Leases of Ballaughton Mill

Articles of Agreement and Lease entered into and concluded upon the twenty third day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, between William Duff, of the town of Douglas, merchant, of the one part, and James Cowin of Ballaquine, in the parish of Lonan, of the other part, witnesseth that the said William Duff, for and in consideration of the rents, covenants, and agreements hereinafter mentioned on the part of the said James Cowin, his executors and administrators to be paid, done and performed, hath given, granted, demised, leased, and let, and by these present doth give, grant, demise, lease, and let unto the said James Cowin, All and singular those water corn-mills, situate in the parish of Braddan, called and known by the name of "The Ballaughton Mills," with the machinery therein, and the kilns, out-buildings, mill-race, lands, and premises thereunto belonging ; together with that dwelling-house and premises : adjoining thereto, called St. Helena, which said mill, dwelling-house, and premises were lately in the occupation of John Donaldson; To Have and to Hold the said mill, with all machinery, fixtures, and implements therein and the kilns, out-buildings, mill-race, lands, and premises thereunto belonging, together with the said dwelling house, called St. Helena, and the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said James Cowin, his executors and administrators, from the twelfth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, and during and unto the full end and term of seven years thence next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended, he, the said James Cowin, his executors and administrators, yielding and paying for such tenure and occupation of the said demised premises unto the said William Duff, his executors, administrators, and assigns, the yearly rent or sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, payable by two equal half-yearly payments, on the twelfth day of May and twelfth day of November in each and every year, free from all deductions, except for Lord's rent. And the said James Cowin doth hereby, for himself, his executors, and administrators, covenant and engage to and with the said William Duff, his executors, administrators, and assigns in manner following, That is to say, that he, the said James Cowin, his executors and administrators, shall and will well and truly pay or cause to be paid, the said yearly rent upon the days hereinbefore mentioned, as the same becomes due and payable, and a shall and will keep, maintain, and at the expiration or sooner determination of this demise, deliver up the said mill and the whole of the machinery belonging thereto ; together with the dam-head and mill-race, and all sluices appertaining thereto, and the said dwelling-house and premises in good order and repair; but in case any of the "brasses" in which the machinery works should give way or become insufficient during the term of this demise, then the same shall be replaced and renewed at the joint expense of the said James Cowin and William Duff. And it is further agreed upon that the whole of the land shall be used for grazing only, except the land on the east side of the river, which may be broken up, provided the same be laid down in a good and sufficient manner, with the first crop after a green crop well-manured and cleaned, and to remain lea during the last two years of this demise. And in case any part of the said land should be broken up or laid down contrary to the conditions hereinbefore mentioned, then the said James Cowin doth, for himself, his executors, and administrators, promise, engage, and agree to pay unto the said William Duff, his executors, administrators, or assigns, an increased and additional rent of three pounds per acre for each and every acre cultivated contrary to the conditions of this lease, and so in proportion for a greater or less quantity, which increased or additional rent is to be paid with the chief rent herein before reserved on the day on which the same becomes due next succeeding such breach of the conditions aforesaid. And the said William Duff doth hereby engage to keep the roofs of the out-buildings hereby demised drop-dry during the continuance of this demise ; and for the true and faithful performance hereof the said several parties hereby bind themselves, their heirs, executors, and administrators firmly by these presents. In witness whereof they have hereunto subscribed their names the day and year first above written.

Memorandum of agreement entered into this 24th April, 1847, between William Duff and George William Dumbell, proprietors of Ballaughton Mills, in the parish of Braddan, of the one part, and James Cowin and George Goldsmith, millers of the other part. It is mutually agreed that the present lease of the said mills and premises held therewith by Cowin and Goldsmith be cancelled from the 12th May next, and that a new lease be granted to them, commencing from 12th May next, for twelve years, at the annual rent of two hundred and ten pounds, payable by equal half-yearly payments, and in all other respects upon the same terms as the present lease, Messrs. Duff and Dumbell agree to build a new miller's house, arch over part of the tail-race, and erect a new water-wheel, with all necessary machinery attached for working the mill from such wheel outside the mill instead of the wheel now inside the same, which is to be [?lost text] . The whole of these alterations to be made with as little delay as possible and in the most substantial manner.