Mr. Hals has given a long history of St. Melania, the supposed patron
of this church, containing, however, little more than the usual
details of effects produced by the ascetic fanaticism popular in those
days. Personal sufferings and privations were then endured, under a
persuasion that bodily pain, mental stupidity, and a course of life
utterly useless to the human race, could alone ensure the divine
favour, in opposition to the sentiments,
Hic manus ob patriam pugnando vulnera passi;
Quique sacerdotes casti, dum vita manebat;
Quique pii vates et Phœbo digna locuti;
Inventas aut qui vitam excoluere per artes;
Quique sui memores alios fecere merendo.
Newton came into the family of Coryton, by a marriage with the heiress
of Ferrers, and continued till that family became extinct in the male
line, on the decease of Sir John Coryton in 1739, who gave the
property to his widow Rachael, a daughter of Weston Helyar, Esq. of
East Coker in Somersetshire; and it has continued with her relations
nearly to the present time, under an entail, which carried Newton from
Mr. Weston Helyar, probably a great-grandson of the gentleman above
mentioned, to several other younger brothers; till the failure of
heirs male in all these brought it back to the son or grandson of the
elder brother, who, wishing to concentrate his property in
Somersetshire, has parted with the whole Cornish estate to Edward
Collins, Esq. of Truthan.
Although Sir John Coryton alienated his principal seat and manor by
this bequest to his widow, he devised a large share of the family
property to the descendants of his eldest sister Elizabeth, who
married William Goodall, of Fowey; and their grandson, on succeeding
to the estate, assumed the name of Coryton. The present representative
of this ancient family, John Tillie Coryton, Esq. has built a
magnificent house or castle at Pentilly in a most beautiful situation,
on the Tamar river, so that he need not regret the loss of Newton.
Sir John Coryton had two other sisters, one of whom, Johanna, married
John Peter, of Harlyn, Esq. The third sister married a gentleman of
the name of Vaughan.
In addition to the tales relative to Sir James Tillie’s funeral
direction, Mr. Hals has added several others, all to this gentleman’s
disadvantage, but not in any way illustrative of the times in which he
lived, or of the general manners prevalent in the country: they are
therefore omitted, with the exception of one respecting armorial
bearings.
It is certain that Mr. Tillie was one of those persons, most justly
esteemed, who advance themselves in the world without being beholden
in any considerable degree to their ancestors. Mr. Tillie was knighted
by King James II. and then not finding himself provided with a coat of
arms, he assumed, as Mr. Hals states, the blazon of Count Tillie, a
German Prince, which coming to the knowledge of King James, an
inquisition was ordered, the fact was established, and a fine imposed
on the knight, in addition to the demolition of the assumed arms, with
some acts of indignity.
It is moreover proper to add, that although Sir James Tillie did
without all question express some absurd fancies in respect to his
mortal remains, which were in part executed, yet they are far from
bearing the colour of impiety cast on them by Mr. Hals, and still less
are they chargeable with the blasphemies imputed to them by Mr.
Gilpin.
The church and tower are plain on the outside, but within are several
handsome monuments to the Corytons.
It seems much more probable that this church is dedicated to Mellitus,
the first Bishop of London, and third Archbishop of Canterbury, than
to an obscure African lady.
Bede has given various particulars of this eminent person, and his
life may be found in Capgrave’s Aurea Legenda. He led a second body of
missionaries in aid of the great St. Austin, and the conversion of a
Pagan temple into a Christian church, since expanded into St. Paul’s
Cathedral, and also the foundation of Westminster Abbey, are imputed
to him. He departed this life on the 24th of April, in the year 624.
St. Mellion measures 2410 statute acres.
Annual value of the Real Property as £. _s._ _d._
returned to Parliament in 1815 1928 0 0
Poor Rate in 1831 163 8 0
Population, { in 1801, | in 1811, | in 1821, | in 1831,
{ 284 | 326 | 321 | 330
giving an increase of 16 per cent. in 30 years.
The Rev. George Fortescue died Rector of St. Mellion in 1835.