and a son of his 'older looking' wife in 1871. Though not known for sure at least there is some consistancy in such a deduced speculation.
James Mansell son of James and Ann Mansell.
Occupation: Labourer, Carrier, Laborer, Labourer
Residence: Higher Town, Kenwyn Street< Kenwyn, Calenick Street
James Mansell = Mary Allen
b 1795
cb 28 Feb 1796
Kenwyn
m 10 Feb 1817
St Ives
d 3Q 1878 a84
William Mansel John Mansel Mary Anne Mansell James Charles Mansell Elizabeth Mansell
cb 27 Jun 1819 cb 27 Jun 1819 cb 11 Jan 1824 cb 14 Mar 1830 cb 1 Jan 1832
Kenwyn Kenwyn Kenwyn St Mary Truro Kenwyn
More information about record 590044 in the Marriages database
Day Month 10-Feb
Year 1817
Parish Or Reg District Ives, St.
Groom Fn James
Groom Sn MANSELL
Groom Age
Groom Residence otp
Groom Condition bachelor
Groom Rank Profession
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) S
Groom Father Name
Groom Father Rank Profession
Bride Fn Mary
Bride Sn ALLEN
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) Banns
Witness Fn1 Jas.
Witness Sn1 MANSELL
Witness Fn2 Thomas
Witness Sn2 WILLIAMS
Other Information
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Ian J Trewhella
More information about record 2632500 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 28-Feb
Year 1796
Parish Or Reg District Kenwyn
Forename James
Surname MANSELL
Sex son
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Ann
Residence
Father Rank Profession
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Kay Woodhouse
More information about record 3224114 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 27-Jun
Year 1819
Parish Or Reg District Kenwyn
Forename William
Surname MANSEL
Sex
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Mary
Residence Higher Town
Father Rank Profession Labourer
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Carol Hughes
More information about record 3224113 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 27-Jun
Year 1819
Parish Or Reg District Kenwyn
Forename John
Surname MANSEL
Sex
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Mary
Residence Higher Town
Father Rank Profession Labourer
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Carol Hughes
More information about record 3224718 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 11-Jan
Year 1824
Parish Or Reg District Kenwyn
Forename Mary Anne
Surname MANSELL
Sex
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Mary
Residence Kenwyn Street
Father Rank Profession Carrier
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Carol Hughes
More information about record 2954979 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 14-Mar
Year 1830
Parish Or Reg District Truro, St. Mary
Forename James Charles
Surname MANSELL
Sex
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Mary
Residence Kenwyn
Father Rank Profession Laborer
Notes P B
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Hazel Persson
More information about record 3226020 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 01-Jan
Year 1832
Parish Or Reg District Kenwyn
Forename Elizabeth
Surname MANSELL
Sex
Father Forename James
Mother Forename Mary
Residence Calenick Street
Father Rank Profession Labourer
Notes
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Carol Hughes
1841 Census of St Clement:
Roosnros Lane:
12,James Mansell,45,Labourer,y
Mary Mansell,52,,y
James Mansell,12,y
Elizabeth Mansell,10,y
1851 Census of Kenwyn, St George
Richmond Hill
130,,James Mansell,Head,Mar,54,Porter,Truro Cornwall
,,Mary Mansell,Wife,Mar,62,,St Ives Cornwall
1861 Census of St Clement, Truro
Poaynerds Court
40,,1,James Mansell,Head,Mar,66,Porter,Cornwall Truro
,,,Mary Mansell,Wife,Mar,72,,Cornwall,Lelant
1871 Census of St Clement Truro, Eastern,
St Clemts Street(B)
105,,1,James Mansell,Head,Widower,75,formerly Quay Porter-Pauper,Cornwall Truro,Invalid
Allen Ancestry
Occupation: Tinner
Residence: Ewny Lelant, Lelant
Charles Allen = Christian Richards
of Ewny Lelant Sojourner
m 17 Aug 1783
St Ives
Mary Allen
cb 23 Dec 1787
St Ives
More information about record 1192064 in the Marriages database
Day Month 17-Aug
Year 1783
Parish Or Reg District Ives, St.
Groom Fn Charles
Groom Sn ALLEN
Groom Age
Groom Residence Ewny Lelant
Groom Condition
Groom Rank Profession tinner
Groom Signed / Marked (S/M) S
Groom Father Name
Groom Father Rank Profession
Bride Fn Christian
Bride Sn RICHARDS
Bride Age
Bride Residence otp Sojourner
Bride Condition spinster
Bride Rank Profession
Bride Signed / Marked (S/M) S
Bride Father Name
Bride Father Rank Profession
Banns / Licence (B/L) B
Witness Fn1 Richd.
Witness Sn1 EDDY
Witness Fn2 Jas.
Witness Sn2 WALLIS
Other Information
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Karen Duvall
More information about record 1427143 in the Baptisms database
Day Month 23-Dec
Year 1787
Parish Or Reg District Ives, St.
Forename Mary
Surname ALLEN
Sex dau
Father Forename Charles
Mother Forename Christian
Residence from Lelant
Father Rank Profession
Notes Born October 19th 1787
Transcriber Notes
Transcriber Ian J Trewhella