Walter Cornish of Tiverton, Devon, England was descended from the "Cornish
of Cornish Hall" in Cornwall.1 While this location has not been
identified the arms and crest used by Walter's grandson George is nearly
identical to that of the CORNISH family of Marazion, Cornwall.2 

The arms and crest of George CORNISH are described as "Sable a chevron embattles
or, charged with a crescent, between three roses argent; Crest - a bird sable
rising on a log of wood from which is issuing a twig with leaves vert, and
berries or, small flowers gules. As there is no written blazon, one may presume
this bird is a chough, though the red beaks and legs which constitute an heraldic
chough are not tricked."3

The Marazion arms and crest are identical, except they do not contain the crescent
on either the chevron or chough, and the twig does not contain the berries. They are
decribed as:
"Arms: Sable a chevron embattled, or, between three rose argent."
Crest: A Cornish chough, sable, wings endorsed, beaked and legged, gules,
standin on a branch of olive, ppr."4
A crescent was used to show cadence, and represents descent from a second son.
The earliest known person of the Marazion family is William CORNISH, Esq.
who was buried 4 Dec. 1779, age 59.5 It may be that the CORNISH family of
Tiverton, Devon and that from Marazion, Cornwall descend from a not too
distant common ancestor.

The wife of Walter CORNISH1 may have been Maragaret who was buried
14 Jan. 1559/60 at Tiverton.8  Walter CORNISH had children:
1. George CORNISH1 b. say 1540;7 m. Marie10/Mary LAWRENCE;1 bur. 6 Feb. 1607/8
   at Tiverton;9 she bur. 15 Sep. 1622 Tiverton10
2. Edmond CORNISH6 b. say 1542;7 m. 15 Sep. 1565 Allice CORAM;11 bur. 24 Apr.
   1603 Tiverton12
3. Raffe CORNISH6 b. say 1544;7 m. Dec. 1570 Margaret;13 bur. 27 June 1602
   Tiverton14

In the 1569 Devon Muster Roll, George CORNISH was listed at Tiverton
as a "Gonner" which at other locations was called a Harquebusier.75

George CORNISH and Maria/Mary LAWRENCE had children:
1. Prudence CORNISH15 bap. 30 June 1566;16 m.1. John GODDARD 27 Apr. 1594;17
   m.2. Isaac PETTY 16 June 1606;18 bur. 20 May 1632 Tiverton19
2. Alice CORNISH20 bap. 22 Sep. 1567;21 m.1 Robert READ 9 Nov. 1591;22 m.2. William
   LANDE 5 Oct. 1623;23
3. James CORNISH15,24 bap. 26 Jan. 1568/9;25 m.1. Jane;26 m.2. Sarah24 BERYMAN 26 Dec. 1611;27
   bur. 30 July 1635 Tiverton28  His first wife Jane was bur. 15 Sep. 1611;26
4. Annes CORNISH bap. 28 Sep. 1570 Tiverton;29 m. James OTTWAY 15 Sep. 159930
5. Thomas CORNISH bap. 4 Mar. 1571/2 Tiverton;31
6. John CORNISH bap. 14 Nov. 1573 Tiverton;32
7. Margaret CORNISH15 bap. 9 Jan. 1574/5 Tiverton; m.1. John MIDDLEDON 18 Nov. 1601;34
   m.2. Mr. LEVITT15/LIBBETT20; bur. 10 Dec 1657 Crediton
8. Ellen/Ellnor CORNISH bap. 12 Apr. 1577 Tiverton;36 m. Humfry MORGAN
   3 Oct. 1603;37 bur. 11 Jan. 1633/4 Tiverton38
9. Richard CORNISH bap. 25 Jan. 1578/9 Tiverton;39 m. Grace GOODING
   27 June 1604;40 bur. 29 Sep. 1625 Tiveton41
10. George CORNISH1,24 bap. 18 Apr. 1581;42 m. Isabel15 ROBERTES1 (lic. date) 6 May 1611;43
    bur. 12 Oct. 1655 St. Mary Magdalen Milk Street, London44

In 1998 the Devon Record Office examined the parish register of St. Peter's Church,
Tiverton, Devon, England, for baptisms, marriages, and burials for the Cornish family
and provided transcriptions of those entries. From those transcriptions and probate
records came the 2001 article:
The Cornish Family of Tiverton Devon England,Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin,
42: 51-101 (Winter 2001).

It was known that Jane Cornish who married Edward Robins was likely a niece of George
Cornish (1581-1655) as George in his 1655 will forgave to his "cousin" Jane Puddington
all that she owed him.15 "Cousin" in that time period was commonly used to denote a nephew
or niece. 

From the Tiverton records that were examined by the Devon Record Office in 1998:
George's brother James was not shown to have a daughter Jane.
George's brother Thomas had a daughter Jone who was baptized 2 Feb. 1616/7 and was buried 26 Feb. 1618/9.
George's brother Richard had a daughter Jone baptized 15 August 1612.
As there were no other possiblities, it was thought that Jane who married Edward
Robins was "likely" the "Jone" baptized in 1612, daughter of Richard.

Since that time, the Tiverton parish records have been digitized and are available on both 
FamilySearch and Find My Past. It was found that those 1998 readings by the Devon Record
Office had missed several records, one of those being the baptism on 25 Sep. 1608 of Jane,
daughter of James Cornish. No marriage or burial record is found for this Jane at Tiverton,
and it is now believed that this is the Jane who had the 1630 Diocese of Exeter marriage
license with Edward Robins.

In 1727 Rachel Freeborn, being "aged Eighty Years or thereabouts" testified that about 56 years
ago came into the province a certain Alice Skinner and Mary Skinner (The said Mary Skinner being
a near Relation to the said Alice Skinner) from the County of Devon. That her said Grandmother
told her that within a twelve Months after the aforsd. Alice Skinner came into Maryland and whilst
she lived with her Aunt the said Jane Puddington as well as this Deponent can Remember, she
Intemarried With a Certain Henry Ridgley of Ann Arundell County.45

Alice Skinner was the daughter of Aquilla Skinner and wife Alice Cornish, who was the daughter of
James Cornish by his first wife Jane. With Jane Cornish who married Edward Robins and then later
George Puddington also being a daughter of James Cornish, Jane would have been the aunt of Alice
Skinner as stated in the deposition. 

James CORNISH was mayor of Tiverton in 1625.76

James CORNISH by his first wife Jane had children:
1. Dinah CORNISH24 bap Aug. 1603;46 m. Mr. CHILCOTT24
2. James CORNISH bap. 23 Mar. 1604/5;47 bur. 7 Apr. 1605 Tiverton48
3. James CORNISH24 bap. 7 June 1606;49 m. Dorothy50,52 WOOD,51 the widow PROUZE50 (lic. date)
   26 Jan. 1632;50 bur. 22 Jan. 1638/9 Tiverton;53
4. Jane CORNISH15 bap. 25 Sep. 1608;54 m.1 Edward ROBINS (lic. date) 
   16 Apr. 1630;55 m.2. George PUDDINGTON;56 living 1674 Anne Arundel Co., MD57
5. Alice24 CORNISH bap. 13 Jan. 1610/1;58 m. Aquilla SKINNER24 29 Dec. 1629;59
   bur. 30 May 1645 Tiverton60

James CORNISH by his second wife Sarah BERRYMAN had children:
6. John CORNISH24 bap. 27 Sep. 1612;61
7. Elizabeth CORNISH bap. 8 Mar. 1613/4;62 m. 3 May 1632 Richard CRUDGE24,63
   bur. 14 Oct. 1605 Tiverton64
8. Sarah CORNISH24,71 bap. 25 Dec. 1615;65 m. 18 Feb. 1635/6 Peter ATKINS;66
9. Agnes CORNISH24 bap 29 Oct. 1617;67,68
10. George CORNISH b. ca. 1619; bur. 10 Nov. 1619 Tiverton69
11. Mary71 CORNISH24 bap. 31 Oct. 1621;70 m. James KINGWELL71,72
12. George CORNISH24 bap. 9 Oct. 1623;73 d. ca. 1707 London72
13. Isabell CORNISH24,71 bap. 8 Nov. 1625;74 m. Henry ATKINS71


1. Joseph Jackson Howard and Joseph Lemuel Chester, ed., The Visitation
   of London anno Dominia 1633, 1634, and 1635, (London: Mitchell and
   Hughes, Wardour Street W., 1880) being one of the Publications of the
   Harleian Society, XV:191, George Cornish Arms.
2. C. S. Gilbert, An Historical Survey of the County of Cornwall,
    (Plymouth: J. Congdon, 1817-1820), 2:81.
3. The Society of Cornishes, Arms of the Family of Cornish.
4.  John Burke and Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of
    the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, (London: Henry Colburn, 1847),
    pp. 264-265, "Cornish of Marazion".
5. Parish of St. Hilary and Marazion, FHL microfilm 0,254,217.
6. Assumed from appearance at Tiverton beginning about the same time as
   the family of George Cornish.
7. Estimate from marriage date.
8. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
     Margaret Cornish burial
9. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
     George Cornish the elder burial
10. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Marie Cornish widoe burial
11. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Edmound Cornis and Allice Coram  marriage
12. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Edmound Cornish the elder burial
13. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Raffe Cornise & Margaret his wife [surname not given] marriage
14. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Raffe Cornish burial
15. George Cornish will, PCC wills 1655, 378 Aylett, FHL Microfilm 92214.
      George Cornish will written 3 Aug. 1655 names wife Isabell, children, grandchildren,
      sister Margaret Levitt, nephew John Goddard, nephew George Cornish son of late
      deceased brother James Cornish; Richard, George, and Thomas Cornish, sons of
      nephew Richard Cornish; forgives to "cousin" Jane Puddington what she owes him.
      Probated 24 Oct. 1655.
16. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Prewdence Cornish baptism
17. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Jno Goddard and Prudence Cornish marriage
18. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Isaac Petty and Prudence Goddard marriage
19. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Prudence Petty wid: burial
20. Robert Read will, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) wills 1623,
    89 Swann, FHL Microfilm 2093. 
      Robert Read of Tiverton will written 24 Sep. 1621 
      Among his bequests were to his "sister-in-law" Margaret Libbetts (called sister 
      Margaret Levitt in will of her brother George Cornish), and to the children of
      James Cornish, Thomas Cornish, Richard Cornish, George Cornish, and Humfrey
      Morgan, and wife Alyce who was executrix.  Cousins John Hartnell,
      Richard Dayman, Walter Levitt, and Richard Cornish were to call on 
      his executrix for performance of the will.
      Probated 9 Sep. 1623.
21. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Alice Cornish baptism
22. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Robt Read & Alce Cornishe marriage
23. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Willm Lande & Alice Read marriage
24. James Cornish will, PCC wills 1635, 116 Sadler, FHL Microfilm 0,092133.
     James Cornish of Tiveton will written last day of August 1633.
     Among his bequests were to be buried in the churchyard at Tiverton as near
     as possible to his first deceased wife, wife Sarah, youngest son George, son
     John Cornish, daughters Sara Cornish, Mary Cornish, Agnes Cornish, Isabell
     Cornish. Acknowldged gift to daughter Dinah Chilcott at her marriage a dwelling
     house in Tiverton. Daughter Alice to enjoy an enjoy an estate in Tiverton for 
     yearly rent of 12 shillings during her lifetime. Sons James Cornish, John Cornish,
     George Cornish and son-in-law Aquila Skinner to be overseers.
     3 June 1635 memorandum of loan every two years to 8 poor Tookers and Weavers in
     Tiverton of 5 pounds each, to be continued forever, with consent of the Burgesses
     Mayor of Tiverton and sons James Cornish and John Cornish and sons-in-law Aquila
     Skinner and Richard Crudge. Gifts to "all grandchidren" [not named] "brother
     George Cornish of London", John Cornish the elder, George Cornish the elder.
     Probated 12 Nov. 1635.
25. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      James Cornish baptism
26. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Jane the wife of James Cornishe burial   
27. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      James Cornish & Sara Beryman marriage   
28. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Mr. James Cornish Sen. burial
29. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Annes daughter of Georg Cornish baptism
30. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      James Ottway & Annis Cornish marriage
31. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Thomas son of Georg Cornish baptism
32. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Jno the son of Georg Cornish baptism
33. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Margaret the daughter of Georg Cornish baptism
34. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Jno Middedon & Margaret Cornish marriage
35. Parish Church of Crediton, Devon, England.
      Margret Levit widdow at Townsend burial
36. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Ellen the daughter of Georg Cornish baptism  
37. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Humfry Morgan & Ellnor Cornish marriage
38. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Ellinor Morgan burial
39. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Richard the son of Georg Cornish baptism 
40. Parish Church of Huntsham, Devon, England.
      Richard Cornishe and Grace Goodinge marriage baptism  
41. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Richard Cornish fuller burial
42. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Georg the son of Georg Cornish baptism
43. 1601-1604 volume, unpaginated, arranged by date. Spine of book that
    says 1601-1604 contains allegations from 1610-1613. Spine of book that
    says 1610-1613 contains allegations from 1601-1604. FHL Microfilm
    535726.
44. St. Mary Magdalen Milk Street Parish Register, Church of England, London
    England, FHL Microfilm 374489.
45. Henry Ridgley Petition to Maryland Chancery Court and associated
    depositions (1727), Tiverton, Devon, England, Baptist Church Records, 1695-1915
    Henry Ridgley Petition transcription. 
46. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Dyna the daughter of James Cornish baptism
47. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      James the son of James Cornish baptism
48. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
       James the son of James Cornish buried
49. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      James the son of James Cornish baptism
50. Diocese of Exeter Marriage Bonds and Allegations, Devon, England,
    FHL Microfilm 916997.
      James Cornish junior and Dorothy Prouze marriage license
51. John Wood of Culmesforke, Devon, nuncupative will, PCC Wills, 1637, 164 Goare, 
    FHL Microfilm 92139.
      Written 9 Nov. 1637; Proved 19 Dec. 1637
      Bequests included to the children [not named] of sister Dorothy Cornish. 
      Dorothy Cornish, late Wood, the wife of James Cornish was granted administration. 
52. James Cornishe nuncupative will, PCC Wills, 1638/9, 54 Harvey, FHL Microfilm 92143.
      Made 5 Jan. 1638 [1638/9] or thereabouts.
      Probated 1 Mar. 1638/9 by relict Dorothy Cornishe.
53. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
       Mr. James Cornish burial
54. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
       Jane the daughter of James Cornish baptism
55. J L. Vivian, editor, The Marriage Licenses of the Diocese of Exeter from
    the Bishop's Registers, (Exeter: William Pollard & Co., Printers, 1887), p. 111.
      Edward Robbins of London and Jane Cornish of Tiverton
56. Northampton Co., VA Deeds and Wills 3 [1645-1651], pp. 107-108.
      Richard Robins of Longbuckbye [Long Buckby] of County of Northampton, Gent., 
      [England] was due debts from the estate of Edward Robins, "my brother" and
      Obedient Robins, inhabiting in Virginia, another brother of the said Richard,
      hath possessed himself of a great quantity of the estate of said Edward Robins.
      Richard appoints "my Sister in Law" Jane Puddington, wife of Geor. Puddington,
      now inbabiting in Virginia, his attorney to demand of Obedient Robins such money
      due me.
57. George Puddington will, MD wills 2:5-9.
58. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Alice the daughter of James Cornish baptism
59. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Aquila Skinner & Alice Cornish marriage
60. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Allce wife of Mr. Aquella Skinner burial 
61. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      John the son of James Cornishe baptism
62. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Elizabeth the daughter of James Cornish baptism
63. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Richarde Crudge & Elizabeth Cornish marriage
64. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Elizabeth wife of Richard Crudge burial
65. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Sara the daughter of James Cornish baptism
66. Parish Church of Uffculme, Devon, England.
      Peter Atkins & Sarah Cornish marriage
67. [page torn, the daugh]ter of James Cornish baptism
68. Church of England, Parish Church of Tiverton,, Transcripts of Parish
    Registers and Bishop's Transcripts, FHL Microfilm 917540.
      Agnes daughter of James Cornishe baptized
69. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      George the son of James Cornishe burial
70. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Mary the daughter of Mr. James Cornyshe baptism
71. Peter Atkins will, PCC Wills, 1657, 421 Ruthen, FHL Microfilm 92233.
      Peter Atkins of Tiverton will written 5 May 1657
      Mentions George Cornish of London, Sadler. Wife Sarah Atkins.
      Peter Atkins, son of Henry Atkins
      Brother Kingwell and his wife. Brother George Cornish
      Schedule of legacies to be discharged includes brother James Kingwell
      of Washfield, clerk, and Mary his wife; brother-in-law George Cornish
      of London; Henry Atkins and wife Isabell.
      Proved 14 Oct. 1657
72. George Cornish will, 1707, PCC Wills, 203 Poley, FHL Microfilm 92462.
      Written 12 Oct. 1705; proved 1 Sep. 1707
      Bequests include cousin James Kingwell the elder of Exeter, 
      Apothecary, who is exector; cousin Peter Aktins.
73. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      George the son of Mr. James Cornishe baptism
74. St. Peter's Church Records, Tiverton, Devon, England.
      Isabell the daughter of Mr. James Cornish baptism
75. T. L. Stoate, The Devon Muster Roll for  1569, (Bristol:
    T. L. Stoate, 1977), p. 53.
76. Lt. Col. Harding, The History of Tiverton, in the County of Devon,
    (Tiverton, England: F. Boyce, 1847), Volume II, p. 181.