Nicholas Boscow,-1846

His final few years gives some of the interest in him:

[From Manx Liberal 6 Dec 1845] An American paper called the Nauvoo Neighbour dated October 29 [1845], was put into our hands the other day by a friend, in which we found the following advertisement announcing for sale a large quantity of property belonging to two notorious rascals, who plundered the Island, and then fled across the Atlantic:-
"For sale in Hancock county, about 20 miles from Nauvoo; 12 miles from Warsaw; 7 from Lima: 157 acres of good land; about 80 acres under good cultivation; 20 under pasture, with 2 log houses, one 18 by 24 with frame attached 12 by 24, 2 Wells good water, stable, and outbuildings.
"Also, 110 acres of good timber land, about 2 miles from the above, with log house and about 20 acres under fence.
"Also, a new one one story cottage, containing 6 rooms, with about 3 acres of land situated in one of the most pleasant situations in Nauvoo
"Application to be made as to terms, to John Taylor, editor of this paper ; N Boscow, corner of White-street on Winchester street; Dr Atkinson, Buffalo, New York
John Taylor is the man who first scattered the tares of Mormon heresy in the Island, N. Boscow the man who plundered the Building Company, and it is said ran away with an empty purse. Dr Atkinson, the man with the sinister squint, who diddled his friends.
This precious triumvirate it appears, have been wealthy landowners in the "far west" from the spoil they took away with them from the Island. Nauvoo, we suspect, is becoming too hot for the scoundrels, and they are about to emigrate to a new colony of dupes.

His death is noted by Manx Sun 14 Mar 1846: d Dec last (1845) at Buffalo USA Mr Nicholas Boscow , late of this town

He and wife Alice Newall would appear to have arrived in Ramsey by early 1822 as first Manx born child Robert noted as baptised Ramsey 12 May 1822;
In Pigot's 1823 directory noted as - Boscow esq at Ellanbane Lezayre
The following 4 children George, Jonathan Heywood, Joshua and Joseph are noted as baptised in Douglas St George's but shortly afterwards received in congregation at Lezayre (1824 + 1826) or Ramsey (1829, 1831),
after 1831 the following 4 children (Nicholas, Alice, Peter and Alexander) are all baptised at Douglas St Georges
A John H Boscow (born 1827) + wife Ann F (born 1822) both noted as Manx, are found in Illinois in 1880 census - This Jonathan Heywood, born 11 Sep 1826, is noted as entering King William's college in April 1836 + left 30 Jun 1838.

No marriage found on the Island,and was probably c. 1818 as at least three children, Catharine, Arthur and Thomas were born in England. Catharine married 'Dr' William Neale Atkinson, he with the 'squint', at Kk Braddan 15 November 1838, Thomas married Anna Bonnyman 17 Jun 1840 and a month later Arthur married an Emma Atkinson also at Braddan on 16 Jul 1840. Son Robert had died aged 15 in 1837 and Nicholas age 8 in 1841 - both buried at Douglas St Georges, Nicholas on 25 July 1841. George is with married brother Thomas is found in 1841 census at the shop in Church St, Cath with her husband in Duke street with Nicholas and Alice with 3 younger children at Southhamption in Braddan (Nicholas aged 50 and Alice aged 46, Alice junr would appear to be staying with sister Cath as noted in adjacent property with Atkinson's apprentice druggist. All the family had left the Island by time of the 1851 census - 'Elder' Boscow is noted with family of 4 children under age 16 and wife as emigrating to Nauvoo (?via New Orleans) on the Tyrian in September 1841 [Mormon emigration Cd - however date must be suspect as Nichols Boscow was still pursuing a mis sold organ in the Deemster's court on 6 Dec 1841].

An entry in Lib Vas confirms Nicholas was eldest son of Joseph Boscow, watchspring maker of Liverpool, who had married Catharine Quine of Ramsey - Cath was daughter of Nicholas Quine and Margaret Moore, baptised Ramsey 1749, and who was left property in Ramsey by her mariner brother Arthur: Nicholas, a tailor in Ramsey, by deed also accepted as the jt will of him + wife had settled property on his 4 children. Nicholas had bought two properties in Ramsey - the 1st would appear to be on today's quay - the second in Nicholson's qtr

[NSS May 1741 45] dated 20 Jan 1740/1;Mary Casement als Christian(Ramsey) sells for £6 17s to friend Nicholas Quine a house and garden in Ramsey 2d rent + 1.5d brass rent situate betwixt Mich Sayle on one side and Christo Jonson on other from the street to the sea; if Mary cannot support the right [ie does not have full legal right] to have half the consideration money and to have the use of the room over the cellar during her lifetime;Witt Rich Voase x, Paul Corkill x, Arthur Cowll;additional obligation on Quine to keep Mary's room in sufficient repair

[NSS Oct 1753 28] dated 26 Mar 1753;Nicholas Christian(Ramsey) [a Catherine Christian also signs] sells for £30(sterling) to Nicholas Quine(Ramsey) a small parcel of my estate in Nicholson qtr land lying at back of Ramsey adj John Stevenson's piece on southeast, Dan Tear's rent on southwest and to the way leading on the back of sd town on northeast and my own land on west being 10yrds in front of way and running the same breth to Dan Tear's rent;Witt John Walker, Tho [] x;

Quine mortgages house (by rent appears to be the 1753 purchase) probably to help pay for his second purchase

[NSM May 1754 128]: [cancelled][Ramsey]dated 17 Jan 1754;Nicholas Quine(tailor, Ramsey) + wife Margaret als Moore mortgages for 5yrs for £12 to John Cowle(Kk Bride) half of our dwelling house in Ramsey adj on east John Stephen and on west Nicholas Christian - Quine to continue occupation paying lawful interest; Witt Robt Brew, William Coale?; Setting quest place 1d rent; 15 Apr 1760: Andrew Cowle s/o and exor of Jane late wife of John Cowle and jt admr(with Joney Cowle) of sd John ack payment

He later mortgages this 1753 purchase to Philip Quay who, as mortgagor, can be found entered for this 2.75d in the 1783 Lib Assed (changes noted Oct 1790 + Oct 1796) -

[NSM Oct 1766 101]: [cancelled][Ramsey]dated 20 Mar 1764;Nicholas Quine(Ramsey) + wife Margt ack indebted for £20 at 5% from Philip Quay (boatman, Lezayre now resident in Ramsey) give as security those houses + concerns the sd Nicholas + Margt erected upon that pt of Nicholson's qtrland at the back of Ramsey purchased from Mr Nicholas Christian[NSS Oct 1753 28] ; Witt Dan Cowll, Ellinor Corlet x (Nicholas + Margt both x); Setting quest confirm 2.75d; 28 Jan 1779: Philip Quay(Ramsey) acks full payment from Nicholas Quine

[NSS May 1783 48][Ramsey]dated 10 Feb 1783;Nicholas Quine(tailor, Ramsey) + wife Margarett als Moore mutually settle on each other houses + gardens at back of town of Ramsey + settle on our 4 ch Arthur, Joney, Margarett + Chathrine 20s ea by longest liver of us;Witt Henry Inch, Philip Cottier;Setting Quest place qtr land rent 1.25d + half 0.25d[ie half the rent each]

[NSS May 1795 84]: [Ramsey]dated 6 Feb 1795;Arthur Quine(mariner, Ramsey) gives to wife Jane als Lace the south moiety of our dwelling house together with the Shad[?shed] backwards and the closet being half the garden situate on west side of Ramsey in Nicholson's qtrland and to be at her own disposal - other moiety (north half) to my two spinster sisters Judith + Margt (now resident in Ramsey) - also 2 sisters to have yearly rack rents of my concerns in Liverpool - at their decease said concerns to fall to sis Cath Boskah[Boscow] in Liverpool;Witt John Corlet, John Callow; accepted as will of Arthur Quine as noted in Episcopal wills 1795 - wife Jane executrix

[NSS Oct 1796 40]:[Ramsey]dated 26 May 1796;Jane Quine als Lace(widow Arthur Quine, Ramsey) to amicably contain disputes gives to Judith Quine heiress-at-law of sd Arthur Quine all my title to a dwelling house, out house + garden in Ramsey lately property of sd Arthur Quine rent 2.75d viz the south half + whole of closet + shed but reserving my life estate; Witt Wm Kissack, Danl Teare [Jane is bur Maughold 18111022]

Judith died in Oct 1798, her will named sister Margaret as executrix; Margaret Quine died 8 Jan 1816 whose decree includes a petition by Joseph Boscow + wife Catharine als Quine that they became intitled to certain houses + concerns in Ramsey;Court decrees Joseph Boscow admr, Joseph had previously given his two sisters-in-law Power of Attorney to act for him on Island

[NSS May 1800 36]: dated 30 May 1798;Joseh Boscow(watchspring maker, Liverpool) + wife Catharine als Quine appoint Judith Quine + Margaret Quine(both spinsters Ramsey) as lawful attorneys to demand + receive Catharine's share of £40 lent by mortgage [NSM Oct 1790 22] some years ago by Arthur Quine(mariner,late of Ramsey) to John Sayle(yeoman, Kk Andreas);Witt John Gawn, William Corkill;Joseph signs, Cath x;

Nicholson's quarter is now part of Ramsey being the area to west of Parliament street including Waterloo St. I cannot locate any sale of this property tho the 1797 Lib Assed, which covers the period until 1858 indicates two transactions involving this property passed through the court in Oct 1816 (the will) and Oct 1817; this latter entry confirms the link to Nicholas Boscow

[Lib Vas 1815-1818 p129] Ramsey [chief rent] 16s 1d :Cath Quine with Jos Boscoe her husband 2¾d [drawn] Nicholas Boscoe 2¾d [entered]
The said Cathn who had the premises in her own right having departed this life the sd premises decsended to the sd Nicholas Boscoe her eldest son and heir at law

I havn't been able to trace any disposal by Boscow of this property nor by Nicholas Quine of the 1741 purchase

It is likely there was now a fair amount of money arising from the Liverpool properties - possibly enough to establish Nicholas Boscow as a Corn dealer with enough capital to lease the estate of Ellenbane which lies alongside the Sulby River. Boscow must also have had sufficient 'spare' capital to make secured loans - one was in Jan 1825 for £35 at 5% to a widow Jane Davis with security on land left by her husband [CTD Hil 1825 48], also [CTD Hil 1827 67] on property in Bride.

[CTD Hil 1827 67]: dated 10 Feb 1827;William Casement Corlett(at present Kk Bride) + wife Esther als Castil ack indebted for £150(British) from Nicholas Boscow(gentleman, Lezayre) and also payment of the rent for a dwelling house + concern situate in Ramsey set to us by a written agreement of equal date, give as security title to those water corn mills in Kk Bride called the "Dog Mills" together with another water corn mill in Lezayre called "Garrett's Mill"; Witt Charles Perry + Euan Gell;

This latter deed may indicate that Boscow rented out his Nicholsons qtrland property; note also Boscow's designation as gentleman rather than Corn Merchant used in all later deeds.

His riverside property gave rise to an incident in 1831 involving his 14 year old son (unnamed but probably Arthur) being thrown into the river by a member of Deemster Christian's party who walking on the other bank, had noticed a small group illegally fishing the river on which Deemster Christian had sole fishing rights. The young man sued Deemster Christian, probably via his father, for assault - the case caused some interest in the press for although it was admitted that someone had shouted "throw him in" it could not be proved that it was Deemster Christian but no other member of his party would admit to it.

"Boscow's Corner"

In an advertisement dated 8 May that N Boscow removed to extensive shop at bottom of church street [Monas Herald 15 May 1835]

....

b03 - to Let houses at Belle Vue, Ballaquayle (0.75 mile from Douglas) advertised from Aug 1840;

b06b09,b10 :On 21 Nov 1841 at the Deemster's court Nicholas Boscow brought a suit against trustees of Atkinson's estate (Atkinson, druggist of Duke St had become insolvent) for £10 being value of an organ sold as part of the estate which he claimed to be his property - noting that though attending the sale Boscow had made no attempt to stop sale, however referred for redress. The case was resumed on Monday 6 Dec - for some reason Boscow who was represented by George Dumbell was advised not to give evidence but it seems the trustees did not ague that the organ was his as a letter from Atkinson to Briscoe commented on Atkinson's embaressed circumstances and suggested by Boscow remove his organ - the case seemed to rest on whether Boscow should have given notice earlier.

Disposal of property

Boscow advertised form 30th Apr 1841 - "That compact farm called Southampton, on the old Castletown Road, about 2.5miles from Douglas .. 70 to 80 acres, with comfortable dwelling house, good out buildings, and thrashing [threshing] machine" - particulars would be supplied by Boscow at Steam Mill in Lord Street or Mr Atkinson, druggist, in Duke st.- still being published in Manx Liberal as late as 18 September 1841.
From the same date he advertised for rent two houses, "fit for respectable families" in Victoria Terrace and two smaller dwelling houses at their rear in Victoria Place as well as a neat cottage on the Falcon Cliff property. He continued to advertise building lots near the houses [eg Manx Sun 28 May 1841]

The stock in trade at the Douglas shop was to be sold on 17th + 18th March 1842, that of the Castletown shop on the 21 Feb together with the unexpired term of the lease on three warehouses.

Various Douglas premises were advertised to be let from the 12 May 1842 and also for sale by private treaty - these included the two good shops, warehouse and adjoining steam mill, bakehouse and cottage - all part of the Church St premises together with a cottage and forge at the rear of the the above premises.

By July 1842[Manx Sun 9 Jul 1842] notices for a Coroner's sale of Nicholas Boscow's estate were being given - the sale, on 29 July 1842 included 13ac at Ballaquayle including the two new dwelling houses called Belle Vue, a parcel of land part of the Castle Mona estate including No 22 Victoria Terrace together with a cottage. The household furniture of No 11 Victoria Terrace were sold by auction on the 24th Feb 1842, noting that the house was to be let unfurnished, another sale on the same day saw the adjoining house and its household furniture sold [Monas Herald 23 Feb 1842].