Choice Presentments
Presentments were accusations of offences against Ecclesiastical law made by the wardens or chapter quest of each parish
to the next church court - they are usually found, along with the wills, in the records of the Archideaconal and Episcopal
courts. Family historians will be familiar with them as a common crime presented, was
that of fornication, as proved by the appearance of an illegitimate child,
both mother and putative father, where known, were presented. However there were many other offences presented. After reading
some of them, the comments of Mr Townley, made in 1790 may be appreciated:
I HAVE also, by me, presentments for two other parishes ; but my pen revolts, being quite jaded with transcribing such nonsensical stuff ; such as must draw a smile from every person of common sense ;-an indignant one it must be ; that within a Protestant country, in this enlightened age, such absurdities should be even tolerated.
This set of pages is a collection of extracts along the lines of Cubons 'unpublished
documents' of unrelated documents that deserve more attention. .
- 1637 - Andreas, petition for divorce by John Quirk from Joney Fargher (evidence of child marriage)
- 1637 - German, John Leece for ravishing of his sister
- 1637 - German, Censure of Vicar William Cosnahan and wife Elizabeth Bridson + petition regarding
his earlier conduct
- 1637 - Jurby, divorce of Anne Kelly and William Gawne
- 1637 - Onchan, Suspension & re-instatement of Revd John Oates, Vicar of Onchan
- 1637 - Santan, Censure of Sir John Cosnahan, Vicar of Santan
- 1637 Petition re Margery Quayle (als Craine), re accusation of witchcraft
- 1637 Deemster Robert Quayle + Mary Corkill (als Vinch) (refutation of
defamation)
- 1637 - German, Kathleen Robinson (defamation of Clergy)
- 1637 various presentments found within wills
- 1645 - Douglas Margaret Calcott (re slander)
- 1645 Margaret Cottier + William Cannell (allowed remarriage)
- 1645 Margaret Dobson (slander)
- 1645 Henry Fletcher (re Inventory)
- 1646 Paul Bridson (slander)
- 1646 William Cottier + Catharine Kewley als Scarff [or Scarff als Kewley]
(Slander)
- 1647 David Hamilton + Jane Banks (dissolution of engagement)
- 1681 - Ramsey, petition re Petty school + list of the 'most and best of the town'
- 1695 Margaret Halsall vs Ellinor Heywood (re debts)
- 1700 William Corlet + William Crow (agreement re Intack)
- 1700 Charles Crow/Margaret Casement (deflowering of Margaret Casement)
- 1700 Edward Gawne/Grace Casement (maintenance of illegitimate child)
- 1700 John Kelly (Michael) (re tythes)
- 1719 - Rushen - cursing in Manx
- 1727 - Arbory, non-payment of fish tythe
- 1729 - Bride, prophane remarks re Sacrament
- 1745 - Lezayre, son cursing father (in Manks)
- 1749 - Andreas - no school kept as no school house
- 1749 - Malew - illegitimate child by a 'helpless idiot'
- 1754 - Lezayre - agreements re maintenance illegitimate children (Casement + Killey;Kaneen
+ Kneen)
- 1757 - Elinor Bridson - petition
- 1759 - Oiel Verrey at Ballaugh 1758
- 1761 - Braddan Unpaid assessments for Douglas Chapel
- 1769 - Braddan, unbaptized children, payment of wardens for carying communion wine
- 1785 - Isabel Callister - illegitimate child
- 1822 - Schoolmasters presented for not attending church with scholars
- 1822 - Lying-in Costs for Illegitimate Children