Isle of Man Family History Society Journal Volume vi no 4 Oct 1984

• Book Review - Pilgrim Myles Standish - First Manx American by G.V.C.Young (inc extract Fam Tree)
• The Quays of Man
• Laxey in the New World part 3
• Memorials of God's Acre - Tear/Teer/Teare
• The Augmented Pallot Index: circa 1780-1837 (London/S E registers of marriages etc)
• Liverpool Manxmen (Final episode)
• Preparing your Family History for Publication

BOOK REVIEW

Pilgrim Myles Standish - First Manx American

G.V.C. Young

This is a further book from the prolific pen of ‘Barney’ Young, a well known member of our Society. It is published to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the birth of Myles Standish at Ellenbane, Lezayre in 1584, and who later became Captain and Military leader of the Pilgrim Fathers. Previously Myles Standish’s background has been somewhat shrouded in mystery, bat this monograph proves that Myles did belong to a branch of the Standish Family which had lived on the Island since the early 1500’s, and furthers the strong claim that he was the first Manx American.

Barney has made excellent use of many legal documents, such as deeds and wills, to show his subjects descent from Gilbert Standish of Ormskirk In Lancashire , and even further back to Jordan de Standish, of Standish in Lancashire in the early 1300’s. The reproduction of these family trees (one is reproduced by kind permission of the author) will be of great interest to all family history devotees and genealogy students, particularly perhaps to American of Manx descent. A helpful glossary of very unfamiliar terms used in those times, as well as a full index of names and places used in the text, is included.

The book is very well produced with clear easy—to—read print and sub headings, which I always find helpful, and all packaged in a very attractive cover design.

The UK price is £2.95p post free and the USA price is US $3.75 plus postage and an extra charge f or bank charges if paid in dollars. Books are available from The Mansk-Svenska Publishing Co. Ltd., 17 North View, Peel, Isle of Man.

Editor

The Rev. Reginald Kissack, our Chairman, was among twelve finalists out of 150 entrants for a national Family History competition, organised by the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies. and recently, at -the Institute’s annual luncheon at the Savoy Hotel he received from the president, Major-General Viscount Moncton of Brenchley, a pewter goblet engraved with the Institute’s arms and a certificate of highly commended for his family history of the Kissacks of the Isle of Man, entitled "Seed of Isaac".

THE QUAYs OF MAN

by

Susan Drake-Feary (nee Quay)

When I arrived m the Isle of Man in July last year, I was the first of my line to return to the Island for at least five generations. Mannanan was pleased the day I arrived and lifted his cloak. From the day my husband. David and I arrived to the day we left was a time of enchantment, and I, who tour years previously did not know I had Manx blood, fell under the Isle's spell forever.

When I was growing up, I had often pondered the meaning of my maiden name of Quay. In my early childhood in England I never came across this name outside of my own family, Later in Australia one of my teachers, during a lesson of Family History suggested my name sounded French. I have since found there is little evidence to support this. In Australia the only other Quay's I came across for many years were Chinese. I believe Quay is an anglicised form of a common Chinese family name. As my fine bones were the only sign on me to support Chinese heredity, I decided I'd have to look elsewhere for my racial origins, on my paternal side. These I found in 1979 after a chance reading of an article on the Manx Millennium.

Until I had read "Identifying Manx Surnames" in the Genealogists' Magazine (E.J.P. Farrant, March 1979) 1 assumed I had a totally British Isles background. True my father was Canadian, but his father was Scottish. I had heard there were MacQuay's in Scotland, perhaps we had lost the Mac along the way. However, Farrant's article gave me an idea, since proved, that the name had originated from the Isle of Man. My next step was to send for copies from the Mormon Computer File Index. for Quay's of Scotland and the Isle of Man. They returned less than 1/4 page for Scotland and 17 pages for the Isle of Man. At last I was on the right track.

My family had always pronounced our name KEY. I hadn't been long on Man before realising it should have been KWAY. Whilst on the Island I came across some early Quay records. Time will tell if any are related to my branch or not. The earliest references to the name Quay or its possible variants:(Mac)quaye; Kee; Key; Kay(e); Qua;.Kie; Kye, were Fyntt McKeee, a Deemster in 1408, in the same year Scymynd McKee was one of the inquest of 24, as was Hugh MacQuay in 1429. Kneen's "Personal Names of the Isle of Man" records MacQuay in 1429 & 1511; macQuayes in 1511 and a Quay in the parish registers of 1628. There was a Quay tenant of the Abbeylands of the Monastery of' Rushen 1611 then living in Kirk German. In the 19th century Quay's owned land in the Parish of Patrick William Quay) ; Parish of Marown (John Quay); Parish of Jurby William Quay, Isabella Quay and William Quaye). Quay's are also mentioned in the Castle Rushen prison records. In 1878 James Quay aged 64 years was committed for receiving stolen goods but was later discharged by petition. The next year Robert Quay. aged 23 years was committed as a deserter from the Royal Artillery. He was delivered to an escort to be taken to his company at Tilbury Fort. and later eleven shillings was received for the prisoner's maintenance. Two Quaye's are also on the second World War memorial at St. Johns. As can be seen from the above, MacQuay was in use on the Isle of Man by the 15th century, whilst Quay was in use by at least the early 17th century.

Research into my own Quay background has taken me through England, where my generation of Quay's were born, Canada where my father, William Quay, and his generation was born and reared; to Scotland, where his father Adam Quay and Grandfather John Quay was born, near Glasgow, Scotland. It is John's father who now interests me and where I am now 'stuck'. John's parents were John Quay and Isabella (Mc) Connell who were married August 12, 1851 :in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. My ancestor John wasn't born to them until 1864, by then they were living in the Old Monkland District in Scotland, where John Quay snr, was a mineral labourer. By the time John jnr. had married in 1891, John snr. was a widower, working as a coal-miner. I dare say John and Isabella Quay had other children born to them in both Scotland and Ireland. What I am looking for now is John snr.'s birthplace and parentage. How interesting if he proves my Manx link.

When I was in Scotland I found nine Quay entries in the Glasgow telephone directory, perhaps some of these are also descendants of John and Isabella Quay. In the Manx directory, there were no Quay entries, although there were several Quaye. From my direct line of John Quay jnr. there are now only three male Quay's to carry on the name. Two of these are in England and one in Australia. It is interesting that I recently came across a large family of Quay in Australia, who are connected with the circus.

The surname of QUAY is from the Gaelic MacAodh, meaning 'son of fire*. (I would be interested to find out by what process MacAodh can become MacQuay!.) The heraldic arms for Quay are argent three wolves' heads erased sabel, langued gules, collared and chained on. The crest is two swords in saltire points down proper, pommels and hilts on.

LAXEY in the NEW WORLD

(Manxmen and their Cornish Neighbours)

(Reproduced by kind permission of the Laxey Committee)

PART 3

Early Laxey-Bloomfield by Wayne Watkins

Any serious inquiry into the early history of the Laxey-Bloomfield area should begin by asking what it looked like when the first agricultural settlers arrived. Hills and valleys, of course. were as now, but what was prairie and what was not?

The earliest document source of information dealing specifically with Laxey-Bloomfield is the report of the first government surveyor who worked the area in 1832.

The United States acquired the area in 1783, made it part of the Northwest Territory in 1787. but did not sell any of it until 1835. Before government land could be sold in parcels, it had to be surveyed. Our part of Wisconsin was surveyed in the early 1830's prior to the opening of the Mineral Point land office in 1835.

The survey maps recorded sections, towns and ranges as well as designating prairie land. It marked the location of roads in use at that time by miners teamsters, and early travellers, and the location of any homes in the area.

Somewhat surprisingly today, less than half of the area commonly thought of as Laxey and Bloomfield was designated as prairie by the deputy surveyor, Harvey Parks, who mapped Town 5 in 1832 and by S. Sibley who mapped Town 6 in 1833. This paper is considering Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12 in Town 5 North, and Sections 34,35 and 36 in Town 6 North, all in R.2 East. This square mile area is bounded on the west by Sunny Slope Road, on the east by the Town of Linden-Town of Dodgeville line, m the north by the County Farm Road, and on the south by an east-west line even with the mill Creek Road.

The maps contain no description of prairie land qualifications. Certainly it must be assumed that prairie must be covered by grass. even if there were occasional groves of scattered oaks, called oak openings by some and savanna by others. Grass also grew beneath these trees.

An for the rest of the area, it must have been non-grass land covered by timber or bash or both. The Reverend T.M. Fullerton wrote of following a bridle path from Dodgeville to Peddler's Creek in the 1840's through the "brushy prairie". One might guess that the surveyors compromised somewhat in their designations.

It is interesting to note that the large bur oak trees in Laxey Cemetery were not planted by man but were once part of a large grove extending both north and south. Bloomfield Cemetery was located within the prairie.

The bur oak grooves which are so familiar to us and which add so much interest and beauty to the landscape should be cherished to the utmost, because as each ancient oak dies, there are none to take its place. Unless something unforeseen occurs, the groves will gradually disappear and posterity will view oak-less hills. It isn't that young oak trees do not sprout and grow. they are eaten and trampled into oblivion by livestock. Present economics does not warrant vacant pastures so that young trees can grow umolested; neither is it practical to fence livestock from individual trees.

One very important pre-settlement road passed through the Laxey-Bloomfield area. There were several well travelled roads between Dodgeville and Galena. One split away from Military Ridge just west of the hill where the Inverson quarry is now located and headed southwesterly along the high ridge which divides the watersheds of the Spensly and Laxey creeks. Soon it passed one of the two homes in the entire Laxey-Bloomfield area located on the spot where the Parsons family later lived. Who lived there or why is not now known. The road continued m through the now Brokish. Rock. Each and Wendhausen lands, near the Penhallegon home, on through Baker's and Goodweiler's, then staying more closely to the crest of the narrowing ridge, passed very near to the location of Diamond Grove School. The road followed the same ridge to its very end until forced to make a crossing at the Jia Graber farm. Climbing another ridge, it transversed to Town of Mifflin and later passed between Belmont and Platteville Mound on its way to Galena.

The traffic would present a curious sight today as occasional carriages with high stepping horses would pass load after load of lead, each drawn by as many as three or four yoke of oxen. Work oxen outnumbered horses for hauling mineral. Oxen would grow to enormous size in seven or eight years and were stronger and steadier than the relatively smaller horses of that day, especially at the crossings.

The other home marked on the surveyor's map stood slightly northeast of the present Edd Jewell rock house, presumably to be near the spring. There is no record of the owner's name. (see footnote) Two roads led northeasterly from the home. One blended into the Galena Road; the other veered more easterly toward Survey.

Footnote: A subsequent 1839 Federal Survey conducted by David Dale Owens shows no home at the Jewell site but does indicate one at the Persons site with the name B. Rogers.

Farming & Mining by Jim Jewell

Mining, farming, and fishing were the big three employers in the Isle of Man when the Manx immigrants left their homeland in the mid-19th century.

Iowa County's Laxey could offer farming and mining, and sometimes a combination of the two. Commercial fishing, however, didn't have much chance for success in this locked area.

Mining in the immediate vicinity of Laxey could be termed fair. There were much better prospects at nearby Linden where extensive mining continued until 1975.

An article in the 1900 Dodgeville Chronicle reported briefly on the Crase and Williams mine at Laxey where seven men were employed. The mine was reported to be a good producer of lead.

In 1906 the Laxey Creek :Mining Company put the following ad in the Dodgeville Chronicle:

"We, the Laxey Creek Mining Co., ask for bids for the sinking of a shaft, the shaft to be as follows: 5x9 ft. in the clear and 100 ft. deep. To be timbered with plank through the dirt; contractor to furnish the plank and other necessary material."

The company also agrees to pump the water when it exceeds 25 barrels in the morning after continuous work of eight hours.

"Said shaft to be completed within 120 days from from the time of the commencement of work of sinking same. The company will pay one-half the contractor's price when due and asked for, but one-half will be held back until the shaft is completed.

The company reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Bids to be sent to Joseph Kaiser, Madison, Wis."

How much ore was taken out and how much was left in the mine is not known. The Laxey mine supposedly shut down during,- a market slump of ore prices. A mining man from Dodgeville, however, said the Laxey mine was still a good prospect after it had closed.

My great-grandfather Nicholas Jewell and Christopher Nicholas from Edmund put down a 40 foot shaft directly across the road from the Laxey cemetery. No ore was found but a slight indentation in the earth marks the site of that old shaft.

There are no remaining traces of the Laxey mine, just as there are no visible reminders of the numerous digging holes once present across the road from the site of the Tynwald creamery and the Robert Callin farm.

Farming dominated as the main source of employment for the Manx pioneers and their descendants. William Callow was a farming miner and one of the Manx pioneers to settle here. His following obituary briefly profiles what must have been an interesting life:

"'Wm. Callow was born in Laxey, Isle of Man, November 30. 1831. He died March 19, 1919. He left the Isle of Man on March 1. 1855, and landed in New York the first of May.

He went from there to Dubuque, arriving May 8th. Here he remained two or three days with Robert Crain. Then he and Crain walked to Dodgeville and started to work in a brickyard.

He then farmed in the Laxey area. In the spring of 1862, during the excitement about the discovery of gold in Idaho, he left with William Mills,William Baker, and several others from Iowa County. They started from Linden and took three yoke of oxen and a covered wagon. At that time it was very difficult to cross the western plains because of treacherous Indians.

About the middle of October they arrived at Boise City, Idaho. After staying there a short time they went about 300 miles west to a place called Centerville.

They arrived there a few days before Christmas. That night it started to snow and continued for three days until the snow was more than two feet deep. They stayed in Centerville for three years and then returned to Wisconsin."

Manx received Preference in Laxey Cemetery by Jim Jewell

The Laxey county was not segregated from Bloomfield and it was difficult to tell where the two rural communities really started or ended. The did in fact, blend into a group of new Americans as they mixed with their neighbors who were mainly from Cornwall, England.

But in death, it was different. The boundary lines were clearly drawn. There were no Manx buried in the Bloomfield Cemetery. And at the Laxey Cemetery all of the Cornish were buried on a small section in the east end. and the Manx were buried in the rest of the cemetery.

Among the Cornish names represented are:- Stevens. Harris.Hills, Adams, Shapland, Tremain, and Fine.

Cornish who married into the Manx families .were buried with the rest of the Manx. William Vivian's wife was born on the Isle of Man, and Louisa Jewell married, into the Kelly family.

Other prominent Manx names listed in the Laxey Cemetery record are Callow. Cowley, Kewley, Quirk, and Kermod.

The first listed burial was John Roberts in November 10, 1852, and the last burial was Alfred Kelly on January 7, 1946.

Many of the faded inscriptions on the weathered tombstones at the Laxey Cemetery reveal a biblical emphasis tied in to the strong spiritual faith the early settlers had.

"she said meet me in heaven, and whispered good bye," was the inscription on a 16 year old girl's grave marker.

In addition to the written words carved in stone, many of the graves were adorned with symbols. One marker in the Laxey Cemetery is decorated with the engraving of an anchor.

Some tombstones combine the written inscription with an illustration. One such marker has an open bible with a bible verse carved into it.

Obituaries can also be good sources of information about our ancestors. Two are reprinted here as they appeared in local newspapers. Particularly striking are the repeated references to Christian living.

John Cowley 1829-1915

John Cowley was born in June, 1829 at Ballacollister. Lonan, Isle of Man. When 24 years old he was married to Jane Kneale. The young couple, with hope and courage as their chief asset; started for the new world and landed at Cleveland, Ohio.

They lived there about a year when they came to Iowa County. They passed through all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. but success crowned their efforts.

Mrs. Cowley preceded her husband to the land of rest a little over two years ago.

After his wife's death Mr. Cowley visited the land of his birth and on his return brought with him his niece, Mrs. Olive Hudgeon, and their daughter, Miss Olive Qualtrough, and these two, with his children and neighbors,cared tenderly and lovingly for him during his long sickness.

Mr. Cowley was a man of unusual ability, possessing a keen mind and memory, and, during his middle age, he preached the gospel effectively, and his hold on God's truth remained firm to the end.

The church was dear to him and he gave generously of time and means for the support of Christian causes. He belonged to the old school of rugged, honest, Christian manhood; he lived in the same neighborhood over 60 years and was honored and revered by all, Death summoned him on Sunday, March 28, 1915.

Two sons, Will and Alfred, and two grandchildren, Martha and Gerald Cowley, all of Laxey, besides numerous other relatives and friends, will miss the form and face and voice of a noble life. Funeral services were held from his late home and the Laxey church on Wednesday afternoon, March 31. 1915. Rev. A.H. Schoenfeld, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church, officiating. Burial was made in Laxey cemetery.

Mrs. Ellen Vivian

Mrs. Elllen Vivian, beloved wife of William Vivian of Laxey, departed this life on Saturday, August 20th, 1892. She was born at Laxey, Isle of Man, July 4th, 1845, and came to America in 1857. In 1863 she married William Vivian, the now bereaved husband. When about 27 years of age, she became a Christian and united with the Primitive Methodist church. She was a true Christian in life, as well as in name, and the church has lost one of its best members.

After nearly two years of patient suffering, she passed away. "to be with Christ."

Funeral services were held at Laxey P.M. church, where a large group was present. Revs. Chubb, Hardcastle, Ralph and Cape took part in the services. A husband and four children are left to mourn their great loss.

MEMORIALS of GOD’s ACRE

TEAR/TEARES

St. Peter’s Church Peel, Kirk Kichael, Bride, Lezayre, Onchan, Marown, Malew, Arbory:— None.

This person was a native of Kirk Andreas, and was latterly a vagrant. Sir Wadsworth Busk erected the stone and wrote the verse. It is generally thought he was really older than 110.

Kirk Braddan

Robert, son of Robert Teare of Douglas, 7th April 5

The children of William Teare, merchant, of Douglas, and Charlotte Teare, his wife, daughter to Mr. James Dufoi, London, here interred, viz:—

1749 William, 10th May 1 yr & 3 mths
1751 Robert, 14th January 4 yr & 5 mths
1755 James, 12th April 11 mths
1760 Anne, 29th July 5 yr & 5 mths
1762 Charlotte, 4th July 2 yr & 1 mth
1763 Catharine, 2nd April 11 mths
1765 George, 19th May 4 yr & 1 mth

THE AUGMENTED PALLOT INDEX: circa 1780 — 1837

Most problems of genealogy especially in. London and Middlesex are in the half century before General Registration, which was introduced in 1837. Bridging the gap between these records and parish records using the census returns usually leads no further than to some reference to London, Middlesex or a specific county. The Augmented Pallot Index can often solve these large problems. There have been some inaccurate and misleading statements made about the Index and it is hoped that the following information will usefully correct them.

The index has been built up over a period of more than 150 years In 1818 a firm of record agents specialising in. Chancery work and intestacy cases began to compile an index of marriage entries from the London pariah registers. More than 40% were taken from their own transcriptions of the original parish registers. This work was continued by their successors, the Bernardi brothers, and in due course, the Index was Inherited by Messrs. Pallot and Company. In recent years it has been purchased from the successors of Pallot — Messrs Andrew and Company — for the benefit of the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies.

It houses marriages from the original registers of nearly every London parish of the Established Church. There were 103 ancient parishes within the square mile of the City of London, and 101 of them have been covered. For some the original registers and transcripts have not survived the Wars. The Index also includes for the same period marriages from many parishes in the Greater London area of what was formerly Kent, Surrey, Essex and Middlesex; and records from other counties much further afield. These counties are not always for the same dates as the London entries and not every parish in each county is included. Much of this part has been taken from printed sources and saves hours searching individual volumes • The counties which are covered in the Pallot Marriage Index are as follows:

Also included are miscellaneous extracts from some nonconformist marriage registers and material which was later given to the Boyd Index. Much that was indexed by the Pallot team was unknown to Boyd, having been destroyed before his time.

Many records were totally destroyed during the First and Second World Wars, and the Pallet Index is often the only source from which this lost

material may be acquired. The Index has been further augmented by obituaries, previously unindexed, from the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ for the period 1795— 1837, and by births, marriages and deaths of English persons overseas. For localisation of surnames in London, the Index is invaluable.

The value of this unique Index is readily apparent. It could cost perhaps several thousands of pounds and certainly hundreds of hours, to have all these registers searched for the period in question. Many thousands of enquiries have been serviced with a success rate of nearly 70%. The birth section sadly does not provide such a percentage. It was badly damaged by wartime fires. However, some success in this index has been achieved.

The fees for searches into the Pallot Marriage and Birth Indexes are as follows: each separate and individual search, £7 .50 (incl. VAT). For extractions, the rate is £12.00 for up to 20 entries extracted and £25.00 for up to 50 entries extracted. These latter two charges are useful for the client who wishes to have, for example, all the William entries of a surname for a particular period and/or a specified area. It is most useful when work is being done on a rare surname. With only a few entries it is much cheaper to have all of them extracted than to have separate searches undertaken. Each search in the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ and the obituary index is £4.60. And for an additional fee of £3.50 a search will be made of the 15,000 files of pedigree material at the Institute and an abstract supplied of the genealogical contents of files for any one name, listing records searched.

The Index is the largest of its kind running to many millions of slips. ~t is not managed on any commercial basis. Running it is heavily subsidized by this Company. Fees charged are exceedingly modest. Similar charges are made by others with indexes of a few thousand names. The fees for searching are required not only to cover the searching but also to assist in the very large work of adding to the Index, sifting in. the additional slips and arranging it alphabetically. At the present tine the greater part of the slips are indexed only under surnames. There are many millions of slips very ti~tightly packed and it is a large task to rearrange these on a strictly alphabetical basis, phonetically and cross—referenced, under surnames and under Christian names. Also, we are constantly adding information from new sources so that, already, this Index is regarded as being more useful and reliable even than Boyds.

Current work is being done on a list of parishes whose registers were not thought~it to be covered in the Index. The list is as follows:

City of London: Staple Inn; Furnivals Inn; Thavies Inn; Barnards Inn; Liberty of Saffron Hill; Liberty of the Rolls; The Temple; Serjeants Inn; Charter House; Liberty of Glasshouse Yard; Liberty of Morton Folgate; Old Artillery Ground; St Catherine Greechurch~ St Catherine Coleman~The Tower; St John Zachery~.

Middlesex: Poplar+ St Dunstan Stepney+; St Mary Stoke Newngton; St Andrew Holborn* Kensington#; Liberty of Morton Folgate; Old Artillery Ground; Liberty of Glasshouse Yard; St Sepulchre+; Chapel Royal Savoy+ Liberty of the Rolls+ St Luke Chelsea+.

Already 10 of these (+) have been found, and the next stage is work out the date span of each coverage.

Indispensable to genealogists and local historians are the Parish maps of each county of England and Wales giving names of every parish, showing parochial boundaries, probate jurisdiction and dates of commencement of registers (17" x 13") at £2.20 each post free. General Registration and Census District Maps, 1837—1851 and 1852—1946 are £2.20 each, post free. FAMILY HISTORY, the Journal of The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, published since 1962, is £6.50 for 3 double—size numbers, available from 82 Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 lBtt, England. Details of Library, microfilm, research and other Family History services will be given on application.

(The above information about the Pallot Marriage Index was supplied to us by Achievements Ltd., Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, England. They are a nonprofit Company and were established in 1961 as a centre for family history research and artwork solely in support of the academic. work of The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies)

 LIVERPOOL MANXMEN (Final Episode)

by N.M. KIILEY

"THE TERRIBLE WRECK"

LOSS OF A LIVERPOOL VESSEL AND 15 LIVES

Writing from Balbriggan with reference to the Liverpool barque Bell Hill, the special correspondent of the ‘Freeman’ s Journal’ says: — "Not many months have elapsed since the quiet and picturesque town from which I date this hurried despatch was the scene of a calamity in few particulars less melancholy than that which tonight it is my painful duty to record.

On the occasion I allude to the residents of Balbriggan and those who live along its dreaded and treacherous shore saw in noonday a ship’ s crew meet a watery grave, and today (Friday) a sight more tragic and more truly terrifying presented itself to their gaze. The sad drama which at midday was enacted within almost a stone’ s throw of the tiny and secure harbour of Balbriggan ran its awful course in less time than it takes to chronicle its terrible details; and tonight, as I write, a diligent search is being made along the beach for the dead bodies of no fewer than twelve men — perhaps more — who this morning were the stout, able-bodied and healthy crew of the ill-fated Bell Hill of Liverpool. The barque was of eight or nine hundred. tons, and yesterday (Thursday) left the Liverpool Docks at 12 o’clock on a voyage to Valparaiso. She had, it is said, on board a crew of 15 hands all told, including her master, Captain Edgar. Her cargo was a general one, and her departure from the Mersey was effected before one o’clock. As her crew lost sight of the mainland the weather became somewhat dirty, and before she had been at sea many hours she ran before a rather stiff breeze. As the night advanced the wind showed no signs of abating, and early this horning it blew a gale. Most of the ship’s canvas was taken off, and the sea frequently broke over her decks At about nine o’ clock the man on the lookout attached, to the Balbriggan Coastguard station sighted a vessel apparently in distress, the sea at the time running very high.

The ship, as seen through the glasses, laboured a good deal, and at this time every particle of canvas had been taken off her. There was a slight mist, through which, however, a signal of distress became discernible. The vessel was being driven to shore, and those who view her perilous position saw ‘the fearful terror of her unfortunate crew. They eagerly look towards land, anxiously awaiting the appearance of that most noble of our lifesaving institutions — the lifeboat — but any attempt to despatch one would doubtless have been attended with certain loss of life to those who manned it, as the wind at the time blew very hard and the sea ran both wild and high. The news that there was a vessel in danger off the beach soon reached almost every resident of the town, and ere many minutes had elapsed. after the signal of distress was exhibited the line of shore for fully a mile in length became crowded with spectators, who in many ways manifested their anxiety for the safety of the unlucky crew.

As the vessel drifted nearer and nearer the shore, the imminent danger in which those on board were placed became more and more painfully apparent, not alone to the poor fellows who now crowded her rigging, but to all who stood along the beach.

As the sea washed over her in peril so near to those rocks upon which it looked as certain as the sun the Bell Hill was to be dashed to atoms, the intense excitement of those who saw the dreadful dangers surrounding them was perfectly heartrending. They clung to the rigging as only dying men can cling to life’s last hope, and their terrified gaze upon land not a thousand yards from the ship’s side must have been something awful to behold. During these terrible moments — from time to time they took to -the rigging until they saw efforts about being made to save them — the daring members of the Coastguard corps strained every nerve and made every possible exertion to put into requisition the gear of the rocket apparatus. The first attempt to reach the vessel with the rocket line proved abortive, and when the rope fell short of the target at which it was directed fate seemed to have decreed against the crew of the Bell Hill. Again the Coastguards made an attempt to reach the vessel and again they failed. The third trial was awaited with painful anxiety, apparent in. fixed eyes and bated breath by those on shore, whilst the unfortunate ship’ s crew looked on steadfastly, and as men who knew that upon the successful use of the rocket apparatus depended their very lives. The third effort was well directed, and as the rocket’s rope caught the ship there appeared a slight shred of hope for those on board her. The rope was quickly made fast, but when those working it on shore endeavoured to raise it from the water it was found that at a point about halfway it was entangled in a rugged piece of rock, and that direct communication with the ship was thus prevented. As a last resource, the commander of the Coastguards’ boat resolved upon sending a boat to sea, and quickly as she was manned her crew of four as readily put out to sea and joined their fate with those of the crew of the Bell Hill. The gallant effort was unfortunately ineffective, and the bold attempt made by the boats’ crew proved to no avail.

The position of the rocket line at the time was this: there Was a line of communication from the shore to the rocks upon which the line became entangled, and from that the rope extended to the ship’s side. Thus, the working of the line was so interrupted as to prevent its being successful. Three men, named John Murphy, Jas. Carton and John Canavan, the latter of whom is fully three score of years, determined upon reaching the rock on which the rocket rope had become entangled, and they did so, running a great danger of severe injury, or, perhaps, loss of life. From the ship, which had struck and was rapidly breaking up amidst a desperately tragic scene of awful excitement, three of the crew managed somehow to reach the rock. They had been scarce a moment landed when the vessel was dashed wildly against the rocks, and soon the Bell Mill, her valuable cargo, and her ill-fated crew were engulfed in a raging sea. The scene was a truly melancholy one, and its dreadful episodes took but a few minutes to enact. The remainder of the story is briefly told.

In reaching the shore with the three men who had left the vessel the boat almost capsised, end it was with no little difficulty that the three survivors (?) were landed upon the shore. But the three were not saved, and ere one of them had put a foot on land he expired, doubtless, from terror, exposure, and fatigue. Not many minutes after another soul was lost, and a second of the three rescued died within half an hour of his reaching shore.

The sad fact remains that out of the entire crew of the barque Bell Hill there is but a single survivor, he lies in an unconscious state, and appears to have suffered considerably both from exposure to wet and cold, and from exhaustion. The last act of the awful drama was quickly played, and as evening approached the beach became strewn with pieces of the wreck.

Amongst the debris a spar was washed ashore, and as if to complete today’ s dreadful tale, it told of the ship’s name, the words "Bell Hill" being painted upon it. And thus terminated a calamity which will be long remembered in this town as one of the most appalling that have occurred in this district, notwithstanding that the "ironbound" shores of Balbriggan occupy a prominent place in the annals of sea tragedies.

List of the Crew

Messrs. J.B. Walmsley and Co., Liverpool, the owners of the barque, furnish the following complete list of those on board the vessel, the crew consisting of sixteen hands, all told:—

Captain. Edgar, Bamber Street, Liverpool
R.B. Perrin, first mate, Upper Stanhope Street, Liverpool
R. Rosewarne, second mate, Upper Frederick Street, Liverpool
Wm. Grant, carpenter, Frederick Street, Liverpool
Chas. Ward, steward, Park Street, Liverpool
John Flanders, cook, Great Newton Street, Liverpool
Axel Nordstron, sailmaker and A.B., Liverpool
J. Young, A.B., Liverpool
Wm. Merrick, A.B., Liverpool
J.M. McDermott, A.B., Liverpool
S.G. Gustafson, A.B., Liverpool
J. Jefferies, A.B., Beaufort Street, Liverpool
J.F. Harding, O.S., Liverpool
Wm. Lewin. Killey, apprentice (17), Liverpool (my grandfather’s brother)
George Wm, Hill, do (16), do
Thomas Mercer, do (15), do

The Survivor’s Story

James McDonnell, sole survivor from the wreck, is rapidly recovering. He is an Irishman, and speaks with the greatest horror of the dangers of Friday. He gives a most graphic and interesting account of the awful tragedy. The vessel, he says, started from Liverpool at noon on Thursday, Early on Friday a gale came on very suddenly, and the ship scudded with bare poles. At nine o’clock she sighted Balbriggan, and the Coastguard saw her dangerous position, but could not render assistance. So the vessel drifted in, and none had an idea of the great danger threatening her until the crew saw great white breakers bursting high over the rocks. They first realised their danger then. Mcdonnell said to the captain, ‘dun er for the lighthouse," and Captain Edgar answered, ‘we must save the ship." The anchor was then let go. In an instant it was seen than it would not hold, and the ship rapidly drifted towards the ironbound coast. The general impression is that had the captain run for the lighthouse all hands would have been saved. From the moment the anchor began to drag all hope was abandoned. The feeling of the people on shore were scarcely less anising than those of the crew as the helpless hulk came floating before their eyes.

INQUEST: Terrible Death

Dr. Davys, coroner, on Saturday reopened an inquest at Balbriggan, on eight of the bodies of the crew of the vessel, and on the body of a young man of the Skerries, named Thos Shane, who died from the effects of drink plundered from the wreck. Six bodies are yet missing. James Macdonnell gave evidence that the ship was well found, that the captain and crew were sober, and that every help was given by those on shore to save them. The coastguard’s man, Marsh, swore that the rocket was made fast by the ship’s crew, but rendered useless by the line being detached. From half—past nine to three o’clock nothing could be done to save the crew. The jury were of the opinion that sufficient aid or exertion was not made to save them. Mr. Hamilton and Dr. McEvoy, with other witnesses, were also examined. The jury said that the lifeboat was very much wanted, and had there been one all the lives would have been saved. They found that two of the crew came by death by exposure to cold, and the other six by drowning. The jury spoke of the daring and bravery of the three men - Carvin, Carton, and Murphy, of Balbriggan — who risked their lives to save that of the crew. The coast for miles is strewed with wreck.

Yesterday the bodies of the drowned sailors already found were buried at Balrothery, Louth. There was an imposing funeral demonstration. Nothing but one spar remains of the ship. A great deal of the wrecked goods have been plundered. The captain’s body has not yet been recovered.

The owners of the vessel have received a telegram, dated Balbriggan, 28th February, 3.35 p.m., advising that the vessel was stranded 800 yards south of Newhaven Point, close to the rocks, fore end parted, and only visible at low water."

Since my account of the voyage of the 13 ton "Robina" from Liverpool to Jamaica in 1834 was published in the previous Journal Vol VI issue 3, July 1984, more information has come to light.

Correspondence between the Prime Minister’ a brother, Robertson Gladstone and his father, Sir John Gladstone preserved at the Glymm-Gladstone archives at Hawarden contain the following extracts:

RG to JG — Monday 3rd Nov 1834

"The Chatham we have fixed for the 10th — She is waiting for the Boat to be carried out on deck which will not long be completed."

MG to JG — Friday 7th Nov 1834

"The Chatham will not be detained after Thursday in waiting for the Boat which is to go out on her deck."

RG to JG — Tuesday 11th Nov 1834

"The Boat will be ready f or the Chatham on Saturday and next day we shall try and get her away —-——."

JG to RG — Saturday 15th Nov 1834

"I hope the Chatham will not be detained after tomorrow with this fair wind,"

MG to JG — Saturday 15th Nov 1834

"The Boat cannot go on board the Chatham before Monday: the ship is otherwise all ready, and I am today writing the letters for her departure."

JG to MG — Monday 17th November 1834

"I hope the Chatham is gone today."

RG to JG - Monday 17th November 1834

"The Drogger is now on board the Chatham and she is all ready for sea but the wind unfortunately is contrary. We shall avail ourselves of the first opportunity for going to sea if required take a steam boat."

RG to JG - Wednesday 19th November 1834

"I am glad to say the Chatham got away today, the wind SSE and I have no doubts that during the night it will be still more from the Eastward."

RG to JG — Saturday 22nd November 1834

"The Chatham has had fine Easterly winds since she sailed which is so far fortunate for she was later in. leaving than she ought to have been; but it was most important the Drogger should go out by her."

Young Robertson clearly implied to his father -that the "Robina" left on the deck of the "Chatham" and that the expence of delay was justified.

In the same archives I found several letters from William Killey and his son George Deane Killey to the Prime Minister. It appears that William was Church Warden of Gladstone’s Church at Seaforth, St. Thomas’s. The letters concerned a new Church Organ and the Prime Minister asked his brother Robertson to deal with the matter. Liverpool Newspapers record that William, whilst Captain of "Mary Queen of Scots", set out on a voyage from Liverpool to Pemambuco on 10th Oct 1834 and was away for a year. He is therefore eliminated as the possible Captain of "Robina’.

The same source confirms the sailing of "Chatham" to Jamaica on Nov. 19th, and another of John Gladstone’s ships, "Ann McKensie", 281 tons for Jamaica on Novenber 10th.

The "Chatham", 354 tons was l05½ feet long and 27½ feet wide. The 28 foot "Robina" would have appeared enormous on her deck and would certainly have made sailing difficult, The man named as master of "Robins)’ in her registry was almost certainly the mate of the "Chatham", William Jones.

My search switched to the career of Captain James Killey, (born 1812). In the shipping records at the P.R.O. Key, his Masters Certificate Number 71939 gave no information, but his seaman's’ Ticket, misfiled under Kelly revealed that James had been one of the Captains in the service of John Gladstone and Company. He had been 2nd mate of the "Ann McKensie" 1834 and 1835, 1st mate of the "Helen Jane" 1835 to 1838, and Master of the "Hesperus" from 1839 until 1846. The first two of these ships bear Gladstone family names and "Herperus" was used by John Gladstone to transport Coolies from the far east to his West Indian estates when slavery was abolished in. 1834.

James had in fact been 2nd Mate aboard the "Ann McKensie" on the voyage to Jamaica from 10th November 1834 until March 1835. In December 1834, therefore, neither William nor James Killey was available for the Robina's voyage.

However, during the voyage of the "Helen Jane", February to September 1837, James Killey, despite being her regular mate, joined the ship out in Jamaica on the 25th April 1837. Moreover, three other men joined her with him,Thomas Lace, aged 40, born Isle of Man; John Humble, aged 39 and John Shirlock, aged 18 off Liverpool. Even more intriguing, all four men gave the name of their last vessel as "Louisa".

I had not previously mentioned that the name of the vessel, given as "Robina" in the Liverpool Annals dated 1847 to 1875 (the year of Robertson Gladstone’s death) was changed thereafter to "Louisa" This I had previously attributed to an error in transcription. In the 1930’s, a pantomime based on the voyage and called "The Leaky Louisa" was staged in Liverpool.

I can find no trace of a muster-roll for "Louisa" or "Robina". She may have been paid off in Jamaica, but in. the Liverpool Mercury (newspaper) for Friday 13th, January 1837, I finally found the "Louisa" belonging to John Gladstone catered for loading. No tonnage is recorded, just a dash, which is most unusual.

In the next edition of the Mercury, Friday 20th, January 1837, there appeared the following article under the heading:

"Voyage to the West Indies in a Boat

There is, or was, a few days ago, to be seen in our river, a boat (for it can be called by no other name) of fourteen tons burden in which to our astonishment we learned that a crew of five were about to sail on a voyage for Jamaica. As the boat was cruising about the river, we could only obtain a distant view of her; but she did not appear so large as our small fishing smacks.

We understand she belongs to Messrs Gladstone and Company."

It would appear therefore that James sailed his "boat" to Jamaica after 13th January 1837, but before 20th January. The ship, of which he was mate, "Helen Jane", did not set sail for Jamaica until Monday 27th February 1837.

Less than a month before he set sail, James was married to Eleanor Crellin in the Isle of Man, at Kirk German in 22nd December 1836. One wonders what his new wife though of such a hazardous undertaking.

James’ first son, James Mylchreest Killey was conceived shortly before James set sail in "Hesperus" in November 1844 for Hong Kong. He was born while his father was away on 2nd August 1845 but was not christened until February 1846, after his father had returned from the sea in January 1846.

Indeed the dangers and hardships of seafaring are constantly emphasised in these old records. My Great Grandfather, John Killey was shipwrecked in 1866 at Bony on the African coast in the "Irene". He returned to Britain in the Glasgow ship "Lucetta".

Captain William of "Mary Queen of Scots" lost an apprentice, William Smith, aged 15, overboard in 1838, and his cook, Joseph Robinson, aged 50, was drowned in 1840.

Most spine chilling, a month after leaving Liverpool in November 1834, whether or not she carried the "Robina" on her deck, in mid—Atlantic, the "Chatham" recorded: "Lat 500, Long 310, saw Brig Neptune, timber—laden, water—logged and both topmasts gone. Boarded her and found three men dead in the tops."

Ships on which my Great-grandfather John Killey served between 1851 and 1868

1851, 1st Mate of Windsor — Brig of Liverpool, 224 tons, built 1839, Owners: Singlehurst.
1852 to 1854, Master of Brecknels — Brig of Liverpool, 172 tons, built at Newcastle 1849, Owners: Singlehurst.
1855 to 1862, Master of Harry Clan — 163 tons, built Nova Scotia 1854, Owners: Singlehurst.
1862 to 1863, Master of Theresina — Brigantine, 284 tons, built Greenock 1862, Owners: H. Singlehurst Jnr.
1863 to 1864, Master of Montebello — Ship, 1082 tons, built Thomastown US 1859, Owner: Raymond Gillchreest, L’pool.
1865, Mate of Charles Horsfall — Ship, 714 tons, built Aberdeen 1855, Owner: Thos. B. Horsfall.
1866, Mate of Irene — Ship, 824 tons, Shipwrecked Africa.
1867, Mate of Lucetta — Africa-Glasgow.
1868, Master of Dreadnought — 1497 tons, built Quebec 1863.
1868, Master of — Brigantine, 219 tons, built P.E. Island 1866, Port owned by John Killey.

BT 122—4 PRO Kew. Masters Certificate No: 3138—9—12—1851

Seamans Ticket No: 29649

Born Kk Patrick, Isle of Man 1824 (he was actually born 1823).

The End

——ooOoo——

PREPARING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION

by

ELIZABETH A. BARLOW

Having been involved in such an exercise recently and experiencing the excitement of seeing the finished result roll of the printer’s press, I thought it may be worth somebody’s while sharing my method.

In embarking on the enterprise of publishing the book ( A QUOTA OF QUALTROUGHS — early settlers to New Zealand from the Isle of Man : Elizabeth A. Barlow & Joy McDougall) one of the prime objectives was to maintain control of the job as far as possible and it was achieved in the following manner.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

a) The Family Story: Being an "orderly" person, I was a little confused by many of the examples of family histories I browsed through at libraries. Many were hard to follow, the genealogical chart sections were difficult for the lay—person to understand and sin—of-all—sins, most had little or no indexing.

Joy McDougall, a Qualtrough descendant and retired journalist and magazine editor with an interest in. history, was approached to write the text from my research notes and her basis for presentation was chronological.

The name QUALTROUGH (and variants QUALTROUGH/WALTER/McWHALTROUGH/ QUALTER etc.) originates from the Isle of Man, so to educate the family on its origins, the first chapter was spent discussing the Isle of Man’s early history and geography. By natural progression the next chapter was on the origin of the name (supplemented by an excellent etymology as Appendix I) and the family’s early connexions on the Island.

With six lines of migrant Qualtroughs to deal with in the book (one in considerably more detail than the rest), Chapter 3 gave background to each family and their reasons for coming to this far-flung end of the earth, The book then moved to the main family dealt with, to which both the authors belonged, and including background to the family in the Isle of Man, their reasons for coming to New Zealand; the Diary written by James Qualtrough (1808—1881) during his family’s voyage to Mew Zealand on the MERMAID in 1859; their settlement in. the next generation; their involvement in the Methodist Church and finally a resume of the large reunion held in 1979.

Joy’s informal style and presentation was very pertinent to the overall ‘familiness’ of the book,

b) Genealogical Charts: This was my domain and I was determined that I was going to devise a method to present the large family/ies and all their interconnecting branches in such a way for it to be easily followed by the lay-person.

I finally decided on a combined version of the common horizontal chart with modern generations ‘hanging’ from the main family in a chart—form of the narrative method used in Burkes and Debretts. So easy to follow, it allowed for large family branches to be portrayed on one page or a double page. eg. Chart 5, pp98-99 where over 250 descendants and spouses of William Qualtrough (1840—1919) and Catherine Mary Lovie (1848-1919) involving 5 branches and covering 6 generations are displayed.

A total of 2156 people are accommodated on 23 charts in 30 pages. I typed these charts on A3 paper and had bromides made, reducing them to a finished book size of A4.

For this purpose and for the typing of the whole manuscript, $1000.00NZ was spent on the purchase of a secondhand IBM Selectric II typewriter, dual pitch, with self-correcting facilities, this latter being an important feature to a novice typist.

c) Indexing: In my opinion this is the most valuable asset to any book. Surely all genealogists agree. Perhaps I have over-indexed our book, but I don’t think so.

The text was indexed in 3 categories — subject, people and places. More usefully, I feel, the genealogical charts were fully indexed in 2 categories — descendants and. spouses. How many people have you seen who have stood staring at a large family tree chart not knowing just where to begin looking for themselves? The indexing I think solves that problem. (And let me mention, the job of indexing is an art in itself and worth a separate article). All 5 indexes were types of A3 paper and bromides made reducing them to A4.

d) Other: Appendices, pre-subscribers name and address list, a section for individuals to add future family information, title page, contents page, preface and introduction pages, acknowledgments, photos, documents, sketches, maps and other material all made the finished product most satisfactory.

PRESENTATION

"Do it yourself!" This became my motto!

My ‘new’ typewriter allowed for a choice of typefaces end 10 point Bookface Academia typeface was chosen for its clarity and boldness. Used for the main text, this was supplemented with 12 point Script typeface for quotations and the chapter recording the Diary.

I had the printers supply me with what is commonly called in the trade ‘grid’ paper. These sheets are sectioned horizontally and vertically with external margins to type to. The centre bottom was marked for page numbering.

These sectioned sheets proved easy to use and allowed one to allow gaps where photos were required. Adequate space was left for chapter headings.

Selection of photos and documents was important and rather than being placed in one or two sections in the book, they were able to be placed at the exact point in the text to where they were referred. Decorative art work and ‘page-fillers’ were obtained from several sources — postcards, other books etc. Maps were self-drawn and captioned using typing and cut-and-paste, with letraset to complete the job.

Captions for photographs were typed in also.

The main body of the manuscript was then page numbered — 1 to 155. Next came the preparation of the List of illustrations, maps and documents page, acknowledgments, preface and introduction.

Third last was the Contents page; second last the requirements for the reverse of the title page — ISBN number, copyright requirements, publisher and printer information.

Finally the design suggestion for the title page and cover.

A hard month of proof-reading and copy-correcting followed. Yes, we did our own proofing, much against the advice of others, but feel we did a good job.

The manuscript was then ALMOST ready for printing. At the printer’s, all that was required of him prior to the printing itself was to copy and place the photographs (all previously tagged with identifying page numbers and captions), the chapter headings, the title page and the cover.

Gloss paper, weight 115 grammes, was chosen for quality finish and two cover finishes decided upon — a white gloss limp card and a red cloth hardcover with white gloss dust jacket.

The number of copies to be printed was deliberated for ages and finally a print run of 500 was decided upon; 380 were of limp-card finish and the other 120 hard-cover.

FINANCING AND PUBLISHING

"Do it yourself !" Again my motto.

Having been involved in the preparation of the pre-published Congress Papers of the Third Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry (May 1983) I had a fair idea of costings involved with a large publication, (This latter had an initial print run of 700 copies each being A5 of 307pp). I was using the same printers.

Publication date was set for February 1984.

In April 1983 I sent an informal newsletter and order form to the family in New Zealand requesting a committing order and a deposit of $6.00 per copy ordered for limp covered and $16.00 deposit per hardcover. I soon had a large sum in the bank which I immediately placed on high-earning interest — every dollar helping in this ‘do-it-yourself’ business. I anticipated that with all anticipated costs (postage and packaging, newsletters and order forms, some of my incurred research expenses over the years, the printer's estimates etc.) the whole job would be $7000 approximately. I costed out the individual copies at $15.00 post paid in NZ (postage extra overseas) for the limp-cover copy and $24.00 post paid for the card-cover copy. On a run of 500 copies, 400 sold would see most expenses covered.

In October 1983 my next marketing step was taken - advising other Qualtroughs overseas of the impending publication. Response was gratifying.

Final marketing area was public libraries and their response was excellent.

Libraries of course expected and got credit terms.

To those family members who had ordered in May 1983, a newsletter and final account was sent in December 1983, giving the latest information on the book and requesting final payment before despatch of order in February. This infiltration of funds again was put on high—interest deposit for those extra dollars.

D-day arrived in mid-March 1984; the delay being caused by problems with the cover and binding. However the wait was worthwhile The satisfaction experienced in seeing one’s project nearing completion is hard to describe.

"Nearing completion" is an understatement

The final huge job was despatching all the orders The dining table did not see a meal for a week! Instead it was home base for order books, paper, string, tape, packing, etc. And that isn’t the half of it The postal clerk grimaced every time she saw me arrive with my huge cartons of parcels. For interests sake, it cost $770.00 in postage to despatch the orders which included about 60 overseas, some airmail. Several complimentary and review copies were also sent.

And so as I write this, describing my experiences, I am still despatching orders and have now sent away 340 copies. The printer’s bill of $6223 has been paid thanks to an understanding bank manager, who was, till recently, my boss. Several libraries still have not paid their accounts, but slowly the overdraft is reducing.

Both Joy and I are pleased with the finished result We have learnt much and it is hoped that by sharing our experiences, others will he encouraged to participate in such a project too. That better way to collate and share our heritage with others?