The name of this parish in the king’s book is La Vabe, that is, St.
Vabe, or Mabe’s Place.
The chief estate in this parish, and which I shall therefore begin
with, is the manor of Carnsew, alias, says Mr. Carew, Carndew, the
black rock, or rather a heap of black rocks, this parish and estate
abounding in great rocks of moorstone. This place gave name to a very
eminent family, which removed afterwards to Bokelby in St. Kew. One of
the Carnsews of Bokelby granted a lease of the barton of Carnsew, in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to William Thomas, which William Thomas
from thenceforth took the name of Carnsew; and I have in my possession
a grant of arms from Sir Richard St. George, Clarenceux King-at-Arms,
to Henry Carnsew, of Trewone, junior, dated the 2d of December 1633,
recognising this assumption of a new name from his place of residence.
This family has since removed to a better settlement at Trewoon in
Budock.
Carverth, which signifies the green town, is also within and held from
this manor. This place gave name to, and was the seat of an ancient
race of gentlemen, from whom it passed to the Penalunas, till, in the
reign of King Charles the First, it was sold to Thomas Melhuish of
Penryn, merchant, descended from the Melhuishes of Northan in
Devonshire.
Tremogh, that is, the dwelling or town of hogs, is also held from this
manor, and was likewise formerly the seat of a family of the same
name, from whom it came to the family of Blois of Penryn, in which
name it continued till the year 1703, when Roger and John Blois, two
brothers, sold this barton, which is of considerable value, to John
Worth, Esq. of Penryn, who had for some time before a considerable
mortgage on it.
Mr. Worth hath built on Tremogh a very large house of moorstone
(granite), and hath inclosed a small park for deer. He hath been a
justice of the peace during all the reign of Queen Anne, King George
the First, and King George the Second; and was sheriff of the county
in the tenth year of Queen Anne. His father, Mr. William Worth, of
Penryn, merchant, married Jane, one of the daughters and coheiresses
of Pennalerick, by whom he had, among others, a second son, William
Worth, D.D. now Archdeacon of Worcester.
Mr. John Worth hath been some time a widower by the death of his wife
Bridget, daughter of Francis Trefusis, of Trefusis, Esq. who has left
him only one son, of the same name.
Hantertavas is likewise held of this manor, which signifieth the half
tongue, but why I know not.