[From Manx Annals,1901/2]

MANX ANNALS OF NINETY YEARS AGO.

CHAPTER II,

A Manx paper of the date April 27th, 1811 has the following : — '' To be let, commencing; from 12th May, that handsome and commodious dwelling house, at present in the occupation of Wm. Scarlett Littler, with a large vault underneath together with a yard, stable, and other offices. The premises will be shown by M Thomas Farrant, of Peel."

This house was afterwards the ‘Royal Oak' Inn, Mr. Littler removed to Douglas that spring and, in November, started, in partnership will the Rev Robert Littler and J. Dove, a bank in Fort-street called the ‘Douglas Banking Co.,' The office was shortly afterwards removed to Duke-street, But no sooner, had they settled there when they quarrelled, and, by January 3rd, found themselves is the Chancery Court, when the reverend partner, who claimed damages against Dove, — but got none — wriggled and kicked to get out of the affair ; but Dove was too much for him. Dove was, I believe, brother-in-law to one of the partners. The Bank was then dissolved. In the short time it had existed it placed in the hands of the public a number of silver tokens with a representation of Peel Castle on one side, and were in consequence called " Peel Castle Tokens," Visitors to the loan department at the Guild Exhibition at Douglas a few years ago will no doubt re-collect seeing some of those tokens them, lent by Major Nicholson. Owing to their prettiness and rarity they are now a joy and a treasure to those who possess them, At a sale at Sotherby's, London, in December, 1899, three " Peel Castle Tokens" for 5s, 2s 6d, and 1s, were sold forty guineas.

In 1815 a " Society for upholding the rights of the People" published in, Douglas a pamphlet stating these rights. It is said the " society " consisted of one individual who, I believe, was Robert Littler of the defunct Douglas Bank. At the same time a man and woman named Fivey were in Castle Rushen for issuing forged five shilling notes. The " Manks Advertiser " of that year had an open letter addressed to the writer of the pamphlet, The letter was '' wrote sarcasm;" and was dated "Castle Rushen,

November 9th," and signed " J — F — y." "F — y " in this letter says :!' As soon as I can get out of this nasty hole you and I had better enter into a partnership; we are both of us adepts in the banking line, though to be sure I am the best hand at making money, but than you are terribly clever with your pen, so one way or another your paper manufactory might make our fortunes at last. What a pity it was that famous establishment in Duke-street tumbled to pieces so soon. What could be better calculated to promote public good, which everybody knows is the great concern of your life. Such pretty tokens ! Such dashing partners ! Such solid capital ! And than Such a paragon of a cashier !"

Specie was scarce in the Isle of Man, and, for convenience, tradesmen and merchants were obliged to issue paper money and copper tokens. Owing to the smallness of the notes — shilling ones being commonest — they were in constant circulation amongst the working class, with the consequence that by the end of a month's usage many of them got so defaced and filthy that the drawers of these notes frequently repudiated them. Throughout the Island paper took the place of silver, and the country had become, in a few years the happy hunting-ground of forgers. In January, 1811, a number of counterfeit shillings were in circulation at Kirk Michael, and in September, following year, at Ramsey a Kirk Bride man was found guilty of uttering forged, 5s cards, purporting to be those of John Moore, of Peel. He was sentenced to six months in Castle Rushen, fined £50, and at the end of term to get a hundred lashes in Ramsey at the Market Cross.

In consequence of the agitation against forgers, coupled with stricter measures of the Legislature, forgery almost disappeared, but not quite. In 1818 two men, Johnson and Will, were caught at Ramsey by Lace the Coroner for attempting to pass a number of forged Bank of England notes and counterfeit silver. At General Gaol Delivery Johnson was sentenced to imprisonment for life, whilst the case against Wild was not clear. In 1811 Johnson, with two other prisoners, escaped, got on board a fishing yawl at Poolvash, rowed away out of sight, and was not heard of afterwards.

The scarcity of copper specie in the Island was felt by everyone, To counteract this state of things the inhabitants put up with any kind of up with any kind of coins — — it did not matter what — and so long as they were about the size of pennies and half-pennies they passed as such.

The "Advertiser" of February 6th, 1823, says : — " A quantity of bad copper coins (commonly, called raps) was seized a few weeks ago. from an Irishman in Peel by the High-Bailiff of that town, All kinds of bad copper coin has been bought up in Ireland by traffickers considerably under its nominal value, and brought over to the Island, where it has already obtained too general a circulation. It is high time for the legislature to interfere, or the Isle of Man may yet become the depot for all the raps in the kingdom." A letter of a week later asks : — " Is it possible that the £500 worth of base copper which Dove and Littler, of notorious memory, coined, and which was ordered to be sent off the Island, have been deposited by some knowing ones to import it as occasion should serve ? "

The following houses were advertised in 1811 to be let : —

"All those capital concerns in the town of Peel, consisting of large and commodious dwelling house, with an excellent shop, cellars, warehouses, yards, etc., situate in one of the most public and eligible spots in the said town, now occupied by Edward Payne and Co. For particulars, apply to Thomas Joshua Graves, Peel, the proprietor." [Mr. Graves died 1816]

" Knockaloe Moar, which was held by the late proprietor, James Quirk, at the time of his decease. Has about 125 acres of arable land, and. about 78 of sheep walk, large mansion, kiln, and threshing mill wrought by water." [Mr. Quirk died 1810] .

"Dwelling house and garden opposite Close-a-Cowell, in the town of Peel Apply to Edward Corteen, Castletown, or to Robert Moore, merchant, Peel.

"Two houses, for small families, near the Beach of Peel. Apply to John Higgins, shop-keeper, Peel."

"Rockmount, two miles from Peel, now occupied by Matthew Willock."

"Glen More, St. John's. Apply to the proprietor, L. van Wilmsdorff Richards.[This gentleman's full name was Johan Lewis Gidion Earnest Von Probentaw van Wilmsdorff Richards. — He lived many years it Glen More, but, sorry to say, misfortune came to him soon after this].

In 1812: — " A commodious house in Peel-town, near the Quay, with a good yard facing the sea. In excellent repair, and well adapted for a private family. Also within one mile of Past, a good house and garden, with a few acres of land. Apply to Hugh Casement, Peel."

" Ballacosnahan house and gardens. Apply to Capt Gelling, Castletown." [This was Capt. John Gelling of the 67th regiment. Was son of Mr. Edward Gelling, of Castletown, and was a relative of Parson Gelling, of Peel (vicar of German, 1801-1839). The Captain, who died 1828, and who had been H.M. Collector of Customs at Peel, married in June, 1811, Miss Thomas. Miss Thomas's grandfather was Capt. William Cosnahan, of Ballacosnahan. the latter died 1755, leaving a daughter; an heiress, who married Dr James Thomas, of Carmarthen. Dr Thomas lived in Peel; where he died in 1815. His widow died in 1824, leaving several daughters, one of wham married the late Capt. Anderson, of Cooley Lodge, father of the present Receiver-General,

In 1818 : — "That commodious house, stable and hayloft, late in the possession of the late John Craine. Apply to Miss Craine, Peel. [Mr. Craine died in 1812, Had been a merchant in Peel.].

"A house and garden. Apply to Robert Grant, Coffee House, or to A. M'Culloch, the proprietor

"Ballamore, Patrick, now,in the hands of Philip. Moore, Esquire at Ballamore, or of John Moore, of the Hills, Douglas." [The Moores of Ballamore were descended from an Irish family. The ancestor of the Manx branch had (so tradition runs) three sons: who left Ireland with William III. One of these son (Charles) settled at Wigton, in Scotland, and had a son, the Rev Charles, who was grandfather of Sir John Moore of Corunna fame. Another of the three brothers settled at England whilst the third found his way to the Isle of Man. The latter had a son Philip, who settled at Douglas. Philip was born 1675, died 1746 founded the Peel Grammar School. the year he died, and endowed it with £500 ; was father of Philip, of the Hills, Douglas ; Sir George, of Ballamore and the Rev James, of Dublin. The latter founded the Mathematical School at Peel. The Mr. John Moore mentioned in the advertisement was a son of Mr. Robert Moore — one of the Pulrose Moores, a totally different family — who settled at Peel. This John married a granddaughter and heiress of Philip of the Hills (brother of Sir George), and thus became possessed of the Hills estate. This property lay just above St. George’s, in Douglas, and was sold and cut up in the forties. Sir George Moore was the first of the family at Ballamore, was Speaker of the House of Keys, was born in 1709, knighted 1781, died 1787. Mr. Philip Moore named in the advertisement was his son ; he died in Douglas in 1829 at a great age There are numerous descendants of Sir George Moore living, but few of them bear the name of Moore, Mr. George, Moore, whose father married Miss Shimmin, of Ballacross, is the present representative of Sir George Moore’s family.

" That house now in the occupation of Robert Moore, consisting of excellent kitchen, back-kitchen, parlour, drawing room, four bedrooms, two closets, garrets, etc." [Mr. Robert Moore was father of the late High-Bailiff of Peel, died in December 1822, aged 45.]

"Mr. Robert Higgins has n house to let in Peel near the beach." [He was son of Mr. John Higgins.]

The Herring House at Peel was advertised to be sold by auction in February, 1813. As an inducement to buyers it was stated it "might readily be converted into a brewery, tannery, etc." "For particulars apply to J. J. Wattleworth — or Wm. Dixon, auctioneer. Caesar Corris, of Peel, will show the premises." Dixon was a brother of the licensee of the British Hotel in Douglas, Mr. Wattleworth, who was acting for the owner, Mr. Henry Curwen Christian, of London, was, I think, son of John Wattleworth, of Douglas, who died in Liverpool 1816, buried in Braddan. Mr. H. C. Christian was a descendant of John Christian (died 1787), of Milntown, Ramsey, and Ewenrigg Hall, Cumberland, who married Miss Jane Curwen, of Workington hall. Mr. Christian lived in the Strand, London, and is 1818 married Miss Christian Wattleworth. The Herring house was not sold in 1813 for it was advertised in 1814 and in 1815. Eventually these buildings came into the hands of Messrs Holmes, of Douglas, who for many years cured herrings them ; then they passed into possession at the late Mr. Groves, who sold the property to the Railway Company. The Company, after using them for some years, demolished them.

In 1813, "that improved, compact, and valuable estate called Ballagyr" was put in the market. It was thin in the tenure of H. Hunter and others. You were to apply to " Mr. James Moore, Springhill, Douglas, or to H. C. Christian, the proprietor, Strand, London." It was not sold, for, like the Herring house, it was advertised the following year.

In 1814 was advertised to be let or sold Glen Moie farm. Apply to Philip Lewis, the proprietor." Mr. Lewis had been formerly governor of Commendafort, Cape Coast Castle; was born at St. Paul's Churchyard, London, 1769, died at Glenmaye 1815. He married a Mrs. Davidson, a native of Whitehaven, whose son by first marriage married Miss Gell of Ballelby, There are a number of Mr. Davidson's descendants living is the Isle of Man and in America.

"Died at Peel on Thursday, in 69th year, Charles Cooper. He has bequeathed property to above £60 per annum for the poor of Peel. That is from a Manx paper of May 18th, 1811. The principal part of the property is the mill — once a flour mill, now a saw mill — at present held by Mr. Thos. Watson. Mr. Cooper's will (dated 23rd November, 1810) says he leaves his dwelling house in Peel, and yards and water corn mill called Cooper's Mill, of annual chief rent of £2 to be held by Philip Moore and John Gell in trust, and to allow his wife Ann to possess the same during her life, or so long as she remains unmarried. The mill to be subjected to an annuity of £20 to the vicar and wardens of German for the Poor of Peel, during his wife's life or widowhood ; and upon her death to convey the house and mill to the wardens, with the condition that should the wardens neglect to keep the mill, etc., in proper repair the heir-at-law is to possess himself of the. property.

Mr. Charles Cooper had two sisters, one of whom married Mr. Gell of Ballelby, Dalby, (died 7th February, 1815, in 75th year). 'There are now not far short of a hundred of her descendants living. The other sister, Catherine married, Mr. Robert Kneale, of Peel, and had at least three children, Charles, Catherine, and Ann. Charles, who was captain of a merchant ship, bought the Raggatt, and died 1812, aged 48, Catherine died single 1821, and Ann died in 1837. The latter married Mr. William Bridson, who, through his wife, became possessed of the Raggatt; was made member of the House of Keys, 1823, and died 1831 in 50th year, leaving three daughters, one of whom married the late Capt. Cameron, of Glenfaba House.

The "Isle of Man Weekly Gazette " of May 7th, 1812, has: — " Married at Patrick, Mr. Robert Moore, of Peel, to Miss Clarke, daughter of the late Thos. Clarke, Esq., of Peel. These were the parents of the late Mr. R. J Moore, high-bailiff of Peel. Mr. Robert Moore, who was one of the Pulrose Moores, was a merchant in Peel, and lived in a house standing on the site of the present Peel Castle Hotel. He died in December, 1822. His father-in-law, Mr. Thos. Clarke, was high-bailiff of Peel from 1802 to 1808, when he died. This family of Moore was descended from Wm. Moore who bought Pulrose (or Pulroish as it was then spelt) from Wm. Standish in 1521

The "Gazette "of September 3rd, same year, has : "Died at St. John's, Mr. Unite, school master, Hs was a very industrious man, and dying poor without relatives in the Island, Mr. John Gell of Kenna and some worthy persons in Peel interred his remains decently.'

The" Gazette of August 17th, 1812, has: — Died Died at Peel last week, aged 65, John Quilliam, of Ballakelly, Marown, father of Captain Quilliam of the Royal Nay" Is this the renowned Captain Quilliam of Trafalgar fame ? Mr. Moore in his " Manx Worthies" says he (the Captain) was the son of a southside farmer. His authority isTrain, who published a history of the Isle of Man about 1844. There is a tradition this side of the Island that Captain Quilliam was one of, or connected with the Quilliams of Ballakerkey, Glenmaye. I may here say that one of the members of that family lived to over a hundred. A paper of October 29th, 1814, says: — " It is a fact that there is now living at Ballakerkey in Patrick a woman named Jane Quilliam, aged a hundred years. She enjoys good health, was lately in the fields reaping, and cut and bound three stocks of corn in one 'day." Another account of Captain Quilliam, by an old lady, who died this year, and who had it from her father, who knew the Captain personally, says that he was the son of a small farmer, and in his youth was intended to become a mason, and as a labourer waited on the masons at the now pier at Douglas about 1790. Not liking his employment he took to the sea, and by his own ability rose to be captain.

The " Manks Advertiser" of April 22nd, 1815 has: "Died on Thursday last At Castletown, aged 90, Mrs. Christian Stevenson, formerly of Douglas, relict of late John Stevenson, of Largydhoo. Her amiable disposition and goodness of heart rendered her an ornament to society , and she will be lamented by many friends." Her husband died some seven or eight years before this. Their daughter and heiress married Mr. John Moore, whose son, John Stevenson Moore, was father of the late Mr. J. S. Moore who died a few years ago.

Paper of February 12th, 1815, says : — " Died at Peel on the 3rd, John Cowx, formerly of Cumberland." His widow married a Welsh gentleman, who resided at Peel. Several of her descendants by both marriages are now living in Peel.

[To be continued].

The following letter correcting some of the above was published two weeks later:

Dear Sir,-Will you kindly find room in the "Guardian" for the following corrections; &c. I find I made several mis-statements in "'Manx Annals," which appeared in your paper of September 28th. A lady who is greatly interested in geaealogical matters has very kindly sent me much information concerning some of the persons and families mentioned in the "Guardian" of that date. '

Statement in the annals : "Sir George Moore was the first of that family at Ballamore," Correction : Sir George's father, Philip, bought Ballamoar from John Wattleworth, of Knockrushen.

Annals: "One of Chas. Cooper's two sisters married Mr Gell of Ballelby." Correction Though Mr Walter Gell — who is descended from the said Mr Gell — is the heir-at-law of Chas. Cooper, it is through his mother and not his father. Miss Cooper married someone who certainly was not Mr Gell.

Annals : "Their [i.e. John Stevenson and wife, Christian, of Lhergydhoo] daughter and heiress married Mr John Moore, ancestor of the late Mr J. S. Moore." Correction : Mr J. S. Moore was not a direct descendant of John Stevenson, who, I believe was his great uncle. Mrs Stevenson, who died 1815, and who was married three times, had children only by her second husband, John Kelly, of Peoltown, merchant. These children were Christian (married Thomas Wattleworth, of Ballagyr) and James (married Catherine, daughter of Sir George Moore) who was grandfather of the late Mr John Kelly, advocate. Mrs Stevenson's first husband was Capt. Smith — during his life-time they lived in Douglas — and her father was Sir Wm. Fine, of Ballahot, Malew, by his wife, Elizabeth Christian — one of the "pretty maids of Milntown." The forenamed Mr Kelly, the merchant, lived where Mr Charles Morrison for so many years kept his shop, and which was recently pulled down. His first wife was Christian, daughter and co-heiress of William Seddens, of Scarlett, Malew, Clerk of the Rolls, and his wife, Christian O'Reilley, of Ballarasney, Co. Meath. John Kelly and Christian Seddens were married in St, German's Cathedral April 17, 1743. The only child of this marriage was a daughter (heiress) Anne, who married Vicar-General Christian, from whom a line descends.

Re Captain Quilliam : My informant believes he came from Marown and had relatives named Craine in Peel, and also relatives named Parrot. His marriage with Miss Stevenson took place in the summer house of Ballakaighin, Arbory.

Re Henry Curwin Christian: He married his first cousin, his mother being also a Wattleworth, and his father, Joseph Christian, was son of a Vicar of St. Kentigern's, Keswick. The London Wattleworths were successively owners of Ballagyr, and sold it to Mr Carran, brewer, of Peel, grandfather of the late Mr John Carran, of Creglea.

Re Edward Corteen, of Castlotown — He married Miss Callow, grandaughter of Sir Gen. Moore, and was a member of the House of Keys.

Re Mrs Lewis: Though born at Whitehaven, she was Manx and belonged to the north of the Island.

I shall, and I am sure you will, Mr Editor, be glad to receive any further information concerning days and people now passed away.

Compiler of the "Manx Annals"