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V. — The Family of Killigrew.—By R. N. Worth, Plymouth. 



IIST the History of Cornwall by Hitchins and Drew, mention is 

 made of a certain manuscript history of the Killigrews of 

 Arwenack, who occupied so important a position in the county in 

 the 16th and 17th centuries. A copy of that manuscript having 

 fcillen into my hands, I was led, finding that it contained much 

 novel matter, written in a quaint and characteristic fashion, to 

 prepare an abstract for publication, in the belief that it would be 

 a valuable contribution to the historical collections of the county, 

 and an interesting memorial of a family, now, in the direct line, 

 extinct. The principal portions are accordingly here presented in 

 what may be regarded as nearly their pristine form, nothing of 

 consequence being omitted. The original is not known to exist, 

 and the copy had been somewhat modernised.* 



The Author of this History was Mr. Martin Killigrew, son-in-law 

 of the second and last Sir Peter Killigrew, sometime Eecorder of 

 Falmouth, and for several years Steward of the Arwenack Estate. 

 He appears to have been born in 1666, at Liston, in Staffordshire, 

 and to have first made his acquaintance with the Killigrews whilst 

 a Captain or Lieutenant at Pendennis Castle, under John, Earl of 

 Bath. His name originally was Lister, and he took that of Killi- 

 grew upon his marriage with Ann, Sir Peter's youngest daughter. 

 He survived all the Arwenack family with the exception of his 

 grand-nieces, through the younger of whom Earl Kimberley inherits 

 the property. The history was written in 1737 or 1738, as 

 appears by a Letter, dated August 25th, in the former year ; in 

 which he says, '" I am upon Leaving behind me Something His- 

 torically of the Family, y* memory of w"' is so Dear to me." He 

 was then in fair health of body for his age (71), and took regular 

 exercise in " Kingsington Garden " ; but appears to have been 



* I have been favoured by the Rev. C. M. Edward Collins, of Trewar- 

 dale, with an extract from a letter written by his Grandfather, Mr. George 

 Browne, in 1791, in which the writer states, " I have the history of the 

 Killigrew family, of Arwenack." Possibly this manuscript, which is now not 

 to be found, was the original. 



