Ruan Major is situate in the hundred of Kerryer, and hath upon the
north and west Mullyan and Cury, east St. Kevorne, south Ruan Minor.
Partly in this parish stands the barton of Erisey or Herisey; from
this place was denominated an old family of gentlemen surnamed de
Erisey, now in possession thereof, who have flourished there in
worshipful degree for many generations; and particularly George
Erisey, esq. was sheriff of Cornwall, 4 Henry VIII. 1514; also the
present possessor, Richard Erisey, esq. son of James Erisey of
Brickleigh in Devon, by ―――― Dowrige, was sheriff of Cornwall the 7th
of William III.: he married ―――― sister and coheir of George Killigrew
of Arwinick, esq. (son and daughter of Sir Peter Killigrew, Baronet)
by whom he had issue one only daughter named ――――; which lady and her
said daughter, after some years’ cohabitation with Mr. Erisey, upon
some discontent eloped from him, and by no entreaties could be
persuaded to a reconcilement or return to her said husband, or to
restore his daughter on her begotten, to his possession, which she
kept with her; whereupon, in the year 1701, Mr. Erisey brought down a
trial at law against Mr. Lister, cognominatus Killigrew, his
brother-in-law, before Mr. Justice Blencowe at Lanceston, who then
also lodged and detained his said daughter from him; upon which trial
at the crown bar, Mr. Killigrew aforesaid and his niece appeared, when
it was manifested to the court that he laid no restriction upon the
young lady; but, if she would, she might at any time go to her
father’s house; yet her eloped mother so influenced her, that the
judge nor court could not prevail with her to do it, though her father
Mr. Erisey was then and there also in court ready to receive her with
tears, she being the heir-at-law both to his and much of her
grandfather Sir Peter Killygrew’s lands; so that from Lanceston she
went again to her mother, with the said Mr. Lister Killygrew, and was
afterwards married to one captain or colonel West, a soldier of
fortune, by whom I hear she had two daughters now living; after which
she died, her father and mother living in a separate state as
aforesaid: of which gentleman, Mr. Erisey’s vexation and trouble for
the loss of his wife’s company, I am informed its parallel to that of
Hector’s, whom Homer makes thus to speak.
I do not doubt but stately Troye
Will have a grievous fall;
And warlike Priam’s people eke,
And Priam shall be thrall;
But care of people nor of sire,
Nor eke of Priam’s Kinge,
Nor brother’s, though many of them,
And worthy in each thinge,
Shall dye in hands of foes, soe much
Doe pinch my pensive heart;
As care of thee, my dearest wife,
Doth vex, and cause me smart.
From whence it appears that Homer and Hector thought a good and
righteous marriage the only happy state of human life; for a good,
faithful, and loving wife brings up the husband’s children in order,
governs his family, saves his substance, rules his house as well as
increases his offspring, with the greatest faithfulness and integrity.
And if any charge or labour happen, for no state of human life is
without a cross, verily this only is that light burden and sweet yoke
which is found only in honest wedlock: especially if the wife be such
as Hector’s was, in whom no avarice, nor pride, nor deceit, nor
covetousness, nor fraud, was found that joined them together.
One of those Eriseys dancing with other gentlemen and ladies at
Whitehall, before King James I. through the violent motion and action
of his body in the middle of the dance, had his cap slip from his
head, and fall to the ground, but he instantly with his foot tossed it
on his head again, and proceeded without let or hindrance with his
part in that dance, to the admiration of all that saw it, which gave
occasion to King James to inquire who that active gentleman was; and
being told that his name was Erisey, he forthwith replied, I like the
gentleman very well, but not his name of Heresy. The arms of Erisey
are in a field Sable, a chevron between three griffins segreant Or;
which arms of ancient erection by James Erisey, Sheriff of Cornwall, 4
Henry VIII. were lately extant in the glass windows of this church.
At the time of the Norman Conquest, this district was taxed under the
jurisdiction of Lizard or Lizart. In the inquisition into the value of
Cornish benefices by the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester 1294, this
church was not extant or endowed; though before Wolsey’s Inquisition
1521, it had revenues by the masters or governor of St John’s Hospital
at Sithney, or the Carmenows of Carmenow, who were patrons thereof,
and valued at £10. 10_s._ 0½_d._ The patronage now in Robinson, who
purchased it from Carmenows’ heirs; and the parish rated to the four
shillings per pound Land Tax, 1696, £23. 8_s._