Discovering Admiral John Peyton

This week we had the following letter from Wendy:

Being clueless myself, I passed the question on to Bob Braid of Milford on Sea Historical Record Society - and as always, he came up with a brilliantly detailed answer. 

Dear David 

I very much enjoyed reading your blog and in particular your article about Admiral John Peyton as he was my Great (x5) Grandfather.

Unfortunately because of ill health in recent times I had not been able to pursue my research into this particular ancestor but finally managed to visit All Saints Church today and found it very moving when I located his memorial adjacent to the organ. Whilst I'd not previously been aware of the fund raising efforts to restore the memorial, may I I take this opportunity to thank those responsible. I did however make a donation in the church today.

What I have been unable to find out is where Admiral Peyton is laid to rest and wondered if you could offer me any information?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Wendy

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Dear Wendy,

Image: 359
click image to enlarge

Please see attached photo (359). The brass plate is on the left hand side (viewed from the tower end) of the nave towards the back of the church. Also attached are a photo of the memorial in its current position and a ‘mock-up’ of where we intend to have it replaced after conservation (north wall of the chancel at the end of the choir stalls).

Most interested to hear of your relationship. As part of the Faculty application to carry out the work, we were required to make efforts to contact any descendants. As far as we were able to determine, Peyton had no children; he had a stepdaughter from his wife’s first marriage (Mary Anne Gurnell) who married into the Armstrong family. Our synopsis provided with the Faculty application is below:

Memorial
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Admiral Peyton married in 1799 Susannah Gurnell, widow; they had no children, but Susannah had a daughter, Mary Anne, from her previous marriage. With no heir, in his will (transcript available), Peyton left his property to his brother and nephew, but with the proviso that his widow could remain in his house for her life with adequate financial provision. 

He also made a substantial financial bequest to Mary Anne (referred to in the will as his daughter in law) who had married a John Armstrong. Their eldest son married a daughter of Col. John Scobell of Nancealverne House near Penzance. She later inherited the house from her half brother and the house has passed down through the Armstrong family [the line of descent can be seen by clicking here. Armstrong family of Nancealverne at the bottom of the entry]. 

A number of Admiral Peyton’s effects ended up at the house and remain in the possession of the current owner who is a direct descendant of Admiral Peyton’s step-

Future Memorial Position
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daughter. Crucially, one of the artefacts in his possession is the hand-written draft of the inscription on the memorial to the admiral in All Saints Church, Milford on Sea. He has been contacted and is fully supportive of the proposal to repair and relocate the memorial.

Are you aware of this connection and could you please let us have some further details of your line of descent? We are planning a double rededication with the grave of Admiral Cornwallis to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Admiral’s death in 2019 and will keep your details so that we can keep you advised of arrangements.

Best wishes

Bob Braid

Milford on Sea Historical Record Society