Richard Trevithick: Marriage and Family

Note: This is a sub-section of Richard Trevithick

See Trevithick Genealogy

1797 November 7th. Trevithick married Jane Harvey (1772-1848) of Hayle at St. Erth.

Jane was a daughter of John Harvey, an Ironfounder and formerly a blacksmith from Carnwall Green who formed the local foundry Harveys of Hayle. The company became famous world-wide for building huge stationary 'beam' engines for pumping water, usually from mines, based on Newcomen’s and Watt’s engines. Jane was born at Carnhell, Gwinear, on 25th June 1772, and was aged 25 when they married.

1797 They lived at Moreton House, Redruth for the first nine months of the marriage and then moved to Camborne where they lived for ten years.

1808 Trevithick saw opportunities in London and persuaded his wife and 4 children reluctantly to join him for two and a half years lodging first in Rotherhithe and then in Limehouse.

1851 In the census at Pen Cliff, St Erth there are:

• Jane Trevithick, Head, age 78, Widow, Land and House Proprietor. Born at Gwinear.
• Richard Trevithick, Son, age 52, Agent Iron Trade. Born at Camborne.
• plus two servants.

1861 In the census at Foundry Hill, St Erth there are:

• Richard Trevithick, Head, age 62, Unmarried, Gentleman. Born at Camborne.
• Jane Trevithick, Mother, age 88, Widow. Born at Gwinear.
• Elizabeth Banfield, Sister, age 58, Married. Born at Camborne.
• plus two servants

Their children were:-

• Richard Trevithick (1798-1872)
• Anne (1800-1876). Married Hannibal Ellis
• Elizabeth (1803-1870). Married John Banfield
• John Harvey Trevithick (1807-1877). Married Charlotte Stewart
• Francis Trevithick (1812-1877). Married Mary Ewart
• Frederick Henry Trevithick (1816-1902). Married Maria Garland

Trevithick's wife, Jane, lived to the age of ninety-six. She died at Pencliffe, Hayle in 1868. She had remained loyal to him during long years of financial difficulty and separation. She had received no money from him during his South American sojourn, during which time she was supported by her brother, Henry Harvey.

Of their six children, Francis Trevithick (1812–1877) became chief mechanical engineer of the London and North Western Railway, and Frederick Henry Trevithick constructed the floating steam bridge between Portsmouth and Gosport in 1864.

Little is known of Richard (1798–1872), John Harvey (1806–1877), Ann, or Elizabeth.

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