Hide

South Petherwin

hide
Hide

The parish of Petherwin, alias South Peterwin, (Cornish: Pederwynn Dheghow), is situated in the Hundred of East and Deanery of Trigg Minor. It is bounded on the north by St Thomas-by-Launceston and St Mary Magdalene, Launceston, on the east by Launceston, Lawhitton and Lezant, on the south by Lezant and Lewannick, and on the west by Trewen and St Thomas-by-Launceston. The town of Launceston provides employment for many of the population of this parish, which lies in an agricultural area one and a half miles to the west of the town and on the north-eastern bank of the River Inny. Slate quarrying was an important industry in the 19th century.

The principal villages of the parish are the Churchtown and Dawes Lane.

Most parish and church description(s) on these pages are from Lake's Parochial History of the County of Cornwall by J Polsue (Truro, 1867 - 1873)

Hide
topup

Cemeteries

The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line monumental inscriptions for:

  • The Parish Church - 687 entries
  • Methodist Chapel - 302 entries.
topup

Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members.
Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

  • 1841.
    • The 1841 Census of South Petherwin (HO107/134), Enumeration Districts 9 to 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
    • The census has also been filmed by the LDS church - film No. 241258.
  • 1851. The 1851 Census of South Petherwin (HO107/1899), Enumeration Districts 1a and 1b, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1861. The 1861 Census of South Petherwin (RG9/1521), Enumeration Districts 10 and 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1871. The 1871 Census of South Petherwin (RG10/2207), Enumeration Districts 10 and 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1881. The 1881 Census of South Petherwin (RG11/2278), Enumeration Districts 10 and 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • 1891. The 1891 Census of South Petherwin (RG12/1805), Enumeration District 10 and 11 is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
topup

Church History

  • Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SX3081 and was dedicated to St Paternus. It consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, and vestry. The chancel was restored in the 19th century. The arcades each consist of six four-centred arches, supported on monolith granite pillars. There are north and south porches. The tower has three stages, and is buttressed on the square; it is wholly built of local stone apart from the battlements and pinnacles which are of granite. The belfry contains five bells and a clock.
  • Non-Conformist. There was a Wesleyan Methodist and a Baptist chapel in the Churchtown, and a Bible Christian chapel at Trecrogo Lane-end.
topup

Church Records

  • LDS Church Records.
    • The LDS Church batch numbers for South Petherwin are: M866941. These are searchable by surname.
    • This parish is NOT included in the LDS Church's International Genealogical Index (IGI).
  • The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1656 - 1979, Burials 1656 - 1978, Marriages 1656 - 1978, Boyd's Marriage Index 1656 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 -1812, BTs 1608 - 1673.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of:
    • Pre 1813 Marriage
    • 1813-37 Marriages
    • 1813-37 Burials.
  • Baptisms.
    • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1736 to 1840 for this parish which can be purchased on Parish Chest.
  • Marriages.
    • Phillimore marriages 1656 to 1812, and marriage transcriptions 1736 to 1781 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
    • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1608 to 1837, which is available in CD or downloadable .pdf formats.
  • Burials.
topup

Civil Registration

The parish of South Petherwin is in the Launceston Registration District, and has been since 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at Altarnun, Launceston, North Hill, North Petherwin and St Stephen-by-Launceston, but these are now all closed. Parishes within the district were: Altarnun, Boyton, Egloskerry, Laneast, Launceston, Lawhitton, Lewannick, Lezant, Northill, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Stephens by Launceston, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Thomas Street, South Petherwin, Stokeclimsland, Tremaine, Treneglos, Tresmeer, Trewen, Warbstow.

The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: Hendra, Dunheved Road, Launceston, PL15 9JG. Tel: 01566 772464.

topup

Description & Travel

    You can see pictures of South Petherwin which are provided by:

    topup

    Gazetteers

    The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

    "SOUTH PETHERWIN, a parish in the hundred of East, county Cornwall, 2 miles S.W. of Launceston, its post town. The village, which is large, is chiefly agricultural. Blue slate and dark limestone abound. There are also traces of copper, lead, and silver. The parish contains the hamlet of Trecorgo. The South Petherwin hounds hunt here. The great tithes of South Petherwin have been commuted for a rent-charge of £313, and the vicarial for one of £250 10s., and the glebe comprises 9 acres. The living is a vicarage* with the curacy of Trewen annexed, in the diocese of Exeter, value £349, in the patronage of the University of Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Paternus, is an ancient stone structure, and has a square and pinnacled tower containing six bells. There is a National school for both sexes. The Wesleyans, Bible Christians, and Baptists have each a place of worship. Trebersey is the principal residence. Fairs are held on the second Tuesdays in May and October for toys and pedlery.

    topup

    Genealogy

    OPC Assistance. The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted by email.

    topup

    Maps

    You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX305817 (Lat/Lon: 50.610344, -4.396318), South Petherwin which are provided by:

    topup

    Poor Houses, Poor Law

    South Petherwin parish was part of the Launceston Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief. Overseers' Accounts (1778 to 1828) are available in the Cornwall Record Office.

    topup

    Population

    • Population in 1801 - 699 persons
    • Population in 1811 - 733 persons
    • Population in 1821 - 914 persons
    • Population in 1831 - 988 persons
    • Population in 1841 - 997 persons
    • Population in 1851 - 974 persons
    • Population in 1861 - 876 persons
    • Population in 1871 - 891 persons
    • Population in 1881 - 826 persons
    • Population in 1891 - 815 persons
    • Population in 1901 - 695 persons
    • Population in 1911 - 647 persons
    • Population in 1921 - 642 persons
    • Population in 1931 - 635 persons
    • Population in 1951 - 605 persons
    • Population in 1961 - 578 persons
    • Population in 1971 - 701 persons
    • Population in 1981 - 735 persons
    • Population in 1991 - 865 persons
    • Population in 2001 - 932 persons
    • Population in 2011 - 931 persons
    topup

    Statistics

    The parish comprised 5070 acres of land and 5 acres of water.