There was no one exclusive patron, but neighbouring squires had a natural interest in the borough: in the first place George Hunt of Lanhydrock, heir to the Robartes family; Thomas Pitt, sen. and jun., of Boconnoc; and Christopher Treise and his nephew John Morshead, of Lavethan. The Hunt family held one seat throughout the period 1754-90; but their hold was not absolute. The last attempt within this period to assert the Boconnoc interest was made at the by-election of 1762.