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Manx Genealogy Archive 2

Re: Robert Corran
In Response To: Re: Robert Corran ()

My maternal grandmother was Ann Jane (Jinnie) Corran b1898 d 1968 m. Frederick Garrett.
They lived most of their lives at 13 Leigh Terrace although Ann Jane was born in Fort Street and the family moved to 5 South Quay where they ran a shop which operated at various times as a fish and chip shop and a sweet shop.

From memory, she was the oldest child of Robert (Robbie) Corran and Alice Sinclair Hayes (Manchester) she had twin brothers Robert Alfred (Alfie) m. Margaret Long and John Jacob (Johnnie) m. Bella ? then Gerard Archibald (Archie) m. Agnes Graham and Robert (Bobbie) m. Edna Kneale.

Robbie was a boatman and in his latter years he was crippled with arthritis and had to be pushed around in a basketwork "bath" chair and was often seen on Douglas prom inspecting his fleet of "rowies" with one of his grandchildren pushing him along.

Alfie and Johnnie were also boatmen and had a fleet of rowing boats which they would operate from the Sefton steps or Broadway.

Archie was a delivery driver for the Steam Packet Company and lived at 10 St Georges Street.

Bobbie was the youngest and lived at 5 South Quay for many years and latterly moved to Peel Road. He operated a pleasure launch "Shamrock" and rowing boats in summer and operated a fishing boat "St Maughold" in Winter. He was Cox'n of the lifeboat as was son Robert and son Neal is present Cox'n

Robbie's parents were Matthias (Matty) and Ann Jane McKewin (Irish) she was a seamstress who worked for the Pollack family who occupied the Derby Castle when it was a private residence.

I do have some more written information but can't put my hand on it a the moment so can't tell you any more with certainty, However I can tell you something about Kitty Martin. She was always referred to by the family as great aunt Kitty, she married 3 times, to Lewin, Martin and Stowell ( not necessarily in that order) one of the husbands fell in the harbour and died. At the wake of one of the husbands (apparently held prior to the burial) aunt Kitty went missing and was later found in bed with the corpse (somewhat inebriated). I have photograph of her somewhere but again I'm unsure where it is. Hope this helps.