Trefusis, saith the Editor of Camden, in the Additional Part, p. 22,
signifies a walled town, or fortified place. This hath been the seat
of an eminent family of the same name ever since the Conquest, if not
before. The present possessor hereof is Robert Trefusis, Esq. a young
gentleman of great hopes, who is yet unmarried. These gentlemen, led
away by a false notion, (with many others) of being of French
extraction, have given, in allusion to the supposed meaning of their
name in the language of that country, for their arms, Argent, a
chevron between three fusees, or wharrow spindles, Sable.
The house is extremely pleasant by its situation, and would be much
more so were it built a little higher up. To the south of the house is
a fine grove, and a walk, at the end of which is a pleasure-house,
built by this gentleman’s father, from whence there is a very
beautiful prospect.
Adjoining to Trefusis is Nankersy, that is the winding valley, from
ceirsie, to twist or wind about. This place, by a lease from the
Trefusises, has been for two or three generations the seat of a
younger branch of the Littletons, of Lanhidrock; the late owner,
William Littleton, Gent. died a bachelor in the year 1734, and by his
decease the estate is fallen into the lord’s hands. The arms of
Littleton are Argent, a chevron between three escallops Sable.
On this Nankersy hath been lately built by the Dutchmen a considerable
town, called by them Flushing, after a town of the same name in
Zealand, by which name it is now generally known. And had these
Dutchmen had the continuing of this town, they would have made it in
some measure to resemble its namesake, by digging a canal to discharge
all sorts of merchandise through the middle of it, there being a large
marsh adjoining, that seemed by nature to have been placed for that
purpose; but as it is, though there are some good houses here, the
whole is without any order, contrivance, or regularity. The late
Samuel Trefusis, Esq. was at no small expense in levelling the place,
the buildings, quays, &c. for loading or unloading the vessels; and
could he have settled the packet boats here, for which it lies far
better than Falmouth, the water being deeper, and they all lying
before it, Flushing would soon have been a place of great resort; but,
having failed in that, the town is now falling to decay, and many of
the houses of which it consists are uninhabited.