Keith, mainly they were farmers but the one who lived most of his life in Padstow (my gr,gr,gr,grandfather) was also a school teacher and a stone cutter. In fact, many of the 19thC slate headstones in St Petroc's are signed PT or P Trescowthick. The families who came to NZ in 1856 were involved in building and the old schoolhouse in Little Petherick was reputed to have been built by another 3xgr.grandfather, John Henwood.
My ancestors have been kiwis for almost 150 years but my heart is in Cornwall - and my feet too, it seems!
Robyn