Another ancient family owning considerable estates in the parish were the Sparnons, of Sparnon and Pengelly. They seem to have held their estates at any rate from the fifteenth century, if not earlier. We find from the Church registers that at the meridian of their prosperity they made alliances both with the Godolphins and the Arundells. The outlines of the ancient home of the Sparnons at Sparnon, under the shadow of the eastern end of Tregoning Hill, may still be traced. The Sparnons ultimately built themselves a larger house on higher ground at Pengelly, part of which still exists, serving as a farm house. In our Church and churchyard several of the memorials of the Sparnons still survive. Their estates were purchased in the eighteenth century by Mr. Justice Buller, and are still held by his descendant, the present Lord Churston. The Carter family settled in America, who in recent years have been such generous benefactors to Breage Church, descend on the female side from the Sparnons. It is pleasant to realise how frequently the offshoots of old families renew themselves in new lands, sending forth vigorous shoots to carry on old traditions and ideals of service and usefulness. FOOTNOTES: [51] For the history of the Manor of Methleigh I am indebted to the Rev. T. Taylor, of St. Just. [52] See Vivian's "Visitations of Cornwall," Lyson's "Cornwall," etc., etc. [53] Other powerful branches of the Arundell family were settled at Trerice, Mandarva and Tremoderet, in the Parish of Duloe. [54] See Lyson's "Cornwall." [55] Scenal Series, page 251. [56] See a paper by the Rev. T. Taylor on "The Bevilles of Drennick and Woolstan," No. LIV. Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. [57] State Papers. Worthies and Unworthies. _Harry Carter_, _John Carter, "King of Prussia"_; _Smuggling Ways and Days_; _William Lemon_, _Captain Tobias Martin, Poet_, _Joseph Boaden, Mathematician_. CHAPTER VIII.