Historic estate in Cornwall, England
Trethurffe is an historic estate in the parish of Ladock, near Truro, in Cornwall.
Descent.
Trethurffe.
It was held for many generations by the Trethurffe family (originally "de Trethurffe") which took its name from the estate. The later descent is given in the Heraldic Visitations of Cornwall as follows:
"issues and profits of all my tynne-works in Whele Ankeye, Whele Flatt, Whele en duse gentill, and Whele Liana, Whele Angrovose, within the parish of St. Agnes, Whele Peyse in Elezar bonnale vine, within the parish of St. Peran, Beanie, quifer8, Penwinnas, within the parish of StAustell, Trewilke Whele, within the parish of St. Mewan, Dogowise and Trethillan, within the parish of St. Stephen in Brannel, and St. Enoder Beanne, within the parish of St. Columb, and elsewhere within the county of Cornwall".
He bequeathed much of his property to a certain "Alice, the wife of William Christopher", whom Nicolas suspected was his mistress: "It would perhaps be difficult to explain the motive which induced the testator to bequeath the chief part of his property to Alice, the wife of William Christopher, in a manner creditable either to his memory or her virtue". His will states:
"I will and bequeath all my tin-works, wheresoever they be, as be within my several grounds, or in waste ground, or elsewhere within the shire of Cornwall, to Alice Christopher, the wife of William Christopher, during her life ... to have and to hold to the said Alice ... during her life, and after her decease I will and bequeath all the said tin-works to the Wardens of the Shrine of St. Enoder, and their successors for ever, to the intent that the said wardens and their successors shall cause yearly my soul to be prayed for, my father and mother's souls, and all Christian souls".
Thomas Trethurffe's daughters and co-heiresses were: 
The "Courtenay Faggot".
The Trethurffes' inheritance of part of the Courtenay estates was supposedly foretold by the "Courtenay Faggot" being "againe sub-divided into other twayne". The "Courtenay Faggot" was a mysterious naturally mis-shapen piece of wood split at the ends into four sticks, one of which again split into two, supposedly kept as a valued possession by the Courtenay Earls of Devon. It was later interpreted as an omen of the end of the line of Courtenay Earls of Devon via four heiresses. It was seen by the Cornish historian Richard Carew (died 1620) when visiting Hall in the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall, then the dower house of Margaret Reskimer, the widow of Sir William Mohun (died 1588), MP, of Hall, the great-grandson of Elizabeth Courtenay, who described it in his "Survey of Cornwall" as follows:
A farre truer foretoken touching the Earle of Devon's progeny I have seen at this place of Hall, to wit, a kind of faggot, whose age and painting approveth the credited tradition that it was carefully preserved by those noble men. But whether upon that prescience or no, there mine author fails me. This faggot being all one peece of wood, and that naturally growen, is wrapped about the middle part with a bond and parted at the ends into foure sticks, one of which is againe sub-divided into other twayne. And in semblable maner the last Erle's inheritance accrued unto 4 Cornish gent(lemen): Mohun, Trelawny, Arundell of Talverne and Trethurffe. And Trethurffe's portion Courtenay of Ladocke and Vivian do enjoy, as descended from his two daughters and heires.
"Peter Courteney of Trethurffe, Kt., to Jonathan Rashleigh of Menabilly, Esq., Henry Squire of Northill, Esq., and Jonathan Sparke of Plymouth Esq. Manor of Nordon near Kingsbridge, Devon, Trethurffe in Ladock, advowson of Ladock Church, Nansawsyn Mills, and Nankelly in Ladock, and manors of Trethurffe, Nansough, Tredrym in St. Just and Gerrans, Trevilveth in Veryan and Cuby, moiety of Treverbyn in Probus and other lands".
By Alice Rashleigh he had one son and four daughters including Anne Courtenay (1645–1677) who married Jonathan Rashleigh (1642–1702) of Menabilly, Sheriff of Cornwall in 1686/87, and twice MP for Fowey 1675-1681 and 1689-1695.
His second marriage was to Amy Courtenay, daughter of Peter Courtenay of Penkivel in Cornwall. She survived her husband and remarried to Sir Peter Fortescue, 1st Baronet (1620–1685) of Wood in the parish of Woodleigh, Devon.
Present day.
In 2016 the remnant of the mansion house is a farmhouse with five acres of grounds, operated as a holiday let.
References.
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