Cornwall

Nearby places

St Cleer

The parish of St Cleer, (Cornish: Ryskaradek), is named after its patron, Saint Clarus. It is situated in the Deanery and Hundred of West. It is bounded on the north by Altarnun and North Hill, on the east by Linkinhorne and St Ive, on the south by Menheniot amd Liskeard, and on the west by St Neot from which it is separated by the River Fowey. It was once a mining parish where 'On Saturday nights after pay-day, the populous villages of Caradon Town, Pensilva, Minions and Crows Nest were crowded with men, and resembled in character the mining camps of Colorado and the Far West' (of the USA). (A.K. Hamilton Jenkin)

About a mile to the north of the Church stands the Trevetheye Quoit (Stone). This primitive unwrought monument has occupied its present position for over 2000 years. It is of granite and consists of six upright stones and one large slab covering them in an inclined position. Its place name of Trevethy, Trevedi or Trevithy signifying, in the Cornish language, 'the place of the graves', indicating it was once a burial chamber from the Bronze Age.

Although a great part of the parish consists of wild and extensive moors and commons, there are a number of good and well-cultivated estates in it. St Cleer was once an eminent mining parish with some of the richest and best-paying mines in Cornwall. It is now a dormitory area within Caradon District Council; the vast majority of the inhabitants are commuters to Liskeard or Plymouth. Besides the Churchtown, the main villages are Tremar, Tremar Coom, Common Moor, Railway Terrace (now known as Darite), and Crow's Nest.

Cemeteries

• St Cleer was quite a large parish so some people were buried at St Neot churchyard as it was closer (and some from St Neot were buried at St Cleer). There is also a Bible Christian Chapel on the Outskirts of St Cleer which has a few graves.
• Some individuals from St Cleer/St Neot area were buried at the Trenant Bible Christian Chapel in St Neot. St Cleer also has a large Non-Conformist Cemetery close to the school. Details about the St Cleer General Cemetery, including the Burial Books from 1860, a graveyard plan and some photographs of individual gravestone, are available on-line. The cemetery accommodates both nonconformist and other sects.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published St Cleer General Cemetery Monumental Inscriptions on CD. The CD consists of 696 pictures of headstones with an index and full information, a map and section photographs, 2511 burial book entries including those without headstones, and the War Memorial with personal details and service information (where possible) of 36 men who died in both World Wars.
• Some transcriptions from the St Cleer churchyard are available on the Cornish Cemeteries site.

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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. The Cornwall Family History Society have also published on-line census detail by surname on the FamilyHistoryonLine site.

Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• General. St. Cleer residents, in different censuses, are listed in a unique database made available by the OPC.
• 1841. The 1841 Census of St Cleer (HO107/153), Enumeration Districts 10 to 12, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of St Cleer (HO107/1902), Enumeration Districts 2a, 2b and 2c, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • A part of the 1851 Census of St Cleer is available from the West-Penwith resources as part of the 1851 British Census 2% sample - Cornwall.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of St Cleer (RG9/1528) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration District 4.
  • Enumeration District 5.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of St Cleer is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census Project as follows:
  • RG10/2236: Enumeration District 4.
  • RG10/2237: Enumeration Districts 5 and 6.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of St Cleer (RG11/2285), Enumeration District 4 to 6, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of St Cleer (RG12/1810) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration District 4 to 5.
  • Enumeration District 6.

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Church History

• Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SX2468 and was dedicated to St Clarus - an English missionary who was martyred near the River Epte in Normandy in 894. It comprises a chancel, nave, and north and south aisles. The north arcade has large segmental arches supported by octagonal pillars with plain caps. The south has similar arches supported by clustered columns with richly sculpured capitals. The font is of early English character with some Norman features. There is a south porch, a chancel door and a good early Norman doorway on the north side, ornamented on the outside with a zig-zag moulding. The tower is one of the handsomest granite structures in the county; it is 97 feet high, of three stages and buttressed on the square. It contains six bells. The church underwent a major reconstruction during the early part of the 19th century.
  Details about the plans of the modern church are available on-line.
• Non-Conformist. There were many Non-Conformist chapels in the area:
  • St Cleer Village. Bible Christian's had a chapel built on the west of the village in 1836 is now disused and falling into disrepair. In the tiny yard at the front are several burials with memorial stones. There was also a Free Methodist chapel in the centre of the village which was converted to a dwelling some time ago.
  • Tremar Coombe. This had a Wesleyan Reform and a Primitive Methodist Chapel.
  • Tremar. There was a Wesleyan Chapel here.
  • Darite (Railway Terrace). Darite had a Bible Christian Chapel.
  • Crows Nest. Crows Nest had a Wesleyan Chapel.
  Most of these chapels survive as they have been converted to dwellings, but a few had their own burial grounds.

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Church Records

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for St Cleer are: C053091, C026401. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage for this parish is 1597 - 1837; it is NOT believed to be fully included in the LDS Church's International Genealogical Index (IGI).
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1678 - 1838, Burials 1675 - 1911, Marriages 1678 - 1968, Boyd's Marriage Index 1678 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 - 1812, BTs 1597 - 1673.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of:
  • Pre 1813 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Burials.
• Baptisms.
  • Baptisms 1597 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Callington Area Heritage Centre have placed on-line baptism records for St Cleer parish 1740 to 1843.
  • The OPC has placed on-line baptisms at St Cleer as follows:

    Baptisms 1598 to 1599. Baptisms 1600 to 1649. Baptisms 1650 to 1699. Baptisms 1700 to 1749. Baptisms 1750 to 1774.

    Baptisms 1775 to 1799. Baptisms 1800 to 1824. Baptisms 1825 to 1849. Baptisms 1850 to 1874. Baptisms 1875 to 1903.

  • The OPC has also produced a list, searchable by surname, for baptisms in St Cleer 1597 to 1959.
  • The Parish Chest have published on CD baptisms 1740 to 1843 for this parish.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published baptisms (1846 to 1900) and burials (1851 to 1900) of Altarnun, Lewannick and St Cleer Methodist Chapels on CD. Altarnun, Bowithick, Crow's Nest, Hockings House, Polyphant, St Cleer and Travadlock Cross Chapels. Areas include: Altarnun, Lewannick, St Cleer and St Clether.
  • Cornwall Legacy have also published on CD, records of the Linkinhorne Chapels. These comprise Rilla Mill Wesleyan Chapel baptisms (1841 to 1900), Lanhargy Wesleyan Chapel baptisms (1871-1900) and Darley United Methodist Chapel baptisms 1837-1900). The areas cover Linkinhorne, Breage, St Cleer, North Hill, St Ive, Stoke Climsland and South Hill.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, records of the Liskeard Bible Christian Circuit. These comprise baptisms (1837 to 1900). The areas cover Liskeard, St Ive, St Cleer, Altarnun, Menheniot, St Neot, Broadoak, and certain other parishes.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, records of the Liskeard Primitive Methodist Circuit. These comprise Liskeard Primitive Methodist Circuit baptisms 1856 to 1900 and Greenbank Chapel baptisms 1870 - 1900. The areas cover Liskeard, St Ive, St Cleer, Menheniot, Callington, Calstock, Lezant, Linkinhorne and Landrake.
• Marriages.
  • Callington Area Heritage Centre have placed on-line marriage records for St Cleer parish 1813 to 1837.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1597 to 1837, which is available in Book, CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Marriages in the parish 1597 to 1901, Phillimore's marriages 1678 to 1812) for this parish, are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line marriages at St Cleer as follows:

    Marriages 1598 to 1699. Marriages 1700 to 1749. Marriages 1750 to 1799.

    Marriages 1800 to 1849. Marriages 1850 to 1899.

  • The OPC has also produced a list, searchable by surname, for marriages in St Cleer 1597 to 1901.
• Burials.
  • Burials 1597 to 1936 are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Entries from the Burial Books of St Cleer General cemetery, including a graveyard plan and some photographs of individual gravestone, are available on-line. The cemetery was opened in 1860 for Non-conformist, and other sects alike.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in Book format.
  • Burials 1597 to 1901 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line burials at St Cleer as follows:

    burials 1597 to 1599. burials 1600 to 1649. burials 1650 to 1699. burials 1700 to 1749.

    burials 1750 to 1799. burials 1800 to 1849. burials 1850 to 1899.

  • The OPC has also produced a list, searchable by surname, for burials in St Cleer 1597 to 1901.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD, records of the Liskeard Primitive Methodist Circuit. These include Trenant Chapel burials 1843 - 1900. The areas cover Liskeard, St Ive, St Cleer, Menheniot, Callington, Calstock, Lezant, Linkinhorne and Landrake.

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Civil Registration

The parish of St Cleer has always been in the Liskeard Registration District. There were sub-districts at Callington, Lerrin, Liskeard and Looe, but these closed in the 1930s. Parishes within the district are: Boconnoc, Broadoak, Callington, Calstock (1837-60), Duloe, East Looe, Lanreath, Lansallos, Lanteglos, Linkinhorne, Liskeard, Liskeard Borough, Menheniot, Morval, Pelynt, St. Cleer, St. Dominick, St. Ive, St. Keyne, St. Martin's, St. Neot, St. Pinnock, St. Veep, Southill, Talland and West Looe. The Superintendant Registrar can be contacted at: Graylands, Dean Street, Liskeard, PL14 4AH. Tel: 01579 343442.

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Description & Travel

• ePodunk's Cornwall page - providing general, plus some historical and genealogical information, about Cornwall and its parishes, together with links (mainly relating to general sites and services, rather than ones that are specific to Cornwall or particular parishes).

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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.
  • The OPC has produced a genealogical website for St Cleer to assist those researching their ancestry.
• Mailing Lists. There is a mailing list for anyone with a genealogical and or historical interest in Bodmin Moor and its surrounding villages. Villages covered are: Advent (Tresinney), Alternun, Blisland, Bodmin, Boventor, Camelford (Lanteglos), Cardinham, Davidstow, Egloshayle, Helland, Laneast, Lanteglos by Camelford, Launceston, Lewannick, Liskeard, Michaelstow, North Hill, St Breward, St Breock, St Cleer, St Clether, St Mabyn, St Neot, St Tudy, Temple, Tresinney, Trewen, Wadebridge (Egloshayle & St Breock), and Warleggan. This list is in support of the OnLine Parish Clerk system. You can also subscribe to the ENG-CON-BODMINMOOR-L for the List version, or ENG-CON-BODMINMOOR-D (digest) for the Digest version.

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Historical Geography

• Fursnewth (Fosneuuit, Fosnewit), Grid Reference 225675.
• Rosecraddock (Rekaradoc, Rekaradoc), Grid Reference 267679.
• Tremar (Trelamar), Grid Reference 258682.
• Trengale (Turgoil, Tvrgoil), Grid Reference 211672.

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Maps

• Map of the Liskeard Registration District in which the parish lies.
• An old map of the parish of St Cleer in the 19th century is also available.

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Military Records

The Muster Rolls for 1569, in respect of St Cleer, are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.

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Occupations

• Information about the Caradon and Liskeard Mines is available on-line.
• Apprenticeship Indentures for St Cleer (1768 - 1841) can be found in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• St Cleer parish was part of the Liskeard Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.
• Overseers' Accounts (1772 to 1837), Settlement Papers (1741 to 1862) and Bastardy Bonds (1792 to 1834), are available in the Cornwall Record Office.

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Population

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Religion and Religious Life

• The OPC has made the Protestation Returns of 1641 available on-line.

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Statistics

The parish comprised 10927 acres of land and 16 acres of water.

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