this new moon

“By their Tre, their Pol, and Pen,
Ye shall know the Cornish men.”

I just cannot believe how things happen in life ~ last night I was sitting here, searching desperately for my roots when I decided to click on a link that had been sent to me ages ago ... and decided to search for Francis Tregilgas.... and there he was - full family tree, completed back to 1480.
descendants of John Tregilgas

they come from areas such as St. Ewe & Kea, Veryan & Mevagissey, St. Enoder and of course, St Columb Major - most of the early family seem to have been tinners.... whatever that is.

I haven't varified any of this yet - but it sure looks like my tree. A lady in the UK has been re-searching the Tregilgas name for many, many years - these are the results of her findings... it seems to me that she is the daughter of Laura's sister Louisa.. so we have a common link with Francis and Elizabeth.... when I found this late last night, I was beside myself with excitement - and it has made me feel even more settled. so I am a true cornish girl - through and through.

*sigh*

desperately seeking.

I am an aussie girl with Cornish blood rushing through my veins, yes!

still not satisfied that I have at last proved I am from good Cornish stock. oh no! I need to find more and it is proving difficult. Because I just don't know which way to go from here - each time I find a website - I have to pay. Which of course I don't mind doing, if I am going to discover someone who belongs in my tree. pay 5 pounds here or buy vouchers there..or join for 299 pounds a year... but which one to choose? Or I can pay researchers to do it for me for 25 pounds an hour !

this is what I know so far:

Laura Tregilgas was born 1872 in East Stonehouse, Devon UK

to parents:

Francis Tregilgas - born 1833 in St Columb, Cornwall, UK (parents - William & Catherine *I think*)

and

Elizabeth Curnow - born 1835, Perran, Cornwall, UK (father - John *I think)

*Francis and Elizabeth were married in 1858 and lived in Bodmin Cornwall from 1861 until they moved to Devon sometime before 1881.

as far as I can make out - Francis and Elizabeth had 8 children - one of whom was my great grandma, Laura.

of course, these names aren't unusual, making it harder to trace.... I desperately want to find a little more - I don't want to hug some far distant cousin nor do I want to make a claim on the family fortune ( I don't think there is one) - however, I would love to know where my wiccan roots come from and I am planning on visiting Cornwall, either next year or the year after and I want to walk the places that my ancestors did and maybe find out just why my soul yearns so much.

cornish blood running through my veins

yes! Laura has been found!

thanks to super sleuth DAISY LUPIN... she didn't settle til she found Laura for me - forgoing her housework, sleep & cooking I am sure.

I have been like some demented fool, searching the internet for my cornish roots like they were going to grow out of the computer screen, not sleeping, Joe telling me he is nearly out of socks, Sophie wanting to be fed And shock and horror, not even worrying about blogging. . .hello?. . . I am on a mission here, to find my cornish roots. . .

The name was spelled incorrectly that is why Laura was so hard to track down... but Daisy and her History major did not stop til the job was done... even though Laura was born in East Stonehouse, Devon ( and yes, I was so disappointed when I found this out) - her parents were born in Cornwall - father Francis in St Columb and mother Elizabeth in Perran. Funny thing too, is that Laura had a sister called Louisa, I never knew this til yesterday. & that is my eldest daughters name.

So I am from strong Cornish stock and have real cornish blood flowing through my veins. OMG! I cannot believe it - at last. (I know I sound over top, but I am really excited !)

I will never ever be able to thank Daisy enough! You just don't know how much this means to me. My mum was saying just the other day that she has noticed the older I get the more I am looking like Laura and I am even starting to do things in her ways - so I have the Tregilgas ways for sure... even my garden is looking like hers......I feel like that part of me that was missing is finally coming home. Now all I need is that promised trip to Cornwall and I will be complete.

the picture above was taken in Devon in 1914, just before Laura and her children left to come to Australia. The man with them is her brother Charles.... Laura's husband William had come to Australia with the Royal Navy and loved it so much he wanted his family to grow up here... sadly he died while on active duty ..she was left a widow in a strange land with all these children ..

staring out at me. . .

next to my computer I have a photo - a tin photo of my great grandma from Cornwall. Laura CURNOW Tregilgas. That is all I know of her... oh I know her children's names and her husband's name but I don't know exactly where in Cornwall that she actually lived - at the moment it is looking like either St. Austell, St.Erth or Redruth - all guesses.... She looks so sad - her husband was chief petty officer in the Royal Navy and they moved to Australia sometime in the early 1900's. He died while on active duty, leaving her in this strange land to bring up her children. She believed in the Fay, I am told. Does she look so sad because she is missing her Cornwall?
The other day, I 'saw' her while meditating - she was walking along a steep path along the edge of the ocean - I am sure she is helping me find her.... after all, her son, my Pa would say to me that I had the 'Tregilgas ways' whatever they are. . .

Cornwall

Laura - taken in her later life, in Australia.

I have never been to Cornwall. Well, not in this life anyhow. But ever since I can remember, the word Cornwall has stirred my soul. It has made me wonder. Funny, how things happen. I always thought my Pa's family came from Devon. East Stonehouse to be exact. That is what it says on my Pa's birth certificate and I know that they sailed to Australia from Plymouth. My great grandfather was a chief petty officer with the Royal Navy and they came to live in Australia sometime in the early 1900's. But just the last few months I have learned that my great grandma, who I didn't know, came from Cornwall. Her family name was Tregilgas. She had a brother named Charlie. I have been looking for family ties via the internet with the help of my friend Daisy Lupin - not much so far but I haven't really been serious about it, once I am - watch out! I don't want to find someone I am related to and go to England and knock on their door and say - 'hi, I am a long lost relative from Australia' ! NO! I just want to know my roots, to know why I am so interested in hedgewitchery, herbs & the moon. Ever since I was little, I have known about herbs. I have been interested in them. Not for culinary purposes but medicinal and folklore reasons. I would even wrap weeds around my teddy & dolls legs when they were hurt. How did I know to do that?

I have an affinity with the lady above, my great Nan, Laura. I wish I had known her. Do you think maybe she was a witch? I do.

My favourite CD, Medicine Woman, that I play constantly is by a musician called Medwyn Goodall. I was looking on the net the other night, for some more of his music and found out that he lives in Cornwall and has a CD by that name. I bought it. I received it in the mail yesterday and it haunts my soul. love it!!!!

And a few days ago, I received a lovely package of postcards in the mail from Sheila. All from Cornwall. Thank you so much Sheila xo it was a lovely, lovely thing to do.