The following typescript document is held as MD 290 / MS 6392 at the Manx Museum bound together with a document relating to the appeal of the owners of Ballaughton Mill to the Privy Council. The author is given as "Mac Cil Colm" - the Manx Museum identifies the author as William Cubbon (librarian at Museum) who with W Walter Gill, transcribed the only surviving section of Lib Episcopi. It may be the basis for a planned lecture or chapter in a book - there are a number of obvious typos in the typed document which are silently corrected though some, especially dates, may be in need of further correction. Not all of the included theses are generally accepted though many were generally accepted a century ago when the document was produced.

SHENN SKEEREY VRADDAN.

BY

MAC CIL COLM,

October. 1924,

SHENN SKEEREY VRADDAN.

Considered from any Point of view, Shenn Skeerey Vraddan [Old Braddan Parish] as our old people affectionately called it - is the richest in interest of all the parishes in Mann.

Its physical features are more varied than any other parish. It has a wonderfully Political and ecclesiastical history.

Its folklore, place-names and family-names are profitable fields for the student, and the prehistoric and antiquarian remains are numerous and remarkable.

THE BOUNDARIES.

Let us for a moment or two in imagination "walk the boundaries" of the parish, which has its feet in the sea and its head in a nest surrounded by the mountains of Colden, Injebreck Pennypot, Slieu Ree, and Carraghyn.

Its form is remarkable - something like the shape of an hour glass. It is 10 miles long and only 1/2 a mile at its narrowest point, namely at Renscault.

It reaches from Douglas and Port Soderick to Druidale river, which runs into Sulby Glen and touches six other parishes namely, Santon, Marown, and Michael on the West, and Conchan, Lonan and Lezayre on the East,

Its western boundary is for two and a half miles the Crogga river from Mount Murray it goes North to the Cooil, then down the Lhergy Cribbedy road to the Trellaby river, it then commences to climb the North side of the Valley, past the Groves taking in Camlork, Virginia, and on to the Rheyn farm, where it takes an acute bend to Renscault.

The name Rheyn and the name Renecault have some relation to the remarkable twist which the boundary makes just here. Rheyn means "Boundary" and Renscault means "The Broken or Cleft Boundary",

From the Wesleyan Chapel in East Baldwin, the western boundary climbs the lovely Awin Darragh (meaning the Stream of the Oaks) on to Lhergy Ruy, upon which is the old path over the mountain to Kirk Michael.

The Boundary is carried behind Colden along the ridge to Injebreck, and from Injebreck to the back of Carraghyn, and from thence on to the Southern Slope of Pen y Pot. The eastern boundary runs through most beautiful and varied scenery. It commences in Glen Crammag at the foot of Snaefell; climbs the northern slope of Carraghyan, crosses the breast of Penypot, 1400 feet above the level of the sea, and joins the parish of Lonan at the Carnane Bans (the White Cairn) Then it falls to the Creg y Cowin stream, which runs into East Baldwin river and that river is the boundary all the way to Douglas Harbour.

The full extant of the boundary as I have roughly described it, has passed over no less than 34 miles.

THE LAND DIVISIONS.

In order that we may better study the chief features of the parish it will be useful to ascertain the various divisions of land into which the Island was anciently divided.

The primal division for political purposes was the sheading.

The great mountain range commencing at Cronk ny Irey the south-west to North Barrule on the North-east, divided the Island into two political divisions like the backbone of a herring creating three sheadings in the north and three in the south.

The sheading is a very old division, probably much older than 1000 years.

The parish wes a later division, first as a civil and then on ecclesiastical division.

THE TREENS.

But there is another land division, concerning which to-day very little is known which is very much older than either the sheading or parish.

That is the Treen which was the Tribal or Clan territory.

When our ancestors the Celts first came to Mann from the North of Ireland, they took possession of all the best land and they pushed the original inhabitants into the remote places and into the glens and mountains. That would be at least over 2000 years ago. These early Celts were the originators of the Tribal System of Government in Mann. which system was, of course, copied from the Irish model.

Their first attempt at Government was to divide the country into more or less equal family holdings, every important family to a holding, which was called a Treen.

The Treen was the original unit and became the centre and habitation of the Clan. The people on the Treen were all Kinspeople and descendants of the original ancestor, and the Treenland was common to all the clan and worked on communal lines.

The Treen division as such as for centuries past gone out of practical use, so much so that many of their names have been forgotten and their boundaries are not now traceable except by careful research

The Treen Lands had certain peculiar characteristics, all of which go to prove that they were originally clan communities.

There were on the average 12 Treens in each Parish. They all contain 4 quarterlands. They invariably touch either the sea or a river, and reach towards the mountains or to Common land thus giving access to water and the to commons for pasture.

There was an important or ruling family in each.

Each containing a Keeill or church for the clan in which they worshipped.

Each was an isolated and seperate community under its own petty chieftain.

It is significant, too that the number of ancient Manx families correspond almost exactly with the number of Treens.

The number of families with Celtic names is about 150, while the number of Treen is the Island comes to 169.

These facts give weight to the opinion that the original Manx families and their names go back to the period when the Treen as a tribal division was first organised,

Coming back to our own parish.

The Treen lands of Braddan were anciently divided between the King and the Church,

In the year 1511 which is the earliest date giving the ownership of land, the King owned nine Treens, the Nunnery of St. Bridget owned two, and the Bishop as a Baron of the Isle owned one. I would like to refer to the names of the Treens for they are amount the oldest place names in the Island.

The Treen of Gresby close to Port Soderick means the Estate of the Pigs and is a Norse name. It contains Ballavere, Ballashamrock Ballamona, and Ballaquiggin (which is the proper name of Southampton Farm).

The Treen of Ulyst means Olaf's Stadt the Estate of Olaf. There were Manx Kings called Olaf. It includea Ballacutchal, Ballakewish, Ballacottier, Ballacubbon, Collooneys and Ballabunt.

There is a Treen called Medall (Also a Norse name) meaning central whith contained Pooilvash, Ballavasher, Ballakinnish and Middle farm.

The Treen of Castell ne Wade means the Castle of the Mod, or the meeting place and refers to the pre-Celtic fort near the river. That Treen included Ballafletcher, Cronkbourne, Ballabeg, and Knock Troddan. Knock y Troddan means the Hill of the Contest and this quarterland is now named the Castle Ward.

At Castle Ward the late Mr. D. Kaneen found in a tumulus a remarkable stone which was carved out to fit the foot of a man. It was probably used in early times as a swearing stone by chieftains.

Camlorg is also a Treen comprising the quarterlands of Camlork, Knock rule, Ballachrink, Ballacarroone, Ballamillghyan and Ballaoates. The name Camlorg is Gaelic for the "crooked staff" Treen going up the two valleys in fan shape.

They have strange names, and contain in them family names.

The first is Baldall Criste, going up the brow of Carraghyn including Renscault, Ballamodda, Algare and Ulican.

The secong is Baldall Brew going from the Rheyn farm towards Injebreck and containing Ballaquine, Ballabrew (now called Airy veg) Ballakewish and Ardwhallan.

The last is Baldall Reynylt and includes Ballawyllin, Ballacarey, Narween and Creg y Cowin.

These three Treen names mean respectively the Estates of the family of Cristen of Brew and of Rellyt.

Christian and Brew are familiar names, Reynylt comes from Reginald a Royal name which has developed into Crennell.

THE ANCIENT FAMILIES.

A name of undoubted Clanship is Mac Quyn which family owned seven estates next Mac Jelly which send five, Mac Crere three, More two, one being a very large one, viz Ballafletcher which ran from Pulrose to Camlorg. Those were the Mores of Cronkbow The other chief families were. Mac Cowne of Creg y Cowin, and Ballacottier, Callen of Knock y Troddan, Hutcheon of Renscault, Mac Stephen of Ballavere and Ballalig. Morreson of Clybane and Coloonys Mac Otter of Ballabunt Mac Inish of Ballakinnish and Mac Prieston of Pooroish. This name has gone into Tageart(From Mac yn Saggyrt son of the priest).

THE QUARTERLAND NAMES.

The meaning of some of the Quarterland names are most interesting. I will only take a few.

Algare is Gailic for the Place of Equity, a court of justice. This estate joins the ancient Tynwald Hill at Keeill Abban.

Ballamodda is the Estate of the Dogs.

Renscault means a split or cleft divison. You will remember how the West Baldwin river goes round two sides of Renscault, and creates a remarkably deep divison between that farm and Ballamillghyn.

Ballashuggal means the Rye Estate.

Ballawygilyn is the Mill Estate.

The Dhoon is a steep place.

Ballachrick is the Estate of the Hills.

Purt ny Shee is not the Harbour of Peace but means the Shee, the Fairies, The pre-celtic Fort of the Broogh of Port y Shee among the trees by the roadside not many yards from the church is probably associated with the name Port ny Shee.

Knock rule (Mount Rule) is the hill of Rule who was a saint the 7th or 8th century chapel in the little orchard there was probably dedicated to St. Rule.

Claghbane on the map should be Clybane meaning the estate of the White hedge.

Cooil means a corner.

Ballabunt is the end estate. (Bon-base).

Ballacaroon is Caroon's Estate.

Kilkenny is Caneach's Church. There may have been a church there dedicated to Saint Ceneagh.

Ballavere means the mouth of the road.

Ballalough is the lough estate.

Balrenny is the ferny place.

Southampton is a modern name which in older times was Ballaquiggan.

BALDWIN.

A number of derivations have been offered for this name but none are quite satisfactory.

A popular derivation amount the Baldwin people is that the name is Manx for the place for us. (Bal dooin).

I am inclimed to believe that the name records the fact that the great Celtic festival of Baltane the early summer festival of the Celts was observed with due pomp and ceremony here in ancient days.

We have the old Mote of Tynwald Hill, where the Celts foregathered long before the Scandinavians sought for expansion in the West and the ancient pagan temple at Keeil Abban was a necessary adjunct.

The Manx for the month of May was Boaldyn and we know that Algare alongside the Keeill was the Place of Justice.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS.

I will have no space in which to refer to the great number of the ancient Celtic civilisation of the parish the fort of Knook y Troddan and the wonderful swearing stone attached to the place.

The fort of the faries which is known by the name of Purt ny Shee.

The remains of the great camp of huge stones which exists behind this building and which at one time dominated the entrance to the Peel valley was a pagan establishment.

The tumuli and burial grounds at Ballaquine, Renscault, Ballemona, Ballashamrock in some of which human remains have been found.

I have already stated that each clan had its own Treen chapel, some of which are dated from the 6th Century Remains of several of these exist at Knoc Rule, Camlork, Ballaoats, Mount Murray and Ballavere.

A chapel existed on the site of St. Luke's which was called Keeill Abban after a Celtic Saint.

One existed at Knock y Troddan behind Mr. Kaneen's house and another on Ballaquirk now Farm Hill.

There was the sacred well called Chybber Niglus immediately under old Kirby House near the new Church. It was dedicated to St. Nicholas, and also the sacred well of Chybber Vreeshey St. Bridget in the Nunnery.

Lastly there is that wonderul cup called the Ballafletcher Fairy Cup, concerning which there are so many rich traditions.

This crystal cup for many centuries rested in Ballafletcher House, placed there, it is said, by an early Bishop as a thing of beauty to be treasured.

I will have no space in which to deal with the rich collection of early Celtic and Runic Crosses in the old Church.

The Saddle stone, which is probably a penance stone.

The worthies of the parish, and they are many and deserving of high appreciation.

The ancient fairs of the Strang which occured on the 16th. Feb.

Also the many romantic stories told to me by the Late Dan Kneen, Castle Ward, and Mr. Kelly the weaver.

ECCLESIASTICAL FEATURES.

I now come to the consideration of the peculiar Ecclesiastical features of the Parish.

I have already referred to the Treen lands which belongs to the King in the 15th. Century.

The Priory of the Nunnery also held the extent of two Treen Lands, namely the Farms of The Howe, Walberry, Ballaslig, and Ballacreggan.

The only Treen to which I have not referred to was known as the Bishop's Barony of Braddan. It included Ballafletcher (now called Kirby); Ballaquirk now Farm Hill; Ballaoates; Ballastole; Ballacregga ; and Ballaughton.

It must not be forgotten that the Bishop's Barony Lands in Braddan were only a small part of the Bishop's Barony Lands in the Island. No less than 24 farm lands were included in his Barony.

There is a charter dated 1505 in which the then King confirms the grant to Bishop of certain lands which a previous King, somewhere back in the 11th. century, had originally granted to the Bishop, as a Baron of Mann in his own right.

The original grant by the King of Mann in the 11th. and 12th. century (probably by King Magnus or King Olave) states that he gave, (among other extensive lands in other parishes) - I quote the exact words :- "confirming to them (that is the Bishop and his successors) a third of the Villa of Kirby, near the church of St Bradan".

This important extract from the charter gives rise to several questions.
1. What comprised the Villa of Kirkby?
2. Did the original Villa of Kirkby belong to the Kirk, or church of Bradan?.
3. If so, and it must have done, how came it that the Kirk lost this immense estate, a third of which was re-granted by the King to quite a different party, namely to the Bishop?.
4. If the King re-granted only one-third of the Villa of the church of Bradan to the Bishop what lands comprised the other two-thirds of this Villa?

I think I can satisfactorily supply answers to all of these questions

By making certain comparisons of the rentals of the Bishop'a only with the adjacent Treen lends which I need not go into I find that the Villa of Kirkby the estate of the Church of St. Bradan, comprised no less than three Treen Lands.

The three were the present Bishop's Barony and the two adjacent Treen Lands of Medall and Ulst, which later became Lord's Lands, that is to say all the rich lands going as far as Oakhill and Ballacubbon to the south Ballacutchal and Ballabunt in the west, Comlork in the north, and the Nunnery to the east.

These entire lands certainly belonged to the Church of Bradan in the llth century and perhaps centuries before.

By what means the Church of Braddan lost these estates may never be known but we have the undoubted fact that the King of Mann in about the 12th century diverted these lands to other purposes and re-granted one-third of them to the Bishop.

The grant to the Bishop was probably first made to Bishop Nicholas.

THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP'S BARONY

The Books of the Bishop's Baronial Court the only ones now in existance are dated from 1560 to 1760 a period of 280 years.

The Baronial Court had charge of all the numerous lands of the Bishop farms in Jurby, Patrick, German, Marown, Braddan and Arbory.

Twice a year at least, a Baronial Court was held frequently in this church at which alterations in the holding of land were approved, and to collect the rentals, and what were called "the customes" to be paid out, of each farm.

The occupiers of the lands were nominally called Tenants but were in actual fact owners of the land, provided they regularily paid their rentals and gave certain additional goods and services called "customs",

All of these obligations were generally religiously observed and must have continued for at least centuries,

The Bishop's Baronial Court was quite a remarkable institution well adapted to the needs of the time and the simple machinery was worked with smoothness, justice, and humanity and showed a state of government which was highly advanced.

THE FORMATION OF THE COURT.

The Court was generally presided over by the Deemster in the absence of the Bishop himself. The other officials generally present were, the Clerk of the Rolls, the Attorney-General and a representative of the Bishop called a Steward,

When a tenant died his heir at law was presented by the Steward and he was duly entered with the approval of the Court.

When a farm changed hands by other than heirship the old tenant in the presence of the Court, formally handed over to the new tenant a straw indicating that the whole of his interest was transferred. The significant custom was called the tenure of the straw and must have been very ancient.

These old records of the Baronial Court contain stories of absorbing interest connected with Braddan.

There are records of feudal priveleges, baronial rights, official tyranny, petty quarellings, and "cussedness" on the part of neighbours. There are wonderful stories of human failings, generosity and courage and even humour many of them illustrating the social life of the period.

BALLAUGHTON.

I will be unable to deal with each of the Braddan Baronial Estates but I will take Ballaughton as an illustration of the viscissitudes of these properties.

Our first record of the quarterland of Ballaughton states that in 1580 the two Ballaughtons were held by one Henry Crye and the place was known as Ballacrye. The total rent was 11/- and custom.

In 1583 Johh Aighton became the owner and the estate took his name Balla aghton - Ballaughton.

In 1585. the quarterland became divided into two equeal parts, with a rental of 5/6 each and customs.

One part was then owned by the Corkill family and the other by the Corleod family, The one was called Corkill's Ballaughton and the other Corleod's Ballaughton.

Corkill's Ballaughton remained in the Corkill family from 1583 to 1808 a period of nearly 225 years.

It was then sold by the last of the Corkills to Mungo Murrey for the sum of £4157 a very attractive sum to the Corkills no doubt. It is interesting to note that the Corkill burial in the old churchyard is just alongside the Drinkwater vault.

Mungo Murray belonged to an old Douglas family of merchants, the family who is the year 1690 issued the first Manx coin, the family which years after owned what is still known as Murrey's Ballaquayle Estate, near Douglas,

Mungo Murray in 1813 sold part of Corkill's to the Duke of Athol for £500 and in 1820 sold another part to Col Mark Wilks for £500 also.

The Duke of Athol sold in 1824 the land which he had purchased for £500 to John Wuff of Liverpool for the sum of £5000.

In 1846 G.W. Dumbell who was Wulff's executor sold that part of Corkill's Ballaughton for £7420 to Samuel Harris. It was re-transferred to Dumbell and Dumbell's Trustees sold it 20 years ago for £6750.

Now as regards Corleod's Ballaughton (late the property of Deemster Moore and now Deemster Cowley) it remained in the Corleod family from the year 1585 to 1605 when the family came to grief.

In 1825 Harrison of the Woodbourne estate Douglas father of Ridgeway Harrison purchased Corleod's Ballaughton for £5000.

In 1850. William Beckworth of Glencrutchery purchased Harcroft for £1850 and 1881 Springfield another part of this Ballaughton was sold to Mr. L. Vullimy for £2000.

BALLAOATES.

Ballaoates was also a full quarterland and was at an early date owned by the Oates family.

The land or parts of it were continually held from 1580 to 1781 by either a John or William Oates a period of 200 years.

The Stoales came into possession of a part of Ballaoates in 1661 and retained the portion now known aa Ballastole upto 1790.

In 1806 A part of Ballaoates was sold to John Fargher a relative and the consideration is quaintly stated to be "natural love and £40",

Ballastole was sold in 1890 by the Trustees of Lady Buchan the daughter of Col Mark Wilks to the late Mr. Thomas Shimmin for the sum of £1060.

BALLACREGGA.

A notable family bn the Bishop's Barony was the Curphey family of Ballacregga which was 1/2 a quarterland with a rent of 4/- the customs were 1 firlet of wheat, 1 mutton, 1 goose, 1 hen, 12 carloads of turff 2 boon days and 2 carriages.

The Curphys owned Ballacregca from 1586 to 1836, over 250 years.

BALLAQUIRK.

Ballaquirk quarterland is regrettably named Farm Hill. From the year 1580 the Quirks were the holders until it was sold in 1788 to Senhouse Wilson who changed the name. It is a pity these old farms names have now been changed.

BALLAFLETCHER.

Ballafletcher, on the Bishop's Barony, and now called Kirby, was 2 quarterlands in extent, and must not be confounded with the Ballafletcher on the other side of the valley, which was Lord's Land.

The Fletchers were for centuries very powerful in Braddan. They owned the Ballafletcher from the year 1580 up to 1799, when the major portion was sold to Col. Mark Wilks, who built Kirby Mansion upon it about the year 1821.

Col. Mark Wilks paid £3,500 for his portion, which contained 209 acres.

The deed of sale contains a provision for the purchase of "the entire seat or pew belonging to Ballafletcher in the chancel of the Kirk Braddan".

A clause of the deed also minutely describes the boundaries and makes reference to a boundary mark, a stone cross, called in Manx "Cross ny Kaire Thorn" meaning "the cross with the four holes".

In 1897 the Trustees of Lady Buchan sold one portion of Ballafletcher to Sir William Drinkwater, and the other portion to Mr. Joseph Mylchreest.

BALLAUGHTON MILL.

Ballaughton Mill was one of the most important corn mills on the Island. All the holders of land on the Bishop's Barony were compelled to have their corn ground at this mill. The rent waa 6/8d, per annum, and was owned by the Fletchers down to 1761.

There were several fields with with kilns and houses attached to the mill. The Mill fields extended to the Quarter Bridge, to the meadow below Ballabrooie, and included Belle Vue grounds.

In 1820 the Duke of Athol got as rent £130 per annum.

In 1844 the whole property was sold by the coroner for £5000 and after it was broken into pieces.

Included in this old Mill property were the Quarter Bridge Hotel, the late Mr. J.D. Roger's House; Mrs. Whiteside's house, which was the residence in 1878 of A.W. Gray, who committed the robery at the Bank of Mona.

I should like once more to refer to Ballafletcher and its story.

As I have indicated its owners were very highly-placed people. One had been Deputy Governor; one at least was a Deemster, and several were membrs of the House of Keys.

There were also several Clergymen in the family, one of whom, the Rev. Robert Fletcher, was disrobed by Bishop Wilson while he was Vicar of Braddan, "For Scandalous conduct".

Vicar Fletcher lived in the old vicarage which was the little house situated on the high road alongside the new Church.

The successor of the dismissed clergyman was that able and eminent cure in the Manx Church, Vicar-General John Curghey, one of the Ballakillingan Curgheys. He was Vicar of Braddan for 29 years. He also lived in the old vicarage.

Vicar-General Curghey was Bishp Wilson's closest personal friend and he had in an official way, something to do with the dismissal of Vicar Fletcher.

This caused some ill-feeling between the Deemster Fletcher and his clerical neighbour.

This feeling was accentuated when the Deemster allied himself with the then Lieutenant-Govenor Horne who cruelly persecuted Bishop Wilson.

As a result of the Bishop excommunicating a Douglas woman, who had been called to a Court of Braddan, and had refused to do penance for her moral conduct, a serious quarrel issued between the Governor and the Bishop.

Eventually the Bishop and his two Vicars-General, Curghey and Walker were placed under arrest, and kept in Castle Rushen for 9 weeks. (1722).

We can therefore imagine many occasions for difference between the Deemster and Vicar Curghey.

One incident given in the Records illustrates this.

It appears that the little stream supplying the old vicarage with household water ran down alongside the Deemster's house, and the Deemster diverted the stream with the object of steeping barley to brew beer, for his household. The Vicar complained and eventually appealed in 1722 to the Bishop's Barony Court for redress.

It would be a matter of interest to closely inspect the house and site of the garden which was attached to the old Vicarage the home in which very eminant people were born and reared.

The stream still runs from the old Ballafletcher house and passes under the ground adjacent to the new Church.

Miss Edith Brown, daughter of the poet T.E. Brown informs me that her Grandfather, the Rev Robert Brown, lived in this Old Vicarage when he left St. Matthews in the year 1836. If that is so, his son, the great poet also must have lived there as a child for he was born in 1830, six years before.

This interesting story of the old Vicarage is made still more interesting when we find that 22 years after the quarrel between the Deemster and his neighbour, the Deemster's son Captain Edward Fletcher offered to give a site for the new vicarage close by Canon Rushworth's Vicarage in exchange of the old one.

The site he offered was composed of two little crofts about half a mile away on the Ballafletcher estate. The crofts were called Croit y Killip and Croit y Cottier. The Vicarage was accordingly built soon after the year 1842, and was lived in by the Rev. Robert Brown and his son T.E. Brown and Hugh Storret Brown.

It is also interesting to read a strongly worded statement signed in 1742 by the Wardens and Parishioners of Braddan complaining about the situation of the old Vicarage being "in a low valley and exposed to unwholesome damps, is so uncomfortable to live in that the present Vicar (John Cosnahan who was also a Vicar General) after a tedious illness was obliged to quit the place ... during which time there had been several succeeding dwellers in the house. who have experienced loss of health".

That strong expression was made 180 years ago and the house is still occupied and the tenant informed the writer it is "well built of mud mortar, with thick walls and is almost perfectly dry".

THE BARONIAL RECORDS.

In the records of the Bishop's Baronial Courts there is some fascinating History.

Many have seen the old head-stone erected against the South of Braddan old Church with these remarkable words "Here underlyeth the body of the Reverant Mr. Patrick Thompson, minister of God's word 40 yrs. at present Vicar of Kirk Braddan aged 67, anno 1673. Deceased ye 24th. April 1689".

So that it appears the old Vicar had prepared the stone 16 years before he died.

The writer has long desired to learn something about the personality of the remarkable man and he finds from the records of the Barony and from other sources that he had come from an old family which had property in Lezayre.

He was acting-Seneschal or Steward for the Braddan part of the Barony and wrote the records for a time.

He, in 1635 wrote a document with the following title, "A trew and short note of all ye temporall landes belonging to ye Lord ; Bishoppe of this isle, with their several rentes, Customes, due and payable out of ye severall holdings yearly, as may more at lardge appeare in ye Tempororall Court Book of record 1600".

Knowing the Parsons temper, we may be sure that there would be frequent occasions for difference between himself and the Bishop's tenants.

It was a great point with the Vicar to keep the tenants to the letter of the law in regard to their rents and Customory services and was continually bringing before the Baronial Court the neglectful tenants no matter how prominent they were.

In 1635 he wrote a long dispute about the size and number of the turves which the tenants had to give yearly to the Bishop. It appears that the old Vicar Thompson thought the turves were "too few and too small" and he moved for an enquiry by the Baronial Court.

The Jury was a Braddan one and they "answer and say that there is due to the bishop thirty of the sodde turves and 50 of the black turves; and the sodde turves are to be of a cubit long and four inches broad; and the black tuves are to be half a cubit long and four inches broad".

A cubit was the length of the arm from the elbow to the end the middle finger, say from 18 to 22 inches.

But the Vicar must have had a kind heart withal for he wrote in the margin of the book, concerning the fynes; "These fynes are thus reasonable, for that the people are poore, and many charges upon them this yeare, about the defence of the Countrie".

This was written in 1643 in the strenuous times when Edward Christian Illiam Dhone had sent out the "Fiery Cross" to incite the inhabitants to take part in the struggle against the harsh Derby regime.

The old glebe of the Vicar was Snugborough which ran down alongside the river Dhoo close to where at present stands the Railway Station at Union Mills.

It appears that when Parson Thompson entered as Vicar there was a small piece of ground on the extreme end of the glebe, which was possibly the site of Cowen's Dye Works on the river bank, which ground was then unenclosed. The Vicar claimed this as part of the glebe and the holder of Ballaoates, a William Corkill claimed it as part of Ballaoates.

The Vicar arrested Corkill for trespass, on his land, and Corkill brought the matter before the Baron Court and succeeded in getting a verdict from the Jury which was largely a Braddan Jury.

Vicar Thompson, who was an officer of the Court, was greatly dissatisfied with the verdict, and he took the unusual course of appealing to Deemster Fletcher his neighbour, who presided over the Chancery Court. The decision of the Baron Court was reversed much to the chagrin of the then landowners, and the waste land this became part of the Vicar's glebe.

One of the witnesses to the Baron Court declared the lands had long been used as "an ease to the Highway in the time of Cictuallings Castle Rushen".

The Union Mills is an ugly modern name, and if I were a resident there, I would make an endeavour to revert to the old name, which is very beautiful and apt.

Another noting reference to the old Vicar Thompson. His son had married the heir of Corlett's Ballaughton, and in 1683 was entered for that farm.

The Records of the Baronial Court show that bitter feuds existed between the landholders on the Barony, particularly between the Quirks of Ballaquirk, the Stoles of Ballastole and the Oates of Ballaoates.

For instance, Thom Oates sued John Stole " for that by drawinge a naked knife to his wife and chasinge her with his doggs whereby she was affrighted to the prejudice of her health". Damages asked for 5/- [received 2/-].

Thos. Quoole sues Thom Quirke for beatinge and bruisinge him and [injuring] him with a knife, whereby he was in danger of his life, and for chargdes of he cure of his wounds. Damages £10.

Thos Killip fined "for slandering John Gawne by saying that he was a "Sheep stealer and a hen stealer".

Christopher Stole of Ballastole, was sued by a Shoemaker for the value of a pair of shoes, and for "beatinge and abusinge him".

Christopher Stole, although he was for a time the Seaugeant of the Barony was frequently in toublle. He, in the course of his official duties had Richard Fletcher, Captain of the Parish, fined for "not having made a carriage of turff to Bishop's Court".

He also had Joe Quillian, of Cooilingel, Captain of Marown, [] fined for not delivering to Bishop's Court, twentyfour loads of turff, [one] goose, and one hen.

Stole seems to be particularly pleased to bring before the court his bigger landowning neighbours.

Vicar General Curphey the vicar of Braddan, was a very fearless and brave man, He, in 1721, brought before, Bishop Wilson Thomas Stole, the then owner of Ballastole and son of Christopher already mentioned, whose case appeared to be very grave, judging by the seriousness of the Bishop's censure.

It stated that Thomas Stole has for "Four years last past been frequently presented (at Kirk Braddan) for great immoralities; for cursing, swearing and drunkeness; for drinking the health to the devil ... He has been expelled from the sacrament,been imprisoned, and given bonds to reform, but still returns to his former eveil courses. Bishop Wilson, there took the extreme course of excommuncating him.

Two years after that, according to the records, Thomas Stole was in great financial difficulties and had to sell part, at least, of Ballastole. the Deed was sited in Strange language his position. He pathetically says" I Thomas Stole having met severall losses and disappointments in my way of buisness in the world, whereby I have been reduced to extreame poverty and obliged to mortgage the most part of my estate of Ballastole, and now being incapable to redeem same, he goes on to say he sells part of it to Thomas Kewley as Mortgagee for £30 Manks.

The records are full of incidents of human interest.

One showing the kindness of Bishop Wilson might be quoted. It is the case of a young orphan named Skelly whose father had died while he held the farm of Ballacreij.

The Boy's relatives for some reason would have nothing to do either with the child or the farm; but the good Bishop saw that the boy was well reared and educated and that in due course he succeeded to his father's estate.

Political bias is shown in a characteristic note in the margin of a page in the Records made by Richard Tyldesley the Attorney- General under date 1659, The words written were few but pointed, namely "William Christian Receiver and Steward, in onted". His remark referred to the imprisonment of Illuam Dhone, the Manx patriot, the Earl of Derby in that year.

The Baron's Court when held alternately in the South and in the North; sometimes at Holme Towne, which was Peel, in the residence of John Cosnahan there; at Milntown mansion, at Ballafletcher, in Braddan Church, in Marown Church, and at the Bishopscourt.

There were also 12 jurors in attendance at the sittings and it can easily be imagined the trouble and inconvenience in travelling such distances.

As a rule the Court commenced very early in the morning and sometimes as early as 8 o clock.

On one occasion a party of six jurors were riding from Jurby on horseback about 6 a.m. in time for a Court to be holden at 8 o clock when the Sergeant, William Vondy, suddenly fell of his horse dead.

Immediately, and on the spot, an inquest was held and the words of the verdict, were that the deceased "had been struck dead by God's almighty hand".

It is interesting to note that every tenant of the Bishop had to provide customary services for their estates excepting one. That was Ballafletcher, The only service of this estate had to give in addition to his 16/8d. rent, was "that instead he giveth entertainment to the Bishop when he travelled".