The “Stephen Branch” is the families descending from Thomas
Colenso of
The eldest son John was a sailor who married Joan Corin in 1757 in Gulval. She was
the daughter of Radolphus Corin
and Jennifer Tresize. Their early children were
christened in Gulval and the later in
Stephen, christened in Gulval,
Phillippa, christened
in Gulval,
Johanna, christened in Gulval,
Jennifer, christened in Gulval,
Mary, christened in Gulval,
Stephen, christened in
John, christened in
Ralph Corin, christened in
Stephen, christened in Penzance1st January 1780.
There may be two other sons of John and Joan – William (1776-1858) and Robert (abt 1780-1833).
There is also a William Colensoe born to Jane Lorey in 1798. This may be the William who married Jane Trudgen Nicholas in 1820. Ralph Corin Colenso was a witness at this wedding, and may have been William’s father or uncle.
Stephen, the second son of Thomas and Phillippa
Lewarne appears to have settled in Maker, on the
Cornish side of the Tamar near
John, christened Maker
Stephen, christened Maker
Martha, christened Maker
George, born Millbrook about 1778, married
Elizabeth Chaff in 1802, died 1852 in
Francis, christened Maker
John, christened Maker
Thomas, third son of Thomas and Phillippa Lewarne, is named as the father of an illegitimate son born to Coelia Corin (nee Thomas) in 1760. She had been deserted by her husband William Corin (brother of Joan Corin), when he went off to sea. Thomas then marries Anne Note, of St Ives, in 1761, where he is described as a militia man. Anne was the widow of William Note and the daughter of John Rose. They settled in Madron/Penzance and had the following children.
Stephen, christened Madron 25th April 1762, married Jennifer Ann Hugo in 1780 in Probus.
Mary, christened
Anne, christened
William, christened
Francis, christened
Jane, christened
Robert, born around 1778, married Elizabeth Johns Hoskin (1802) and Jane Edwards (1836)
John, christened
All of these children, except for Francis, are mentioned in their father’s will written in 1801. Thomas died in 1806. At this stage Thomas’s occupation is a cordwainer (fancy shoemaker).
Robert, the second youngest son of Thomas and Phillippa Lewarne married Elizabeth Williams in Madron in 1771. He was the innkeeper of the Queen’s Head in Marazion and then the King’s Head in Penzance from 1778 to 1808. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Williams and Joanna May. They had the following children.
Robert, christened Penzance 18th December 1772, he married Elizabeth Paynter in 1796, was a saddler and died 1806.
John Williams, christened Penzance 10th October 1779, named for his maternal grandfather, married Mary Ann Blackmore, died in 1860. Was father of the Bishop of Natal, a merchant and bankrupt mine owner, agent for the Duchy of Cornwall and amateur geologist. His first wife had been Mary Ann Flamank (who died in 1808), sister of his brother’s wife.
William, christened
Samuel May, christened Penzance 31st May 1786, named for a maternal great grandfather, married Mary Veale Thomas, died 1866. He was a saddler in Penzance and a town councilor. Father of William Colenso of New Zealand.
Two of the four daughters of Thomas and Phillippa Lewarne married and had children – Sarah and Jonathan Kestell (1762), Anne and John Thomas (1762).
The eldest sons of John Williams Colenso and Samuel May Colenso are the two cousins described in A.L.Rowse’s book “Controversial Colensos”. I will be progressively attempting to provide an abridged history of both families.