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The Kendall family of Pelyn, Lanlivery

Pelyn is a woodland estate west of Lostwithiel in Lanlivery parish, owned by the Kendall family (except for a recent break of 20 years) for over 400 years. The house, Grade II*, was built in 1601 with subsequent eighteenth-century and Victorian additions and has been home to this local gentry family, which has produced many MPs, lawyers and clergy through the years. The house and estate has once more returned into the ownership of the Kendall family, and the new owners are committed to the restoration of the house and grounds. There is also active interest from English Heritage in the preservation of this property.

The Coat of Arms of the Kendall family

Pictured below is a memorial plaque to some of the Kendall family of Pelyn which can be found in Lanlivery Church. The wording on it reads as follows:

"In Memory of Walter Kendall of Pelyn Esq, who was Interr’d in the grave of his Father Nicholas Kendall of Pelyn aforesaid, Esq, the 5th day of 76r (September) Anno Domini 1696 AEtatis Suce 70. And also in Memory of Joan Kendall Relict of the said Walter Kendall, Eldest Daughter of Alexander Carew of East Anthony Knight and Barronet: She was married to the said Walter the 17th day of July 1650, and erected this monument in the 70th year of her age the 12th day of July 1703. Desiring She may be buried in the grave of Embline Kendall Mother of her dec’d husband. By the side of the said Walter Kendall lies interr’d Nicholas Kendall , son of the Rever’d Canon Kendall who dyed the 7th of 10ber 1702. To think of death, and duly to prepare for its approach, should bey’r Chiefest Care"

Within the Cornwall OPC database, there are 43 baptismal records in Lanlivery ranging from Nicholas, son of Barnard Kendall, Gent on 10th February 1656 to Franklyn Hugh Kendall, son of Francis and Jane on 5th October 1863.
There are 10 male Kendall marriages, the first being 24th November 1623 between Nicholas Kendall, Gent and Emline (no surname recorded), and 11 female marriages, the first being on the 9th March 1702 between James Yong, Gent of Plymouth and Penelope Kendall, daughter of Nicolas Kendall, Vicar. There are 40 burial records, the earliest being 15th July 1644 of Walter Kendall Esqr.
 
The Kendall family held prominent positions over the centuries, being at one time masters of the Cinque Ports, Members of Parliament and on many occasions holding the position of Parish Priest. Of Royalist sympathies during the Civil War of 1642 - 46, Colonel Nicholas Kendall is recorded as having led a Troop of King's men into Bodmin, where they succeeded in routing a band of Parliamentarian Troopers who were raiding the County Capital. A short time later he lost his life in the siege before Bristol.
 
Yet another Nicholas Kendall, son of Charles, was born in St Mabyn 22nd December 1800. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and in 1847 he became Sheriff of Cornwall. In that same year, he suppressed the Food Riot in St Austell on 11th June. (For a transcript of this event from the West Briton newspaper dated June 18th 1847, use this link.

He was returned to parliament for East Cornwall, in conjunction with Thomas Agar-Robartes, in 1852, which position he retained without intermission until 1868. He was one of the County Magistrates and also a deputy-lieutenant, and deputy warden of the Stannaries. For some time he was Captain of the Royal Cornwall Rangers Militia. He died at Pelyn 8th June 1878, and was buried at St Brevita's Church, Lanlivery on 12th June 1878, aged 77.

Contributed by Pauline Pickup

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