I am trying to sort out the family of John Kneen (“of Ramsey”) and Mary Joughin (m. Bri 22 May 1777).
There are four children baptised for this couple:
John: bapt 21 Jul 1778 Ramsey
William: bapt 17 Nov 1780 Ramsey
Ewan: bapt 7 Mar 1783 Maughold
Daniel: bapt 11 Jan 1786 Ramsey
I know quite a bit about Daniel and John, both of whom remained in Ramsey. Ewan is a mystery, and William has proved elusive. Recently, I was able to track down some records that I believe identify William, as follows:
Census 1841 – Michael
William Kneen 60 farmer Balla Lyre
Ann Kneen 43 wife
John Kneen 9 son
Census 1851 – Michael
William Kneen 71 landed proprietor farming 6 acres Ballalyre, b. Ramsey
Ann Kneen 54 wife, b. Michael
John Kneen 18 son, b. Michael
Census 1861 – Michael
William Kneen 82 landed proprietor farming 15 acres Ballalyre, b. Ramsey
Ann Kneen 64 wife, b. Michael
John Kneen 28 farmer’s son, b. Michael
Parish records - Michael
William Kneen (widower) m. Ann Kneale (spinster) 25 Jun 1837, Michael
William Kneen bur. 24 Jan 1766, 85y, of Baliera
Ann Kneen bur. 6 Dec 1764, 70 y, of Baleira
Since son John’s birth predates the marriage of William and Anne, I had thought he must be the son of William and his first wife. I suspect the first wife may have been Elizabeth Clague:
William Kneen m. Elizabeth Clague, 23 Nov 1807, Lezayre (both of Ramsey)
However, I can find neither a record of Elizabeth’s death (or a will), nor any record of William and Elizabeth having had any children (there is an indexed burial for Elizabeth Kneen in Lezayre on 15 Dec 1828, but the parish record lists only Elizabeth with no surname – the entry above this is for William Kneen jnr of Glen Mooar).
But it seems possible that John could be Ann Kneale’s son:
John, son of Anne Kneale, bapt. 26 Dec 1832, Michael
So he could be either the son of William Kneen and Anne Kneale, or at least took his stepfather’s name.
John Kneen is still farming in 1871 and 1881. He has not married.
Census 1871 - Michael
John Kneen 37 farmer of 14 acres & landowner Ballirey, b. Michael
Margaret Caine 58 general servant, b. Peel
Census 1881 - Michael
John Kneen 46 farmer (17 acres) Ballirey, b. Michael
He seems to have died some time between 1881 and 1891, as he does not appear to be in the 1891 census. But I can’t find any record of his burial or a will as such, or at least not in Michael. The closest I can find are deeds that suggest John Kneen died around 1889-90:
Record type: Registered Deeds
Parish: Michael
Biography: Sale. John Kneen by Robert Kaighin coroner of Michael to William Kneen. Ballirey in parish of Michael. Deed ref.: MS 09494/1890/02/009. (Deed requisition book entry: L 22639/11/4555.)
Deed date: 1 February 1890
I am pretty certain the William Kneen in this deed is William Kneen’s nephew, the son of William’s younger brother Daniel. This William Kneen married Margaret Radcliffe on 1 Jan 1859, at Lezayre. They had no children. I believe these are the William and Margaret mentioned in the following documents:
Record type: Registered Deeds
Parish: Michael
Biography: Sale. Kneen, William and Margaret his wife to John Caine. Ballirey in parish of Michael. Deed ref.: MS 09494/1890/02/011. (Deed requisition book entry: L 22639/11/4556.)
Deed date: 1 February 1890
Record type: Registered Deeds
Parish: Michael
Biography: Sale. William Kneen and wife to Eliza Crellin. Dwelling house in village in the parish of Michael. Deed ref.: MS 09494/1891/05/011. (Deed requisition book entry: L 22639/12/1058.)
Deed date: 23 April 1891
Record type: Registered Deeds
Parish: Michael
Biography: Sale. William Kneen and Margaret Kneen his wife to Thomas Caine. House in the parish of Michael. Deed ref.: MS 09494/1894/10/013. (Deed requisition book entry: L 22639/12/5060.)
Deed date: 12 March 1894
I apologise for this lengthy message but would be really grateful should anyone have any information that they can add to flesh this out a bit, or confirm or shoot down in flames my thoughts on this.
Malea