C16th Wicked Men

The families that lived here were among the most celebrated in Cornwall  with important marriages connecting them to other dynasties such as the Bevills, the Killigrews  & the Godolphins.

Pengersick Castle developed a reputation for black magic, sorcery and wickedness - perhaps rumours were spread by wreckers and smugglers to discourage visitors. 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 and a mediaeval  Apothocarian Garden is believed to have existed here;  this and has been  recreated using contemporary plants listed in a C10th herbal.
  One of the inhabitants is said to have tried to poison his wife , unfortunately for him his wife succeeded where he failed.

MILLYTON   William late of Pengirsick, esq

John Milliton claimed to be an alchemist and to practice in the black arts in the castle tower and 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 & an unnamed neighbour and together they looted of the King of Portugal's ship , the St. Anthony, which was wrecked at Gunwalloe in 1526, the rich  cargo disappeared without any trace.

   The matter was the subject of a Royal Commission?s investigation; despite this the cargo  was never seen again. The place is now sometimes called Dollar Cove.

          Around 1535  William Milliton married Honor Godolphin and the marriage  celebrations included the refurbishment of Pengersick House.   

There follows an interesting collection of names,  many of whom have connections of some sort with the Pomeroy family.

Devon. Delivered into court 3 Nov by Richard Calmady, gent.   

Inquisition Post Mortem taken  before   Robert Carye, esq., &  John Eveleigh, esq.,  at Exeter Castle, 4 Oct 13 Eliz [1571], after the death of   William Myllyton, esq., 
Jury 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]  

  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.

Note . If you read aloud  any of the  names above  they become recognisable enough to  find on a map of the Cornwall.

   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.

 Those  sisters of William Milliton  the son were

   Avis Eresye, widow, aged 34;

   Elizabeth wife of Thomas Trevuwith, aged 32 ( b about 1539) married three times.(see below)

   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.

Their mother Honor married again by the end of that year - see side panel

Pengersick 2022