Thomas Vivian, Esq., eldest son of the aforesaid John, married ―――― Blathwayte, sister to William Blathwayte, Esq. Secretary at War to King James the Second and William the Third, but had no issue by her. His second wife was the daughter of ―――― Dodson, Esq. but died without issue by her. His second brother, John Vivian, Esq. barrister-at-law, married also two wives: the first Anne, daughter of Matthew Hals, of Efford, Esq., but she also died without issue; on whose death her father-in-law made this epitaph fixed on her hearse, 1682:
Who underneath this mournful sable lies, But one that did all worldly pomp despise? It’s not adorned with painted pageantry, To blazon forth her great antiquity; Nor were’t more necessary to be done, Than lighting candles in the mid-day sun; Her shining virtues did so far exceed, That of this lesser lustre there’s no need. These praise her in the gates; these speak on earth, Her higher extract and her heavenly birth. And now she’s parted hence, but to go home; For where she born was, thither must she come. Could cares, or tears, or prayers have her repriev’d, She had, to our great comfort, longer lived. Farewell, then, dearest Saint, till thou and I Do meet in bliss, to live eternally. J. V.
His second wife was Mary, daughter of Joseph Sawle, of Penrice, Esq. by whom he hath issue John, Mary, and Thomas.
Francis Vivian, Esq. third son of the aforesaid John, married Anne, daughter of Henry Mynon, gent., sole heir to her mother Bridget, the only surviving child of Sir Samuel Coswarth, Knight (see Colan), by whom he had issue one only daughter named Mary, now wife of Sir Richard Vivian, Baronet. Ann Vivian married Simon Leach, gent. some time her father’s clerk; Jane married James Beaufort, clerk.
The arms of those Vivians are the same as was borne and given by Prior Thomas Vivian, of Bodmin, with some small difference. (See Bodmin.)
In the town of St. Colomb, for three or four descents, lived the gentle family of the Carters (originally descended from the Carters of Staffordshire), where by trade and merchandise they got a great estate, and married with Vivian, Arundell of Solverne, and Moyle of Bake; and lastly, Richard Carter, Esq., a Justice of the Peace, and Member of Parliament for Mitchell, married Elizabeth King, alias Lucas, alias Shepard, of the City of London, spinster, a woman destitute of fame and fortune, whereby he was led into such excess of riot and expence of monies that he was forced to sell all his lands, and reduced himself to about 50_l._ per annum during life. Part of his lands were sold to his younger brother, John Carter, who married ―――― Lawry, whose three daughters and heirs were married to William Silly, Esq., Giles Risdon, of Badleigh, Esq., and Thomas Hoblyn, gent. attorney-at-law, now in possession thereof. The arms of Carter were, In a field Argent, two lions combatant Sable, armed and langued Gules.