Hi,

I would be grateful for any information relating to John D. Muntz's time in the Isle of Man.

As you know, John Devereux Muntz’s wife was Caroline Julia (nee Shaw), whom he married in 1849, and with whom he had a number of children.

However, John Devereux Muntz appears to have had a second family with Harriet, in the Isle of Man.

He abandoned his wife, Caroline Julia, sometime between 1861 & 1871 (he is shown in the Isle of Man, with his wife, Harriet, in the 1871 census, while Caroline Julia is shown alone in Birmingham).

His daughter, Josephine, was born in 1855, and, at the time of her marriage to Samuel Genese, in the Isle of Man, in 1879, was described, in the press, as ‘the only daughter’ of John Devereux Muntz, Brook Villa, Union Mills, Marown.

In the Isle of Man, John D. had previously lived at 5 West View (1871) & 13 Mona Terrace (1875 & 1876).

As well as singing, Josephine played pianoforte very capably, and gave music lessons in 13 Mona Terrace in 1876 She was to go on to become Madame Ilma Norina.

Josephine had a brother, John (Frederick) Muntz, who was born in Warwick in 1867 ; he appeared, for the first time on stage, in April, 1880, as Billy in ‘John Grumley’, in the Victoria Hall.

In August, 1876, the Muntz family moved to ‘Brook Villa’ from 13 Mona Terrace ; in January, 1878, John D. Muntz, Union Mills, Isle of Man, was given a licence to carry a firearm ; in mid-June, 1880, Brook Villa was put up for rental..

John Devereux Muntz died on 25th September, 1881 in Nottingham, aged 55, and was buried on 30th September, 1881, in Church (Rock) Cemetery, Nottingham. Both of Josephine Muntz’s children (John Samuel Genese & Harriet Clara Genese) were born in Nottingham – in 1880 & 1881, respectively — and Harriet Muntz was also there, with Josephine, in April, 1881.