Post by jmajor on Apr 13, 2014 7:42:22 GMT -5
I am excited to discover the Penwith Genealogy site. I am a direct descendent of Tymothy Major or Maior, the Elder (wife unknown) from St. Ives, Cornwall, which I can prove through land records and will records. I have posted the wills of Tymothy Major the Elder and the Younger on this site. I am also researching the female lines of the Major family from St. Ives. The Major family passed down lands through several generations: 1) "Treloyhan" in the will of Tymothy Major or Maior, the Elder; 2)"Helles-vean and "Carnestubba" which first appears in Timothy Major, the Younger's will. Both of these properties are in St. Ives, Cornwall.
The tradition is that Tymothy Major was from Ireland. I received this information through correspondence in 2010: "The first Major to live in St. Ives was a Captain Timothy Major, who came over with the Irish Militia at the time of the building of the Parish Church (finished in 1410). He became very friendly with a man who carved the pew ends in the church, Ralph Clies, by name. They made a bargain that his son should be named "Clies," and there has been a 'Clies' in the family ever since. (This information was taken from an old book in the Study of the Parish Church.) There was an Ernest Major who did some carving in the Parish Church in the 15th century" (frances major fmajor5@yahoo.com).
Generation 2: Timothy Major, (ca 1630-1705) was married to Jane Thomas (ca1634-1708) proved by the will of her Father, John Thomas, from Helston and her own will dated 1708. In Jane Major's will she mentions Matthew Quick, son-in-law which was a query on this board: "I give to my Son in Law Matthew Quicke of the parrish of Towednack six pence to be paid within twelve months after my decease."
Generation 3: Henry Major (1664-1749) was married 1706 in St. Ives to Elizabeth Rosewall (1675-?).
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Generation 4: Henry Major, Tinner (1707/8 -1771) was married in 1735 in St. Ives to Jane Nicholas (1711-ca 1752) and 2nd wife Honour Simmons (ca1732 - ?) married in Uny Lelant in 1753. He inherited Trelyon "a villiage in Saint Ives, a mile east from the town." It means 'the habitation in the grove' ; Welsh trellwyn (Matthews, A History of St. Ives, 416). The "tenement called Trelyon" belonged to his great grandfather, Timothy Major or Maior the Elder, was valued at 190 English pounds in 1771 and was passed down to the next generation when Henry Major, Tinner died in 1771.
I descend from Henry Major, Gentleman (1739-1821) the son of Henry Major, Tinner and Jane Nicholas. This Henry Major moved to Devon and married Elizabeth Coniam, who had an estate called "Whitmore or Wisson" in St. Cyres. His posterity moved to Gloustershire, London and the United States of America in 1842.
I would be happy to give and receive any help on these lines.