refuge of Pirates and Wicked men
A little inland from Mounts Bay in Cornwall is Pengersick Castle.
Built for refuge and defence, its four-storey tower dates back to c.1550 and was part of extensive fortified Tudor mansion. The top floors were domestic and the ground floor was defensive. Above the main doorway is the drop-slot through which burning oil and other noxious substances were poured on unwelcome guests.
Today it is regarded by Ghost Hunters
as one of the most haunted places in England.
Around 1535, William Milliton married Honor Godolphin and the marriage celebrations included the refurbishment of Pengersick House. After William the only son of the marriage was lost at sea, the property was divided between his 7 sisters. None of them had enough of the property to preserve it as a home and the estate fell into disuse. Over the following hundred years a significant part of the estate came under the control of the Godolphins.
Pengersick has a reputation for black magic, sorcery and wickedness - perhaps the rumours spread by wreckers and smugglers to discourage visitors. The ghost of a black-robed monk has been seen - could this be the Hailes Abbey, ( in Gloucestershire) monk denied his tithes in 1330 from Henry Pengersick? The bedroom in the tower is said to be Britain's most haunted room and is still regularly visited by ghost hunters.
The history of the site goes back before the Tudor mansion. A Mediaeval; Apothocarian Garden is believed to have existed here and is being recreated using contemporary plants listed by Aelfric in 995 AD.
One of the inhabitants is siad to have tried to poison his wife , unfortunately for him his wife succeeded where he failed.
MILLYTON William late of Pengirsick, esq
Wicked Men
John Milliton, was a wicked man, who claimed to be an alchemist and to practice in the black arts in the castle tower. Pengersick Castle has a reputation for magic, mystery, sorcery and particularly, ghosts.
The first John Milliton was succeeded by his son, also called John: he became involved with William Godolphin and an unnamed neighbour in the mysterious looting of the King of Portugal's ship the St. Anthony, which was wrecked at Gunwalloe in 1526, the rich cargo disappeared without any ttrace.
The matter was the subject of a Royal Commission?s investigation; despite this the cargo was never seen again.
This place is now sometimes called Dollar Cove ,and just occasionally a gold coin can still be found when the tide and the wind are right.
John Milliton managed to his name and in 1548 he became High Sheriff of Cornwall. At the time of; the Reformation, after the execution of Sir Humphrey Arundel for his part in the Prayerbook rebellion of 1549, Milliton became the Captain of St. Michael's Mount.
The alliance between the Millitons and the Godolphins was cemented by the marriage of William's daughter, Honor, to John?s son and heir. Much refurbishment of Pengersick appears to have taken place in celebration the event.
It is said that the two loathed each other. Marriage for the gentry of that time was a dynastic affair, love rarely came into it.
John died in 1549 but his family continued to prosper. William succeeded his father as Captain of the Mount. The Muster Roll for 1569 indicates that he must have taken precedence over Francis Godolphin from the list of contributions which the size of his property caused him to furnish.
One gelding with his furniture for a light horseman, corslet, pike, haquebut, morion, long bow and sheaf of arrows.
However, material success did not lead to long term security. William, the; only son of William and Honor was lost at sea in 1571. His father died almost immediately afterwards. The property was divided between the surviving daughters and with none of them having sufficient of the property to preserve it as a home, it fell into disuse and was dissipated amongst their successors, finally reverting to the Godolphins.
It seems that Honor lived on into the next century and married William Harris of Hayne in Breage Church on 15th December 1571. He succeeded; William Milliton as Governor of the Mount. (St Micheals Mount)
An Interesting collection of names in the following , many of whom have connections of some sort with the Pomeroy family.
Devon. Delivered into court 3 Nov by Richard Calmady, gent. Inquisition taken at Exeter Castle, 4 Oct 13 Eliz [1571], before Robert Carye, esq., John Eveleigh, esq., after the death of William Myllyton, esq., oath of William Harris, John Wray, John Crocker, John Dynham, esquires, John Cruse, John Norrye, John Heale of Heale, John Elford, William Battishill, Roger Tolsloe, gentlemen, Peter Ebbiswourthie, John Newcombe, sen., William Nobell, John Quicke, Hugh Wikes, and Simon Hole:
Who say that William Myllyton was seised of the advowson of the vicarage of St Hilary, co. Cornwall, held of the Queen's manor of Est Grenewich, in socage, by fealty: - 2 messuages of lands (1) in Rosagan and Treuals,
roseagen and trerules) Cornwall, held of the Queen's manor of Helston in Keryer, Kerrier in the duchy of Cornwall, by fealty 3s 4d rent, in socage; worth by the year, clear, 10s.:-
7 messuages in Treglistan Wartha, Treglistan Woolas, Treglistan Meadowe, Bondower, Nansevall Leytre, Cornwall, held of the manor of Luddisvan, by fealty, in socage; worth �2:- one messuage in Carverie, Cornwall, held of John Stawell, esq.,the manor of Lamskeye, by 1d rent, worth , 20s.John Myllyton, father of said William was seised of the manor of Pengirsicke, Cornwall,
Also the said John held the manors of Mewe, Walkehampton Knolle, Devon, The said John made his will, dated at Pengersicke, 27 Nov 3 Edw VI [1549], and bequeathed to his son William Mylliton esq., and Honor his wife, all his goods lands, and made them his executors. He died at Pengarsicke 1 Nov (3) 4 Edw VI [1550] (3). Honor yet holds the premises.
Pengarsicke, held of Joan Antron, widow:- Trewoervas Veor,John Stawell, esq.,:- Rynsye (Rinsey) now held of Martin Trewynnard, esq., Drenycke of the lords of the manor of Luddisvan:- Mulvera, Chyenryves,; Enys Wartha, Enys Woolas, held of St Abyn esq., worth 26s 8d.:-
Marshasyowe Trenthno of the same:- St Just held of the Earl Routlande, of his manor of Alwarton.
John Myllyton also held 2/3 and 1/3 of 2 messuages, in Trebowlans and 2/3 and 1/3 of 1 messuage, in Burlowena or St Hilary:-
Trebolans held of Francis Godolphyn, esq., of the manor of Godolphen; worth 12s.
Burlowena or St Hillarie held of John Trevylian, esq., of his manor of Peran Uthno, by fealty & rent of a red rose, in socage; worth, 10s:- also 2/3 of 2 messuages, in Boswene Tredawa, Cornwall, held of John Levelis, esq., of his manor of Castellhornecke; worth 16 shillings /2.
William the son died at sea in early 1571 his father died almost immediately afterwards. The property was divided between the surviving daughters.
Next heirs were the sisters of William Milliton the son.
Avis Eresye, widow, aged 34;
Elizabeth wife of Thomas Trevuwith, aged 32 ( b about 1539) married three times.
Grace wife of Nicholas Tregodicke aged 31;
Anne wife of William Abbot, esq., of Hartland Abbey,aged 26;
Eleanor wife of John Bonython, aged 24;
Philippa wife of John Lanyon, aged 23;
Mary wife of William Penhelacke, aged 22.
His widow Honor married before the end of that year, as described above, to William Harris
Note . If you read aloud any of the names above they become recognisable enough to find on a map of the Cornwall.
Medieval language
Socage= a feudal tenure indicating a service provided distinct from military tenure or villeinage.
Messuage = a dwelling with adjacent building with curtilage for the use of the household.
Curtilage = a piece of ground belonging to the dwelling.
connections
Elizabeth Worth who married John Milliton had a daughter Agnes Milliton 1482 who married a Richard Strowde (Strode) .
Her daughter Elizabeth Strode married John Croker of Newnham
