[From Manx Quarterly, #2 June 1907]

WINDFALLS FOR MANX FOLK.

Mr William Moore formerly of Liverpool, whose death occurred May 3rd, 1907, has by his will made glad the hearts of certain residents of Douglas. A scion of that old Manx family, the Moores of Sulbrick, Santon, who are mentioned in the manorial records so far back as 1638, Mr Moore was born in Douglas in the first half of the last century. His father was Mr William Moore, who carried on an extensive business as a baker and provision merchant in a shop which, prior to the formation of Ridgeway-street, stood at the corner of King-street and Fancy-street — the site now partly occupied by the Ridgeway Hotel. When about twenty years old, Mr Wm. Moore, junr., went to Liverpool and entered the corn and flour business. His first employers were Mr Galbraith and Mr Hall, leading merchants, and he subsequently was in the service of Mr Winder, also a corn and flour merchant. He soon began to travel for the firm he was connected with, his ground including the North of England and the Isle of Man. Eventually he acquired a large bakery business on his own account, and developed the concern by dealing heavily in flour. During the great boom in American flour of over thirty years ago Mr Moore was a constant and successful speculator, and soon attained to a leading position on the Liverpool Corn and Flour Exchange. Among his employees was Mr Robert T. Curphey, eldest son of the late Mr Alderman Curphey, of Douglas, and to Mr Curphey he afterwards gave a partnership, which, after subsisting for some years, was dissolved. Mr Moore continued in business and prospered exceedingly, with the result that when he retired some twenty years ago he was the possessor of a handsome fortune. On retiring, he for for the most part lived in London, and, being a bachelor, he made the National Liberal Club his home for many years.

He also travelled considerably, and as for the last four or five years his health failed him in great measure, he frequently took voyages with a view to recuperation. On two of these — to New York, and to the Riviera and Egypt — he was accompanied by Mr Arthur Kaye, builder, of Douglas, eldest son of his life-long friend, Mr Alderman Kaye, an ex-Mayor of Douglas. At the beginning of 1906, ill-health so far overcame him that he went to reside for a time at Falmouth, and about two months ago he removed to Paignton, Devonshire, where he died. In accordance with his expressed desire, his body was cremated at Golder's Green, London, and the resultant ashes are to be brought to the Island and deposited in the grave in Braddan Cemetery in which the remains of his father and mother are interred. As has been said, he accumulated much wealth, his property including land in America. The value of his estate is between £70,000 and £80,000. A big slice of this money comes to the Island, for by his will he has constituted several Manx people legatees. Among the legacies bequeathed by Mr Moore are the following: — Mr Thomas Wm. Moore (nephew), a supervisor in the Douglas Post Office, E12,000; Mrs Horridge, wife of Mr Horridge, M.P., of Manchester (an old friend of the testator), £10,000 ; Mr Sydney Kaye, surgeon dentist, of London (second son of Alderman Kaye), E6,000; three other sons of Alderman Kaye, £2,000 each; and Miss Kaye, daughter of Alderman Kaye, £1,000. About twenty of Mr Moore's first cousins, nearly all residing on the Island, including Mr R. Moore, Ballachurry, Santon ; Mr Moore's two sisters; and Mr Kinnish, father of Mr T. C. Kinnish, H.K., receive legacies of £500 each. Mr John Curphey, watch-maker, Liverpool, an elderly cousin, is left an annuity of £250 a year; Mr Horne, a London friend and corn merchant, is bequeathed an annuity of £500 a year; his late nurse, Miss Watts, is to receive an annuity of £250, in recognition of her attention to Mr Moore in his last illness extending over six months; and his executors, Mr Harley (of the firm of solicitors Simpson, North, and Harley, of North John-street, Liverpool), Mr Marshall (McVicars and Marshall, ship-owners, Liverpool), and Mr Horne, will receive £1,000 each.

Mr T. W. Moore, of the Douglas Post Office, is very-well known in the Island, and is extremely popular. He has been in the Post Office employ for nearly 28 years, and quite recently he was promoted supervisor in place of the late Mr James Bridson. A great advocate of the advantages of manly exercise, Mr Moore has for many years taken a warm interest in football, rowing, and gymnastics, and has conducted classes in physical culture. He resides with his mother and sister, who conduct Greenwood House, a well-known boarding house, situate on the Loch Promenade. While naturally gratified because of his good fortune, Mr Moore is not unduly elated. He, of course, knew that his relative was a very wealthy man, and had thought it possible that he might eventually fall into some of the money; but, being a gentleman of independent spirit, he, though on friendly terms with his uncle, never became intimate, his feeling being that any approaches might be construed as legacy-hunting. It is not, for the present at any rate, Mr Moore's intention to quit the Post Office service; he likes the work, and sees no reason why he should give it up. He has been congratulated on all hands in regard to his windfall.

LIST OF MANX BENEFICIARIES.

The following are the first cousins (who come under the will) of the late Mr Wm. Moore : —

Thomas Moore, Barregarrow, Michael, Parochial Surveyor.
John Moore, Demesne-road, Douglas; many years first engineer s.s. Snaefell.
Henry Moore, clerk, New Brighton. Allen Moore, baker, Liverpool.
Mrs Kelly, late of The Manor, Belmont-terrace, now of Berkeley-st., Douglas.
Wm. T. Moore, Post Office, Santon. James Moore, joiner, Newton, Santon.
Margaret Moore, Castle Arms Hotel, Castletown.
Mrs T. Teare (nee Moore), Circular-road, Douglas.
Mrs Massey (nee Moore), Hyde, Manchester.
John Teare, many years first engineer in the service of the West India and Pacific S.S. Co., and latterly superintendent and shore engineer for above company; father of Dr. Teare, of Silverburn, Castletown.
Mrs Southward (nee Teare), Sulby Glen Woollen Mills.
Thomas Moore, blacksmith, Parnan, Victoria, Australia.
Rev John Moore, Briceville, Anderson Co., East Tennessee, U.S.A.
Mrs Cowin (nee Moore), Glebe Cottage, St. Mark's.
R. Moore, Ballachurry, Santon.
The Misses Moore, College Green, Castletown.
Thomas Kinnish, senr., father of Mr T. C. Kinnish, M.H.K., Mullinargher, Santon.
Daniel Kinnish, retired baker, Liverpool. Robt. Kinnish, baker, Breckfield-road N., Liverpool.
Mrs Wm. Cowley (nee Kinnish), Ballameanagh, Lonan.
Mrs Cain, late of Dalton-street, Douglas, now of Reading.