For various particulars respecting the Tonkin family see the edition
of Carew by Lord Dunstanville, vol. I. 1811, 4to. pp. 353-357, with
monumental inscriptions in St. Agnes church. The arms of Tonkin are
noticed in a copy of the last Heraldic Survey, communicated to the
Editor by Mr. Gregor of Trewanthenick, although a pedigree is alone
recorded in the original. Sable, an eagle displayed Or, armed and
langued Gules, a crescent for difference. Crest, an eagle’s head
erased Or. See the exemplification of them by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux
Roy d’Armes, temp. Reg. Eliza.
The reason of the arms being then omitted was this: Mr. Tonkin of
Trevannence, the chief representative of their family, was more than
eighty years of age in 1620, a bed-lier, and had been blind for many
years, so that he was not able to appear himself; and, the chief
business of the Heralds at their Visitations being to put money into
their own pockets, they never registered any arms without their fees.
The ancient motto used by this family is said to have been:
Kenz ol tra, Tonkein! ouna Deu, Mahteror yn.
(Before all things, Tonkin! fear God, the King also.)
St. Agnes contains 6,657 statute acres.
Annual value of the Real Property, as £. _s._ _d._
returned to Parliament in 1815 9,929 0 0
The Poor Rate in 1831 1,914 3 0
Population, { in 1801, | in 1811, | in 1821, | in 1831,
{ 4161 | 5024 | 5762 | 6642
Increase on an hundred in thirty years 59.63, or nearly 60 per cent.