Gerrans

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

• 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.

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 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.
• 1911. The 1901 Census of Gerrans (RG14/13814), Enumerations Districts 1 and 2, is available on-line courtesy of the OPC.

• 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.
  
  From THE WEST BRITON dated 6 June 1851: CONSECRATION OF NEW CHURCHES - GERRANS. The consecration of the new church at Gerrans took place on Saturday, the 24th ult.; the foundation of the building was lad on the 26th of April, 1849, and it was opened for public worship on Easter Sunday, 1850.
  It consists of a north and south aisle, with small north transept, the chancel separated by a light screen. The seats are open throughout; the east windows fitted with neat stained glass; the roof open, the chancel roof being at present plain, as it is intended that it shall be blue, powdered with stars. There are sittings in the church for 376 persons, only 120 of which are appropriated. The cost was met by private contributions, together with GBP 90 granted by the Incorporated Church Building Society, and the same amount by the Diocesan Society.
  The new church is in design a restoration of the old building, which was greatly dilapidated, and which it became the object of the vicar, the REV. W. D. LONGLANDS, on his appointment in 1844, to repair. The usual ceremonial of consecration was performed by the Bishop, and the sermon on the occasion was preached by the REV. H. T. RODD, vicar of Gwinear, from Haggai, 1st chap. 8th verse. There were twenty-two clergymen present, including the Chancellor of the Diocese and the Archdeacon of Cornwall.
• 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.

• 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 1901 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 post 1813 .
    • 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 and these are available for purchase on Parish Chest.
• Banns.
  • Banns 1754 to 1785, and 1836 to 1911 for this parish are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The OPC has placed on-line the following banns in Gerrans parish:
    • 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 1935 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 .

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.

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Gerrans Post Office Directory 1873.

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from Gerrans to another place.

• 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.

The Domesday Settlements of Cornwall, a study undertaken by the Cornwall Branch of the Historical Association, has identified and located settlements listed in the Exeter and Exchequer Domesday Survey of AD 1086. The following places have been identified in Gerrans ecclesiastical parish:

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

• 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.

• Map of the Truro Registration District in which the parish lies.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SW876359 (Lat/Lon: 50.184555, -4.976474), Gerrans which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

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

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

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)

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

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.

The admission/leaving records for Gerrans School, covering admissions from 1876 with the latest departure in 1936 are 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).

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

The parish comprises 2460 acres of land.

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