Member of the Federation of Family History Societies Coryana Rose Cory Society Website www.corysociety.org.uk E-mail:[email protected] APRIL 2008 NUMBER 45 In this issue: Serendipity, A Cory returns to Wembury 1 - 3 An Unusual Connection! AGM Invite: London, 13th June 2008 4 DNA Report: March 2008 5 Early Corys 6 Cory Surname Origins: The Company of Cordwainers 7 - 9 Deal Corys: May and Baker Marriages 10- 15 Membership News 15 Executive Committee 16 Insert: AGM agenda and booking form Serendipity, A Cory returns to Wembury Kate Pearce On the threshold of Wembury, Bob Colwill (second from left), grandson of Elizabeth Jane Cory, with his band, "The Broadway Syncopators" Photograph by Paul Wilmot S E R E N D I P I T Y Grove’. Was this a coincidence I wonder, or is there some connection? Did the Corys What a lovely word, and I suspect it at one time own the land on which it was appears more frequently in family history built? Richard Cory and his brother than anywhere else. William went into the family business of Coal Merchants founded by Mark’s great- The latest example that I have discovered great-grandfather, and became very quite by chance concerns our nephew, Bob successful and wealthy. He had two other Colwill. He is the son of my late husband brothers, James and Henry. Mark says he Ted’s sister, Kathleen Colwill, and his does not know anything about James, but grandmother was Elizabeth Jane Cory of Henry emigrated to Adelaide, South Lifton, Devon. Australia, and research on him is ongoing. One day in the recent past, Bob and Judy, The earliest of our family of Corys whom I his wife, were in the Marazion area and have been able to trace is Richard, born called to see us. In conversation I enquired about 1798. I have not been able to find whether he still had his band and he said he the entry of his baptism though I have had, but he had reduced his commitments followed up many lines of enquiry. and they no longer played late night events Whenever Mark Hassall and I meet we in Plymouth. He added that they were at have a little discussion about the possibility present playing ‘Music for a Summer of some connection between our two Cory Evening’ on the lawns of Langdon Court at families. So many names are the same, Wembury. “That,” I said, “was a Cory Richard, John, Thomas, and William for house.” He was surprised and delighted example, although of course they may have when I produced a copy of the Cory been common names of the time. Society Newsletter Number 16 (1998) in which appears an article written by our One of Ted’s cousins, Peter Edward Cory Chairman, Mark Hassall. Bob said he was of Plymouth, kindly agreed to take a DNA sure the present owners of Langdon Court test which matched exactly three other would find it of great interest. This Cory families, all of whom emanated from happened some time ago, and I regret to the Plymouth area or, in any case, Devon say that for various reasons I have not and Cornwall. They are John Albert Cory, managed to follow it up although Bob did Les Cory, and Joseph Corey, the latter send me a picture of the band at Langdon sadly now deceased, who was the first Court which is reproduced on the front cousin of Bob Marhenke in America. It is page. just a question of finding where we all link up. Mark Hassall is a direct descendant of the Cory family who lived at Langdon Court, I am still delving and finding new relatives his great-grandfather having been Richard who of course have all heard family stories, Cory born 1822. In the article Mark tells where probably nothing has been lost in the us that at the time of the 1871 census, telling. I was once told that the sons of the before Richard bought Langdon Court, he Cory family of Jacobstow were divided in was living in a substantial mansion called their occupations between agricultural ‘The Grove’ set in its own grounds off labourers, miners, and fishermen. The two Princes Road, Wimbledon. This intrigues sons who were fishermen used to look at me as Bob lives in a delightful small cul-de the big boats at sea and say that one day -sac in Pomphlett, Plymouth, called ‘The they would own one. It seems they The Cory Society April 2008 Newsletter No 45 Page 2 eventually had a large trawler and then Winners of the Penzance Newcomers’ Silver progressed until the small port near Salver at Penzance Bridge Club for 2007. Jacobstow (I think it was Tintagel) was not suitable, so they went off to Cardiff where they prospered and became well known. I have never tried to get this confirmed so it is still a family legend, and may not be a fact at all. One day, perhaps one of us will find the missing piece of the jigsaw, when all will be revealed. Until that day, the best we can hope for is another helping of serendipity. Kate Pearce (second left) and her partner Stella Sampson with Ray Bliss, Chairman and Director of Penzance Bridge Club, and their treasurer, Ann Ampleford. Commander in Chief at the naval base at Langdon Court is noted in the Domesday Devonport. On several occasions, Richard Cory Book as having been granted to the Norman played host to his friend the Prince of Wales, Baron Jodhel for his support of King William later to become Edward VII. Edward was often after the Battle of Hastings. Jodhel in turn accompanied by his friend, the society beauty granted Langdon to one of his Knights named and actress Lillie Langtry. (See Newsletter Walden. After the Waldens came the Pipards No16 for photographs and more about this and the great Courtenay family of Devon who family.) held the estate for nearly 200 years until the last Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter was beheaded for On the death of Richard Cory's son Richard treason by Henry VIII in 1539. The house later Wallis Cory in 1926 the estate was broken up passed to Henry's widow Catherine Parr. and Mrs. Kenyon-Slaney bought the house and ten acres of land. She lived there until the In 1564 Queen Elizabeth I granted Langdon beginning of the Second World War. After the Court to Vincent Calmady for services to the war Langdon Court was purchased by Plymouth Navy, and it remained in the Calmady family Council and used as a children’s convalescent until Richard Cory purchased Langdon Court in home. It was sold in 1960 and converted into an 1876. He was the son of William Cory who hotel. founded the coal shipping and bunkering firm in London known as Wm Cory and Sons Ltd. It There is a new book by Robin Blythe-Lord ‘The was during his tenure that extensive repairs and Story of Langdon Court’, Plymouth 2008. alterations were made to the house. He was on friendly terms with Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, who was The Cory Society April 2008 Newsletter No 45 Page 3 You are invited to the Cory An Unusual Connection! AGM on Friday 13th June Liz Newbery We will meet outside the Lindley Library, 80 Vincent Square at 2.30pm. The Lindley I have been friends with Kate Pearce Library is the best gardening library in the (whose husband’s mother was a CORY) world, with books from 1514 to the present since the mid-1980s. I come from day. Rosemary Holloway has arranged a Derbyshire but my daughter married talk by one of the staff on the Cory bequest down here in Cornwall. Kate is from and there will be books from this priceless Kent and retired to Cornwall. legacy set out for us to view. A unique opportunity not to be missed! Kate has been involved in the Cory DNA Project and found that her husband’s We will leave there about 4pm and visit the nephew was an exact DNA match to Foundling Museum in Gt Russell Street. Robert Marhenke’s Cory relative over in The Foundling Hospital looked after more the USA. Nothing unusual in that. I than 27,000 children between 1739-1953. have no CORYs in my tree and that is The Museum tells how they lived and where the story might have ended until displays the many poignant objects relating Kate noticed that Bob had a COLENSO to their lives. It also tells the story of three in his tree. She realised I was major figures in British history: its researching the COLENSOs who are in campaigning founder the philanthropist my granddaughter’s direct line so she Thomas Coram, the composer George showed me the tree. I immediately Frideric Handel and the artist William noticed the connection. Hogarth, who was one of the original Governors of the Foundling Hospital. He Since then I have been in touch with Bob encouraged leading artists of the day to and we have found that he and my donate works to the children’s home. granddaughter are 9th cousins 3x Today the collection contains works by removed; this is through Katherene Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Wilson, TREWHELLA and Thomas COLENSO Hayman, and others. We will meet up who married on 17 Sep 1638 at Madron again at the nearby Coram Café where you Parish Church. This was the Mother can buy a tea, coffee or a light meal.