[From Chapter 2 Manx Worthies, A.W.Moore, 1901]

The Quakers.

It is pleasant to think that, though the discipline of the Manx Church was severe, and though she punished those who offended against it with imprisonment, fines, and the stocks, no one has ever, as far as we know, suffered martyrdom on account of their religion in the Isle of Man. The only cases of persecution, which may really be termed barbarous, were directed by her against a few poor Quakers, in the 17th century.

We first hear of the, Quakers in Lord Fairfax's time, when t.he. governor prohibited anyone from receiving thent into their houses, and the, Quakers themselves from meeting " in the fields, or any out-horse, or other place on the Lord's Day."¹ They seem to have lived, for the most part, in the parish of Maughold, where their burial-ground, called Rhullick-ny-Quakery is situated. The chief among them were WILLIAM CALLOW, of Ballafaile., JOHN CHRISTIAN, of Lewaigue, EVAN CHRISTIAN, ;ind EVAN KERRUISH. They were constantly imprisoned and illtreated for not paying tithes both before and after the Restoration. In 1665, WILLIAM CALLOW (b. 1629, d. 1676), the only one of whose life we know anything, and others, were banished from the island. CALLOW appealed to the Duke of York (afterward James II.) and Prince Rupert, and obtained a letter from the latter to the Earl of Derby, with a request that he should give CALLOW leave to return to the island and restore his property there to him. The earl declined, stating that he would not have the island infected with heresy, and, to a despairing letter addressed direct to him by CALLOW, he returned the same reply. CALLOW then betook himself to London. This we learn from some notes by him in the pages of his Bible,* which are as follows: " I, WILL CALLOW, of Ballafayle, Manksman, who have been banished out off the Ile off Man by the Bishops and Priests for conscience towards God, above two years and three months ffrom my de.-,re wife and tender children, and have bought this book the rate 8s 10d in London where I am now in Robert Bridge's house in Hosier lane, coach builder, near Smithfield. I say this day being the first of the 11th month in the year 1667^* as witness my own handwriting the day and year above said." He then proceeds to give particulars of his birth and that of his wife and of three sons and of six daughters. In 1762 [sic 1672], when Charles II. issued his "Declaration of Indulgence," he and the other banished Quakers were allowed to return to the island. The notes in the Bible, which were continued by his son Robert, tell us that he died in 1676. He was interred in the burial ground which we have already mentioned.

The aforesaid ROBERT, together with his wife, ELLINOR, and others of the Quakers continued to suffer great hardships at the hands of the bishop and clergy till the advent of Bishop Wilson, who was loved and respected by them.

[Taken from the -MSS. notes by John Smith, Quaker, who had extracted them from " Besse " and other writers.]-

1 Lib. Scaccr.

2. This belonged to the late John Christian Fargher, a descendant of Williain Callow's

*.[fpc note this would be February 1668 NS]

[see also Rhullick-ny-Quakery]