The main leaders of the Jacobite uprising in Cornwall were the
High Tories James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde and
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke. Part of their scheme was to capture
Bristol,
Exeter and
Plymouth. With these important places in the hands of the Jacobites, they hoped that other smaller towns would join the cause. Ormonde had implicit confidence in
Colonel Maclean, who had been sent to Devon and Cornwall to visit prominent members of the Tory party, and others likely to support the Pretender's cause. It turned out that Maclean was probably a spy who supplied the Ministry with names of Jacobite adherents, and measures were taken to prevent their committing mischief or folly. On 22 September,
John Anstis,
MP for
Launceston, was arrested for plotting an uprising and on 6 October
Sir Richard Vyvyan of Trelowarren (and
Trewan Hall,
St Columb Major), MP for Cornwall and the most influential Jacobite in the West, was taken and sent to London in the custody of a messenger. On 7 October Mr
James Paynter of
Trekenning, proclaimed the Pretender in the market square at
St Columb Major in Cornwall. At this time the representative of the Government in Cornwall was
Hugh Boscawen, of Tregothnan. This gentleman called out the
militia and took measures which effectively put an end to any attempt at a rising. James Paynter and his servant along with fellow rebel, Henry Darr (also of St Columb) fled to London and remained undiscovered for some time. Paynter's servant at this time was sending letters to a sweetheart at St Columb and it seems that the postmaster suspected that the letter came from one of the suspects and inspecting the letter found that it come from London. Immediately warrants were ordered but they denied their names until eventually a messenger was sent to London who knew them particularly well and they were found to be the same persons. Some time later Paynter and his fellow rebels were sent to
Newgate to be tried for
high treason. Paynter claimed to be a judge in Cornwall, so he was tried at
Launceston. Here Henry Darr died in the prison. Eventually Paynter was acquitted by a packed Jacobite jury. Following the release of the rebels, friends appeared with white
cockades in their hats (a Jacobite symbol), as a token of joy they were welcomed with 'bonfire and
ball' all the way to
Lands End .
Proclamation at St Columb In October 1716, the names associated with the proclamation of James III at St Columb were as follows: James Paynter, jun.; Thomas Bishop, gent.; Henry Darr, (bayliff and inn keeper); Anthony Hoskin, (pewterer); Francis Brewer, jun.; Richard Whitford, (barber); John Angove, (clothier); Richard Meter, (taylor). According to
Henry Jenner, it seems probable that the postmaster who opened the letter from James Paynter's servant was none other than the celebrated
Ralph Allen, afterwards of
Bath. He certainly was at St Columb
post office at that time and his distinguishing himself by his scrupulous performance may have been the beginning of his fortunes. ==In fiction==