HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2009
[From Manx Annals,1901/2]
LEAVES FROM A MANXMAN'S SCRAPBOOK..
1831.-January17th:--" This morning a trotting match took place on Peel and Douglas road as far as Crosby. _. The winner was Mr Ingham`s mare ' Douglas,' backed , by -Mr. Ely Shaw; rode by Thos. Archer. The other was Mr Corlett's 'Fanny' backed by Mr Wm Dixon rode by Jos. Wilson stakes £20. Distance 10miles. Time 39½ minutes."
" On the Duchess of Athol Wm Cottier one of the crew, fell from the masthead to the deck and was killed. Left a wife and two children."
February, 1st.-" The elk found in 1819 is now on exhibition; in a yard near the warm baths, Parade."
March 22nd.-" Three prisoners are to be tried for forging Mr Ed. Gawne's one pound notes."
June 21st.-" We congratulate Douglas and the public on the recent introduction of the stage coach by Dixon: The new coach will leave the British Hotel for Castletown on Monday and Saturday, For Peel Tuesdays; Ramsey by Laxey on Thursdays, returning on the following day by Michael.- Fares-to Castletown or Peel, 5s inside, 4s out ; to Ramsey, 9s in, 7s out"
July 5th.- "Philip Shimmin, of Peel, and. Wm Cowley, of Ballacry, Ballaugh, were today made coroners for Glenfaba and Michael. The outgoing coroners for Glanfaba and Michael were John Crellin and John Caley"
July 12th.-"All persons indebted to the late Dr Cartwright, of Peel are to pay the debts to Robert Cannell of Douglas or to Robert Higgins of Peel," the executors." (Dr Cartwight died at Peel in September, 1825)
July 19th.-" Coronation day: ' On this day the Sunday and day, scholars of Douglas and neighbourhood, numbering over fourteen hundred, gathered at the schoolroom in Athol street at about ten o'clock-the girls being dressed in uniform; white caps and tippits-and then walked to St. George's, where the friendly societies immediately followed. After listening to the Rev John Christian's sermon they all marched along Athol-street on to Gick's field on the Peel-road: On getting there the men formed a circleto keep off the public. In a few secconds the children filled up the centre. and soon all were busy tucking in a substantial dinner."
"Rejoicings were held at other towns. At Castletown the military were arranged on the pier where they were joined by the Artifiicers Club. A ' feu de joie' having been fired they all paraded the town, headed by a band, and finished up with a dinner and a ball, patronised by the Lieut.-Governor, at the New Inn. At midnight nearly a hundred sat, down to supper."
"The schools and scholars that walked at Douglas were as follows :-Douglas daily and Sunday school, 327 ; Methodist, 253; Independent, 94;. Union Mills 90, Santon,81; Marown, 79; Castleward, 74; Baldwin, 65 ; Onchan, 65; St. John's, 46; Lonan 49;. Cooil, 46; Greeba 38 ; Oakhill, 31; Springhill, 31 ; Amagary, 29 ; Braddan,, 21 ; Logh, 8 ; St. Marks, 6 ",
"The expenses for the day:-741 lbs .beef, £14 6s 5d ; 87 lbs ham, £2 3s: 6d ; cakes and bread, £12 15s 4d ;flour and. peas, 15s 11d ; milk, £1 6s 9d, ale, £3 18 6d ; porterage, £1 8s . 4d ; erecting gallery, in St. George 's, £1 7s; eathenware, 5s ; cooper, 2s 6d ; cart from Amagorry, 6s; total £37 17s;3d, This included dinner to 300 poor. The subscriptions came to £53 15s 3d, besides collections at St. George's £5 4s 9d. The committee intend to give a soverign to each Sunday-school to buy books;the. balance for the Soup Dispensary."
(An old lady who died a few years ago related at on this day the. Sunday-schools assembled at Peel Castle, where the teachers and scholars wore regaled on bread and cheese and beer !)
August 23th.--' The arrival of the steam packets with the hundreds of passengers, always a joyous scene, is not the only one this week, for the entry of our worthy merchants' fishing sloops with thousands of herrings from Peel has given mach satisfaction throughout Douglas."
September, 1st- Pulling, down the old George Inn at Castletown, a skeleton of an infant was found between the wainscot and the wall. It had been, wrapped in a towell now rotten"
September 15th.- "On Thursday the George Scott took over eighty mease while another smack within a few fathoms astern did not get eight mease. A monkfish was caught in the nets off Peel last week. Size from nose to tail 5ft 3in 6ft 6in from tip of one fin to that of the other, Weight 5½ cwt
December 22nd. " on the 15th, Mr Corrin, of Knockaloe, owing to the extreme darkness of the night, supposing he was walking towards the Market place, and fancying he saw a puddle of water, stepped out over the edge of the Quay. There was very little water and he was severely injured. The crew of a coal brig hearing his cries ran to his assistance, and took him to Mrs Clarke's Cumberland Tavern, where Dr Oswald attended him. On Monday he was removed home on a litter.
1822. March 24th. - "Mr Wm M'Arthur collector of customs at Peel, died to-day aged 50."
March 30th. - "Died lately at Glenmore German, Mrs Moore, widow of Deemster Moore."
April 10th.- "At Chancery Court, John Moore against John Stevenson Moore by his guardians - John Stevenson, deceased, did by a trust deed, make over the lands of Lhiargydhoo to Norris Moore, Jas Kelly and George Quayle in trust, that they should, after his demise, permit the present petitioner to enter upon and possess the said estate 'for ever', and that upon the death of the petitioner, his heirs and assigns for ever were to enjoy the said estate, as a customary land of inheritance by descent, according to the laws of the Island. Upon gaining possession lof the estate the petitioner, under the idea he had absolute right therein, made numerous lasting improvements on the property to the amount of raising the annual value £60. Upon a previous affair connected with this estate the Court had been of opinion that the words only meant a life estate. This then was an application on the part of the petitioner for authority to raise £715 upon the property. The Court ordered the sum to be raised."
(of the above trustees, Mr Norris Moore was High-Bailliff of Douglas; and George Quayle was very likely the banker, uncle of the late Clerk of the Rolls - Mark Quayle, Esq.)
April 13th.- "On Easter Monday the Labourer's Society in Douglas walked, as did the Braddan Amicable Society. The attendance of the young at the fair that day was unusually great and immense numbers took the aquatic excursion round the buoy off St. Mary's rock. In the evening the fiddlers were in great requisition in many places."
April 27th.- "Died at Laxey on Saturday Isaac Milburn aged 72. Was 45 years in the Island, was a native of Cumberland and came to work at Laxey mines." (Several of his descendants are living in the Island).
June 29th. - The Peel herrings this week are very fine. Selling 24 to 30 for a shilling."
"On Thursday Mr Gelling, of Douglas, having completed his gasometer lit up his shop for the first time, which had a most brilliant and pleasing effect."
"Married two or three weeks ago, by special licence, at Rushen, James Fell, surgeon, to Mrs McGrey, both of Peel."
"Died about a fortnight ago at Peel, aged 34, the wife of Philip Moore, junior, Esq., daughter of Mr Farrant of Peel."
July 5th.- "Early in the week every description of vehicle was bespoke for the day. Every description of horse or mule, from the high mettled charger down to the mountain side Rosinante was in requisition. On the road, groups of acquaintances and pedestrians poured in: the blooming daughters of Mona are not inferior to their brethren in horsemanship. The road presented a motley appearance, coaches, barouches, gigs, jaunting cars, carts horses, ponies, intermixed with pedestrians smoothered in dust. The Green was covered with numerous tents, and Mr Hanby of the York Hotel, Douglas, had taken for the day the schoolroom. Mr Dixon, of the British, had a tent wherein a hundred persons dined with the Duke of Athol and other celebreties. The rustic Johns and Marys continued flocking to the fair till the evening ; and the usial characteristics of the fair terminated the day's jolity, viz, fighting and scambling, broken and aching heads, torn garments, and lost hats."
August 31st.- "Married this morning at Peel. Mr Joseph Fisher to Miss Mary, daughter of the late John Cain of Lhergydhoo west."
September 7th.- "Married at Patrick, Capt maw of Bombay, to Mrs Maguinis, widow of Lieutenant Maguinis."
September 24th.-" Married at Andreas, Mr John Shimmin of Ballacross German, to Miss Sayle of Andreas" ,
"Died at Old Calabar in October last year, James Gelling surgeon of ship John Tobin, son of Parson Gelling of Peel. The ship left the coast a few days after his death but never reached its destination,"
September.-" Schools in Peel:-A free Grammar School, salary. £25, A free English School, salary £20 ; a free Mathematical School, salary £23 9s 2d ; and a National School. There is also the Parochial School at St. John's, teacher's salary £6 and 5s 6d quarterage."
September 30th.-" On to-day was held the first anniversary dinner of 'The Finish' at Hanby's York Hotel. After dinner,
the president Major Joseph Tallan, rose, and in a most emphatic manner gave the health of His Majesty King George. . After
the health of the President the latter said be felt overpowered by the fresh mark of honour conferred on him-' the high
situation you have raised me to this day is flattery far beyond what I could have expected from my short residence in the
Island.'"
(The Major was father of the late Captain Tallan, who lived in Peel from about forty to sixty years ago.)
October 17th .-" Ritchie v. Bluet Miss Ritchie last week got damages, £500, with costs. Defendant had lodged an appeal.
"
(This was a long standing case of breach of -promise. Miss Jenetta Caroline Ritchie first met defendant, a lieutenant in
the Navy; in 1818, in London. MissRitchie was possessed of £200 and £30 yearly. She afterwards studied in Dublin to be a
teacher of music. Having finished her musical education she returned to England. The lieutenant was then living in the Isle
of Man, and after writing many letters he married another. Miss R, with writings. came and took out an action of arrest
for £2,000.. The defendant was then sent to Castle Rushen. - In December 1821, Bluett prayed to be out on bail, as he had
no livelihood than that afforded by his half pay. It was granted. He appealed in February the following year, before the
House of Keys, and succeeded in getting the damages reduced to £50. Miss Ritchie in the meantime taught the piano at Mrs.
Caine's, Heywood Place, Douglas. A month or two after the case: was settled Bluett stated that he was-about to publish his
speech on that occasion. 'This brought fourth the following notice in the "Manx Advertiser" :-" Mr. Bluett having advertised
that he has put his speech before the House of Keys in the cause of Ritchie vs. Bluett in the press for publication, the
public are hereby informed that the reply of the Council to that speech,together with authentic extracts from the correspondence,
and copious notes on the whole will be published immediately after the appearance of Mr. Bluett's speech, price 4d. -NB
Subscribers at fourpence shall have access: to the, letters of all parties." Neither of these publications ever: saw the
light.)
In the " Annals" a month ago I said that Mrs. Quirk who died in 1820, was, I believed, a. grand daughter of Mr. John Quayle, Clerk of the Rolls. An-informant tells-ms this is wrong. "She, was the only daughter of. Mr. Quayle brewer, of Castletown who - through his wife Miss Lucy Mylrea- became: owner of Peel Hill and other property. He lived in that quaint house on Castletown parade; now occupied by Mr. Gell, butcher; and his brother John lived in that long low house adjoining Mr. .Corteen's {now owned by Mr. Daniel Callow) - Mr. John Quayle built the present house at West Hill; and his only child married Mr. John C. Crellin of Orrisdale. A. son of the latter lived and died in Peel some thirty years ago:"
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| Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The
Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2009 |
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