Hi Alison,

We had a number of "conversations" on this board (mainly in 2004) about your Corkills in Cornwall who originated in the IOM.
Have you got any further with them?

I have been looking at the IOM newspapers recently put online through www.imuseum.im (click on "Join in"). Those of us who asked the Museum for updates on the process have been sent a free trial of 7 days, but they may offer it to others as well if you are quick. Offer ends on 31 Dec.

I looked at John Corkill first, because there were a long string of them at Ballagorry Mooar, Maughold, and the first newspaper item I came across was about an 1893 claim on the property of Ballagorry Moar and including Ballagorry Beg and Ards, (and other properties in Garff) by John Corkill whose grandfather was John Corkill from Penzance! Grandfather left the IOM in 1792 at the age of 19, was in the RN from 1792 to 1801, didn't return to the IOM and died in 1828. His eldest son William was born "off Island", never went there, and d.10th Jan.1862. Wm's eldest son John b.in England 1837 was the Plaintiff. He claimed that after his grandfather left the IOM, the second son Thomas wrongfully took possession of the property after their father's death.

He had first laid claim to a property in Castletown held by Corkills but found he was mistaken.

The case continued a week later (reported on 9/5/1893 Isle of Man Times) when the Plaintiff was named as Wm John Corkill, against John Robert Moore (husband of Eleanor Ann Corkill, descendant of Thomas of the Ards land). It is actually rather confusing, because they also seemed to be mixing up the Corkills living at the Ards with the Corkills at Ballagorry Mooar.

The jury returned a verdict for the defendant after the judge referred to inconsistencies and said that what the jury had to decide was whether John Corkill, the grandfather of the plaintiff, who had been in the navy and afterwards lived in Penzance was the son of John Corkill of the Ards, Maughold, through whom both parties claimed this property. The plaintiff had not shown this connection because he was not the only John Corkill in the navy at that time. The Ards son John C was said to have been a rigger or a sailmaker, but the plaintiff's grandfather's discharge papers described him as an "A.B." or able-bodied seaman.

Anyway, all very interesting. I hope your board email address still reaches you.

Sue