The Harvey's of Hayle

In 1779, John Harvey, was originally a blacksmith from Carnell Green near Gwinear. He was more than an ordinary run-of-the mill blacksmith however, he is known to have been able to turn his hand to many trades. He was well known to many of the mine managers in the area for whom he undertook work occasionally.   Records show that he had worked with Richard Trevithick Senior,  with Arthur Wolf and William West before deciding to strike out and establish a foundry on the bank of  the Penpol River ay Hayle. Encouraged by his landlord at Gwinear Sir John St Aubyn, John Harvey  rented the land at Carnsew, which was also owned by Sir John.   He had seen a market in supplying the growing Cornish mining industry and set about producing hand tools, cast iron pumps, pipe-work and general hardware. From that small start grew the Harvey's Empire

John Harvey

Shortly after moving to Hayle, the two eldest boys were taken ill and died, John in 1783 and William in 1788. Francis was killed in an accident in the foundry in 1790. The very bleak time for the Harvey's was broken only by the Marriage of Daughter Joanna to engineer William West in 1784. It was William West's engineering skills that were able to transform some of Richard Trevithick's inventions into reality.

Talking to Richard Trevithick, son of Richard Senior, he often found himself working for John Harvey and became acquainted with John's daughter Jane. On 7 November 1797 Jane Harvey and Richard Trevithick Junior were married at St Erth church.

John's oldest remaining son Henry - the 'great Mr Harvey', as he was called despite his modest stature - inherited the foundry on John's death in 1803.

Henry Harvey never married, but in about 1820, he began a long lasting liaison with a Miss Grace Tonkin who was 25 years his junior.  A house for Grace was purchased close by Henry's in Foundry, but despite the pair apparently living separately they managed to have nine children together. Apparently no attempt was made to hide the relationship and both parties were open about it. The children were all baptised in St Erth Church and took the name Harvey.

There is much speculation about why Henry never married Grace. Some think that it was to prevent possible conflict between himself and his sisters and the potential inheritance prospects of their children the Harvey's, West's and Trevithick who were so important to the continued success of the Harvey Business.

While his illegitimate children were excluded from inheriting any of the Harvey Empire as such, Henry did set up a trust fund for them by selling property that he has owned in Stithians. It is known that at least some of the children went on to set up their own businesses in Hayle, Francis became a grocer, Richard a chemist, and Edwin a draper.

Henry Harvey died in 1850 and his numerous nephews and nieces were beneficiaries under his will and it was Nephew Nicholas Oliver Harvey, Son of Anne and John of Helston, that took over the running of Harvey's foundry.