A very good subject to discuss!
I have never really gone into this but have seen a couple of documents of this kind.
When I first startd my genealogy I was supplied with a copy of a booklet on the family written by my grandfather's cousin back in the 1970's
In that booklet was mention of records of the Trewhella family having occupied the farm of Amalebrea (Amyll-an-Trylle) for over 500 years.
Now, this would have put the original occupation (leasehold?) as early as the 1400's - more than 100 years before our currently known earliest appearance in the Towednack/Ludgvan area by the Trewhella family.
Prior to their 'known' venture into Towednack/Ludgvan the family was at St Erth which borders Ludgvan - so it is, therefore, not impossible that a leasehold may have been in existence earlier.
I am, of course, sceptical as I would have expected .......
But, what if '500 years' was a typographical error and was meant to read '300 years' - this would then place occupation of Amalebrea by the family in the early 1600's which would fit with the first 'known' recorded entries of the family in Towednack.
However - that is mere speculation and the author is now long deceased.
But - there were some papers I viewed at the Cornwall Record Office in 1994, extracts of which may be of some help.
DAVIES GILBERT PAPERS - DG 161/1 etc.
Included are:-
Probate of Lady Noye's Will 1702 - DG 162
Copy of Edward Noye's Will and others
1746 Presentment Book for Amyll-an-Trylle DG 165
"Manors purchased by Attorney General William Noye of the Mayor of Winchester in the year 1631 - June 24th - 7th year of Charles the 1st"
I will briefly mention some of the details as it was all abstracted at the time.
4th Oct 1751 - at house of Thomas Curnowe in Amyll lebrea ...
30th Jan 1761 - at house of Richards Oats in Ludgvan
We present the death of James TREWHEELA who was a life on Amyllebrea/Taylor's Tenement & the Stamps.
21st Oct 1763 - we present James Thomas & Wm TREWHEELA new Tenants of the said Manor for the tenement of Trereeve in Sennen ... and Chylasson & Amyllebrea.
3rd Nov 1775 (Friday) - at house of John Goodman in St Erth
"We present the deaths of Martin TREWHELLA and Matthew TREWHELLA who were lives on the tenement of Amyllebrea in Towednack." (signed Christr TREWHELLA, Wm TREWHELLA)
4th Oct 1811 - We present the death of William TREWHELLA the last life on Chilason.
22nd Oct 1812 - Matthew TREWELLA of Amillebria - Reeve
16th Oct 1821 - We present that piece of Land in the Parish of Ludgvan now under lease with Amillebrea, called the old town is granted to Mr William TREWHELLA for Twenty-eight years from Christmas 1819 & for as much longer as he may live, paying therefore the rent of ten shillings a year for each statute acre. The rent to commence from the expiration of the existing lease and that ...
.... part of the land is to be tilled in the last three years of the term if the Taker shall not then survive.
(Signatures - Matthew, William and Matthew Trewhella and Andrew Stevens for Mr Christopher Trewhella)
15th Oct 1824 - we present the death of Mr Christopher TREWHELLA the last life on Amillebrea.
DG 169 - Indenture Tripartite dated 2nd March 1765
Talks aabout Messuages, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments called or know by the name of Nancledra with all and singular appurtenances to the same belonging situate lying and being within the said Paris of Towednack formerly in the Tenure holding or occupation of James TREWHEELA and John QUICK or one of them their or one of their assignee or assignees. All which said several mesuages Lands and Tenements called Nancleddra aforesaid now ae or late were in the several Tenures holdings or occupations of john NINNIS Richard BERRYMAN john BERRYMAN and the said Catherine DAVIES some or one of them their some or one of their assignee or assigns AND ALSO all those mesuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments called or known by the name of Chylason with all and singular the apurtenances situate lying and being within the said Parish of Towednack formerly in the tenure holding or occupation of James TREWHEELA his assignee or assigns and now or late of Martin TREWHEELA and Samuel BOTTRELL or one of them their or one of their assignees and assigns and also all those messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments called or known by the name of AMELLEBERRY with all and singular the appurtenances situate lying and being in the said Parish of Towednack formerly iin the tenure holding or occuupation of Edmund URYN his assignee or assigns and als ..... etc formerly in the tenure holding or occupation of John GILBERT and the said James TREWHEELA. .... (more of AMALLEBRY formerly held by James TREWHEELA..... )
(more of AMELLEBREA now or late in tenure holding or occupation of Thomas CURNOW, William CURNOW, Mary TREWHEELA, widow, William CURNOW and Nicholas BERRYMAN followed by mentions of land in Zennor, Lelant etc.)
Then ... "and also those messuages Lands Tenements hereditaments Downs Crofts and Commons called Lady Downs with all and singular the appurtenances situate lying and being within the said Parish of Towednack formerly in the tenure holding or occupation of the said James TREWHEELA and John QUICK etc. and now or late of Samuel PHILLIPS, Martin TREWHEELA, Samuel BOTTRELL, Thomas JAMES and John CURNOW etc....."
I THINK there is much of interest here - IN PARTICULAR the mention of the 28-year lease.
It would appear that Lease Renewals on these lands were possible with the inclusion of 'new lives'.
Hope this helps for now. ;D
.... part of the land is to be tilled in the last three years of the term if the Taker shall not then survive.