St. Michaelstow rectory is situate in the hundred of Lesnewith, and
hath upon the north Lantegles by Camelford, south Brewer, west St.
Udye, east Advent. For the name of this parish, it is taken from the
church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.
At the time of the Norman Conquest this district was rated under the
jurisdiction either of Lantegles or St. Vaye. In the Inquisition of
the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester, into the value of Cornish
Benefices, 1294, it was rated by the name of Ecclesia de Sancto
Michaelstow, 40_s._ In Wolsey’s Inquisition, 1521, £10. 13_s._ 8_d._;
and the parish rated to the 4_s._ per pound Land Tax, 1696, temp.
William III. £72.
In this parish formerly lived the genteel family of Michaelstow, that
married one of the heirs of Gifford, of Fewborough in Devon, and had
issue by her a daughter named Mary, married to Wollacomb, of Devon,
temp. Henry VI. (Prince’s Worthies of Devon, in Wollacomb).