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Section 9 : Early Southwest to 1700
Cornwall, Devon and Somerset 01-1851

Delaying consideration of the material on the South West until section 9 is a clear indication of my Gloucscentric outlook on BRUSH history. To those readers who descend from the BRUSH families of Devon and Cornwall I apologise.

Chapter 9.A

Cornwall 1544 to 1650

The early story in Cornwall is in the south-east corner of the county centred on the parish of St Germans which is on the west bank of the Tamar, the river separating Cornwall and Devon. Although St Germans, and nearby parishes, seems to be the focal point there are scattered entries across much of Cornwall, some of which are directly linked. There are also a couple of earlier references to BRUSH in Devon but with no obvious connection. Most Devon material is a bit later and is covered in chapter xx.

The first references appear in the 1544 subsidy rolls for St Germans and at Quethiock a little north and west towards Liskeard. Roger BRUSHE and a Roger BRYSHE are listed at Quethiock but the St Germans entries are for William and Richard BRUSSE. Roger BRUSHE of Quethiock is assessed on goods valued at five pounds and Roger BRYSHE on one pound of goods. As adults, these men will have been born no later than 1523 and quite possibly earlier, which makes them contemporaries of the earliest Gloucestershire entries - John of Compton Abdale, Richard of Tewkesbury and the hidden parents of Anthony of Painswick and Giles of Brockworth. William, Richard, Roger and Roger of Cornwall might all be the same generation but could also be a pair of fathers and sons.

There is then a series of entries from 1551 to 1616 within the court books and rolls at Cuttenbeak , which is variously referred to as a borough, barton or manor within the parish of St Germans. They provide clear evidence of an established family

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Thomas BRUSHE, a tithingman, appears in 1551 and again in 1574. Tithingman appears to be some sort of parish officer ( either involved in collecting tithes or in some sort of constable public order role) not simply someone subject to tithes.

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