Maybe???
1620 CAPTAIN EDWARD CHRISTIAN
A Manxman who is carving out a distinguished career for him self at sea has just been
appointed
commander of the 34 gun English frigate ‘Bonaventure'. He is Captain Edward Christian,
second son of
the reverend John Christian, Vicar of Maughold, who left the Island originally to sail as
Master with the
East India company. Last year he become a courtier in the Duke of Buckingham's suite at
the English
Court. It is this position which has led to his latest preferment. Captain Christian has
always made it
know that he intends to settle in the Isle of Man eventually.
Wm5 Mcylrea(John4, John3 McGilrea, Danold2 Gilrea, John1 Milerea) was born
November 11, 1627,
and died April 11, 1674. He married Ann Christian, December 14, 1645 in Kirk Jurby.
Children of Wm Mcylrea and Ann Christian =[might be related to William Christian]=
are:
i. Daniel Mcylrea, b. April 21, 1655; d. May 10,1727.
ii. John Mcylrea, b. March 21, 1657.
iii. William Mcylrea, b. May 8, 1658.
1663 EXECUTION OF WILLIAM CHRISTIAN
In spite of a last minute appeal for reprieve sent to King Charles in London, sentence of
death was carried
out today, 2nd January, on 54 year old William Christian of Castletown. Before a large
crowd he made a
brave end to his life with a speech in which he declared he has acted in the best interests of
his fellow
Manxmen as well as Charlotte, Countess of Derby. We have this report from Hango Hill:
‘Christian went to his Maker in front of a firing squad. But there was little heart in the men
behind the
muskets and some could be seen aiming into the air above Christian’s head. The original
sentence of the
Court of General Gaol Delivery last month was the usual one for treason - to be hung, drawn
and
quartered. But this was commuted to death by shooting on account of his wife’s severe
distress.
Christian bore up nobly to his fate and refused the blindfold before the musket balls struck
him down.
Now it will be for history to decide whether this Manxman known to all as Brown-haired
William, or
Illiam Dhone, was traitor or patriot. He held the office of Receiver of Revenues and was
Major General to
the Countess Charlotte when her husband, the seventh Earl of Derby, Lord of Man, The
Great Stanley was
beheaded twelve years ago at Bolton for his support for the Royalist cause against that of
Parliament. It
was a meeting at Christian’s family home at Ronaldsway that nearly 800 Manxmen took oath
to turn
against Countess Charlotte, who had been left in charge of the Lord’s affairs, and surrender
the Island to
the Parliamentary forces under Colonel Cuckenfield which landed at Ramsey after the
execution of Lord
Derby and captured Castle Rushen shortly after that. In his final speech this morning
Christian said he
had been aware of his duty to Countess Charlotte. But he had believed his greater duty had
been to his
fellow Manx. It was the restoration of the Monarchy that led to Christian being brought to
trial on the
orders of the present Lord of Man, Charles, eighth Earl of Derby, son of countess charlotte
and the
seventh Earl. But he denied the right of the court to try him and refused to plead, so that he
was virtually
condemned without trial. He was sentenced to death, but three other leaders of his alleged
rebellion
against the Lord were imprisoned.’
William Christian was a son of Deemster Ewan Christian - and a distant family connection
of another
Manxman of destiny, the late Captain Edward Christian. Captain Christian was serving a
life sentence
for rebellion against the Lord when was released by Colonel Duckenfield from Peel castle
after the latter’s
capture of the Island. He was imprisoned again eight years later, this time for plotting
against Governor
Chaloner, and died in Peel Castle eighteen month ago. His great demand had been that the
Keys should
be democratically elected, and that Keys and Deemsters should swear an oath to repeal all
laws not in the
interests of the Manx people.
1688 WILLIAM CHRISTIAN’S ESTATE RESTORED
The estates of the man who is coming to be regarded as a Manx patriot and martyr, William
Christian,
better known as Illiam Dhone, are to be restored to his family. This includes his house at
Derbyhaven,
within sight of where he died before a fireing squad five years ago for alleged rebellion
against Derby rule
in 1651. The move follows the grant by King Charles of the appeal for a reprieve, which was
sent to
London when the death sentence was passed at a Court of General Gaol. The reprieve was
granted - but
the royal warrant did not arrive in the Island until after Christian’s execution. His alleged
fellow
conspirators have already been release from imprisonment, and their estate restored.
John Milerea (the early spelling of Mylrea) was born 1500 in Dollagh Mooar, which is in
Ballaugh...
Let me know if you find anything else on the subject...I'm glad I didn't live in those times.
Craig Mylrea