Hi Karen
The Che-NOW-eth pronunciation is also possible, I have also heard one or two people pronounce it that way. I think through the mists of time and dialects, different pronunciations have emerged.
Most of my family records simply list the area as St Agnes, although I suspect that some of my people were born around Truro. My main ancestor around 1841-1851 was James Lean Chynoweth b. 1823 in Calstock Parish, South-Eastern Cornwall. It was his father and their people who were from the St Agnes area, at some stage they must have migrated south for some reason. Joseph was born in St Agnes in 1800 but died in Calstock Parish in 1837 (not long after he and his wife Elizabeth conceived a daughter, born in 1838). Joseph's 7 siblings - Mary, James, William & James (twins), Richard, John and Eliza - were also born in St Agnes.
Joseph's father James Chynoweth was also born in St Agnes around 1775. He married a Mary Roberts b. 26/3/1779. James had 11 siblings (all born in St Agnes) Alice, Elizabeth, Mary, Richard, another Elizabeth, another Mary, Grace, Eliza, John, Benjamin and Joseph.
Hope this helps. If it would be easier corresponding off this board, my direct e-mail contact is
leahjet@tiscali.co.uk.
Warm regards,
Leah