Tonkin's History of Cornwall, ca1739

GLUVIAS

Enis, in this parish, gave name to an old family of gentlemen from thence denominated de Enis; that is to say, of this island; for ennis, enys, signify in Cornish, an island, and also a tongue of land where two rivers meet.

John Enys, Esq., acquired a great flow of wealth by his marriage with Ann, only daughter of Mr. Henry Gregor, of Truro. His son, Samuel Enys, is the present possessor of the estate; he married Dorothy, daughter of Thomas Willis, of London, merchant, and has lately succeeded to a considerable fortune by the decease of her two brothers, Sir Thomas and Sir William Willis, of Fen Ditton, in Cambridgeshire, Baronets, that last in the year 1733. This gentleman is in the commission of the Peace, and was Sheriff of Cornwall, 8 Anne, A.D. 1709. He has expended large sums of money in the improvement of his seat, as well by enlarging the house by making beautiful gardens.

Roscrow means clearly the valley cross; although the house stands on a very elevated station.

The family of Pendarves settled here, have far outstripped all the other branches in estates, and have served their country as Members of Parliament, Commissioners of the Peace, Sheriffs, and Deputy-Lieutenants. The arms of Pendarves are, Sab. a falcon rising Arg. between three mullets, Or. I cannot refrain from making some remarks on Alexander Pendarves, Esq., the last of this family.

He was Surveyor-general of the Crown and Duchy lands in Cornwall to Queen Anne, and a member of parliament the greatest part of his life. He married Mary, eldest daughter of the honourable Bernard Granville, brother of Lord Landsowne, a beautiful young lady, but she did not bring him any children. He died in 1726, very suddenly, at his house in London, being then a burgess for the town of Launceston. His death was a great surprise to all his friends, and especially to me, with whom I had taken a hearty breakfast that very morning at my aunt Vincent's at Chelsea. I must add, that on the Sunday before he and I bore up the pall to John Goodall, of Fowey, Esq., buried in St. Margaret's Westminster; and that on the Sunday fortnight after, I had the misfortune to bear up his in St. Mary's, Savoy. He was the last male of the family of Pendarves, in this place, which, with the rest of the property, devolved to his niece, Mary, the only daughter and heiress of his brother, John Pendarves, clerk, Rector of Drews Teignton, in Devonshire, and relict of Francis Basset, of Tehidy, Esq.; and this lady is now the possessor, paying an annuity of £400 a -year to her uncle's widow. But before I leave this place I must not forget to give this just character to my deceased friend, with whom I had the honour to serve as burgess for Helston, in Queen Anne's last Parliament, that for good humour, good sense, for a true and sincere adherence to the interests of his country, and for a harmless merry disposition, he hath left not many his equals, and none that exceed him, in this county.

This parish takes its name from the saint to whom the church is dedicated.