Hi Sue and Suzanne
Thanks for your posts, I have been googling a lot on this and found quite a few interesting facts. From what I can gather they were choosy around this time as to what convicts were allowed in and I think thats what Commended may mean - only the best of a bad bunch eh!
I emailed the Manx Museum to find out where the court records are kept and they responded
"As for the court
records, the central high court record series we hold cease at 1799;
thereafter 19th century records are held by the Isle of Man Public
Record Office "
So, I am hoping to receive something back on this and will keep you posted.
I now also have a copy of a letter written by Charles Hope re the transfer of William Cubbon from Rushen Gaol to Millbank 15/4/1847 and he was accompanied by a William Walter Bellion Police Constable - now how strange is this...William Walter Bellion was born in Liverpool and his sister married one of my ancestors in my Mothers line - and Wm Cubbon was the brother of one my my ancestors on my Fathers side! So basically these 'two -sides' met up again over a hundred years later!
Any news I find out I will put on the board.