Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle and Eliza Roach

Luxulyan Church, dedicated to St Cyriacus & St Julitta
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rod Allday - geograph.org.uk/p/2708738

Joseph Trevail married Jane Rundle on 19 Jun 1837, in Luxulyan, Cornwall. The same two surnames in the same small farming community: once again, I'd be more surprised to find no connection between these families. 

Joseph Trevail, baptised 24 Jun 1816, at Luxulyan, was the son of John Trevail and Elizabeth [maiden name unknown]. Jane Rundle, baptised 5 Jan 1818, at Luxulyan, was the daughter of Nicholas Rundle and Mary Ann Burn.

At Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, in 1841, there were Joseph Trevail (25) Farmer, Jane (20), Nicholas (3), Ellen (1), Charles Trevail (20) and Philip Trevail (40). The 1841 census, annoyingly, doesn't give clues to the relationships between household members, but this latter would be exactly the right age to be the Philip Trevail, father of Jane Trevail, mother of Silvanus Trevail.

Joseph and Jane Trevail had at least 12 children:

1. Nicholas Rundle Trevail bap. 28 Jan 1838 in Luxulyan
2. Ellen Trevail bap. 22 Sep 1839 in Luxulyan 
3. Mary Ann Burn Trevail bap. 29 Dec 1841 in Luxulyan
4. Emma Jane Rundle Trevail bap. 25 Feb 1843 in Luxulyan (nothing further)
5. Elfrida Trevail bap. 4 Feb 1845 in Luxulyan (died 1921, see below)
6. Joseph Rundle Trevail, born 1847, bap. 21 Jun 1847 in Luxulyan
7. Dahlia Trevail born 1849, bap. (as Cordelia) 27 May 1849 
8. Charles Trevail born 1852 (no birth registration nor baptism)
9. Olivia Trevail, born 1854 (per census), bap. 20 May 1855 in Luxulyan
10. Nancy Rundell (sic) Trevail born 1855, bap. 20 May 1855 (disappears)
11. Kate Trevail born 12 Nov 1857, bap. 27 Dec 1857 in Luxulyan
12. Jane Rundle Trevail, born March quarter of 1860, bap. 29 Mar 1862

In 1851, again at Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, the household comprised: Joseph Trevail (35) Farmer of 118 acres, Jane (34), Nicholas R (13) Farmer's Son, Ellen (11), Mary A (9), Alfreda (6), Joseph (4), Delilah (1), John Couch (17) Farm Servant, William Browne (17) Farm Servant, John Tamblyn (60) Vitenary Sergant (sic) - they mean Veterinary Surgeon LOL - from Broadoak.

Then Jane Trevail died, also in the March quarter of 1860, aged 43.

In 1861, the widowed Joseph Trevail (45), was farming 118 acres at Tregarden Farm, Luxulyan, Nicholas R Trevail (23), Ellen (21), Elfreda (16), Joseph (15), Delcia (sic) (12), Charles (9), Olivia (7), Nancy (5), Kate (3) and Jane R (1).

There are no records for Emma Jane Rundle Trevail, other than the baptism in 1843, so my feeling is that she must not have survived infancy. 

There is a civil registration for Nancy, as well as a baptism and she's on the 1861 census, aged five, but there are no further records: she simply disappears. 

In the last quarter of 1865, Joseph Trevail remarried to Eliza Roach, in Plymouth registration district, and went on to have another two daughters:

1. Hetty Trevail born 23 Apr 1866
2. Emily Trevail born 1868 (died 1893, aged 25)

Then the following item appeared in the London Gazette of 20 Aug 1869: 

"Joseph Trevail, of Tregarden in the Parish of Luxulyan, in the County of Cornwall, Farmer, having been adjudged bankrupt under a Petition for adjudication of Bankruptcy, filed in the County Court of Cornwall, holden at Bodmin on the 14th day of August 1869, is hereby required to surrender himself to John Basset Collins, Registrar of the said Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar, on the 4th day of September next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon precisely, at the said Court."

Lanlivery, St. Brevita's Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Michael Garlick - 
geograph.org.uk/p/6279283

In 1871, Joseph Trevail (55) was living at Redmoor, Lanlivery with new wife Eliza (45), Kitty (assume they mean Hetty) (4) and Emily (2), as well as Charlotte Ann Roach (12), listed as Daughter-in-law, but I imagine they mean Step-daughter.

In 1881, still at Redmoor, Lanlivery, were Joseph Trevail (65) Butcher & farmer of 2½ acres, Eliza (56), Hetty (14), Emily (13). 

Joseph Trevail died, aged 75, on 1 Apr 1891. He is buried at Lanlivery Parish Church and, having found these details in a record set called "Cornwall Memorial Inscriptions", we can probably assume that there may be a headstone there.

In 1891, Eliza Trevail (66) widow, farmer was still at Redmoor, Lanlivery, with her daughters Hetty (24) and Emily (22).

Emily Trevail died on 24 Oct 1893, aged 25 and is buried at the parish church in Lanlivery. Again, these details are from "Cornwall Memorial Inscriptions".

In 1901, Eliza Trevail (76) widow, living on own means, alone at Churchtown, Lanlivery Rural, Bodmin. Eliza died on 26 Nov 1904, aged 80 and is also buried at Lanlivery parish church, according to the "Cornwall Memorial Inscriptions".

By 1871, Elfrida Trevail (26) was a Pauper Patient at the infamous Lunatic Asylum, Bodmin (later St Lawrence's Mental Hospital). She was still there, aged 57, in 1901 and again in 1911, aged 67. After 50+ years in that institution, Elfrida died, aged 77, and was buried in Bodmin on 12 Dec 1921.

Silvanus Trevail Architect and Mayor of Truro

Truro : Lemon Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4611928

Silvanus Trevail, architect (1851–1903)

The phrase, "going Bodmin" refers to the Cornwall County Asylum (or Bodmin County Lunatic Asylum) opened in Westheath Avenue, Bodmin in 1815, much of which is still in existence, although it has now been turned into housing. The phrase, "gone" or "going Bodmin", relates to this and actually means, "going mad" or "simple". Indeed, if you describe someone as being, "a bit Bodmin", you are saying that they are not in full control of their mental faculty!

Later becoming St Lawrence's Hospital, Bodmin, when it was extended, "a completely new building to stand to the west of the first was designed in 1901 by Silvanus Trevail (1851–1903), one of Cornwall's best-known architects." It is an unfortunate association, given his history. 

Silvanus Trevail was born in Oct-Nov 1851 to John and Jane Trevail at Carne Farm, Luxulyan, Cornwall. His birth registration shows that his mother's maiden name was also Trevail and, indeed, there is a record that suggests that John Trevail had married Jane Trevail, also in that same quarter of 1851. 

John Trevail, born 1821, was the son of Charles Trevail and Ann Key of Higher Menadew Farm, Luxulyan. Jane Trevail, born 1822, was the daughter of Philip Trevail and Elizabeth Church, also of Luxulyan. Sadly, records prior to this get a bit too woolly to be able to tell where they connect, but in such a small farming community, I'd be much more surprised if they were not all related.

It also hasn't been possible to tell exactly how Silvanus Trevail was related to the rest of the Trevail and Rundle clan of Luxulyan, into which one of my blood relatives, my 1st cousin 3 times removed, Alice Maud Stanley Blazey, married, but as I've said, with the same two surnames in the same small farming community, once again, I'd be more surprised to find no connection. 

In 1861, we find Silvanus Trevail (9) at Carne Farm with his parents and younger sister, Laura (2), who was born 26 Dec 1858. He's still there at 19, with his parents, sister Laura (12) and his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (71) in 1871. Silvanus and Laura appear to be their only children. Laura remained at home in 1881 and 1891, not marrying until her late 30's in 1897 to Richard Rundle, born in Broadoak. The couple adopted a daughter, Mary Adelaide, born 1899.

Meanwhile, Silvanus Trevail, rose to become Mayor of Truro and President of the Society of Architects, and famous for his radical reforming politics as much as for his architecture: most of Trevail's legacy can be found in Truro city centre. 

In 1891 and 1901, Trevail was residing in fashionable Lemon Street, Truro. 

His success however, did not bring him happiness. Trevail suffered from depression and had been unwell for some time. On 7 Nov 1903, he shot himself in the lavatory of a train. The Probate record shows that he left £8,738 13s 6d (£1,089,855 in 2021) to his sister, Laura Rundle, wife of Richard Rundle.

Silvanus Trevail is buried at St Cyriacus and St Julitta churchyard, Luxulyan

The east window at Luxulyan Church is a monument to Silvanus Trevail, erected by his sister Laura Rundle. Details of the dedication and photos here.

Luxulyan churchyard
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Phil Williams - geograph.org.uk/p/196433
The finely carved cross marks the grave of John Trevail of Carne, Silvanus Trevail's father.