[From Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre]

CHAPTER XIII - THE SCHOOLS

THERE seem to have been no schools in the rural districts until the latter part of the seventeenth century. The Earl of Derby issued an order concerning education on Jan. 2nd 1671/2. After stating that Bishop Barrow (1663-9) " had contrived means for erecting free schools and also pettie schools in the parish churches that the Lord's tenants might enjoy benefit of education by having schools opportunely placed as they had recently desired " it went on to state they had been very backward in making use of them. He therefore ordered " all Farmers and Tennants in my Isle of Mann of whatever degree or quality soever, doe and shall send their eldest sons and all their other children to such pettie schools within the said Isle as soon as they are capable." The.penalty for failure or being remiss was, that "the father should be fined severely at the information of the Minister and Churchwardens, and the children made incapable of bearing any office or place of trust . . . for want of such Literature and Education.¹

According to a MSS letter of Bishop Levinz (1684-92) Bishop Barrow established a school in every parish which the Ministers taught " for perfecting their children, and fitting them for the grammar school, which is also there (in Castletown) already settled with a stipend of thirty pounds a year."²

In 1685 grants from the Royal Bounty were made to teachers. At this time they were almost invariably the Rectors and Vicars of the Parishes.³

The first rural school was that at Malew, founded in 166o ; then followed in 1676 Kirk Andreas, Kirk Bride and Ballaugh. and other parishes.

Probably the first schoolmaster in Lezayre (apart from the Vicar) was William Crow-a member of the family of Crow of the Nappin, a family which gave three Vicars to the parish and a Bishop to the Church of Ireland. Here is the Bishop's commission

Thomas, by divine permission, Bishop of Sodor and Man.

To our well-beloved in Christ, Wm. Crow, of Kirk Christ Lezayre, grace and benediction.

Whereas we are given to understand yt there is great necessity of an English schooll being diligently kept in ye parish of Kk. Christs of ye Ayre . . this is therefore to authorize you ye sd Wm. Crow, to teach school in ye sd Kk. Christs . . . and to instruct ye youth of ye sd parish in learning and good manners till our further pleasure be known to ye contrary; and for your encouragement in so doing, you shall receive yearly out of ye Impropriations the sum of two pounds as also from each child you instruct (whose parents are of ability to pay it) You are hereby impower'd to demand six pence for each Quarter.

Given under our hand and Seal at Bishopscourt this 23rd day of September in the first year of our consecration, and in the year of our Lord, 1698.

Tho. Sodor and Man.

If any of ye children you teach have occasion to be instructed in yz: Latin tongue, or in writing and casting accounts, you are impower'd to demand ninepence a Quarter from all such, if their parents be of ability to pay it, tho' sixpence from others.

T. S. and M.

29th Novr. 1698. Exd. p.me J. Woods, Regrium Episc.⁴

Wm. Crow died Schoolmaster of Kirk Malew in 1706.

At a meeting of Convocation held on February 3rd, 1703, it was decided that the school payment should be 6d. quarterly to teach the children to read English, 9d. to teach them to write, " which sums being refused, the Sumner shall be ordered to require punctual paymt upon fourteen days, and upon default hereof they are to be committed till they submit to Law." Children of people unable to pay (if certified by Minister and Churchwardens) to be taught gratis.

" Children at home for several weeks in the Summer and Harvestsuch persons shall not be lyable to the penalties aforesaid, Provided they do (and are hereby strictly required to) send such children during such absence from school, every third Sunday to the Parish Church at least one hour before Evening Service there to be taught by the Schoolmaster to prevent losing their learning. And if any Schoolmaster shall neglect his duty, and complaint be made and proved he shall be discharged and another placed in his stead at the discretion of the Ordinary.

And every Rector, Vicar, and Curate shall the first week of every quarter visit the Petty School and take an account in a Book of ye improvement of every child, to be produced as often as the Ordinary shall call for it."

This was approved by the Earl of Derby and ordered to be published, which was done on June 6th, 1704.

The order for compulsory attendance was by no means a dead setter. In 1704 eight persons in Marown were presented for not sending their children to school according to the Act of Convocation. They were ordered to reform forthwith sub poena 5s. apiece ad usum Dei.⁵ The very inadequate scale of payments continued in force for over a century. By Act of Tynwald in 1813 the fees were raised to 2/11 a quarter for each and every scholar taught to read English, and 3/6 a quarter for each and every scholar taught to read and write ⁶

During Bishop Wilson's time the instruction seems to have been chiefly in English'. Later, after the translation of the Bible, some attention was given to Manx, for on one occasion the Bishop asked " Do those schoolmasters and mistresses, who are able, teach the children to say their prayers and catechism in Manks? " The answer given was "The master of the Parish School at Lezayre Church and the master of the school at Sulby are both foreigners ⁷ and therefore unable to teach Manks."

During the eighteenth century little is recorded about the schools. The names of a few masters are preserved, chiefly in connection with financial matters. Few of them seem to have held their position for long,

MASTERS OF THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

1698. William Crow, died in 1706, as Master of Malew School.

1737. Thomas Corlet. He gave the following receipt.

" Received from his Grace the Duke of Atholl, Lord of this Isle, by the hands of Mr. Charles Stanley, Receiver-General, the sum of forty shills, being so much advanced unto me by His Grace's Direction towards my present subsistence-wh sd sum I promise to repay unto His Grace or his order, agent or Receiver, when demanded. And for the further Security thereof, Do engage my part or proportion of the money which shall be recovered from the security wch the Clergy of this Isle have upon the Mannor of Bispham and Methop in the County of Lancaster . . . by deed made by Charles, Earl of Derby in Anno 1666 which is due to this time, or which shall hereafter become due or payable to me, my Heirs, Exrs., or Assigns.

As witness my hand this 12th day of March, 1739.

Thos. Corlet, Schoolmaster of Kirk Christ Lezayre.
Witnesses, Dan. Mylrea, Nich Bridson. „

This form of receipt was insisted on by the Duke, who loaned Corlett his own salary at interest.

Thos. Corlet received the like sum on February 2nd, 17371741. Robert Rogers in this year signed a petition in connection with the loss of the Impropriate Tithe. On December 14th of this year he received the same sum as Corlet and again on December 24th.

1742. The following year he was Schoolmaster of Jurby, and at Maughold 1747-54. He seems to have been back at Lezayre 1745-6, for he received 15/2 from the Impropriate Fund.

1743 Nicholas Kewley, November.

1745. Butler Crookenden, January.

1746. M. Gell. To the Revd. Vicar-General Curghey two years ending at Easter, 1748, to be paid to the widow and Admts. of M. Gell, _fI IOs. 4d. To her the further sum for part of ye year ending at Easter, 1749, 3s. 9%d.

1748. Danl. Cowl. He received for part of the year ending at Easter, 1749, the sum of I Is. 4 d. For the four years ending at Easter, 1753, the sum of C3 os. 8d. and for the half year ending at Easter, 1754, the sum of 7s. 7d.

1753. William Young. He received for the half year ending Easter, 1754, the sum of 7s. 7d. and for the four years ending at Easter, 1758, the sum of _43 os. Sd.

These above items are taken from " An account of the several sums of money paid to the respective Schoolmasters, etc., of this Island by the Rt. Revd. the Lord Bishop out of money lately recovered out of the Impropriations, as appears by their respective receipts dated at Kirk Michael, January 2nd, 1759

1765. Patrick Davidson, Schoolmaster of the Parish died. 1770. James Wilson, Schoolmaster received grants from the Impropriate Fund.

1779. John Kneale, Schoolmaster presented for associating with Methodists. Later on agreed not to do so.'

1818. Patrick Kelly. His petition is rather unusual.

" To the Right Reverend and Honourable George, by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann.

The humble Petition of Patrick Kelly, Parochial Schoolmaster of Lezayre

Sheweth

That your Petitioner has been five years and upwards Master of the said School-And that no families of any great importance is in any, way within a considerable distance of the said School-Milntown, Ballakillinghan, Glentrammon, Glenduff, Ellan Bane, Ballamona, etc. etc. having no children to send-Ramsey also where many schools are kept and Sulby being within a short distance of the said School. A regulation lately took place of the Master ordering the children to come to Church every Sunday Morning as well as Evening. Owing to the want of proper apparel has prevented thirteen of his Scholars to go to other master (sic) by which he looses more than one half of the Salary belonging to the said School. And whereas it was ordered by your Lordship that William Williamson should receive one half of the Salary due to the Parochial Schoolmaster of Lezayre to which your Petr. cheerfully submitted so long as it was possible to live on the salary allowed him; but as he can no longer do so, for the reasons above stated, he prays that from and after Easter next your Lordship will order that he may receive the whole Salary attached to the Parochial School."

The Bishop ordered the Petition to be heard at a Consistory Court at Ramsey on February 27th. There it was ordered that Kelly should receive the whole salary after Easter.

Kelly's petition does not give a favourable impression of his qualifications. Perhaps that was the reason that he only received part of the salary.

Kelly must have retired or died before Easter, 1826, for the Wardens John Corlett, William Joughin and John Kewley, who held office from '1821-26 sent up a petition asking for the appointment of Robert Kneale, junr.-a teacher in the Sunday Schoolas Master of the Parochial School. There is no record of the answer.

1830. Thomas Looney.

1845. John McDowell. His salary amounted to £9 2s. 6d. There was an average attendance of 15 boys and 15 girls.

The children in winter brought sods of turf for the school fire.

By 1820 the Parochial School had become very dilapidated and the question of repairing it or building a new school on another site caused much stir in the parish.

In February, 1820, a Memorial was sent to the Bishop by certain landowners and parishioners. It stated that

" the Parochial School being in so tottering and dilapidated statethe roof and the principal part thereof some time ago tumbled to the ground

That it therefore being necessary to have said School House rebuilt -a Vestry was noticed to be holden at Lezayre Church on Monday the 28th instant-when and where it was agreed upon and it appeared to be the sense and wish of the persons then and there present that a Dwelling House should be erected at the same time and attached to the said School House for the use and benefit of the Parochial School Master for the time being

That no such dwelling house has hitherto been in the said Parish in consequence thereof and of the said School Master residing at a considerable distance from the said school the same has not been so regularly attended to as it otherwise would have been, to the detriment of the Parish and great inconvenience of such Master.

That should such dwelling house be erected at the said School House it would be an inducement in addition to the present fundsto a person of respectability accepting of the Situation of Parochial School Master of the sd Parish."

They asked that the Vicar should be directed to summon a Vestry immediately to consider the matter. The Memorial was signed by the Wardens and thirteen others.

The Bishop ordered the Vicar to summon a Vestry for March 29th and to report in writing the opinion of the majority.

The Vestry was well attended. Thirty-five were in favour of a dwelling house and thirty-four against. No less than nineteen made their mark. Presumably the matter of a dwelling house was dropped as there is no further reference to it.

But the question of rebuilding the School had still to be faced and the Vicar got the blame of obstructing the work, so another Memorial was sent to the Bishop (undated).

It stated that the School House had some time ago, from neglect and otherwise, been " permitted to tumble a perfect ruin to the ground," that the Bishop had been asked to order a Vestry ; that the Vestry had been held " but nothing effectual had been produced thereby," that a second Petition had been sent to the Bishop who had again ordered a Vestry to be convened ; " that no such Vestry had been held and your Memorialists cannot help expressing that in consequence of the said Vestry not having taken place in conformity with your Lordship's command-It evidently appears that the Wardens of Lezayre are combining with the Vicar of the sd Parish to keep back and decline proceeding with the Vestry contrary to all Law, justice and good conscience.

Wherefore your Memorialists pray that your Lordship will be pleased to order the Vestry of the said Parish to proceed peremptorily (sic) forthwith with the said Vestry more particularly as some of the children of the Memorialists and of many others are and have been completely neglected in their education since the said School House became dilapidated (sic) . . . "

This Petition was signed by 31 parishioners.

On May 29th a further Petition was sent to the Bishop.

" That your Lordship lately intimated to the Reverend Henry Maddrell that his Reverence should call a Vestry of the Parishioners for the purpose of taking into consideration the matter aforesaid, but he declined and refused to call such a Vestry tho' thereunto required to be called (on last Sunday) alledging that he had no order from your Lordship.

Your Petitioners therefore pray that your Lordship may be pleased to direct a Vestry for the purposes aforesaid to be called at an early period, as the case is very urgent. . . . '

This Petition was signed by John Corlett, Captain of the Parish, the Wardens and 27 others.

On June 1st the Vicar was ordered to convene a Vestry.

The Vestry must have met very promptly as this further Petition (undated) and the Bishop's reply show.

" The humble Petition of several of the Landowners in and belonging to the Parish of Kk. Christ Lezayre . . .

Sheweth

That the Parochial School House of Lezayre aforesaid-being in a ruinous and delapidated (sic) state-your Ptrs. are anxious to have a house built to answer that purpose.

That the situation of the said House is not central nor convenient for the greatest part of the Parish to send their children theretonor is the said place calculated as suitable to answer the purpose of a School House-the site being adjoining close to the Church Yard of the said Parish and lower than where the remains of many hundreds of human beings have been interred-where your petitioners are well informed the Air is tainted (particularly in calm warm weather) with a disagreeable stench--and consequently, must be, not only disgusting to human beings-but also very unwholesome.

That an exchange having lately taken place between John Corlett senior of Glentramman, Esquire, and the Parish, relative to the Glebe of the Parish Clerk-1 and a new Glebe fixed upon and ascertained near that part of the Parish aforesaid called Gob-e-Vunney, which situation would be more centrical and convenient for the greater part of the said Parish.

That your Petitioners would humbly submit to your Lordship that a House built on the said new Glebe and the Offices of School Master and Parish Clerk united in one person-a man properly educated could be found to undertake such office-with satisfaction to the Parish, as both incomes added would be a tolerable decent Living, and would be an encouragement to a man of Abilities to accept thereof, who could (independent of all other occupations) devote his time to the instruction of the youth committed to his care, and though on Funeral occasions he would have to attend as Parish Clerk-yet his absence would not be so long as to occasion any material neglect of his office as School Master-and could be appropriated more to the use of his Pupils than their loss, by their coming to Church on these occasions, to see the end of Mortals-and to put them in mind of their own uncertain state in this Life, which might by the Grace of God-be a check to the growing evils and irregular propensities of their Minds, and which time so spent upon such solemn occasions cannot be said to be lost-but rather the means of reforming their Manners and improving their Christian conduct.

That your Petitioners would further suggest to your Lordship, the propriety of some mode or Plan to be adopted to make the uniting of such offices in one person for the time being, perpetual-And that such a House, when so Built by the Parish-should remain and be a School House-for 'a person only, who may from time to time fill the said two offices-and for no other use whatever.

In tender consideration whereof your Petitioners humbly pray your Lordship will be pleased to order a Vestry to be holden in the Parish Church of Lezayre with all convenient speed to have the sense of the Parish taken upon the different objects of this Petition in order to have them carried into immediate effect. And that in event of a Majority of the Parishioners being obtained, your Lordship would be pleased to order that such a House may be built in or on some part of the said new Clerk's Glebe-the said offices of School Master and Parish Clerk united and the School House, when Built, be ascertained and fixt upon a permanent Plan-to answer and continue to be for the use of a person in whom the said two offices are united and to no other use whatever . . . '

Signed by the Vicar, the Captain of the Parish (John Corlett) and 28 others, of whom only two make their marks. On June 5th the Vicar was ordered to convene a Vestry on a convenient date " to take the matter of the enclosed Petition into consideration-taking care to fix the same time as he shall appoint for the consideration of a former Petition touching the same subject and for which OUR order has already been granted for a Vestry."

The Vestry did not meet until July 31st and then " it appeared to the Vicar and Wardens . . . as also to the Memorialists in general that the matters herein contained appear at present to be premature there being no situation of Clerk vacant. The same is hereby withdrawn for the present until a vacancy may happen."

At the same Vestry meeting holden pursuant to notice given on three preceding Sundays, for the purpose of taking into consideration the sense of the Parishioners "whether the present ruinous Parochial School should be rebuilt, or a new Parochial School House should be built upon the New Glebe Land of the Parish Clerk or some other convenient suitable place. And having taken the same into our consideration-The Parishioners have come to the following resolutions-,

For rebuilding-64. For building on the Clerk's Land or some other suitable place.-6." (26 make their marks.)

Judging by the number of illiterates the " Cossacks " must have come down from the mountains in great force. (The Cossacks were the dwellers on the hills above Sulby who attended Parish meetings in great force and in a warlike spirit).

The rebuilding was taken in hand, but the Bishop still had to be troubled. The Wardens asked him to issue an order for a jury to inspect the work as it had been done " by the yard and by the lump."

On October 26th he ordered a jury of two masons and two carpenters be convened and sworn to inspect the work. They made their report on the 30th of November, as follows :

" . . We are of opinion that the Mason's work as well as the Carpenter's work are Strong and Sufficient in most parts, saving and excepting the Principles (sic) or Couples in the said House have not a proper hold in the south side walls and also that the said Principles or Couples on the south side are rested on the Lyntells (sic) of the windows in said Building, and which we can't say to be altogether sufficiently Strong . . .

The jury consisted of Thos. Quayle and William Cowley, masons, and Stephen Kaneen and Patrick Caley, carpenters. The carpenters could sign their names, but not the masons.

But the matter was not finished. The Bishop received a further Petition for another jury (he must have been quite tired of these persistent people). They state that in consequence of the former jury's report some alterations had been made to the roof, now they want a jury to report on the alterations. This was on March 12th, 1821. The Bishop gave the usual order for a jury on the following day.

The jury, consisting of John Looney and William Killip, masons, and Thomas Corlett and James Callow, carpenters, made a favourable report on March 29th.

The School, thus rebuilt, continued in use for just over half a century. The only endowments of this School were

Mrs. Margaret Curghey ... ... £5 0 0
Mr. Corlett ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Manks
£7 0 0
British £6 0 0at 6 % £0 7s, 2d. Captain Christian bequeathed 10/- Manks a year payable out of Lands called Close-hommey-vane.

In 1831 the School Master was Thomas Looney. He received from

In 1872 "An Act to provide for Public Elementary Education in the Isle of Man " was passed. By it the care of education was transferred from the Vicar, Wardens and the Vestry to a School Committee, or School Board, as it was popularly called.

By the Lezayre Burial Ground and School Act, 1857, the Parochial School was declared " insufficient in size, and being situated adjoining to and considerably below the level of the Churchyard and Burial Ground of the said Parish, was found to be very unhealthy, and therefore it has become essentially neccessary to have the same removed, and a new School-house, along with a Master's dwelling-house and premises, erected in some more eligible situation." The Act goes on to recite that at a Vestry meeting held on October 9th, 1856, the Vicar and Wardens were authorised

" to take immediate measures for having the present Parochial School-house pulled down and a new Parochial School and Master's Dwelling-house and premises erected in some more suitable place . . .

That Mrs. Susannah Eleanora Farrant had liberally granted the sum of fifty pounds towards the erection of the new School-house or the endowment of the same, and that the Vicar and Wardens have obtained the consent of Her Majesty, as Patron, and also the consent of the Lord Bishop, to enclose a portion of the Vicar's glebe land, consisting of one half acre, and to erect thereon a suitable Parochial School-house and Master's dwelling-house and premises . . . That the Vicar and Wardens were authorized by the Act of Vestry to raise the necessary funds to do all this (and purchase new ground for the Churchyard) by an assessment of two pounds ten shillings on every Quarterland, and proportionately on Intack lands . . . '

The Tynwald Court confirmed the Act of Vestry on February 19th, 1857.

The changes authorised by this Act were not carried out. Not until the passing of the Elementary Education Act, in 1872, did the Vicar and Wardens make any move. On December 14th, 1874, they made declaration that by virtue of the power vested in them by the Act of 1857, they have entered upon the site of the new school.

By Deed dated March 22nd, 1875, the school was transferred to the School Committee absolutely- except for the reservation of the school premises for daily religious instruction . . . and the use of the building on Sundays, etc., and twelve week night evenings.'

A new school was built on the Glebe, about two hundred yards from the old school. It continued in use for nearly fifty years.

Then, owing to the great decrease in the rural population it was closed in 1921 and a few years afterwards sold. It is now a dwelling house, while the old school is used as a store house by the Sexton.

SULBY SCHOOL. Archivus Episcopi, 1715

" Whereas the inhabitants of the Treen of Sulby are at a great distance from the Parish Church and also a large River interposing so that their young children cannot possibly attend and have the advantage of the School kept at the Church their Parents not being of ability to maintain them abroad

Now to encourage a Schoolmaster to live in the Treen of Sulby in order to instruct the children in Learning and the Principles of Christianity several of the inhabitants of Sulby have bound and obliged themselves to build a School-house and maintain a master to teach an English_ School as by the said . . may at large appearAnd for as much as a convenient place may be appointed and secured for the said School-house for the benefit of the children and Scholars coming to the said School for the future-I, John Garrett of Ballabroie with the full consent and assent of my wife, Margaret, have upon the reasons aforesaid given, granted and freely bestowed, and by the Presents do give, grant and freely bestow a piece of ground of Ten yards square on our Claggagh, (marked out before the witnesses to this deed) for the building of a schoolhouse thereupon, which is to continue for ever for the use of the sd School and children and scholars of the sd Treen without Rent. Provided that the Inhabitants of the sd Treen do repair the sd house and maintain a schoolmaster constantly to instruct yn children in Learning, writing and the Principles of the Christian Religion as becometh. For performance thereof we bind and oblige Ourselves, our Heirs, Excrs, Admrs, and Assigns in a Penalty of Forty Pounds in the nature of all Fines within this Island.

As witness our Subscriptions this 3oth June, 1715. John Garrett Margaret Garrett Signed and delivered in presence ofCha. Wattleworth

Robert Curghey

John Moore his X mark Dan Cowle his X mark."

John Garrett's gift of land did not receive "such Formalities as were requisite in the Law for the establishing thereof, in default of which tho' there was a School House erected in consequence of the sd Deed, yet the same have for some years past been suffered to go to Ruin, for Remedy whereof and in order that there may be an established School House in the sd Treen of Sulby for ever ' =" John Garrett's grandson Philip Garrett and Thomas Christian, of the Garey, with consent of Charlotte Christian, his wife, in consideration of 5/- paid by the Bishop and the Vicar and Wardens of Lezayre, trustees of the late Mrs. Margaret Christian's charitable endowment for a school at Sulby, sell a parcel of land in the Croft, known as Sulby Big Miln Croft. The portion sold extends from the Mark placed in the North East Angle or Corner joining the Highway Hedge to the South or South West Corner where a Mark is fixed 17 yards and I foot, and from thence to the Mark fixed in the West Corner 25 yards. This land to be for the use of a School House for the benefit of the children of the Treen of Sulby. The Trustees must fence the land and both parties keep the fences in repair."

The' Deed was signed on February 26th, 1771.

On June 25th, 1785, some of the witnesses testified to the signing before John Frissell. Another witness testified on May 16th, 1786.

At a Court Baron holden at Kk. Michael for the Parishes of Andreas, Bride and Lezayre the 25th day of October, 1788,

" The above written Bill of Sale being proved before the High Bailiff of Ramsey and now openly published in Court, and no objection offered agt, The same is therefore allowed of for and in the name and behalf of his Grace the most Noble John Duke of Atholl, Earl Strange, Lord of Mann and the Isles, etc. and confirmed by this Court.

F. J. Haywood.

Examined by me Richd. Clague,

Clerk to the Commrs of His Grace the Duke of Atholl.

Extract from the Will of Mrs. Margaret Christian, of Ramsey, A.D. 1725. After bequeathing £loo to be paid to the Bishop, Minister and Churchwardens for the support of the poor of the Parish, to be paid at her death, and a second sum of (loo after

her sister's death, for the same purpose, " . . I further order that my exors. shall, within twelve months after my decease, pay or cause to be paid to the said Lord Bishop, Minister and Wardens, the further sum of forty pounds British currency, to be by them laid out in the purchase of lands of inheritance within the said Isle, in such manner as they and my exors. shall think fit ; and that the yearly rents, issues and profits of the said lands, so to be purchased, shall go and be disposed of for and towards the maintenance of such unmarried woman, being a native of the said Isle, as shall be willing, and they the said Bishop, Minister and Wardens for the time being shall from time to time nominate, licence and appoint to keep a school at Sulby, for the teaching of the children of the said parish of Kirk Christ to read and write, and for instructing them in the Church Catechism."

In 1739 John Christian, Esq., exor. of the said Will, by Deed, March 31 st, " for and in consideration of the said sum of two hundred and forty pounds, granted and sold those parcels of Intack, part of Milntown, in Lezayre, called the Nellan, to Thomas Lord Bishop, Matt. Curghey, Vicar and the Churchwardens of Lezayre; In trust for the uses and purposes of the said Margaret Christian's will."

Archdeacon's Register, 1740. "Upon the complaint of Jane Curghey, the licensed School mistress of Sulby, the Vicar represents to the Court that one John Wilson takes upon him to teach school there without the Lord Bishop's Licence to the loss and prejudice of the said Schoolmistress.)

Lib. Imus Testament. Anno Domi. 1755. In the Will of Wm. Curghey of Castletown.

" Inter alia. I leave and bequeath to Sulby School ten pounds to be laid out to interest at the Discretion of the Vicar and Wardens which Interest is to be paid yearly to the School Master or Mistress."

Mrs. Margaret Christian's School was vacant for several years before 1776.2

In 1788 the Wardens petitioned the Bishop. Among the points of the petition are the following. In former times a legacy had been left for a Maiden Schoolmistress in Sulby Third. The Mistress-Esther Bradford-had lately got married. They believe she has forfeited her position but cannot get a copy of the Will. They ask for one. They wish a new teacher-young, well and properly educated, for Sulby.

Also Philip Kewin and Esther (nee Bradford) his wife put in a petition. She had received her salary until 1785. Then the Vicar and Wardens refused to pay her though she still continued to keep school. A Court was held at Patrick on August loth and continued at Lezayre on October 23rd. The decision was in favour of the petitioner. The Bishop ordered that she should get salary until Easter next (1789). Meantime the Vicar and Wardens were to endeavour to procure a proper maiden mistress. At the same Court there was a petition from Adam McBoog(y), licensed schoolmaster in Sulby. A " vacation " had occurred in the school formerly kept by " able and learned " schoolmasters.

He was asked to take it. " He began on July 14th, 1785. It is now July 14th, 1788. He has had no salary or benefit of any Donation or Benefaction or even a fixed school house tho' one was erected about 70 years ago. He depends on the school for his livelihood. He does not claim a share in Mrs. Christian's legacy for a Schoolmistress."

The Court decided that the petitioner was entitled to receive the salary, donations, rights and emoluments from July 14th, 1785. The Vicar and Wardens were ordered to pay.

In 178, the Trustees brought an action against Thomas Stevenson and others and established a right of way to these lands ; and by Deed dated 9th August, 1794, for a consideration of Ji2, Robert Stevenson granted a right of road to and from the said lands, six yards wide, on the Claddaugh and Garey Meen.l

Sale from Thomas Kinread, Jun., to the same Trustees, After reciting that a great quantity of turf had been sold for fuel out of the said lands called Close-yn-Ellan, by which considerable sums of money had accumulated, and that the said Trustees were desirous to lay out the said sums in the purchase of lands to the uses aforesaid ; he, the said Thomas Kinread, for and in consideration of £375 Manks, granted and sold to the said Trustees certain lands in the Parish of Lezayre, called Cronkbeg-yn-noe, and part of Close-ny-grammon, adjoining Close-ynEllan, as appears by Deed dated 31st March, 1804.

Sale from Wm. Moore to the same Trustees.

Wm. Moore, for and in consideration of one hundred and seventy pounds Brit. (a further accumulation of money arising from the sale of turf cut in Close-yn-Ellan), granted and sold to the said Trustees a parcel of Meadow-lands called Close-yCaley, adjoining Close-yn-Ellan, as appears by Deed dated 31st December, 1814,

In 1831 the aggregate income arising from Mrs. Christian's Charity was

Interest of Money on Mortgages and Notes, say on X283. 8. 2.- L70. 14. 4 @ 511 Per cent. ............L3. 117. 9

X212. 13. 1o @ 6 per cent. ...... .....12. 15. 3

jr6. 13. o

Rent of Lands, clear ........................ 51. 8. 1 j

Total Brit. X68. 1. I i

As the original Bequest Was L200 to the Poor, and Loo to a School, the poor received 5/6ths of this sum- 56. 14. 31

and the School 1/6th. 11. 6. 1o X68. 1. II Certain other bequests were made exclusively to this schoolWm. Curghey ............ X10. o. o

Isabel Corlett ............... 1. 7. o

Thomas Cowle ............ 2. o. o

Isabel Corlett ............... 6. o. o Manks 19. 7. o

Brit. X16. 11. 81 at 6% £o. r9. iI i

Certain other small sums amounting to ~7. 15. o brought in interest of 9s. Thus the total income of the Master amounted to ~r2. 16. oz.

At this time (1831) thirty, forty and sometimes fifty scholars attended this School.' The Master's name was Killip.

By a Trust Deed dated June 4th, 1838, Caesar Bacon, Esquire, conveyed to

" Rev. Wm. P. Ward, a part of Ballabrooie or Staward (the ancient home of the Garretts) in trust, that the said W. P. Ward, his heirs and assigns shall build on the said parcel of land an Episcopal Protestant Chapel wherein Divine Service shall be celebrated according to the Church of England; and also to build on the same parcel of land, either separate or attached to the said Chapel, a building to be used as a School-house for the education of children upon religious principles, according to the Protestant faith, and that the said Chapel and School-house when erected shall be used exclusively as a Chapel and School-house, otherwise the premises to revert to the Grantor or his heirs."

The chapel and school are in the one building. The school was erected in 1840. A grant, towards the erection, of fioo was made by the Treasury.

By Deed dated 26th June, 1879, the Trustees of the last Will and Testament of Caesar Bacon, Esquire, deceased, conveyed to the School Committee a piece of land, part of the estate of Staward or Ballabrooie, upon Trust, " to hold and permit the said lands and premises and the buildings to be erected theron to be used for the purposes of a public elementary school within the meaning of the Elementary Education Act, 1872, and to, and for, or upon no other use, interest, trust or purpose whatsoever."

A school-house and teacher's residence were erected, towards the cost of which the Board of Education made a grant of £397 8s. od.1

By the Education Act of 1920 a Committee of the Tynwald Court was appointed to investigate and apportion all Educational Endowments. The Vicar and Wardens, along with the Rector of Bride, attended a meeting of this Committee at Sulby Hall, in 1921 and, as a result of their representations, the Committee decided that one half of the Sulby school and one half of Mrs. Margaret Christian's endowment were partly for religious education according to the principles of the Church of England. One half of these endowments, with accumulations amounting to £318 8s. 4d., was assigned to the Vicar and Wardens, and the other half to the Council of Education. The Council also gave up all claim to the school house, now used as a Sunday School and Hall for St. Stephen's Church. The Vicar and Wardens decided to divide the income from the sum of £318 8s. 4d. between the Parish Church Sunday School and St. Stephen's Sunday School.

School Masters School Mistresses

1785-Adam McBoog 1740-Jaine Curghey

1835-Wm. Killip. His salary was £12 British1785-Esther Bradford

1839-Elizabeth Quirk

1841-Thos. McConachie, January
1841-Margaret Christian to June, 1846.
1843-Elizabeth Lace

1846-Charles Glanville, July to
1845-Christian Cannon Easter, 1848
1847-Miss Beaumont

1848-Name lost 1852-Elizabeth Caley

185i-Becket T858-Jane Fisher

Lvnam 1859---Esther Cashen Burton

Crellin

1856---Smith appointed December 1859-George Bradford Nixon appointed February, 1859

Visitation 1845 Schoolmaster , Parochial, Thos. Looney, ~9 British Sulby, Wm. Kelly ~12 do.

Top of Glen, John Kissack Has near 5 acres, worth ~3 to ~4 Dhoor, Thos. Craine 16/

Scholars 134.

The house for the Schoolmistress in Sulby Glen was built by subscription at the cost of i3o of which Ito was granted by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. The house was finished and entered by the Schoolmistress, December, 1848.

William Bell Christian, Vicar. Edward Brailsford, Chaplain of Sulby.

THE MOUNTAIN, OR KELLY'S SCHOOL

Extract from Grant and Sale from Philip Quayle and William Kelly to the Vicar and Wardens of Lezayre, dated 25th May, 1770

" To all Christian people to whom these presents shall or may come. Know ye, That as our beloved friend John Kelly, of Cooil Inchal, in the Parish of Marown, deced., was so well disposed, and had so great a regard for the Christian Religion, that in and by his last Will and Testament, bearing date 31st. March, 1764, he did leave in trust the sum of Sixty Pounds, and by a codicil to his Will the further sum of Eleven Pounds, towards founding a School at the Mountains, in the parish of Lezayre, which is a motive and example to all good Christians to do the like, according to their capacity and ability; and particularly it moves us, Philip Quayle of the Craggan, and William Kelly of Corody, in the said parish of Lezayre, to endow the said intended School with the following gift in Lands. And the said Philip Quayle did therefore by the said Deed give and grant unto the Vicar and Wardens a certain part of his Quarterland, called Inscheag, adjoining Crot-ny-howne, in the parish of Lezayre. And the Said William Kelly did in like manner give and grant unto the said Vicar and Wardens that parcel of Intack in Ballaugh, called Lhiargey-ny- howne. in Trust for the benefit and support of the said School."

In 1831 the Master was Ewan Crow, and about ten or twelve scholars attended. The whole of the lands were worth about £5 a year.¹⁷ The premises included a house for the Master.

The following is a list of subscriptions to put a slate roof on the school house called the " Mountain School " in Lezayre. The list is not dated, but the paper mark is 1829 (Manx paper)¹⁸

s. d. s. d.

John Mylcraine, Corrody 10. 0 John Cowley, Close 10. 0

John Cowley, Crammag 10. 0 William Quayle, Blockary 10. 0

William Kneen, Sliau-menagh 10. o Nicholas Quayle, Glen Moar 2. 6

John Quayle, Ballaskelly 10. 0 Thomas Kinread, Kill-e-brega 10 0

John Quayle, Creg Moar 10. 0 Philip Kneen, SharraghVane 10. 0

Thomas Kelly, Lhark, Ramsey 10. 0 John Bowen (?)Toltewil 10. o

In 1887, owing to the age and infirmity of the School Master, no school was being held.¹⁸ Did it ever open again?

DHOOR OR KNEALE'S SCHOOL.

Extract from the Will of John Kneale, A.D. 1813.

" I leave and bequeath a Room to build a School-house, eight yards long and fourteen yards wide, in the west end of my purchased meadow at the Dowra, adjoining the Highway ditch; for near, or about the said place is a very proper and convenient place for a School-house. And I do further leave and bequeath Ten Pounds, to be put out to interest for the term of and time of ten years after my decease, and then the aforesaid principal, and the interest of the whole amount to be paid yearly and every year to the keeper of the said School, be it Master or Mistress that will be keeping School in or near the said place. And the care of the said Legacy to be taken by the Vicar and Wardens of the Parish of Kirk Christ, Lezayre and their successors in that office for the future. "¹⁹

An undated petition to Bishop Ward (1827-38)

" The Humble Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Third beneath the Bourn in the Parish of Lezayre.

Humbly represents

That as the Parochial School is so far distant from your Memorialists' dwelling for their children to attend there, they at their own entire expense erected a School House at a part of the same Third called the Dour.

That after the said School House is built your Memorialists are at a loss for want of a teacher there as there is no Sallary (sic) belonging thereto except the small annuity of the Interest of Fifteen Pounds owing to the above stated Circumstances your Memorialists' children will be deprived of their Education.

They therefore prays (sic) your Lordship may be pleased to take their case into your Benevolent Consideration, that some means may be adopted to inhance the annuity or Sallary for a proper teacher to teach in the said School House, or such other and further redress in premises as to your Lordship may find necessary and just."

This Petition was signed by

Thomas Kneale, Ballacowle James Gill, Ballacowle John Kneale, Aust
John Goldsmith junr., Balladoole Matthias Curphey, Ballaclaughbane Ewan Clark, Aust
Daniel Cormode, Ballaclaughbane William Cowle, Grest
Ewan Garrett, Ballargey

On the back of this Petition are the following notes :

(A) 600 inhabitants in the third of the Parish referred to in this Petn. some of whom are four miles distant from the Parish Church

(B) A School at Corrody Bridge at the upper end of Sulby Glen. Glen chief estate belongs to the Crown

This Petition must have been answered soon, for in 1831 we find Charles Howland, Master, but the money had not yet been paid to the Vicar and Wardens.²⁰

There were several money bequests of which no details have been given.

In 1884 land was conveyed to the Lezayre School Board-part of the estate of Ballakerbery, on which a school house should be erected. This has been done, the Board of Education having given a grant of £212.²¹

Footnotes

1 Museum Papers, No. 29.
2 Moore, Dioc. Hist., p. 165.
3 Ibid., p. 162.
4 Liber Caus. 15.
5 Jour. Manx Museum, vol. II, No.31, p. 60.
6 Moore, Dio. Hist.. P. 259.
7 Foreigners-Englishmen.
8 Mr P. Craine's notes,
9 See "Parish Clerks" p.p 91-98.
10 Educational Endowments, page 17
11 and 12 Mr. D. Craine's notes.
13 Liber Plit, 1791 " I.o.M. Charities," pp. 82-7.
14 Isle of Man Charities, p. 85-87.
15 Educational Endowments, etc., 1887 (bluebook), pp. 18,19.
16 Charities, p. 88.
17 Mr W. Cubbon's notes.
18 Educational Endowments, p. 17.
19 Educational Endowments, p. 17 ; Isle of Man Charities, p. 87.
20 Charities, p. 87.
21 Educationai Endowments p.p. 17, 18.