Cornwall

Nearby places

Gerrans

The parish of Gerrans, sometimes called 'St Gerrans' (Cornish: Gerrens), is situated in the Deanery and Hundred of Powder. It is bounded on the north by Philleigh, on the east by Gerrans Bay, on the south by St Anthony-in-Roseland, and on the west by St Just-in-Roseland.

From the hilltop village and church of Gerrans there is a stunning view of Gerrans Bay with Gull Rock and Nare Head in the distance. At the bottom of the hill lie the white-washed cottages and tiny harbour of Portscatho. The name Gerrans is believed to be derived from Gerent, an early Cornish king/saint who lived in the 8th century. There is a local legend he was buried with a boat made of gold at Carne Beacon, near Veryan. His name was written in the Latin form of Gerontius by early scribes, and the name still exists today in Wales as Geraint. He has been woven into the legends of King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table, but there is little historical evidence to support this. The church has a spire on top of the tower and this stands as a very prominent landmark for sailors.

The chief villages are the Churchtown, Porthscatho, and Trewithian. The two villages of Gerrans and Portscatho have now virtually merged into one, although there is still some local rivalry between the two villages. Gerrans Bay, which faces due east, is often used as a shelter from south-westerly winds by shipping and a ridge of land to the south and west of the villages protects them from the worst of the prevailing winds and means there is an equitable climate, except of course when the 'east wind doth blow'. The bay was the depository of Smugglers of Porthscatho and its neighbourhood during the 18th century. By having their scouts on the adjoining hills they had early notice of the approach of any revenue cutters.

In 1934, the parish of St Anthony-in-Roseland united with Gerrans to form a single civil parish.

Bibliography

A History of the Parish of Gerrans 1800 - 1914 has been written in 3 parts by Hillary Thompson. Details are on-line.

Cemeteries

• There is an index to the Gerrans parish church burial ground, which includes pictures of some monumental inscriptions. This is available on-line, courtesy of the OPC.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line Monumental Inscriptions for the Parish Church and the Portscatho United Reform Chapel.
• Information on an additional burial ground, which was provided in 1887, is available on-line.

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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:

• 1841. The 1841 Census of Gerrans (HO107/147), Enumeration Districts 10 and 11, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of Gerrans (HO107/1909), Enumeration Districts 4a and 4b, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • The New Zealand Society of Genealogists have compiled separate surname indexes of the 1851 Census for each Cornish registration district; Gerrans is listed in Volume 17. The booklets are available in Cornwall at the Cornwall Centre (formerly known as the Cornish Studies Library), and is also available in the Cornwall FHS Library.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of Gerrans (RG9/1553), Enumeration Districts 2 and 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of Gerrans (RG10/2274), Enumeration Districts 2 and 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of Gerrans (RG11/2307), Enumeration Districts 2 and 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of Gerrans (RG12/1827), Enumeration Districts 2 and 3, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
• 1901. The 1901 Census of Gerrans (RG13/2217), Enumerations Districts 2 and 3, is available on-line courtesy of the OPC.

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Church History

• Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SW8735 and was dedicated to St Gerent. In 1334, the church was regarded as a chapelry of St Anthony-in-Roseland, and was confirmed to the Priory of St Peter and St Paul at Plympton, Devon, by John de Grandisson, the then Bishop of Exeter. The church was almost wholly rebuilt in 1848/9. It comrises a chancel, nave, south aisle, north transept, and vestry. The arcade has seven four-centred arches of granite supported on monolith pillars of the same material. There is a south porch in which there are remains of a stoup, a north door, and a vestry (or priest's door, which is blocked. The tower, which is of two stages, is buttressed at the angles and battlemented, and is surmounted by a spire.
  Details about the plans of the modern church are available on-line.
• Non-Conformist. There were Wesleyan Methodist and Bible Christian chapels in the Churchtown, and also in Porthscatho, where there was also one for the Independents. There was also a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Trewithian.

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Church Records

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for Gerrans are: C053161, C022281, C022281, M022282, Portscatho Independent C065141. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish are 1661 - 1837; it is NOT believed to be fully included in the LDS Church's International Genealogical Index (IGI).
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1538 - 1970, Burials 1538 - 1925, Marriages 1538 - 1869, Boyd's Marriage Index 1617 - 1675, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 - 1837, Non-Conformist records 1826 - 1836, BTs 1617 - 1675.
• The OPC has placed on-line a "STRAYS" page relating to the activities of the parishioners of Gerrans & St Anthony in Roseland in other parishes.
• Baptisms.
  • Baptisms 1538 to 1902 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line the following baptisms in Gerrans parish:
    • Baptisms at Gerrans parish church 1538 to 1709.
    • Baptisms at Gerrans parish church 1799 to 1812.
    • Baptisms at Gerrans parish church 1813 to 1902.
    • Baptisms at Portscatho Independent Chapel 1826-1836.
  • The baptisms of the St Mawes Wesleyan Methodist Circuit, taken from LDS film 2276204, images 1789-1989 (courtesy of the Church of Latter Day Saints) are available on-line, courtesy of the OPC. These records relate to the whole of the Roseland Peninsula including St Mawes, St Just-in-Roseland, St Anthony in Roseland, Gerrans, Portscatho, Philleigh, Veryan, Ruan Lanihorne etc.
  • Transcription of the baptisms of the Mevagissey Bible Christian Circuit 1838-1907, taken from LDS film 2276210 images 1913-2413 (courtesy of the Church of Latter Day Saints). These records relate to several parishes close to Mevagissey including Gorran, Veryan, St Ewe, St Austell, Gerrans, St Just-in-Roseland, Ruan Lanihorne etc. There are about 50 baptisms relating to Gorran.
  • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1716 to 1845 for this parish.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published Baptisms of St Mawes Wesleyan Circuit 1838 - 1900 on CD. The Circuit covers St Mawes, St Just-in-Roseland, Gerrans, Veryan, Ruan Lanihorne, Philleigh, and St Anthony.
  • Cornwall Legacy have published on CD baptisms (1838 to 1900) of the Mevagissey Bible Christian Circuit. The Circuit covers Mevagissey, Gorran, Veryan, Gerrans, St Ewe, St Mewan, part of St Austell and Ruan Lanihorn.
• Banns. The OPC has placed on-line the following banns in Gerrans parish:
  • Banns 1754 to 1785, and 1836 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • Banns 1754 to 1875 by Groom.
  • Banns 1754 to 1875 by Bride.
  • Banns 1836 to 1911 by Groom.
  • Banns 1836 to 1911 by Bride.
• Marriages.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1538 to 1836, which is available in Book, CD or downloadable .pdf file formats.
  • Phillimore's marriages 1538 to 1754, and marriages 1538 to 1901 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line the following marriages in Gerrans parish; these are searchable by either grooms' or brides' surnames:
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1538 to 1754 by Groom.
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1538 to 1754 by Bride.
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1754 to 1812 by Groom.
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1754 to 1812 by Bride.
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1813 to 1837 by Groom.
    • Marriages at Gerrans parish church 1813 to 1837 by Bride.
• Burials.
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1836, which is available in Book or CD formats.
  • Burials 1538 to 1901 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line the following burials in Gerrans parish:
    • Burials at Gerrans parish church 1537 to 1791.
    • Burials at Gerrans parish church 1792 to 1812.
    • Burials at Gerrans parish church 1813 to 1907.
• Other Records. Churchwardens' Rates and Accounts for Gerrans parish are available, as are tithe apportionments. These contain names of parishoners; they are on-line as follows:
  • 1817 to 1818.
  • 1823 to 1824.
  • 1845 to 1848.
  • Gerrans Tithe Apportionments of 1841 .

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Civil Registration

The parish of Gerrans has been in the Truro Registration District continuously from 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at Kea, Kenwyn, Probus, St. Agnes, St. Clement and St Just-in-Roseland, but these have now been abolished. Parishes in this registration district are: Cornelly, Cuby, Feock, Gerrans, Kea, Kenwyn, Ladock, Lamorran, Merther, Perranzabuloe, Philleigh, Probus, Ruan Lanihorne, St. Agnes, St. Allen, St. Anthony in Roseland, St. Clement, St. Erme, St. Feock, St. Just in Roseland, St. Michael Penkevil, Tregavethan, Tregony St. James, Truro St. Mary, Veryan.

The address of the Registration Office is: Dalvenie House, New County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY.
Tel: 01872 322241.

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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).
• The OPC has made photographs of Gerrans available on-line.
• Further pictures of Gerrans are available on-line. There is also a page of postcards covering views of Gerrans and St Anthony.
• Pictures of Portscatho are also available on-line.

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Directories

• Gerrans Post Office Directory 1873.

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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 built a parish website on which genealogical information relating to Gerrans is published.
• There is also a a list of surnames of those researching Gerrans' Families giving email and website addresses.
• Strays. Persons living in a parish but born elsewhere are known as Strays. Strays from Gerrans who have been found elsewhere are separately listed on-line.

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Historical Geography

• Tregear (Trigel, Tregel), Grid Reference 867375.

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Manorial Records

• Manorial Records of Nampity & Pettigrew - Lady Day (25th March) 1747 are available on-line courtesy of the OPC.
• Manorial Records of Nampity & Pettigrew - Lady Day (25th March) 1748 are also available on-line courtesy of the OPC.

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Maps

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

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Names, Personal

A list of surnames in Gerrans, which are being researched by those who are email capable, is available on-line.

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Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Gerrans parish was part of the Truro Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.

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Population

From 1951, the population figures include those of St Anthony-in-Roseland.

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Probate Records

Some Gerrans & St Anthony-in-Roseland Wills are available on-line.

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Religion & Religious Life

In the May of 1641 it was agreed and ordered that every Member of the House of Commons and House of Lords should make a protestation (declaration of loyalty) to the crown. The Protestation was printed and then distributed by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to be made by everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their Hundred to make their protestation and, on returning to their parishes, any two of them were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18 years. All names were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted.

The Protestation Returns of 1642 for Gerrans are available on-line.

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Schools

The admission/leaving records for Gerrans School, covering admissions from 1876 with the latest departure in 1936 on on-line. The information includes the date of admission, name of pupil, name of parent/guardian, address, date of birth, name or previous school, starting class and ending class, date of leaving and the reason for leaving (which often includes relocation information).

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Taxation

A transcription of the Hearth Tax returns for Gerrans & St Anthony is available on-line..

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Societies

The St. Gerrans & Porthscatho Old Cornwall Society News Page is on-line.

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Statistics

The parish comprises 2460 acres of land.

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