Tredeathy, pleasantly situated in this parish, has been made a
handsome gentleman’s seat by the present possessor, the Rev. Francis
John Hext.
The church has several monuments; one to the memory of Grace, the wife
of Sir Richard Carnsew; and another to Mrs. Elizabeth Silly; and there
remain some slight memorials of a branch from the Godolphins, formerly
seated here. It is large, and occupies a commanding situation, with a
lofty tower, visible to a great extent in all directions. But nothing
has in modern times so much distinguished this parish as the residence
of its learned rector, the Rev. Charles Peters.
Mr. Peters’ reputation for a most profound acquaintance with oriental
literature, is sufficiently established by a controversy with the
mighty man of his time, Doctor William Warburton; but there is also a
traditional history of his benevolence, of his piety, and of his
genuine simplicity, so interesting that the Editor has most gladly
availed himself of a communication from persons nearly connected with
this great and good man, to insert it here.
“The Rev. Charles Peters, of St. Mabyn, was descended from a
merchant of Antwerp, who fled to England from the
persecution of the Protestants in Germany. His grandson was
a Turkey merchant of Fowey in the time of Queen Elizabeth:
this gentleman was father of the famous Hugh Peters, and his
mother was a Treffry, of Place-house.
“The ancestor of Mr. Peters of St. Mabyn was a royalist. The
Rev. Charles Peters was born on the 1st of December 1690. In
Tregony, at the German school there, he was taught Latin and
Greek, and the first rudiments of Hebrew. He was afterwards
of Exeter College, Oxford. When first ordained he served the
curacy of St. Justin Roseland; then was presented with the
living of Boconnock. In 1723 the living of Bralton Clovelly
was given to him, and three years afterwards St. Mabyn,
where from that time he chiefly resided, but spent a part of
each year at Bralton, keeping a curate at each. Every Sunday
he entertained a great number of the poorest of his
parishioners; and on Monday the remaining meat was
distributed to them, with bread for each; and thus in
succession he entertained all the poor of the parish; and
there was scarcely any poor rate in St. Mabyn during his
life.
“He spent a large portion of his income in relieving the
temporal wants of his fellow-creatures, and much of his time
in their spiritual instruction. Besides morning and evening
prayers, he read the Bible daily to his family, and also
daily studied it himself in the original languages.
“When he published his Dissertation on the Book of Job, and
drew on himself the insolence of Warburton, he bore it with
the most perfect Christian charity.
“He had written a vindication of Homer in answer to
Warburton. Before it was published Warburton had become a
Bishop, when, fearing that the faults of the man might
reflect on the sacred order, he abstained from publishing
it, saying, ‘Thou shalt not speak evil of the rulers of thy
people.’ Mr. Peters was of abstemious habits, regular both
in his studies and his exercise, which the natural delicacy
of his constitution required. He never married, but educated
the two eldest sons of his elder brother, Dr. Joseph Peters,
M.D. of Truro, and the Rev. Jonathan Peters, of St.
Clement’s. The latter was bred to the church at his desire,
and continued with him as his curate, till the living of St.
Clement called the nephew to the cure of his own church.
“Mr. Peters lived to the age of eighty-four, retaining the
full possession of his faculties to the last.”