Hi,

I was doing a search for Highton House in the Isle of man, I was searching for it because of a bio data I recieved stating that a family member of mine built Highton House but I am not sure how true this is.

JAMES KEWLEY 1783 - ~1868

James Kewley, 5th child of John Kewley of Ballanard and his wife Elizabeth, nee Cannell of Tromode, was born probably in 1783 presumably at Ballanard farm, situated in the parish of Onchan, just west of Douglas. He was christened at Old Kirk Braddan on 28/9/1783.

James built Highton House on Ballanard land in ………

Little is known of his life or that of his family, however his Will of 1860 states:
“Whereas by deed of Settlement duly executed by me and dated the fifth day of September One thousand eight hundred and sixty I settled the Estates of Ballanard and Tromode in Conchon upon my natural son Lewis Philip Kewley Kewley now living with me ….”

Brown’s Directory for 1881 records a Mrs Catherine Kewley of Highton House, Ballanard; this may have been the widow of James Kewley, but if so, then she was a lot younger than him. There is no reference to her in James’s Will of 1860. Neither does Catherine appear to be the widow of James’s son Lewis, whose wife, Ester, outlived him. To date, there is no other information available on any marriage of James or on the birth or christening of his son Lewis. It is presumed that Lewis was born around 1840, at which date James would have been aged 57.

In May 1887, A W Moore FRHS, of nearby Cronkbourne, wrote: “In 1772, Yn Bible Casherick ("The Holy Bible,")[ was] printed by Ware and Son, Whitehaven. Further editions appeared in 1775, 1777, and 1811 (This last edition was revised by the late James Kewley, of Ballanard, in the parish of Onchan)”. This shows that James was something of a scholar. It is possible that he is the James Kewley mentioned as the collector of subscriptions for the Douglas Library in an announcement in the Manx Advertiser of 15/10/1814.

According to the Brew Collection of Pedigrees, “James of Ballanard produced the first Manx Crelin apple in 1815”. This suggests that James was an active horticulturalist. Whether or not he was actively involved in farming is uncertain.

Probate on James’s Will was granted on 1 May 1868, but his actual date of death and burial are presently unknown.

Would you know anything about this

Best Regards,
Tom.