Mrs. Jan Lawson New Zealand:
I have recently started a search to trace back members of the Joughin and in particular Moughton families from the Isle of Man.
While looking through a back issue of the N.Z. Genealogist magazine, I found an advertisement placed by the Isle of Man F.H.S. enquiring for ‘Strays’ to add to your emigration index.
I suspect our ‘pitifully’ small Moughton family in N.Z. would qualify and I shall supply you with as much information as I have. The easiest way perhaps, is by means of the enclosed Moughton family tree which for lack of information is incomplete.
The Moughton name is rather precarious - one son only in each generation!
Mrs. Lyn Bennett:
In our September Genealogical magazine, I saw that you were looking for Manx strays. I would like to register my great grandparents.
My great grandfather was JOHN FARGHER son of Thomas Fargher and Catherine Shimmin. He was baptized at St. Matthews, May 10, 1840 and lived at Sulby, Lezayre at the time of his marriage 1 Jan. 1867 at Marown. He died 19 Jan 1881 Blackburn, New Zealand.
Dinah Jane Quayle daughter of William Quayle and Elizabeth Cottier. She was baptized May 26 1850 at St. Patrick and lived at Glenneedle. She died 17 Jan. 1918 Hastings, New Zealand.
They sailed for New Zealand from Gravesend 26th July 1874 arriving November 20th 1874 on the."Bebbington". They brought their sons William 7, John
5, Phillip 3, and Robert 5 months with them. My grandfather Phillip Thomas died 3rd August 1956 aged 85. I have copies of birth, death and marriage certificates for:-
John Fargher
Dinah Jane Quayle
Phillip Thomas Fargher
I am seeking any information of these families.
Mrs. Maureen Slako
One of my forebears was a Miss CHRISTIAN (christian name unknown) married to John GIBBONS two known children were -
1. Sarah Theresa Saunders, said to have been attached to the Court of Don Pedro exiled King of Brazil.
2. John Gibbons born c1803 and who married Elizabeth HIBBS c.1826 in Newfoundland.
John and Elizabeth plus their family subsequently emigrated from Newfoundland to New Zealand arriving 1853. We at this end have been unable to trace back beyond Newfoundland as unfortunately most of the records there were destroyed by fire last century. But a persistent family story links our Miss CHRISTIAN to Fletcher Christian, a popular historical character in our area as the replica ship "Bounty" was built in Whangarei.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Mrs. Joan Pate, writes:-
The following "stray" I found while doing research for my own genealogical society among the cemeteries.
This is in Richardson Cemetery, Commerce Township, Oakland County, Michigan, USA.
Stephen COWIN, d.2l May 1878 77y 2m (Native of Isle of Man)
on the opposite side of the monument: Mary wife of Stephen d. 5 Dec 1878 87y IOM (Native of England)
If anyone feels this connects with his family. line, I would be pleased to do further research.
Mrs. Katherine Sharpe,writes:-
For some time I’ve thought about writing to tell you what became of my kinfolk who strayed from the Isle of Man.
My great-grandmother, Jane MOORE was the daughter of Emmanuel MOORE of Ballaberna, Maughold. She was born 27 Feb 1831 and married on 28 Oct 1855 James Hartley YOUNG, who was born in Leicestershire on 12 July 1834. They came to America the next year and settled in Ohio, but in a few years moved to Pennsylvania. James Young worked first as a collier, then as a farmer. Later they returned to Ohio where they died and are buried. They had four children who survived. Her obituary notice in the Warren, Ohio Tribune Chronicle of February 17, 1911, reads:
"Hartford:- Mrs. Jane Young died at her home Tuesday evening, February 7 after an illness of several months. She was a very highly respected woman. She had lived here twenty-five years, and was a member of the Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant, Pa and is also a member of the Hartford Grange. She leaves her son George of this place and three daughters, Mrs. Kate Ruffing of Grove City, Pa., Mrs. Jennie Chadderton of New Port, Pa,., and Mrs. Emma Becker of this place. The funeral was held Friday Interment was made in West Street Cemetery."
My mother frequently mentioned an "Aunt Kimberly" who was her grandmother’s sister. Searching census and other records I have found that Aunt Kimberly was Jane Moore’s sister Catherine. She married first Philip Teare on Man in 1846, and had his daughter Catherine. After his death she must have come to America for they are listed in our 1860 census as Catherine, wife of Samuel Kimberly and Kate Tiere, both born IOM.
Another of Emmanuel’s daughters, Ellinor, must also have come to America although I have not yet found her records. I believe this because in the family Bible appear notes about the ages of Jane Moore, Catherine Moore, and Ellinor Moore. Also mentioned is Catherine, daughter of Philp Tear. Others who remained on the Island are not mentioned: Edward, John, Robert, and Ann (who married a Corkill and who erected the tombstone in Maughold churchyard to her father, Emmanuel Moore and mother Ann Kennish).
Yes, I am related to John Moore of Middle Begoade Farm, Stanley Moore of Cooil Dromma and David of Ballaberna. We were hosted most cordially by all three families when we visited on the Island for the Millennium, though it was purely by chance that we became aware of each others’ existence.
John’s parents, too, were very hospitable and an incredible source of family history. It was like a light bulb turning on when Willie Moore invited us to sit, saying, "Shay Sheesh". I had heard that before! My mother must have picked it up from her grandmother (Jane Moore Young). It must also have been her grandmother who taught her to count from one to ten in Manx. My Manx blood is pretty diluted but still a heritage which I treasure. Each issue of the Journal is eagerly read. Keep up the good work.
Mrs. J.R. Penprase, writes : -
ELIZA GRACE LITTLE, dtr. of Thomas Little and Agnes (nee Senogles), who was bp. 8th Sept. 1867 at Patrick, was my paternal grandmother. She was born, c.1868 at St. Johns, ION. (From her marriage certificate). Any information on her exact date of birth and any information on her parents would be greatly appreciated.
For your "Strays" file - ELIZA GRACE LITTLE married JOSEPH THOMAS PENPRASE (at age 24 years) at Charters Towers, Queensland and bore him five children.
One male died in infancy and she was survived by Joseph (b.14 Mar. 1895 at Charters Towers, Queensland), Edith (b.c.1897 at Charters Towers), Annie (b.c. 1899 at Charters Towers), Vera (b.6th Nov 1905 at Charters Towers).
ELIZA GRACE PENPRASE died at Charters Towers, Queensland, 8th July 1921 (aged 53 years according to her death certificate).
The paucity of information given on certificates in this country last century and early in this, presents great difficulty to researchers. The inaccuracy of the information is another problem, particularly in the gold mining boom towns like Charters Towers.
My husband’s great grandfather William Moore emigrated to New Zealand in 1860. His brother Robert also went to New Zealand. Regretably I have no knowledge of Robert except that he married and had a family. William raised a family in New Zealand but returned to Man after the death of his wife, to see his mother (who lived to 98 years of age). He died on the island of injuries he received when he was knocked down by a boy on a bicycle, and is buried in the Kirk Michael churchyard.
I have enclosed a very brief tree of the family and hope that the information will be of use to your society. And if any of your members are researching either the Moore or Caine families I will be delighted to hear from them.
Margaret Marrs, writes:-
Just the other day at the Census Office I found a Manx native in Penrith, Cumberland. The entry was for 1851, Film 110-107-2425, folio 140, page 12 schedule 53.
Netherend
James Lewin H M 55 Farmer 18 acres Isle of Man
Ellen Lewin W M 53 Farmer’s wife Westm. Brougham
Source: Penrith, Cumberland 1851 Census
Marlene Doran, writes:-
I have spent months tracing the schooner "Vixen" which plied up and down the coast of Australia after leaving the Isle of Man on Jan 26th 1853, until 30th Jan 1855. Also the "Peveril", Aug. 1854 to Dec 1855. If anyone is interested in the dates of each of these vessels, I would be only too pleased to pass it on.
Cronkbourne Village, in
Braddan has been in the news lately, due to its proposed demolition
by the present owners and subsequent replacement by modern units.
Fortunately this development was halted by the local authorities who
pointed out that Cronkbourne Village was the only purpose built
industrial village on the Island, mainly built in the middle 1800s
complete with Church and School, to accommodate the families employed
at the nearby "Sailcloth Factory" at "Tromode" (now Clucas'
Laundry).
The "MOORE" family who resided in the nearby "Cronkbourne" mansion, were the owners of the tied cottages and factory, and although they were very benevolent people, they were also very strict, as is shown in the famous "rules and regulations" a copy of which still exists listing 39 separate reasons why employees or their children could be fined at work or at home for breaking this code of conduct. For instance, these far reaching regulations covered such anomalies as in Rule 21 = breaking or injuring a window - "if it cannot be proved who broke or injured any window or windows in the schoolhouse or untenanted cottages the damage must be paid in equal proportions by the children who are in "the habit of throwing stones". Rough justice indeed!
Here is an account of the early history of Tromode Works.
W.F. Moore and Son, Tromode Sailcloth Factory, Douglas The village of
Tromode, about two miles from Douglas, is the home of the largest and
most Important industry pursued on the island, namely, the
manufacture of sailcloth. The Tromode sailcloth factory dates back to
1790 and is undoubtedly the oldest business concern on the Island.
From the very inception of the firm of Moore, of Tromode, the sound
and sterling quality of the canvas made was widely recognised, and we
believe that we are quite within the mark in saying that no sailcloth
in the world has a higher fame than that which is still produced at
the Tromode Sailcloth Works of W.F. Moore and Son.
By the courtesy of the principal, we had recently the privilege of witnessing the whole process of manufacture as carried on at Tromode. Passing through a warehouse filled with bales of flax, selected apparently with great care from the finest growths of Irish, Dutch, and Russian flax fields, we enter a range of lofty stone-built sheds, where the various preparing processes are carried on. In the first process, "heckling" the fine, long fibre of the flax employed is at once apparent. Length and strength of fibre, it will be readily understood, are essential to the production of first-class sailcloth, and the practice of this firm from the beginning of using the best and strongest qualities of flax only has never been deviated from to this day. "Drawing", "roving", "spinning", and "reeling" come next, and then we follow the hanks into the boiling room, where they are subjected to a lengthy boiling in large steam pots, or kiers, in order that all extraneous vegetable matter may be extracted. After washing and squeezing, the hanks now present that silky appearance which best flax alone can show, and are now ready for the drying process. This is conducted in a spacious open air drying ground, where the hanks are suspended on poles, and dried by currents of pure mountain air from Snaefell or sea breezes from the coast; the while they are partially bleached by the brilliant sunshine of this favoured spot in Mona. When we add that every day about 5,000 hanks of various counts, aggregating in weight over a ton and a half, are handled, it will be seen that the operation is tedious, but it produces the best results, and only in wet weather are the yarns dried by artificial means.
After drying and bleaching, the hanks are returned to another shed, where they are re-wound on bobbins previous to warping, the woft being softened by a "beating" process. The yarn is now ready for the weaving shed, whither we follow it. The place is enlivened by the cheery voices of the weavers, singing snatches of songs as they deftly mind their "ends" to the accompaniment of the rattle and clatter of rows of looms. Watching the operations, one is struck with the wondrous uniformity and evenness of the production; nor would he fail to notice the blue and red line which runs through the middle of the canvas - the ancient mark of the house. After being duly "calendered" we follow the "webs" into the warehouse, there to be measured, and stamped, every five yards of it, with the name of the firm; then to be rolled or lapped, and to receive its final outside stamp of genuineness - the Crown- the three legs in a diamond, with the date 1790 and the words, "All LongFlax". Packed in a canvas bag, the web is now ready for despatch to all the corners of the earth, and Tromode sees it no more.
Having such a valuable and long-standing repute, a very large output is necessitated in order to provide effectually and satisfactorily with the steady and constant demands made upon the resources of the firm by its' widespread connections in almost every shipping centre at home and abroad.
Needless to state, the mechanical equipment of the factory is of the most approved modern design, the motive power being supplied by a powerful beam engine, supplemented by several splendid water-wheels fed by the river Glas, which flows through the estate, the total force available being close on 300 hp. As an instance of the up-to-dateness of the plant, it may not be out of place to state that the whole of the works have, since 1882, been illuminated by electricity derived from one of Crompton's noted dynamos, having a voltage of 110 of 200 amperes, working at 880 revolutions a minute. The adjoining village of Tromode is populated by the hands engaged on the works - some 150, together with their families - for whom a cosy reading room is provided, a flourishing cricket club affording summer relaxation.
Himself the largest employer of labour on the Island, exclusive of
the mines, no person has done more to develop the industries of the
Island than Mr. Arthur W. Moore, the head of the firm of W.F. Moore
and Son. He has evertaken a deep and abiding interest in all matters
affecting the social and material welfare of the Island, and, amongst
other offices, holds the distinguished position of Speaker of the
Insular Parliament, or, as it is termed, the House of Keys.
Telegraphic address - "Mooreson, Douglas, Mann."
(taken from Mercantile Manxland 1900 by P.A. Lewthwaite)
We would be interested to hear from anyone whose family worked at the
Sailcloth Mills or lived at Cronkbourne Village, as we are hoping to
base our exhibition this year on families from the village. Family
trees or photographs wouldbe welcomed and returned afterwards.
P.A. LEWTHWAITE.
A Californian reader of the "Courier" sends us the following items, which may be of interest to friends of the Manx-Californian's concerned:
Another addition to the Manx colony is reported, Mrs. R.S. Cannell
having recently given birth to another daughter.
....................
Mr. R.S. Cannell has about a hundred acres in wheat. How does that
compare with Manx farming.
....................
Daniel Cormode is kept too busy on his ranch to take another trip
home yet.
Herbert Christian has rented 160 acres of land, and is busy ploughing
it up to raise feed for his big band of hogs.
....................
W.O. Quayle, who is the leader of the Manx colony in Bishop, and who
played a prominent part in a recent prohibition election has gone to
Frisco for a short stay.
One Manxman got on a ranch where he only saw two women in as many
months, but is now as happy as a bird having returned to
civilisation.
....................
Mrs. White Smith, sister of Wm. Watterson, has started for the Isle
of Man, and will visit Ramsey.
.....................Source: Ramsey Courier 16th May, 1910
(Continuation from Last Issue)
The following letters conclude the story of the Cowleys of Ardwhallin and give a vivid insight into life in the Baldwin Valley in the late 19th century.
to her son Thomas Cowley in Victoria, Australia, written in the
year 1856.
October 12th, 1856 Awhallan, Baldwin.
Dear Son,
We received your kind letter last night and you cannot think how glad
we were to receive it as we have been so long expecting it. We are
glad to hear that your health is well as we are all pretty well at
present except Kitty, she has broken a blood vessel last June and she
is very poorly ever since. We cannot get any thing to do her good.
John Brook was home all the spring, he was very often seeing us, he
was for going back to Geelong in May and we wrote a long letter and
gave it to him but he is in England yet. He said he sent the letter
but we don't know so we will give you all the news we can of the
times, We had four weeks of very fine weather at the beginning of the
harvest, it then got very wet and the harvest was not done. It is
raining almost every day, we have all the corn at home safe and we
have put Colden in little stacks up, to save it from the wet. There
is a deal of crops in a bad state through the island, the Summer has
been very wet and the people have not got the turf all home yet
because the weather has been very wet. The crop is pretty good if it
has been got in safe. The potatoes are very bad this year. We have
sold old Bob to a man in Douglas for £3, he parted very bad. The
colt looks very well, she will stand about sixteen hands high, We had
a very nice foal this year end they all look well. The bees have not
done much this year but we had a little more honey than we had last
year.
Your sisters and brother-in-law are all well and send their love to you, all are so glad to hear from you that you cannot think it. William Callow has gone to Mr Moore as the clerk in the lime kilns. We have no school here now in St Lukes, Mr. Gill has gone to the new chapel in Laxey, he is married to ? Llewellen. The parsons name we have now is Mr. Davis, he is an Englishman. The people in Baldwin I think are just as you left them, there has been a great number of strangers in the island this year and made things very brisk. We have had a man from Scotland lodged with us all the summer, he was cutting trees in Injebreck. They have cut two hundred pounds worth of wood and he is away now getting his wife as he is coming to be agent to Mr Spittall. The servant lads were very brisk, at the 13 and 14 pounds for good lads. Isaac Cannell is not with Mr Corkhill this year, he is leaving him from November, he is going home as Jane is married to Billy Bet and lives in Douglas.
Dear brother-in-law I didnt expect a letter this morning when I came in from the coole this morning, I am glad to hear your well and I would be glad to see you home again.. There is a large barn built for Tommy Corkhill where the old one was, but no sign of a wife for him, he sends his love to you. Old Kate is still alive but failing very much. Johnny Craine is dead and Catherine Corkhill is dead.Parson Gills' brother Evan, he went to bathe at Scarlett and no one can tell how it happened, he was drowned, it was a great shock to them.Janey is growing big, Bobby is as big as Johnny. Your cousins in Liverpool are well, Elenor is still in the same place and Willy has gone to sea again. John Freer the old thing is at home again and follows a pair of horses. He looks just as he use to do, there are one of his sisters married yet but his old sweetheart ? Hampton was married the day his mother died, to William Taggart of Gibdale.
Dear son when you write tell us if you have seen any lads that you know, if you hear anything of Hudson's lads tell us, They don't write a letter to her. It was James Kelly's sister that is dead, Margaret Tyson your cousin died at Manchester and old Mrs Clague of the Naish is dead. We had an anniversary here 3 weeks ago, but a very small collection, f:3, some shillings, it was too late ln the season. There is a Scotsman living in Mr Spittalls place at the village where John Clucas was and the new parson is lodged with him. John Cowley, Erey-veen has a smiddy by Macklures house and old Ilbram and the wife live in the little house where William Callow lived. Mrs Creer of Awhallan was going to Douglas in the gig and Joe Crellin was coming from the village with Mrs Fayle of Balligs horse and she ran the shaft of the gig through the hip of Mrs Fayles' mare and wounded her bad, they are at common law.
Dear son when you write let us know what you have done with your
chests, if you don't look after your clothes they will be all wasted.
Dear son write oftener and give us all the news you can.Robert
Corkhill says he has written to you several times and has received no
answer, and Willy is at tbe Ballarat diggings. We never heard of you
by anyone, but Mrs Lewin sent word to us that Mr Lewin had seen you,
her family is all well. So no more at present from your affectionate
father and mother
Thomas and Barbary Cowley, write soon and we will.
- Written by either Robert Craine or Thomas Creer
sometime during the year 1861. The first four pages are missing.
.... James and he speaks of coming home. The Kermodes get letter from the Cannans, there is two of their girls married, one to a gentleman. We received the gold you sent with Thomas Lewin but waited long for the letter you were to send, but it has come at last. Thomas is very well and his wife has a baby and is quite smart again. His latter says that you were thinking of going to the place called Snow River but we think you have gone far enough to return. It is coming on seven years since you left our shores and many is the changes that is here since then, and all this time the Lord has spared us ye to live and we hope to see you safe home again. You will be delighted with our little front Garden all full of flowers, we have a new top on the house and a new top on the barn last summer and it is not a little expensive, but we have good shelter and that was wanted badly. Dear son we hope that you will write to us as soon as you get this letter and let us know all the particulars about your coming home.
Poor Robert Clucas lost his sight and that was all. The loss of the Royal Charter wns great shock, numbers of the passengere were found uopn these shores. William ? is dead about two years.We are going to write to America next week so no more at present, from your Father and Mother, T. and B. Cowley.
Awhallan December 10th, 1861
Dear Son,
I have taken up my pen to write these few lines to you hoping to fnd you in good health, as we are not very well at present. Yet I thank God we are not laid on a bed of sickness. Your father and I are both failing fast. We received your letter and also about your sickness but was very much disappointed in yourself not coming but if you don’t come soon you will never see me. We have nobody to do anything but Stanley and little Jenny, she is growing a fine girl. Kitty got married all unknown to any of us to John Quine at the village which grieved us very much, they live at the village.
Stanley is very good to us and the Lord will bless him for his kindness to his parents. Your brother John works at the sawmills and gets his meals at home, he earns a pound a week. Robert is with Thomas Creer still and gets a little wage by the week. The work has been very brisk. Your sisters and the families are all well, they have increased a good deal since you left us. Billy Callow has buried four and now they have twins three weeks old, this is twelve children for them now, they have a good place and all look well. There is so many strange things here now and I think if you came home it would suprise you very much.
Your cousins in Kirk Michaels are all married but one, that is Margaret. John has not written them this long time to them as your aunt and uncle Dan have lost Margaret with the short illness of twenty four hours, she suffered very much in that time. She was a very fine girl. Jane is married and lives in Douglas. I had a letter from your aunt Betty that is Katherines mother about twelve months ago. It was the first time I had heard from her since you left us. She tells me that there is another son of hers in Australia and his family lives there and has been there and back. She lives with Robert in ? She is very poorly and she inquired very much about you but I told her nothing but we wanted you home very much dear son.
Last page missing
June 11th,1863
Cleybane
Dear Son,
I have taken the time of writing to you again, we have had no letter from you since April 23rd, 1864. We answered it telling you all the news we could at that time. Since then we have spent a long lookout but neither yourself nor a letter. We got the newspaper and thought much of it. Thank you we are all well at present hoping this will find you the same, but not in our old home for as soon as your father thought you would come home he took the Cleybane from James Kelly thinking you would be home to help him and Stanley. What a disappointment it was to them, they were near agreed upon it when you told us you were coming home before, but when you did not come he dropped it again and Janey moved there working and he let it partly to get Janey away, he was yery troublesome to them and father.
That we would be better if you came home, we will do very well I think. We have twenty head of cattle and four horses. The dry one is in Colden, the down land is set to your two brothers, they both work on their land. The mountains are all to be sold and a great deal is sold and the common hay has been reaped off them and roads made is all directions. If the Lord will guide you home safe what a strange sight it will be for you to see and nobody there that was there when you went away. Bill Cleg lives on the mountain and Bill Craine lives in Douglas. Mr Creer, Mrs Fell, ? John Cowley, William Cowley your cousin, Robert Cleg, I cannot tell you all that is dead. Thomas Moss and Kitty are dead, you will hardly know anyone there now. My dear son you don’t know what trouble we have felt on your account but if you come and help us now when we are growing feeble,old and grey the Lord will not forget thee. It was very hard on us to trust and very dear to pay for doing it but we have a trusting will and every convience is here.
I met Mrs ? and she told me you had not got our letter, we are very sorry to hear that but you might write a note again. I would with James but we thought you could be near home by that time. You must think that we have been very much disappointed in you not coming. I have had your bed made for you and hope we will see you soon. Dear son write as soon as you get this and tell us the time the ship arrives and all the particulars that we may come to meet you. We all long for the time.
Robert Crane has his son working with him and Thomas Creer has his
two sons working with his. All your brothers and sisters send their
love to you, no more at present from your
Dear father and mother Thomas and Barbara Cowley
October 18th, 1870
Cleybane
Dear Son,
I have taken up my pen once more to write a few lines to you hoping they will find you in good health as they find us very indifferent at present. Old age and infirmity have overtaken us. We received your few lines of September, 1869 and was very glad to get them, but on I had written a few days before we had thought you would have answered the letter, but no answer yet. The letters are coming plenty to all around us but none for us. I will leave it to your self to think what your father thinks about you. You must know that you are not doing right, you ought to write to us whatever you are doing. I can’t think how you can be so unkind, even if you have nothing to give you can’t say I can’t write. It is very strange the letters don’t come back when you don’t get thorn, you are sixteen years gone from us now. I have every letter you ever sent but they are few. You have seen many a strange sight since that and we could tell you many but when you don’t write and don’t get our letters we don’t like to may much. I have many things I would like to tell you but writing so little makes me forget them.
I told you in the last letter about the mountain fence, the money
it would cost. It hen cost about £50 and your father thought you
might help him, he helped you and you ought not to forget him. But we
must bear it all, it won't be very long. You have spoken of coming
home so many times we would never have left our own home only for
that, thinking you would be home to help us. But all our hopes are in
vain. This day theru are six letters at Stanley's from Douglas,
mostly all from Auntralia and none for his father from his son, But
if you don't write soon it will not be well. Your brothers and
sisters are all pretty well at the present and they all send kind
love to you, so no more at present from your
Kind father and mother Thomas and Barbara Cowley
May 15th, 1871 Cleybane My Dear Son,
I have once more the pleasure of writing a few lines to you hoping
they will find you well as they have found us at the present time,
thank God for all his mercy to us. We received your letter dated
January 28th and were overjoyed with it, as we had given up all hope
of hearing from you. We have spent a very bad winter and spring,we
have just got ? . Your father was three weeks confined to his bed and
he thought he would never rise again I myself had something like
scurvy in my legs and was weeks that I could not walk. How your
father longed to hear from you when he was sick. He would say to me
how unkind he is, I had to comfort him and say it will be all well
yet. But thank God he is very stout again. The place dosen't pay very
well at all and we have a nasty landlord. I don't know almost how to
begin to tell you about your home but I must. Your sister Janey has
eight children, Robert Crane has always been saying he would like to
go to America and he has gone there. He let the house and land to
Bill Cowan the blacksmith. He built two little houses just at the
road going up to the old ? and Janey lives in one of them. He went
last June and his son Robert Stanley and Margaret went six weeks
alace and have got there safe. Janey is going herself in the
[] she has six to take if she takes my girl. Robert Stanley
has grown a very nice young man And Margaret as big as Jane. Robert
Crane likes the place well and he says he hasn't lost a days work
since he went, you will be suprised to get account of them but I hope
it is all for the best. There is a great many people going and gone
there.
Thomas Creer is well and his family and he has nine children the two boys work with your brother Robert and their father. Robert is married to Thomas Creers youngest sister and they live where Matgle used to live. Thomas Creer built two houses at Foxdale and he lives in one of them and your brother John lives in our old place, he has the meadow and the little field and he works for Mr Spittall. Old Mr. Spittall is dead. Your sister Kitty lives in Ballatra, she has six children, William Callow is still in L ? he has a very good place and they have twelve children, five dead. Stanley Callow is a clerk in Manchester, Thomas is at the Rocky Mountains he is a [] John is in the office with his father. Stanley your brother is still with us, he has three children.
You may think our comfort can't be much. Your uncle Ned and his
wife are both dead and your cousins Sisley, Catty, Elen and William
and Stanley, there is none left but Jane and John Edward, and Jane is
for coming to the Island. Sisley has buried her husband, and two
sons, Peter and the two girls are all that is left. Peter is in
America but does not like it and is coming home. You wished to hear
something from home, I can't tell you the quarter I would like but if
I will be spared to write again I will tell you more. Let us know a
little more the next time . So no more at present, your dear father
and mother,
Thomas and Barbara Cowley.
December 14th, 1871 Cleybane Dear Son,
I have the pleasure of writing to you once more to let you know that
we are all in pretty good health at preseent, thunks be to God for
all his mercy to us. We received yeor kind letter dated 18thSeptember
and was so glad to know that you are well. You wish to know the age
of us, your father is sixty nine past and I am seventy three, you
were thirty seven the twenty fourth of last June. The Lord has been
good to us in sparing us so long. Your sister and her family went in
October and had a very good passage. She left Liverpool on the
Thursday and she was in her own house in Cleveland that day
fortnight. She has taken my Janey from me, she was all my comfort
now, I broke my heart for them, but they send very good
letters,plenty of work and good wages. There are a good many Manx
people in Cleveland, there are two of the Blecunishs' boys there and
Peter Tyson and his wife, also your sister thinks she will get her
father and mother there yet but that would be a great wonder. I hope
it is all for the best. I think there are hundreds gone from the
island of late.Your cousin Jane was in the island in summer and Elens
husband is married to her. Edward, Cutty's husband and his two
children were with her, Crutty died very suddenly. He wants a manx
wife and intends coming to the island to get one. Elen left two boys
and a girl.Catty had eight, only two living and all Siseys are dead
but one sick is alive yet.
I was speaking to Thomas Clague the other day and he said he wrote many times and got no answer, but tell his brother if you see him to direct the letters to Thomas Clague, Balaevank. The mother is very poorly, she is very old. My pen is so bad I cannot write. Dear son you must excuse me my hand shakes very bad. Your father too is very bad on his feet but his health is very good at present. Your brothers and your sisters are all well at present and send their kind love to you hoping they will see you soon, though we ure never likely to see you, we give up all hopes of that. If we don't meet here then may we meet in heaven where parting is no more. It is a great trial to part with ones children never to see them again which I never will.
The Cool is no piece for me now and I long so much my dear son if
you could send a little money home it would be such brag. The Cranes
get so much money home and makes such brug about it. But if you can't
it can't be helped. I saw James Chevestan on Saturday, he looks well.
Write soon and if the Lord spares me I will write a long letter the
next time. So no more at present, from your dear father and
mother.
Thomas and Barbara Cowley.
49 Cleybane February 18th 1872
Dear Son,
I have once more taken the pleasure of writing to you for which I
feel very thankful. We are all pretty well at present thank God for
it, hoping these few lines will find you in good health. I should
have written to you the last mail but the very time I was going to
write I was sent for to Ballapadeg.Their daughter Alisea fell dead on
the floor, it was a great shock. The father is dead two years and the
mother a whole cripple but they have done very well. I hope you get
this you can't think how much we have grieved that you did not get
the letter. We wrote you the time we received the newspapers and very
proud of them. Your brother Robert has gone back to work with Thomas
Creer and John lodges with John Quine at the village, they have given
up the land as they could not mind the farm and their trade,and old
Brew is ? it this year and he wants a lease of it, but your father
will not give it up until you come home. I don't know almost what to
do.The letter before the last had so much more, we are sorry you did
not getit but there is not the pipes in the glen that was in when you
went away.
William Will and wife, old man Thomas, old Kate, Mrs Fell, old
poal Bob Clegg, I cannot think of them all, there is not one family
in but Will Cannell and wife. I told you in the letter that your
brother Robert was married to Thomas Creer's youngest sister. I was
seeing them and your sister Margaret yesterday, they are all well,
they call you home, they all know we want you very much, we are both
old and not for hard work. Janey and myself was doing very hard and
was very comfortable. We had Mr. Caley lodging with us most of the
summer for his health but he died at Christmas, he died worth twenty
pounds. We have had lodgers at times this year and if we had the
house all furnished we would get lodgers enough, we have done pretty
well this year. Fresh meat is sevenpence to ninepence a pound, butter
sixteen and seventeen pence a pound, oats seventeen shillings a cowl,
barley a guinea, wheat from twenty three to twenty five. We had very
good wheat on the flat.Dear son you don't think how we long for you
to come home, I and your father and your sisters talked much
yesterday. While Stanley kept Cleybane we were alright. He has got a
wife and things have altered and one that has nothing ? Your father
is very much out of the way with it, they think we should look to you
now, when you tell us you will come home and don't tell me about it,
but he will not part with the land until you come home. You have told
us so many times you are coming but if you don't come now you never
will see us. May the Lord send you safe. try if you can hear anything
on John Colvan.
Last page missing.
Headstones for the Cowley Family at Old Kirk Bradden
Churchyard
1. Large middle headstone- in memory of Jane Cowley alias Teare wife
of William Cowley Awhallan in this Parish who died the 15th day of
August 1830 aged 61 years.
Also of the above named William Cowley who died the 24th Sept. 1831
aged 75 years.
2. Large right-hand headstone - in affectionate rememberance of
Thomas Cowley of Awhallan in this parish who died Dec 16th 1874
Also Stanley Colquitt son of Stanley and Harriet Cowley and grandson
of the above, who died April 17th 1878 aged 8 months. Also Barbara
wife of the above who died July 9th 1881 in her 82nd year. Also John
Francis son of Stanley and Harriet Cowley who died January 7th 1885
aged 2 days.
Calling all MOORE'S Marriages
August 1st 1868 William MOORE to Anne HOGG at German Parish Church
Sept. 23rd 1854 George MOORE to Ann CUBBON at Rushen Parish Church
Feb. 13th 1875 Robert MOORE to Cath. BRIDSON at German Parish Church
William Corlett was a pioneer of '58 in Kansas. During the early years of his residence here he endured all the hardships and privations incident to life in a new country, in addition to the dangers connected with border warfare. Nor did these represent the entire aggregate of his hardships; for he also had to endure three sieges of grasshoppers, in each of which he lost all he had. Sometimes he grew discouraged, but his brave wife by his side worked so courageously and spoke so hopefully that he began again with renewed energy. Now, in the twilight of his life, he is retired from active cares, and is living quietly on his farm in Tonganoxie Township,Leavenworth County.
A native of the Isle of Man, born in 1830 Mr. Corlett spent his boyhood in that region made famous by the noted author, Hall Caine. When nineteen years of age he took passage on a sailing vessel, which after a voyage of more than five weeks anchored in New York City. From there he went to Illinois, and engaged in farming and blacksmithing at Kankakee. Afterward he spent a short time in Miasissippi, Louisianna and Georgia. In 1854 he returned to the Isle of Man, where he was married in the Episcopal Church, to Sophia Cowen. Four years afterward he and his wife settled in Kansas. For two years he worked as a blacksmith in Anderson County, after which he came to Leavenworth County and began farming and gardening. He owned a market garden near Leavenworth, and raised vegetables which he sold in town; at the same time his wife made and sold butter. In 1879 he bought one hundred and thirty acres on section 13, Tonganoxie Township, where he has since made his home. On his place he has some cattle and hogs, but not enough to demand his constant attention, and he therefore has leisure for the enjoyment of the comforts his summer activity renders possible. During the war he served for three years in the army. He has never been identified with any party and always refuses official positions; at one time he was elected justice of the peace, but refused to serve. Reared in the Methodist faith, he is a believer in Christianity and has aided various Protestant churches.
Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Corlett five are living, namely: John W.; Mary J.; wife of D.V. Umholtz, a merchant at Neely; Charles Wesley, a farmer of Tonganoxie Township; Margaret, wife of P. Sanders; and Sophia who married Edwin Carr.
Source: "Portrait & Biographical Records of Leavenworth, Douglas and Franklin Counties, Kansas, U.S.A." (Containing Portraits, Biographies & Genealogies of well known Citizens of the Past and Present)
From: Mrs. Hallie Palmer Becksted,
I was born in the house in which I at present reside, alongside of the Quay and in the shadow of Castle Rushen, in the year 1869, and I have listened to the Manx Poet T.E. Brown, lecture in the Town Hall, Arbory Street, on two occasions - one of his lectures being on Manx idioms, and the other on "Castletown 100 Years Ago", in which he stated that there were as many social classes in Castletown when he was young as rings round a Portugal onion. It was said when I was young that you either had to hold a commission in the Navy, Army or Church or a reference from the Vicar of the Parish where you had resided before you could be accepted by the "Inner Circles". Being in the outer-ring class, I will endeavour to give you my recollections of Castletown as a child and young man, and also relate some of the stories I have been told by my parents and others, which I have every reason to believe.
The Castle was used as a prison in my young days [ceased c.1892], and about twice a week some of the male prisoners under the care of a jailer would be seen sweeping the roadway in front of the Castle entrance and the Police Station. The Head Jailers house was on the north side of the present drawbridge in the inner moat, with a stone stairway at the gable leading to the ramparts as access to the Court House. One of the jailers lived in the rooms underneath the Court House at the inner gate, and others in houses along the south ramparts. The Rolls Office was in the building now occupied by the present Custodian, with access thereto by a stone stairway from the main entrance to the ramparts; the Chief Clerk, James Kewley resided in a portion of this building.
Along the Western ramparts in the inner moat was a building used as prison cells, and also a stone-breaking yard with a stone crusher worked by hand- better known as 'Armstrong's Patent'. All these have now been removed, the major portion of the work being carried out during the Governorship of the late Lord Raglan.
On the outside, on the grass plot north of the main entrance gate stood the Police Station and on the north side of the Court House building was the Lifeboat House, which housed the first Lifeboat of Castletown, called the 'Commercial Traveller No. 1'. Adjoining the Boat House in the outer moat was the Commissariat Stores for the troops in the Barracks.
On a portion of the outer moat, opposite Malew Street and the Market Place, were several buildings used as stores and stabling for James Mylchreest, a large-scale importer who carried on a wholesale and retail grocery and spirit business in a shop in Malew Street. The remaining portion of the outer moat was a garden for the Head Jailer. There were iron spikes on a horizontal iron bar, supported by iron brackets, just underneath the clock face, possibly to prevent escapes from the prison. The Court of General Gaol Delivery was held in the Court House when I was a child, and all the Governors with the exception of one, Governor Hill, have taken the Oath of Office therein; owing to a state of emergency at that time, was sworn in at Douglas. There is a house in Arbory Street which was known as 'Old Lodge' and there is a built-up entrance to what was supposed to be the Castle garden in a lane adjoining thereto. There is also a road at Scarlett leading to Mr. J.T. Watterson's farm, which was known as the Castle Lawn.
Friday was the recognised Market Day. The butchers' stalls were in the building now occupied by Martins Bank and the butcher's shop at present adjoining. There were no windows in the openings ns nt present, they being then open down to the ground. (I have likewise seen a butcher's stall at the Monument). The Customs House was in the floor above the open butchers' market. On the space adjoining, where the War Memorial has been erected, was the Butter and Egg Market, there being a raised bench of Spanish Head lintels at the back and south side, on which the farmers'! wives placed their baskets of wares. There would be several farmers' carts on the side nearest to Castle Rushen, with their shafts on the ground, displaying potatoes and other vegetables, and there would generally be a box of young pigs on the ground under the back of the cart. There would also be tables displaying home-made sweets and alleged gingerbread human figures and horses. The advent of the trains a few years later put an end to the Market at Castletown, the farmers and farmers' wives finding a better source of sale in Douglas. The fishermen sold their fish on the flags in front of the Sun-Dial, then known as the 'Babby House', and I have seen fishermen within the last 20years selling their fish there. The glacis; which is now covered with grass, was faced with large flat stones, and we children could run on them almost as easy as the children of today run along the grass.
Castletown was a Garrison town until about 52 years ago [ceased c.1896]. The troops were housed in the building now occupied by the Castletown Commissioners. The present Custom House and Weights and Measures offices were used as married quarters. The Rifle Range was at Langness on the present Golf Links, with the target butts near the shore on the south side, with measured distances and prepared sites for firing, almost back to the building that was known as the Big Cellar. The soldiers wore scarlet tunics, with bright buttons, a belt well pipe-clayed, blue trousers with n red stripe on each leg, and glengarry caps, and carried a short cane when off duty. They looked very smart and as a rule were very popular with the natives - especially with the females. A number of the soldiers married Castletown girls and came here to reside after their discharge. At one time they performed sentry duty across the Market Square, but latterly only to inside the Barrack Gates, which came out to a line of the front of the building.
It was a grand day for the children of the town on the celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday. A firing party would be lined across the Market Square, and when the firing was over, what a rush there would be to collect the spent cartridge cases!
The entrance to the inner Harbour of Castletown was narrower than it is at present, and was spanned by a wooden bridge which was built by Thomas Boyd, Boat Builder and Blacksmith, having its base on the east side. The new iron bridge, having its base on the west side, spans the widened opening. The original opening was so narrow that a schooner called the 'Wallachia' belonging to Castletown could hardly get through the gap. There were 16 schooners and 8 smacks belonging to Castletown in those days. At the top end of the lower Harbour was a stone bridge, the only entrance from the east, to Castletown for vehicular traffic. This bridge was demolished 63 years ago, and the present iron swing-bridge was erected in place thereof.
The Quay on the Castle side was known as the Castle Quay, and the Quay on the other side as the Irish Quay. There were three warehouses on this quay, two of them having been demolished The remaining building is known as the Umber House, for the following reason. It was used by a Mr. Torrance, a ship's chandler and provision dealer, who carried on his business at the Fleetwood Corner on the North Quay at Douglas, as a store for umber. Mr.Torrance had his works near Ballasalla, at a water-mill near Silverburn, which has now been altered and with additions thereto is used as a residence by Dr. Quine. The umber was periodically shipped in barrels to an English port in Mr. Torrance's schooners - the 'Christianna' and the 'Bessy' - the latter schooner making the journey once a year to Lisbon to load cork for the fishing nets.
Several of the Castletown schooners were plying as far as the Baltic and Mediterranean, one of them, the 'Mona', laden with barley, being lost with all hands on the return journey one winter.
The Billown and Ballahot Lime Kilns had coal stores for their requirements. The Billown store was at the base of the Pier, and that for Ballahot in a yard in Arbory Street, now used as a motor repair shop. There were yards for the storage of coal for the Lime Kilns in Derbyhaven before they commenced to store in Castletown, there being deeper water in Derbyhaven harbour than in Castletown at that time. I have heard my father say that Castletown Harbour had been deepened twice in his lifetime, and it certainly wants deepening again to suit the draft of water of the present-day coasting steamboats. Derbyhaven had a Customs House, and the corner on the west side as you turn to the Fort Island was known as the Customs House corner. I have seen a Cargo Book of a smack called the 'Laurel' (of which my father was the Master) cleared out in the Derbyhaven Customs House.
The public was supplied with home coal from the ship's side, and there were several schooners and smacks in that trade, which method of distribution was very inconvenient if the weather was bad and there was no coal in the town. The first coal store for house coal was commenced by a Mr. Kewley in approximately 1880. The coal at that time was 16/- per ton for English, and 12/- for Scotch and Welsh household coal, at the ship's side.
There were men known as 'Coal Porters' who carried the bags of coal weighing 1cwt., to almost any house in the town for a copper or two. They were not young men, and must have been exceptionally strong, as they could carry a bag of coal to Arbory Road from the quayside, almost without a rest. There was one porter, David McGill, a discharged soldier, who was likewise the Official Town Crier appointed by the High Bailiff. This man possessed a good musical voice, and would be heard going his rounds in the early morning for about three weeks before Xmas calling the people as follows: 'Good morning Mr. Good morning Mrs Good morning Master Good morning Miss . . ' and all the household, giving in his salutation the state of the weather and the wind and the time. He would conclude by wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. He would be accompanied by a person playing either a melodion or a concertina. It was well worth being wakened out of your sleep to hear him. This custom has long died out.
C.E. WATTERSON (Memoirs written circa 1930 [sic ? 1950])
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