Philip,

Thought you might find this amusing about our Humphrey. From Frances' site at http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/wernt.htm

There have been times I've arrived for work feeling much the same way. Never thought of that for an excuse though. Read on...

Under ' Fairy ' Control.—'About fifty years ago,' said Mr. T. Leece, the son, 'Paul Taggart, my wife’s uncle, a tailor by trade, had for an apprentice, Humphrey Keggan, a young man eighteen or nineteen years of age ; and it often happened that while the two of them would be returning home at nightfall, the apprentice would suddenly disappear from the side of the tailor, and even in the midst of a conversation, as soon as they had crossed the burn in the field down there (indicating an adjoining field). And Taggart could not see nor hear Humphrey go. The next morning Humphrey would come back, but so worn out that he could not work, and he always declared that little men had come to him in , crowds, and used him as a horse, and that with them he had travelled all night across fields and over hedges.’ The wife of the narrator substantiated this strange psychological story by adding :—' This is true, because I know my Uncle Paul too well to doubt what he says.’ And she then related the two following stories

[ Humphrey is a very unusual name on Island - so most likely fit from 1881 census is at Jurby, Castle Lake
CALLISTER Alicia Head W F 78 Farmer of 16 Acres born Braddan IoM
KAIGHIN Humphrey Son in law M M 43 Farmer born Ballaugh IoM
KAIGHIN Elizabeth Daur M F 38 Farmers Wife born Jurby IoM
CALLISTER Thomas Brother in law U M 79 Annuitant born Ballaugh IoM - the ages fit

There were Taggarts at Ballamoda and Clycur (next door to each other ) in 1881 - however there was only 1 Paul Taggart in 1881 and he was 92 (living at Knockrushen with his relatives) so not sure re the 50 years ago tailor bit ]

Greg