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, "gone" or "going Bodmin", means, "going mad". Indeed, if you describe someone as being, "a bit Bodmin", you are saying that they are not in full control of their mental faculty and it 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. 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's an unfortunate association really, given his history. 

Silvanus Trevail was born 31 Oct 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, John Trevail had married Jane Trevail, on 23 Nov 1851 in Luxulyan, Cornwall. 

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. Records prior to this get a bit too woolly to be able to tell how they were 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 with the same two surnames in the same small farming community, I'd be much more surprised to find no connection. 

In 1861, we find Silvanus Trevail (9) at Carne Farm with his parents and younger sister, Laura (2), b. 26 Dec 1858. He was still there, at Carne Farm, at 19, with his parents, sister Laura (12) and maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (71) in 1871. In 1881, Silvanus Trevail (29) Architect, lived in Boscawen Street, Truro. 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. (As well as, notably, the Cornish Bank building in St Columb Major, seen more recently, repurposed, on George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations.) 

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

His success however, did not bring him happiness. Trevail, it is said, suffered from depression. On 7 Nov 1903, he shot himself in the lavatory of a train. 

Trevail 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.

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.

Nicholas Rundle Trevail, Ann Bennett, Sophia Jane Olver

The 'Cornish Arms', St. Blazey
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Dr Neil Clifton - geograph.org.uk/p/1236213

Nicholas Rundle Trevail (bap. 28 Jan 1838), son of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, married Ann Bennett, at the Parish Church in Luxulyan, on 22 Oct 1864. Ann died giving birth to the couple's only child, Ann Bennett Trevail. The Royal Cornwall Gazette Death Notice read TREVAIL - At Rosemelling, Luxulyan, February 19, Ann, the wife of Mr Nicholas Trevail, aged 27. She was buried and the infant baptised on the same day, 21 Feb 1867.

On 3 Aug 1869, Nicholas Rundle Trevail, widower, by profession, a butcher, remarried to Sophia Jane Olver (b. 1845), daughter of Joseph Olver and Mary Kingston, at the Church of St. Blaise, St Blazey, Cornwall. Sophia's father was a Master Mariner, born in 1816 in Mevagissey and had married Mary Kingston, from Devonport, at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth on 31 Mar 1837.

But Nicholas and Sophia were married for only four months, when Nicholas Rundle Trevail died, on 11 Dec 1869, at St Blazey. He was buried, on 15 Dec 1869, at Luxulyan. The probate record, which granted his effects to Sophia Trevail of the Parish of Mevagissey gave Nicholas' occupation as Innkeeper.

In 1871, the four year old orphan, Ann B Trevail was living in the household of William and Tabitha M Carkeek, at High Lanes Cottage, Veryan, Truro, where she was described as their niece. Tabitha Martha Bennett, born 1842, was her mother's younger sister. In 1881, Ann (14) was still living with her aunt and uncle, Tabitha and William Carkeek, now a grocer, at Church Town, Luxulyan. 

In 1891, Ann Trevail (24) had moved to the household of Elizabeth Bennett (44) widow, farmer at Colkerrow, Lanlivery, another relative of her mother's. Living there also was Elizabeth's father, James Rundell (Rundle?) (73).

Sadly, by 1901, A B Trevail (35) single female, Pauper Patient, was an Inmate of the Cornwall County Asylum, later St Lawrence's Mental Hospital. Annie Bennett Trevail died, aged 43, and was buried, in Bodmin, on 4 Sep 1909.

As was hinted on the probate record, Nicholas Rundle Trevail's widow, Sophia Jane, returned to her family in Mevagissey after his death. In 1871, Sophia Jane Trevail (25) was living with her widowed mother, Mary Olver (55), her sister Mary (27) and brother, George (21), in Fore Street, Mevagissey.

By 1891, Sophia (42) and her mother, Mary Olver (75) retired and living off her own means, were at Prospect Terrace, Church Street, Mevagissey. 

It was not until 1896, when Sophia Jane Trevail, by then 51, remarried, in St Austell, to Walter Henry Sanders. And in 1901, they were living in Pouddlin Lane, St Austell, where Walter H (60) from Chatham in Kent, was a Grocer. Living with him and Sophia (53), were her mother, Mary Olver (83). 

In 1911, widowed again, Sophia Jane Sanders (66) was a Grocer in her own right, with her niece, Beatrice Mary Olver (19) as a Companion.

In 1921, Sophia Jane Sanders (76) was living with her sister Elizabeth Doidge Kymbrell (82) Widow, in Church Street, Mevagissey, Cornwall.

Sophia Jane Sanders died, in St Austell, in 1931, aged 85.

Fore St, Mevagissey
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/5694544

Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle

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. Joseph Trevail (bap. 24 Jun 1816, at Luxulyan), was the son of John Trevail and Elizabeth Knight. Jane Rundle (bap. 5 Jan 1818, at Luxulyan), was the daughter of Nicholas Rundle and Mary Ann Burn. The same two surnames in the same small farming community, must surely be connected. 

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 
5. Elfrida Trevail bap. 4 Feb 1845 in Luxulyan (died 1921, see below)
6. Joseph Rundle Trevail, b. 1847, bap. 21 Jun 1847 in Luxulyan
7. Dahlia Trevail b. 1849, bap. (as Cordelia) 27 May 1849 
8. Charles Trevail b. 1852 (no birth registration nor baptism)
9. Olivia Trevail, b. 1854 (per census), bap. 20 May 1855 in Luxulyan
10. Nancy Rundell (sic) Trevail b. 1855, bap. 20 May 1855 (disappears)
11. Kate Trevail b. 12 Nov 1857, bap. 27 Dec 1857 in Luxulyan
12. Jane Rundle Trevail, b. March quarter of 1860, bap. 29 Mar 1862

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.

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.

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

In 1861, 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 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. 

Then 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 b. 23 Apr 1866
2. Emily Trevail b. 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."

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

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

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

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, was alone at Churchtown, Lanlivery Rural, Bodmin. 

Eliza Trevail died on 26 Nov 1904, aged 80 and is also buried at Lanlivery parish church.

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

William George Beamer and Elsie May Carver

HMS Impregnable in the Hamoaze off Devonport Dockyard

William George Beamer (b. 4 Jan 1886 in East Stonehouse), son of Alfred Beamer and Mary Ann White, married Elsie May Carver (b. 22 Nov 1894, bap. 16 Dec 1894 at Holy Trinity Church), daughter of Charles Frederick Carver from Clerkenwell, London and Frances Rundle, native of Plymouth, at the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, which church was located in Southside Street/Friars Lane, Barbican, Plymouth, on 17 May 1916. (This church no longer exists because it was was destroyed in the Second World War.)

At 16, in 1901, William George Beamer had been a member of the crew of HMS Impregnable 1st Rate (Training Ship For Boys), in the Hamoaze, Devonport off Maker, St Germans, Cornwall. (HMS Impregnable became the Royal Navy's second boys' training ship at Devonport in 1862.)

Having signed up for a further 12 years in the Royal Navy, on 4 Feb 1903, William was discharged, invalided, on 8 Jun 1905. Then on 9 Sep 1905, he enlisted in the British Army in the Devonshire Regiment. One wonders what condition was classed as invalid for the Navy, but still fit for the Army.

Next we find William George Beamer (26), in 1911, with the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment, stationed at Saint Georges Barracks, Malta. (Part of the Pembroke Army Garrison, at Pembroke, Malta, near St. Julian's.)

William George Beamer was the recipient of a Silver War Badge, having been discharged from the Machine Gun Corps on 30 Mar 1917, under King's Regulation 392 (xvi) “No longer physically fit for war service". "He has a Ministry of Pensions record card which shows him as 22105 MG, residing at 13 Walsdon Rd, Plymouth. He was discharged on 30.3.17. Cause - deafness. He was entitled to the Silver War Badge number 197170." (The Silver War Badge was designed to be worn on civilian clothes after early discharge from the army. The accompanying certificate will have read, "Served with honour and was disabled in the Great War. Honourably discharged on ...")

Elsie's younger brother, Charles Frederick Carver (b. 1898), 5th (Prince of Wales's) Battalion (Territorials), Devonshire Regiment, son of Charles F. and Frances Carver, of 5, Artizan's Dwellings, Notte St., Plymouth, was killed in action on 20 Jul 1918 and is buried at Marfaux British Cemetery, France.

In 1921, William George Beamer (35) General Labourer for the Admiralty, and Elsie M Beamer (25) were living at 13, Wolsdon Street, Plymouth.

In 1939, William G Beamer, Skilled Labourer HM Dockyard, wife Elsie M Beamer and John F Carver (b. 1902), Road Repair Labourer (Elsie's brother), were still living at 5 Artizans Dwellings, Notte Street, Plymouth - buildings in that street were destroyed in the Second World War and demolished.

William George Beamer, once more of 5 Artizans Dwellings, Notte Street, died on 1 Jan 1956 and left £605 4s 10d to his widow.

Elsie May Beamer died in the 4th quarter of 1973, aged 79.

Herbert Joy Tubb and Ada Harriet Bartlett

St Corentine's Church, Cury
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Trevor Harris - geograph.org.uk/p/1817672

Herbert Joy Tubb (b. 1865), son of Edward Tubb and Sarah Elizabeth Joy, married Ada Harriet Bartlett (b. 1870, bap. 8 Jan 1871 in Cury, Cornwall), daughter of John William Ginn Bartlett and Harriet Nanney, in the district of Helston in the 4th quarter of 1892. Baptised in Cury, brought up in Uny-Lelant, Ada was living at Boscawen, Mawgan in Meneage, Helston in 1891, where her father was a Farmer, so likely that was the venue for the marriage, where the parish church is dedicated to St Mauganus, a Welshman.

In 1891, Herbert J Tubb (25) Merchant's Clerk, had been a visitor in the household of Farmer, Samuel Trounson (58) at Penvores, Mawgan in Meneage, which was right next door to the Bartlett household.

Herbert and Ada had two children:

1. John Bartlett Tubb b. 12 Jul 1893 in HELSTON Volume 05C Page 168
2. Olive Joy Tubb b. 26 Jun 1898 in HELSTON  Volume 05C Page 169

In 1901, Ada H Tubb (30) was living at Boscawen Cottage, Mawgan in Meneage with son John B Tubb (7) at school and Olive J (2). 

In 1911, the family were living at 4 Athenaeum Street Plymouth. Herbert Joy Tubb (44) Implement and machinery manager, Ada Harriet Tubb (39), John Bartlett Tubb (17) Apprentice Engineer and Olive Joy Tubb (12) at School.

Son, John Bartlett Tubb, Fleet Engineer, of 4 Athenaeum Street Plymouth enlisted in the Territorial Force Royal Engineers, on 18 Sep 1914. At 21, he was 5ft 6in tall with a 36 in chest. In reserve until 23 Mar 1915, he was sent to Gibraltar on 24 Mar 1915, until 11 Nov 1916, where he picked up a dose of Gonorrhea (an occupational hazard?), treated in 1915 - this is well before the introduction of antibiotics that was not until the 1940's. (Gonorrhea: Historical outlook). He was discharged on 9 Jul 1919 at Ripon.

The family, with Herbert, Ada, John and Olive were still in Plymouth in 1921.

Olive Joy Tubb married Richard Donald Broad (b. 2 Feb 1896 in Liskard), son of William Nanscowan Broad and Louise Daniel, in Plymouth, in 1922.

Richard Donald Broad had enlisted in the brand new Royal Air Force (RAF) on 20 Apr 1918 and applied for a Temporary Commission. In Aug/Sep of that year he is listed at RAF & Army Co-Op School as 'Pilot for training'. In Nov 1918 he was assigned to 116 Squadron.

John Bartlett Tubb married Kathleen Margaret Coomb (b. 30 Sep 1896 in Truro, Cornwall), daughter of Arthur Bate Coomb (an Elementary teacher, born in Victoria, Australia) and Lucy Bennett, in Plymouth, in 1925.

Ada H Tubb died, aged 62, in Plymouth in 1932.

In 1939, Herbert Joy Tubb, Agricultural Engineer (Retired), widower, was living in the household of his son-in-law, Richard Donald Broad, Poultry, Pig and Fruit Farmer; daughter, Olive Joy Broad and grandson, David Broad (b. 12 May 1928), at Broadlands, Lifton, Tavistock, Devon. 

Also living at Broadlands, Lifton, in 1939, in the next household was William John Rundle (b. 7 Jun 1909), Agricultural Labourer and his wife. Presumably, Rundle was working for Richard Broad. If this William John Rundle is related to the Rundle clan from Luxulyan, Cornwall - not entirely unlikely given the proximity - then, in another of those monkey puzzle tree branches of my family tree that have ceased to surprise, we could have someone distantly related to my father's mother, working for someone distantly related to my mother's father. God forbid that they could actually be related to each other! 

Meanwhile, John B Tubb, Marine Engine Fitter and Kathleen M Tubb were living at 3 Goldington Avenue, Bedford in 1939.

Herbert Joy Tubb of Broadlands, Lifton, Devon died, aged 74, on 28 May 1940, leaving effects of £1052 3s 11d (circa. £63K in 2022) to Olive Joy Broad, wife of Richard Donald Broad. There was an obituary in the Western Morning News of 30 May 1940 [yet to access].

• Olive Joy Broad died, in 1971, in Sodbury, Gloucestershire.
• Richard Donald Broad died, in 1983, in Tavistock, Devon.
• Kathleen Margaret Tubb died on 17 Mar 1988 in Plymouth.
• John Bartlett Tubb died, in 1985, in Liskeard, Cornwall.
• David Broad died, in 2005, also in Liskeard, Cornwall.