Manor-Connerton

Extracts..

The Arundell claim traced back to the original grant and letters patent to their title to the manor of Connerton and Hundred of Penwith, conferred by Henry II. The grant laid out the borders of their territory, which extended 'so far out into the Sea from any part of the Land as a Man may discern a Hamborough Barrell', and granted manorial 'royalties', also termed 'liberties'. But those liberties, however, were given in general terms, not listed 162 explicitly, which would involve the Arundells in much litigation.

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Of especial interest are the court presentments from 1704-1759 for the Arundell's manor of Connerton. (See Appendix 10). The manorial court was held every October, and all presentments for the preceding year were duly recorded by the steward. Presentments included reports of tenants who had died, or who were fined for such 'misbehaviours' as pulling down hedges, encroaching on one another's lands, sinking a shaft without permission, or not utilising the manorial mill. But most enlightening are the presentments for wrecked items brought in by the tenants
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In 1833, therefore, Customs allowed Francis Paynter, who had acquired Connerton and its royalty of wreck from the Arundells, to possess wrecked mahogany while they determined whether duties were applicable. 14

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Francis Paynter, too, felt he was deprived of his rights in 1834 after he claimed a quantity of staves from a wreck near St Ives on the manor of Connerton. Customs determined that the staves had come from a cargo that had 'evidently been shipped at a Port in the Baltic, and carried to one of the British Colonies in North America in order that it might be imported into Great Britain at low duties'. Because of 'this mode of evading duties', Customs concluded that the lord of the manor and the salvors were 'not entitled to any benefit'. Thus Paynter and his tenants were penalised and charged the 'highest rates on the Goods in possession', although they were not the accomplices who had attempted to evade the duties. To add insult to injury for Paynter, the shipping of Baltic timber through the colonies was not made illegal until the following year. 21 The threat to the manorial right of wreck by Customs's battle against smuggling was not alleviated until after 1842

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An even more controversial decision on the part of O'Dowd concerned the remaining parcels of the manor of Connerton and Hundred of Penwith. By 1840, the manor and hundred had been sold to the Paynter family, descendants of the Arundell chief stewards. Catherine Augusta Paynter claimed title for unclaimed wreck, but was initially denied. O'Dowd remarked that there was some support for her claim, but he maintained that 'no mention of Wreck is made in any of these Grants'. He recognised that there was evidence that the Arundells had practised right of wreck through prescription, which he would have considered sufficient, except that there was also evidence the Duchy also claimed wreck within the Hundred 'both anterior and subsequent to the creation of the Duchy'. Therefore, 'the prima facie case of the Claimants in support of the title by prescription failed, both as to the manor and the Hundred'. 51 This opinion was unforeseen, considering the plethora of evidence that the Arundells had practised rights of wreck through prescription, and that the right had been upheld in legal decisions throughout the eighteenth century, using the same evidence. Indeed, even the High Admiral had recognised Arundell claims. Nevertheless, O'Dowd denied recognition to what was once one of the largest most visible manors in western Cornwall. However, rather than completely denying the claims, and, as he said, 'to prevent possible future litigation', Mrs Paynter's solicitors offered an ultimatum to the Duchy. They would agree to withdraw their claims for the Hundred of Penwith if the Duchy gave up the claim for Connerton. An agreement was thus drawn up. 52
[52 MT 9/5981, 'Schedule B: A Return of Parties in the County of Cornwall whose titles to receive unclaimed wreck are adversely reported upon'.]

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Table of Presentments, Manor of Connerton 1704-1759 | Appendix 10 p 281