[corrections to be done]
My dear son,
January 23rd, 1856
We have once more the pleasure of writing you this few lines hoping this may find you well and in good spirits. we recived your Seldom letter the 16of this month and we are very hapy to hear that you were well and that your health was so good and that your prospering in this world for which you have reason to be very thankful to God for all his goodness. We are all well at present excepting mother, she is often poorly as ushal but we feel very thankfull to God for all his mercies to us we have been Foundering or, Inch that you did not write saner we did not recive a letter from you since last April we are thinking that you had forgoten us all together but when we henry that you had been learning for B Joiner we must thirst that you had some thing more than What to do I sopose YOU are trying to make your fortune as fast as you can we are very hapy to hear that you are prospering in the world and may God bless you with grace wisdom and understanding in this world and in this world to coma a crown of Glory that will never fade away. The people are dying very fast this year, around us Dan Vark died last week and Phill Yoonelis buried to day, he got astroke of the polsey, the fever is very bad in our parish at present, Mrs Corlet the wheel kite died last week and John Corlet her husband is very poorly, not expected to live and Mat a vans wife is deadin the fever and Philip Cowly of Ramsey shopkeeper died last Sunday in the fever, left a wife and 12 children to lament his loss. Mrs Camble is deed and Mrs Quarry the hills is dead. Willey Cleator shoemaker, Andreas is maried to one of Charley Kowin daughters last week and Daniel Ken is marred to Dolley Shimmin from the South and Vaggy Radcliffe is marred to James Creelin and John Skinner is married to a girl that was stopping in Paddy Cannals in Kirk Bride, John southward is married to a young woman from the South, John Corlett wheelwright was buried last Sunday, he died in the fever, Thomas Sayle the Closes son is very ill in the fever, it is raging very bad in the dome end of the parish. #e are sorry to tell you about Mr Qurks family the way they are distressed that Thomas is very bad out of his mind, so bad that they had to send to Ramsey for two Constables for to tie him. or Teare B lla~hane has left the place and is gone down to the Dog Hill to live, we got two letters from ~illiam.Voora and Mrs. He lives now in Van Diemanda land and he is well and they have no children and ha is doing very well. He is an engineer and all the management of the work in a planing machine his wages is vary high ~365 B year and a house to live in and his board and a horse to ride on on their expense for the mill is thirty miles from the town. James Rnealehas sent a letter to the Isle of Man from Nisaoure and he is married and hasgot two boys, their names is William and Edward and the got a letter from Thomas a while beak and he is at the gold digging at P,allarat in Australia. John & Jane Kneale is not married yet but their is a very good prospect and the are all well and Anne has got a daughter. Please tell Mr Christian thathis mother was in our house and that she was very much displeased that he didnot write to her when she wrote to him when his rather died and wrote sinceand never got- an answer and she was wishing if it was a cavenient to send their likeness home, she got 0a age and ii he wanted it let him write home and she will send it him in a letter. I am going to tell you about your rather, hehave took came lowness of mind but not very bad but he is going about everyday. Her whom you loved beat send you her best respect, there is a post office in the village in John Cains and Wilm Cains is the host a nan. Uncle &Aunt Kneale is well and all the family send you their best respects, or & Mrs Corlett Jurby and ramify is well and acnda you their best respects, Grandma is well and sends you her best respects and is smart yet, Mrs William Corrode and family is well, Mr Daniel Teare and Mra wants to be remembered to you andall the family, Mr Jonney Commode and Mrs and family wants to be remembered to you. give our respects to V~ ~ Mrs Brew and to Mr & Mrs Christian, mother wants to be remembered to Mrs Kneed, all the Children sends you their best respects and they are still going to school. I must conclude by wishing you all the comforts of this world and in the world to come life Mock everlasting write soon, forget me not. I remain your affectionate mother. Esther.
(9)
Dhowine, Isle of Man
My dear son and daughter,
Rovember the 3, 185v
I have once more the pleasure of writing you this few lines hopeing this may find you all well as this leaves us at present for excepting mother, sheis much as ushall i thinly my health is a little better than it has been and we feel thankfull to God for all his mercies to us, my dear son we recived your Welcome leter a few days ago and we were very happy to hear that you were well and you said in your letter that you had marred a wife, we were very happy to hear that you had made a good choice, i hope you will strive to live a life of happiness and comfort together, you will have one to provide foryou i hope you will be more comfortable in this world and i hope you will notforget providing for a better world we would like very much to have seen you that day and to have shears of your dinner and may God bless you with long life together i am often thinking of you write often, and let us know howyou are geting a long, the Crops is not so good this year as the were last year, it is n pity that you were not at home to go to the thrall with your Uncle Em Cormode the have cart loads of fish this yeare, Grand mother is still alive and much as ushall, lIr & Mrs Cormode and the family are well and sendyou their respects, Jane Cormode is growing a very fine young woman, Jenney Cormode and little Tommey is keeping up the old trade still, Jane, your wife father and mother is well and sends you their respects the seemed quite pleased give our respects to Mr and Mrs Brew and Mrs Christian, I am often thinking meet with our share of trouble in this world please give my respects to Mrs Kneen. I have not forgoten her yet. Thomas Quirk is not geting no better all the ramify is well and sends you their respects all our neiboura are wellan sends you their respects Uncle Kneale and all and all the family are well and send you their respects your ant Jane was speaking to your father and shew as telling him that your marred he did Dot say good or bad. Robert Corlet 'Joneyhow is atone from america a bout a forrit ago, there is great talk that he is going to be marred to Target Crennell his wife sister. John Borland is marred to an inglish girl, John Sayle Joney gave is haned to Sarah Kneen, Mrs Leace have a son born about a fornet ago the are well and send you their respects, uncle ~ ant Joughin is well and sends you their reapects, Mr and Mrs Criggal sends you their respects, Mr and Mrs Tear sends you their respects, Dan Cleator from the len is atone from Australia and Robert Cleator and denis keeping a shop in Ramsey everything is keeping very high this year, there is great talk that Jonney Christians mother is going to be maried soon to Jommey Leace the hibbin house, pleace let us know in your next letter what sort of house are you building, our children are all well and send you their respects write soon and let is know how you are Meeting along we did not hear from William Moore since June write soon and forget one not. I must conclude by wishing great happiness in this world and in the world to Come, a crown of Glorey that will never fade away, so no more at present from your dear mother.
Esther Moore
(10)
Dhowin, Andreas, Isle of Man
My Dear Son and Daughter,
September 26, 1857
I have once more the happiness of whitening you this few lines hoping this may find you well as this leaves us att present excepting mother, she is often poorly but we feel thankfull to God for all his mercies to us. My dear son we received your letter some time ago and we were very happy to hear that your health was so good and that your daughter is geting on so well,were happy to hear that you have a comfortable house for yourself. By dear son i hope you will forgive me for being so neglectfull in answering your letter i was Foundering very much that you did not write sooner but i hopewe will be more mindfull if spared for the future the harvest is now scatted and the people have now commenced digging the potatoes, we had beautiful weather all harvest and is very fine yet the crops is not so good this year as it used to be you mentioned in your letter about John Radcliffe - that he was dead he was my brother and a kind friend he has been to me and i do this day lament his loss but i live in hope that he is gone to a better world. He was a very wealthy man & may the Lord prepare us all to meet at that great day at the right hand of God when parting will be no more to all eternity in this world we have many trials and troubles to pass through our children areall well and are going to school and is learning first rate - The are talking of you very often Thomas is talking of you almost every day he is a very smart boy he is your boy still but the poor fellow is not very plain in his speech he is often telling us that when, he will be big that he will be going to Dan, you would be suprised to see them now the are so big the would like very much if the could get to Raise your little girl. Mother has been poorly this forget she is very weak, we got a letter from William Moore yesterday there well and doing first rate, he has a new saw mill for him self, his adres is Mr William Moore, Saw Hill, River Mercy, Tasmania' Australia, you wanted to know a bout the drawars, it was one pair i sent you, it was a pair i got from Aunt Kneal, i could not get the maken of too pair Uncle and aunt Kneale
and fable is well and sends you their respects, he wants to know if you have fine horses in america, please let us if you know about William Kneale the have not heard of him this twelve mounths. Mr and Mrs Cormode and Grandmother and all the family is well and sends you all their respects, fine our respects Mr & Mrs Brew and Daniel Cormode if he is so Cherfull as he used to be the small pox is in douglas now very bad, old baby sayll is dead, Dan Cormode wife is died last May, all our neibours are well And sends you their respects, please give any respects to the Kneen, pleace let me know where is Jane Curphey, write soon and let us know all peticulars, so no more at present from your dear mother.
Esther Mother
"O What a glorious company when sentious angels join.
This is my Writing hand. John W. Moore".
Jane More's hand writing -
"To drink the pure river of bliss
With life everlasting o'er flowed
Implunged in the crystal abyss
And lost in the ocean of God".
you must excuse my bad writing for my hand is choke with pulling bent
Anne Moore's hand Writing, aged 9 years:
" And if our fellowship below
In Jesus be so sweet
What height of rapture shall we know
Then round his throne are meet".
Thomas Moore's:
"Oh guide me to that landl i
We here sin and pain are oer
Think I shall meet that happy band
On Cameron's happy shore".
(11)
Dhowine, Andreas
My Very Dear Son & Daughter,
October 23rd,1862
I have taken the pleasure of writing to you these few lines hoping they will find you all in good health as it leaves me at present, I am spending my time very poorly nearly two years that I was not in a neighbours house except once or twice in Uncles I was very glad when I received your letter for I Just thought you had forgotten me, we are all growing big. Jane is in Ramsey at service. Mary Ann was a year before in the same place and Jane is in now. Thomas the writer of this letter is still going to school. I am 14 years now in England, but he was (at home) and in the Island, he has done well since he have went there and has saved some money. Mrs Teare Ellenbane Robin from the Lhen is dead. She went down to see the Horse Races and was found next morning in Ramsey Harbour. John Caine and llillie his son is dead lately and a great many more too numerous to mention. Last Sunday night we had a very stormy night with rain and Wind in Glenoldin there is a great deal of damage done. The water brought the gable out of some house and the roofs off others and shifted Dales Brook Bridges. The Summer have been very unsettled, the Crops is not very good and the potatoes is going away very bad, there has.been a good herring fishing this year. John Peale have got a letter from James (Brother) lately Thos. is in Australia the having heard from Bill this 3 years in the 17th of the last month, we think it is time for me to go to some situation there is a deal of alterations in our neighbourhood now pass there Was When you Revere in. Unale Kneale is dead, he died on the 11th day of August 1862. John Kneale is married last February to a daughter of John Radcliffe. Bill Falt (SIG) and Jaine Kneale is married (and have got a fine son 1st Septr) to a son of Thos. Cowley Shoemaker Laxey .llillie Harrison is married to your Cousin Catherine Teare, Dark. Teares daughter of Ballacunner. Catherine Cormode your Cousin is married to John James Sayle, John James -ids Teare of Balla kings to John Tear Dan Iloanle Braust, Johny Curphey, John Curraehey your old master he is at home from Sierra Leonne in the Eest of Africa, he is a Brother there and he is namer,We heard from Uncle Billy about 6 weeks ago, he is still living in Van Demans Land and is well at health and doing well. Mary Arm wants you to send a piece of the little girls hair home to hey in your next letter. He have not Recd. the Newspapers you sent us, Cormodes family is all well, the were displeased that you did not say something about Danl and Dan Brew's family Mother wants to be remembered to Mrs Kneen and Dan Cormode and Mr and Mrs Brew. Jane Cormode have got a son. Jane Harrison have never got a man yet nor much sign of her. Write soon and dont delay and tell us all particulars about the var. I must conclude. ale all send our kind love to you. So no more at present, from your Affectionate Mother
Esther Moore
Write Soon Forget Me Not.
(12)
Dhowine
My Dear Friend,
May 12th, 1863
I have taken my pen in hand to write you these few lines to let you that Grandmother is dead. She died on Thursday the 30th April/63. She had been ill for a long time, but she was getting up a little while every day. She was up on Tuesday 28th, but she was very weak and feeble. She came to be at last. She was so weak and feeble that she had to be attended to like a young child. She died happy in the Lord and told us to follow her. We are missing her away very much that you aught thank that the house is gone empty when she is gone. The rest of the family is well Mary Ann is at home and Jane is in Ramsey at Service & Thomas is at home. We hope that you are safe from the war in America, we are hearing dreadfull accounts about it. Mr & Mrs Cormode B.Baragh is well and wants to be remembered to Mr & Mrs Brew & Daniel Cormode and to you.
He seen your daughters likeness's, Mrs Cormode brought them up from Ramsey and showed them to Grandmother and we all the look very nice in deed and we would think that the youngest looked very rogish your Cousin. John Cormodes wife is dead and left a baby and 2 young children behind, Mrs Scott is dead and have left 3 children behind, she died on the 9th April and the3 children is with John Garrett. So we must conclude at our time is very short. Mr & Mrs Cain, Ramsey is well and sends you their Kind love. Please write Back and tell us hall particulars about the war. So no more at Present, From your affectionate Friends.
Please write Back
Thomas & Mary Moore
(13)
Dhown, Andreas
My Dear Friend,
Aug 26/63
I have taken the pleasure of writing you these few lines hoping to find you all well as it leaves me at present, Thank God for the same. We received your letter a few days ago and were glad to hear that you are still alive and that you have such smart children. We would like very much if we could see you. Mary Ann & Jane is very much pleased with the likenessess you sent them they looked very pretty indeed. We are very sorry that you are distressed about the war and that it is still raging.I am not certain whether I told you or not that Billy Kneale, but he is dead, he was killed accidentally.
You wished at in your letter to get the Certificate or letter over by a good scholar and as to date it, but we showed it to a good schoolar an that we would be in danger of being transported for life in so doing, But we have got a Certificate from the Rector of Ardreas and by that you are 45 years, but if we posibly could keep you from the war we would but we cannot. He send you a Certificate of your age in this letter. We must not forget to you that Old Mr Creynell the Covers is dead. he died on the 26th day of July 1863. Catharine Sayle, John Cormodes wife is dead. If you were is the Isle of Man now you would be lost in wonder to see the beautiful buildings there as made moor, the town of Ramsey, what a fine ship yard.
Ships of an concise size are built and what a different town it is now by what is was when you were in the Prizes of flesh is prety day, this year The Butter 1s. per lb. eggs 18 for 13d, potatoes 6d per qt., Beet: From 6d to 6d per lb., Pork 5 to 6d per lb. ,Mutton 6 to Ad per lb., Flour 16s per C - .,Barley Meal 12s per Cwt., Oat Meal 16. do. There is a good Herring fishing this year at anarangge (sic) from as to 3-6 per hundred. Crops look to be Pretty good this year. There is a very fine Chapel nearly built on Balla BallaKaney, it is to be opened for Christmas, the Old Chapel is to be fell and this new Chapel is built in the Corner of the field at Philip Cannell the:Blacksmith. There is great alterations in the Isle of Man since you went away, the -er and Part of the Mountain is sold and no man cant even pull a share of bent without permission.
Balla Barraghs people is well and wishes to be remembered to you, there is a sign of Good Crops this year. Danl Teare B,Cumyers family is well.Danl. Joughin's in Kk Bride is well and wishes to be remembered to you. John Garrett wishes to be remembered to you and sends you their kind respects.Willie Harryson has got a new house built in the field before our door and the corner next, but one from our barn. John Kneale's family is well & Thomas Moore the writer of this letter is well and have great respect to you.I remember well when you were at home ---- you --- took a rod to lash me it was one day you and me were getting water out of John Kneale's well and I went and took some apples but I suppose I had nown enough of it several times I suppose. Please write to me, the directions found is Mr William Moore,Saw Mill, River, Tasmania, Australia.
Thomas Moore and Mary Ann
Please write back
Mary Ann; & Jane sends their respects to you.
(14)
Ballalymagh, Andreas
Dear Nephew and Neice,
July 21st, 1879
We are writing these few lines to you hoping to find you well as we are at present, you must excuse us for not writing sooner, we were waiting to hear from you with regard to the money that you expected from William Christian, both of us were speaking to him lately about that £3. that your Brother left you, he said he would pay at any time but the £5 that your Grandmother left in her will, he must get your receipt for he said yet it must be your own not a woman's receipt. He will send the money as soon as we will get it, we are all about as --well. Mrs Moore is still alone and longing for Jane and going about grumbling as normal, the weather is very wet here, we have rain nearly every day, no warm days for we remember such weather in July Thomas is well and is living with us at home, Margaret is married and living in Douglas, her husband if a Joiner, they have built a large house of their own an is living in it. Kate if married and doing well, she has one daughter and is doing well. Jane and the Family is well, she has nine Daughters and two sons all healthy and well Your sister is well. James Teare and Margaret wishes to be remembered to you both, hoping to hear from you soon,
Your Uncle and Aunt,
William and Jane Cormode.
D.R. Teare,1454 Rest Main Street Road, Twining,III 48766,a..
Robert Camaish, member of the NA.M.A. , W.M.A. , and the I.OM.F.H.S., is searching for Manx relatives, both past and present. The information he has so far is:-Thomas Quayle (labourer) and Ann Wade (daughter of Thomas Wade , were married on the 9th November 1861. Thomas Quayle died 2nd August 1901 aged 61yrs, and was buried at Foxdale Thomas and Ann had two children:
1. Anne, bap. 28 JAN 1862 at st. John the Baptist Church, Kirk German
2. John Thomas, hap. 09 AUG 1863 (who was my grandfather), he married Eleanor Louisa Kelly.
John Thomas Quayle died 14th July 1885/6, two months after my mother May/Mae Catherine Quayle was born, and was subsequently buried at Foxdale.
The monumental inscription for the above has been recorded by the Society, and is as follows:
"In/ loving memory/ of/ JOHN THOMAS/ son of THOMAS and MINIE QUAYLE of Foxdale/ who died 14th July 1885/ aged 23 years/ also SOPHIA/ the beloved wife of PHILLIP KENNISH of Greeba/ who died whilst crossing the Atlantic on board/ S.S. MAGESTAG 20th Aug. 1893/ aged 26 years/ Weep not dear husband but be content! For unto thee I wag but lent! weep not for me nor sorrow take/ But lowe ray chiidren for my sake! also WILLIAM HENRY KNNISH/ son of the above/ born at Ishpeniing, U.S.A., 12th April 1895/ died 9th June 1895/ also WILLIAM SDWIN QUAYLE/ died 21st April 1898 aged 21 years/ also PEILLIP KINNISH/ husband of the above/ died 22nd April 1899 aged 54 years/ also PHILLIP QUAYLE/ died 28th July 1909 aged 25 years,’ also the above named/ THOMAS QUAYLE/ who died 2nd August 1901/ aged 66 years."
His grandmother emigrated to the Unied States after the death of my grandfather , taking my motier May Catherine Quayle with her , and subsequently was remarried to another Thomas Quayle (who also came from Foxdale) . Ee was Rober’s step—grandfather. Robert’s mother Was born on the 4th May 1886 at Foxdale.
From the Mona's Herald, January 16th, 1856:
Death: Lately in the Crimea, of Cholera Mr Thomas Bragg, formerly of the Clanagh, Lezayre, aged 26 yes.
Birmingham 1851 Census, Calthorpe Street, Edgbaston, a. 414:
Margaret Benson., Unmarried, 34yrs, Servant, born I.O.Man.
Monumental Inscription from Shareshill parish Church, Staffordshire:
Matilda widow of Thomas Garrett late of Douglas, I.O.M. and daughter of John and Ann Pratt, died 13th Bob. 1876, aged 67yrs.
Liverpool 1871 Census, Smithdown Lane:
Henry Leece, Head, Widower, 39yrs, Bread Baker, born I.O.Man..
Baptism from St. Mary's, Cheshire:
Margaret Gill daughter of John and Ann Gill of Sandwich, but late of Ramsey,Isle of Man, Joiner, baptised on 1st November 1829.
Gravestone at Boldness Churchyard:
Here lies the body of Thos. Stoal of ye town of Ramsay in ye Isle
of Man who
departed this life ye 13th. day of Dec. 1755. Being in the 22nd year
of his
age.
This being erected by his loving wife Elizth. Stoal.
(More information about Thomas Stowell in "To the King's Deceit", a study of smuggling in the Solway by Ronald T. Githon)
From Ramsey Church Magazine Vols 3-6, page 196:
Death: Colonel Wilks died on a visit to London, buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in Sept. 1831.
OHIO 1850 CENSUS
2nd Ward of Cleveland:
born
QUINE, Ann 40yrs Widow I.O.Man
George 20yrs Ohio
Henry 17yrs Ohio
William 13yrs Ohio
Abigail 3yrs Ohio
CUBBON, John 50yrs Chandler I.O.Man
Mary 28yrs I.O.Man
Eliz 9yrs Ohio
Mary 7yrs Ohio
Louisa 4yrs Ohio
George 3yrs Ohio
HUDSON, George 29yrs Mason New York
GARRETT, John 30yrs Blacksmith I.O.Man
PROUDFOOT, James 40yrs Painter Scotland
.. Eliz 25yrs I.O.Man
.. John J. 1yr Ohio
BRED, Wm. 36yrs Tailor I.O Man
QUINE, Radcliffe 24yrs I.O Man
.O Esther 25yrs I.O.Man
.. Francis 22yrs I.O.Man
.. Frederick 2yrs Ohio
.. Frederick 18yrs Tailor I.O.Man
Priscilla Lewthwaite
In Loving Remembrance/ of/ ARTHUR/ fourth and beloved son of/ THOMAS
and JANE SAYLE,/ who died in Kansas City, U.S. America,/ September
1878,/aged 22yrs./ Also/ AGNES,/ youngest daughter of the above J
TIlatA3 and JANE SAYLS,/ who departed this life March 26th 1880/ aged
17 years./ Sleep dear Children Take your rest/ God Called you home He
thought it best.
?
With the name "Faragher , it had always been a matter of common knowledge in my family that at one stage we had "Come Over" from the Isle of Man. It was taken as a matter of fact that it was my Great-grandfather, Francis Faragher, who had done so. Most of the Family believed that he had settled in Liverpool in the mid-nineteenth century. Somewhere along the line, but don't ask me where, I had picked up the idea that our surname had first come into use on the Island in 1625. This meant that any research into our genealogy would be obviously so straightforward as to be almost pointless. In fact, so pointless, that no one had ever bothered.
A wet Cornish Summer changed all that. I came across a copy of 'Liverpool and Slavery' by a Dickie Sam, and having nothing better to do spent part of my holiday reading it. The book listed details of slave ships. Their masters, departure dates and destinations. One entry read: "William Farquher,ship 'Penelope', Feb. 1799, Angola ". I guessed that in real life, his name had been "William Faragher'. and probably the spelling in the book was an error made by an eighteenth century shipping-clerk. I was curious to know whether or not there was any family relationship between us and William. On returning home I decided to try to find out.
I had some oral information about my great-grandfather and so took him as my starting point. I had long been led to believe that Francis Faragher had gone to sea at the age of 14. That he had been "Bitten by Religion", and after a long career in the Merchant Service, had retired as a "Captain" (Yes, I'm aware there's no such rank really) to end his days living in the then very exclusive Hamilton Square, in Birkenhead. I had the idea that he had died, aged about 90, Just before World War One. This was going to be easy.
Off I sent to the Public Record Office at Kew to get a copy of either his Birth or Death Certificate. I was at the wrong place, of course, so I'd wasted my time and money. A few months later I set off again and this time I was headed for the right place for the certificate I needed, St. Catherine's House, Central London. I should perhaps mention that by now I had decided to be much more methodical about the whole affair. I would work back generation by generation, and so I ordered a copy of my grandfather's Birth Certificate .James Faragher had been born 1850 in Liverpool, and I expected his father was Francis, who gave his occupation as "Merchant Seaman". I had one link in the chain. It was my wife who pointed out that whilst in London, I should have obtained a copy of Francis Faragher's Marriage Certificate. I would have to make another trip. Meanwhile I learned that most deta; is of Victorian and earlier ships and seamen are held in the P.R.O. at Kew. Back I went to Kew to look for details of the career of captain Francis Faragher. I didn't find what I wanted, but I did discover quite by accident as you can probably guess by now, more details of William Fargher. He sailed not only on the 'Penelope' in 1799, but on the 'Mary' too. But all things considered, I had wasted my time. I went back to St. Catherine's House and ordered a copy of the Marriage Certificate that I should have done on my last visit.
By now I had formed a clear picture of how the family tree should run. It would be my son, Richard; me, Robert; my father, George; my grandfather , James; my great-grandfather, Francis; and of course by now I was convinced that his father would be Willie.
When the long awaited envelope arrived, I learned that Francis Faragher had married Jane Morgan, who signed herself "X'' in 1853, and he gave his father's name as Daniel - a Mariner. Though lesser mortals might have found this a setback, I did not. I felt sure that I had seen a Daniel Faragher in the records at Kew, so back to Kew I went. Either all trace of him had been deliberately and systematically erased for the sole purpose of thwarting me or else I was mistaken. I'll leave if: up to you to decide. Anyway I couldn' find him.
About now I began to realise that as Francis had been of "Full" age when he married in 1853, I would not be able to get a copy of his Birth Certificate as he had been born prior to 1837. Still, I could get a copy of his Death Certificate. I made another visit to St. Catherine's House. In addition, I had another string to my bow. I would visit the Census Room in nearby Kingsway, and making use of the address on the Marriage Certificate, I would search the1851 and 1861 Census Returns. Without doubt I would now be able to discover just where he had been born in the Isle of Man. I had no luck with either Census, as he had moved from the only address I had for him. I did however manage to order a copy of his Death Certificate.
When this arrived my long held beliefs received yet another knock. Francis had died in 1929, just a little after World War One rather than before it, and had been 97 years old. A daughter, Emily, the informant of the death, had given his occupation as " Pensioned Pier Master for the 'Mersey Docks and HarbourBoard" and not as Merchant Captain. You will notice by now William Farquher has taken a bit of a back seat. I was off at the gallop in an attempt to prove that he had been a Merchant Captain. The best way of doing this seemed to be to get a copy of Emily's Birth Certificate, so that I could see his occupation when she appeared on the scene. Back I want to St. Catherine's House and only obtained a copy of her Death Certificate, because it was easier to search the post-1929 Death Index, than to search the Birth Index, after all I had no idea how old Emily was in 1929. I got the copy of the Death Certificate and then I went back to order a copy of her Birth Certificate. I found that when Emily was born in 1872, Francis had given his occupation as "Dock Gate Man". So much for the Merchant Captain. Had Victorian Pier Masters held the Joke title of Captain ? The problem was I still couldn't locate his place of birth in Mann.
I think that at this point I joined the Manx Family History Society, and guess what ? They couldn't find a Francis Faragher born in Man circa 1832.So much for the belief that he had come over in the 1850's.
Shortly after this I learned of the Mormon Index quite by accident. I booked to use the copy held by the Society of Genealogists. Then I learned that our county library also had a copy and a quick visit and search of the Liverpool records gave me the information I wanted. I'm still trying to workout why I travelled up to Central London and paid the Genealogists to inspect their Index, when I'd already got the information I needed for nothing. I suppose it was all part of my methodical approach.
I learned that Francis and his twin were baptised in 1834 and that he had an elder sister, Margaret, born in 1832; and a younger brother, John Cain, born 1835 which completed the family. I couldn't discover anything more about Daniel except that he too had married a Jane. If I wanted to find out more about him I would have to get a copy of his death certificate. I went back again to St. Catharine's House.
I could find no trace of Daniel in the Index, but my son found a Margaret Faragher and a James Faragher. Rather than just waste a visit I ordered copies of their Death Certificates. James, a Merchant Seaman, died in 1855 aged 22 and was without doubt the twin of Francis. However, Margaret who died in 1851 should have been aged 19 according to my reckoning. The woman on the certificate, turned out to be " Margaret - widow of James Faragher, a Pilot",aged 81. I began to curse my son for causing me to have wasted my money on complete dead strangers, when I noticed that the informant in both cases was the same woman. There must have been a link between the dead twin and woman.
It began to dawn now that if I wanted to take this any further, I would have to inspect the Parish Registers. I made a trip to Liverpool and sat for some two days in the central library looking through various weighty tomes. I was on the point of giving up, when my son asked me if I was interested in arm"Farquhers". I began to curse him and explain that we did not spell our name like that, when my mind flashed book to a wet Cornish Summer. We found a number of children born to James Farquher, a Pilot, and Margaret Cain between1794 and 1803. The last of these children was a certain Daniel. I inspected the Marriage Register for 1794, but couldn't find any Faraghers or Farquhers, but I did find a Farragher. It turned out that a James Farragher, a Pilot, had married a Margaret Cain in January of 1794, ten months before the birth of their first child (Phew!). When I looked at the signature of James Farragher, I found it was written Faragher. Could it be that eighteenth century clerics could not spell. I think I could claim to have found Daniel and his father James, both seemingly born in Liverpool. I say seemingly born in Liverpool, because the Mormon Index shows a James Faraker, son of Thomas Faraker, born there in 1769. He seems to fit the picture. Moreover, Thomas had a number of other children. One was William, born 1762. That would have made him 37 when the 'Penelope' sailed in 1799, if of course it's the same man. Now to find this out I'm going to have to visit Liverpool again to check on the Parish Registers. I forgot to look last time.
You may by now be wondering what I'm doing in the Manx Family History Society. As a matter of fact, I've asked myself that same question. I've traced my "Manx" surname back some two hundred years, but still cannot place it back on the Isle of Man.
Now, if you've followed this sorry tale through to this point, youl maybe tempted to ask why I've written this article. Well that I can answer. I hope it may serve as a cautionary tale to other members not to adopt my "Methodical" methods, when cracking the easy topic called Family History.
Bob Faragher
St. Luke's stands on the site of an ancient keeil, dedicated to St. Abbess and also it is known as Abban's Church or Killey Bane. Abban was an Irish Saint recorded in the Calendar of Aengus, son of O'Comar of Leinster. There is very little known about its early history, and most of the informationhas been gathered from people now long since passed on, or gleaned from various old history books.
Four churches have been known to have stood on this site. The first one being built by a Holyman or hermit, who lived further down in the Baldwin valley towards Injabreck, at a place called Ulican or Balla Leane (?) which he farmed. These places were flooded when the Baldwin reservoir was constructed. He built his little sod church in a hollow on the hillside, just below the ancient monument to the old Tynwald Hill, a Cairn ring of stones, a few hundred yards above the church. St. Luke's was the ancient church of Tynwald, but this site was last used around 1428.
The next church was slightly larger and was built by the inhabitants of both Baldwin Valleys, as the site stood high on the hill overlooking both valleys. The third church was the stone built keeil, built for St. Abban, when he came to administer to the people. The present church was built by Bishop Ward and consecrated on may 14th 1836, and named St. Luke's. St. Luke's was a daughter church of Kirk Braddan originally, but was transferred to the parish of Marown at the boundary change-over of July 1978.
Bishop Ward and his daughter came on horseback to the Baldwin Valley and found the existing church in a ruinous state, and decided to rebuild the present church on this site. He was staying at the Castle Mona in Douglas. He built four churches during his time on the Island, St. James' at Dalby ,St. Stephen's at Sulby, it. Luke's, and All Saints at Lonan (?). The architect was Welch, who also designed and built the Tower of Refuge.
The farmers and crofters who had a horse and cart, carted ten loads of stone each, giving two days each week for this work, from the East Baldwin river, up through Ballawyllan Farm. A quarry was also opened just behind the church for stone, and the roof slates came from the slate quarries on the side of Colden mountain, just above the Baldwin village. The families involved included the Cannells, Cowells, Kellys, Quines and Killips.
A few stones of the ancient keeil still remain and these are incorporated into the east wall, behind the high altar, Just above the east window, and under the bell turret. I cannot find any foundation stone to the present church, but history says that Bishop Ward laid a stone during the construction just below the bank level (?). There is a stone, a red sandstone, possibly Peel, on a window sill on the southeast side of the church with an incised linear cross, which is known locally as the Cursed Stone of Destiny". It is considered to be older than the 7th century.
The story goes that a certain farmer living nearby at Algale Farm, wished to build a new cow shed and removed some stones which included the incised cross stone from the ruins of the then ancient keeill. After he had built the new cow shed, things began to go all wrong for him on the farm. All his animals became sick and died, his sheep, cons, pigs, horses and finally his wife fell ill. He became so afraid that she too would die, that he pulled down the cowshed with all haste. She survived and in thankfulness for his wife's complete recovery to good health once more, set about with gusto to help Bishop Ward to rebuild the new church in 1836.
Part of the church building was once used as a day school, under the terms of the Education Act of 1870, this portion being the west end. The schoolmaster used to ride a fine white horse, and he collected the money from the children's parents once a week. For all those attending the school, it was 9 pence per child, or if you had three attending, it cost you less, 6 pence per week for each child.
The Centenary of St. Luke's was held on May 14th 1936. The church was completely renovated and new pine pews fitted, the twin aisles being replaced with a single aisle down the centre of the church. A new wall was built around the churchyard. On the west end of the church's gable, above the old Day School section, in place of an ugly chimney pot, there is an unique cement cross through which the smoke of the fireplace passes and was originally used by the teacher in the school for cooking and keeping the pupils warm whilst doing their lessons.
The Royal Road of the Manx Kings, the Millenium Way, passes the church door, past the ancient cairn and on up the mountain tops to Tholt y Will. Sledge marks can still be seen on the rocky paths over which the people passed on horseback pulling their goods etc. behind. The path from Tholt y Will joins the Sulby River at Milntown, just outside Ramsey, and where they followed the river to the sea. It was here that the Norwegian Kings of Mann arrived by Viking Ship. When the new Tynwald Hill was built at St. Johns, soil from the parish of Braddan and from Baldwin was given to form part of the base, as Braddan is one of the 17 ancient Parishes in the Diocese of Sodor and Mann. Kirk Braddan being the Mother Parish of Douglas, and its vicarage is in the Bishops Patronage.
There is no electric light. The church is lit by ten brass oil lamps and heated by a large old coke, peat and wood burning stove, set in the middle of the church floor.
The large pipe organ came from Kentraugh Mansion House, but had been vandalised and lay broken down for 46 years. In Millenium Year 1979, we decided to repair the organ and Messrs Wood Brothers of Huddersfield, Organ,Builders, undertook the work. It was necessary to purchase another organ from Hewsome Chapel, a Methodist Chapel in Huddersfield, before it was demolished, in order to obtain the new woodwork and wooden pipes to match up with our metal pipes. We have a very handsome instrument which is in use every Sunday one of the very few hand blown organs still is use in the British Isles.
The pulpit came from Kirk Braddan church about 90 years ago. On the top left hand side, just below the brass candlestick, there is a groove out into the pulpit top. This was for the preacher to place his watch or sand-timer in., to judge the 60 minute sermon. The pulpit before this one was of the tree trunk style.
The font was given in memory of Eleanor Laird Warren by her father, Major H. Warren. On the font ever and brass top covering work it reads, "To the greater glory of God and in blessed memory of Eleanor Laird Warren, eldest daughter, M.G.W., gives, devotes and dedicates an ewer and covering for baptising. To this temple of the Holy Luke 1896 MDCCCXCVI . The first female baptised was the daughter of John and Margaret Faragher of Ballalough, West Baldwin, on May 18th 1849.
On the collection plates are carved the inscription " God loves a cheerful Giver". The words "Praise ye the Lord" are carved over the window archway above the high altar. Carved in the wooden panels can be seen the different symbols representing the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and also those of the four Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Gilded lillies are carved on the altar redoes (?) representing the Virgin Mary.
St. Luke's church door is never locked, as a murderer fleeing from his victim's relatives can still seek refuge and shelter in the church, from a law enactment of Tynwald of 1422 concerning a prowness (?) in dealing of causes by means of the Sword, God and Country.
The present church was built as a chaplaincy to Kirk Braddan, and the chaplain instructed in the Day School. One notable chaplain was the Reverend John Kelly 1750-1809, only son of William Kelly, farmer and cooper, of AlgareFarm, Baldwin. At 16 years of age, he was assisting the Rev. Philip Moore in translating the Bible into Manx, and for his work he was given a gratuity from the S.P.C.R., (Society for the Promotion of Christian Religion.), which enabled him to go to St. Johns College, Cambridge, where to took his B.A. degree. He was later ordained and compiled his dictionary to the Gaelic languages of Scotland, Ireland and Mann, With an English translation. Bishop Drury always preached his sermon in Manx when he visited St. Lukes.
The quaint Custom of St. Luke's in years gone by is that all the men sat on one side of the church and the women and children sat on the other, separated by the aisles.
The first two weddings in living memory took place in the church only recently. One on August 10th 1968 for Miss Jane Spittal, daughter of Lt. Col.Peter Spittal, Captain of the Parish, and the other for Miss Pauline Dean on September 12th 1971, daughter of Dorothy and Jerry Dean. Six more weddings have taken place since.
[photo - not included for copyright reasons]
St. Luke's Church, Baldwin - taker. between 1894 & 1898 Reproduced by kind permission of the Manx Museum.
The first confirmation in the church was held on July 12th 1973 by the Rt. Rev. Eric Gordon, Bishop of Sodor and Han, when 12 people were confirmed. Bishop Vernon Nicholls was the first Bishop to celebrate Holy Communion in the church on February 23rd 1975.
On June 12th 1972, a new red carpet was fitted and was presented by Mirs Casement, widow of the late Captain Casement of Somerset Road, Douglas, a descendant of the Casement family linked to Laxey Wheel fame. On July 14th 1973, the church was painted for the first time for 40 years, before that it had always been whitewashed inside by Mr. William Hill of Mount Rule.
During the winter of 1973, our friend the old stove, which gave us so much heat, began to break up and during the 1974 winter and part of 1975, we had to have only a small fire in the combustion stove. On November 18th 1974, I made an appeal through the Isle of Man Courier newspaper, and with the help of Canon Duckworth, and within three days a kind friend from Maughold offered to purchase a new one for us, which cost £550. He ordered the new stove from Messrs Black Bros of Victoria Street, Douglas' and it was specially made for us in Yorkshire by the Essme Stove Company. It was installed the following June 1975. On April 3rd 1979, the bell clapper flew off. We had the bell repaired and working again by Sunday, April 29th 1979, costing £170.
Notable people buried in the churchyard include the gentleman who
helped with composing the music for the Manx Wedding song. Also
buried in the churchyard is a little girl, who played truant from St.
Luke's Sunday School, and went playing at Glen Auldyn, and was
drowned in the Glen Auldyn river, during a thunderstorm, on her way
home.
There are also 9 paupers graves in the churchyard with a wooden headback. Doctors from Ballamona Hospital are interred in their own special plot. Many headstones have Manx inscriptions. Eight miners were killed in a gas explosion in the Ohio Lead Mines, East Baldwin, and are also buried in unmarked graves, except one, William Corlett of Battery Hill, aged 34. He was very young and the people of the valley paid for his burial and headstone, which lists his death as due to 'Blast and Explosion'.
The first female interment was Catherine Jane, infant daughter of Willian Kelly, aged one month. The first male interred was William, illegitimate son of George Ellet and Mary Clague, aged one month. The second male internment was Luke, son of Mathias Caine, Blacksmith, aged one year and eight months, buried December 18th 1837. This was the first child baptised at St. Luke's on May 15th 1836, and named after the new church.
Other notable graves are Messrs Kelly, the weavers from the Woollen Mills, East Baldwin, wool manufacturers, two Welsh dressmakers from Australia, and Sir Philip Wombwell, Baronett, one of the Spittal family.
When my Grandmother was housekeeper to the parson Rev. Robert Cain and Rev.R.S. Butterton, who both lived at St. Luke's parsonage, came home one day with a pheasant, she cleaned and cooked the bird and he requested that she bury the crop from the bird in the corner of the churchyard, as you approach the church. This she did and from the content an Oak Tree grew, which can still be seen to this day growing next to the notice board.
1985 is the 75th anniversary of Girl Guiding on the Island, so we have had four Mountain Ash (Rowan) trees planted in the churchyard to commemorate this event. On March 10th 1985, Kirk Braddan Guides planted one Mountain Ash before our 6.30 pm Communion Service, and on Palm Sunday, harsh 31st 1905 at6.30 pm, the Guides from Eastern District No.2 Local Association, Anagh Coar Brownies, and the 1st Douglas Rangers, planted their trees.
Baldwin Valley
On a clear day from St. Luke's church door, you can see the Isle of Anglesey, due to St. Luke's being one of the highest standing churches on the Island, 563 feet above sea level.
The old original road from St. Luke's ran along the west side of the churchyard and down the West Baldwin valley for half a mile, before turning sharply to the left, down across two fields to the West Baldwin River, and on up past the front door of Ballalig farmhouse. This road is called " The Road of the Corpse", as they all past this way to be buried at St. Luke's. They had to be carried by men on a bier due to the steep incline.
If you look across the East Baldwin glen from St. Luke's door on to Balliargey Heights, there is a tower known by the local Baldwin people as "Joe Lewin's Tower". It was originally a lime burning Kiln, which can be found in many different parts of the Manx countryside, especially Druidale. In days gone by, farmers used to cart the unburnt lime to Castletown, then ship it by boat out around the coast and throw it overboard at certain places, Kirk Michael being one such place. It was allowed to be washed ashore, and then the local farmers used to cart it up to their kilns or towers to burn it before spreading it on their land.
As you proceed up the Royal Road past the old Tynwald Bill' another monument stands to the east on Arderry Beights, and built into a grey stone mountain is the shapes of a man and his horse in white stones.
The story goes that a certain Deemster on an errand of mercy or to hold a court in Castletown, got caught in a snowstorm, and they both perished on the mountain path that runs by the wall. Local people erected the monument in white stones in the wall to his memory to last forever in time.
Further along the path to the north end of East Baldwin Valley you will arrive at the Creg-y-cowin farms and hamlet. The lower Creg-y-cowin house was the ancient summer residence of the Manx Governors, who spent many summer days ire the peace and quietness of this beautiful valley amongst the hills, rocks and rivers so full of Manx trout.
Above Creg-y-Cowin farms, are the Seven Sisters of white stones set into the hillside. These guided travellers in years gone by over the mountain paths, much used by the local inhabitants when visiting relatives in otherparts of the Island, by the farmers when they went off to the fishing, and by the miners working at the Laxey and Mondale lead mines. These were the highways and roads in those days. There were also lead mines in East Baldwin, Ohio, Injebreck and West Baldwin village, even had a large water wheel like Laxey.
Black Death [sic Cholera ?] was brought to Kirk Braddan by a woman buying food from a grocers shop in Douglas Quay, which was infested with rats (whoops" long tails) from visiting ships. Many of the victims lie buried in Old Kirk Braddan churchyard in 1832, and the epidemic reached the Baldwin Valleys, where every family lost at least one member of the household. The victims were buried at St. Luke's in 1842 in a large vault or mound. Many of the old people used to walk around the mound reciting the Lords Prayer in Manx on the anniversary of the event.
Ballaoates mansion house at the bottom of the East Baldwin. Valley, was a former Bishops Palace. Tom Cowell
For several years the idea of patting member's pedigrees on computer
-only those members of course who would be willing to participate -
has been discussed and considered not only by our Committee, but by
others too. Amongst these Paul Gregson in San Francisco - our agent
for North America -had done some work on the project and indeed he
was the initiator of the idea, And pressure of business matters has
prevented him from progressing his scheme to completion on his IBM
machinery. Using computer hardware, more commonly found in private
hands in the British Isles, was later seen to be a more suitable home
for the database, mostly on the grounds of portability between the
host machine and other machines of like parentage. Also it would have
been difficult and expensive attempting to administer the database so
far from Society Headquarters. This meant further delays in
implementing the scheme, since a member willing, able, and with the
necessary time and hardware available to deal with the large volume
of data involved, had to be found and recruited. The writer undertook
the work in mid 1985. A clear picture of the format we needed to
contain the data and having assembled the data the best method of
making it available to the members needing it, had to be worked out.
hat seem to be satisfactory answer's to these problems have emerged
only recently..
The object therefore of this article is to place before the membership an outline of the scheme the Committee have now agreed upon and to encourage as many members as possible to fill in one or more of the pedigree charts, and send us the results of their family history researches in the format described later. Two sample charts are supplied as loose enclosures in this Journal, these can be photocopied to provide however many you may need. The two charts are slightly different one being an extension for the other to show your ancestors another four generations back.
As you see, there are two of these, a first and an extension chart.
On the former each branch of the tree is numbered, this numbering is
of paramount importance to the operation of the system, since what
will be recorded on the computer will be a sequence of those numbers
on your charts for which you can enter data, together with the
corresponding data in abbreviated form.
Branches numbered 2 and 3 are your father and mother respectively, branches 4,5,6,7 are paternal grandfather, p-grandmother, maternal grandfather and m-grandmother in that order, branches 8 through 15 are your GO grandparents with the sequence as before.
Fill in what information you have, obviously the more complete your data the better. Ideally each entry should show dates of birth/christening, marriage, and death/burial (where appropriate) and also places of b/c, m, d/b Do not worry though, if the present state of your researches has not produced all the information the chart asks for, in that respect you are in good company, for this is the situation that all amateur and even professional genealogists are in to a greater or lesser extent.
If one or more of your lines goes beyond the first chart carry on to an extension chart being careful to number the two entry branches on the left side of the extension chart correctly. As you will see, to continue all your
TBC ...
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Any comments, errors or omissions
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