Ne irascaris, Domine - The Viola da Gamba Society

The Polwhele family is an ancient one, tracing its roots to Saxon times and
inhabiting the manor of Polwhele in Cornwall. 9 Until now all known
references to Polewheele's Ground have given the surname only, making any
identification impossible. But a manuscript recently discovered by Patxi del
Amo includes 'M r Francis Pollwheels Division on M r Peter Young's Ground
[…]' providing a Christian name for the first time. 10 Francis is not a common
name in the family and the pedigrees reveal two men who might be associated
with the title. On investigation one is too late to qualify, 11 and the most likely
candidate is Francis, second son of Thomas and Dionisia Polwhele, born in
1608. His elder brother John, son and heir to Thomas, was born in 1606,
entered Lincoln's Inn on 11 October 1623 by 'special admission' and was called
to the bar on 3 February 1631. 12 He became M.P. for Tregony in 1640 in
conjunction with Sir Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren. The latter was born in
1613 and educated at Exeter College, Oxford, and at the Middle Temple,
'reigning as prince in the Christmas masque of 1636' (The Triumph of the Prince
d'Amour) presented to King Charles the 1st and was knighted after the
performance. John Polwhele too was a true supporter of the king and
according to Rev.
Richard Polwhele:
'In 1643 we observe him and his relations and friends, Lord
Mohun, and Edgecumbe, and Glanville and Godolphin, and
Lower, and Killegrew, rallying round the sacred person of Majesty;
and at Oxford, the
magnificent hall of Christ Church was their
senate house.'13 I have found only one other reference to Francis, who on 1 June 1642 wrote to
his 'lovinge brother, John Polwhele, Esq. at his chambers in Lincoln's Inn'
about some land belonging to the family.
states.)
Digory (b
14 (Although John was son and heir, it
seems that Francis was the one remaining in Cornwall to manage the e
.1616), brother of John and Francis, was equally Royalist: He
102.
9 J. Burke, a genealogical and heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland,
enjoying territorial possessions or high official rank, but uninvested with heritable honours, London, 1734,
423-7; J. L. Vivian, The visitations of Cornwall, comprising the heralds' visitations of 1530, 1573, and
1620. With additions …, London, 1873, 376-378.
10 D-F, Mus Hs 337. Patxi is preparing an article on this MS for forthcoming
publication. See P. X. del Amo Iribarren, 'Anthony Poole (c.1629-1692), the Viol and Exiled
English Catholics', (Ph.D. thesis University of Leeds, 2011), 219-224.
11 Francis, b. c.1645, son of John (b. 1606) and Anne (née Baskerville).
12 W. P. Baildon and R. F. Roxburgh, The Records of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.
The Black Books (1897-1969); J. Foster, The Records of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.
Admissions … 1420 to A.D. 1799 (1896).
13 Burke, op. cit., 425.
14 Burke, op. cit., 'literary characters of Cornwall', 61.
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