George Paton, 1834-1900

Born 11 Oct 1834 at Thurso - son of George Paton, formerly of H.M. Reg. Cape Mounted Rifles who according to memorial in Ballure Chapel died at Ormly, Lezayre, 4 December 1867, aged 80 years .

Deacon 1865, Priest 11 March 1867. Chaplain of Lezayre 1865-6 with responsibility for what later became St Olave's. However appointed Curate at St Paul's Ramsey in 1866 and then Chaplain in 1871 where he remained until his death in Jan 1900. The Memorial Window at Ballure to his father reads "and to the glory of God and the affectionate memory of his son Revd George Paton, who for 35 years was Vicar, Curate and Chaplain of Ramsey, who fell asleep Jan 13, 1900, aged 64 years. And of Capt George Herbert Paton, son of the Revd George Paton, drowned in the North Sea, Nov 14, 1894, aged 24 years." - Note George Paton was never actually Vicar.

Harrison describes him as "a strong man of commanding personality. Though most genial, kindly and sympathetic, possessed of keen wit and much beloved by all sorts and conditions of men, he delighted in a battle, and few were his equals with the exact weapon of the pen.".

Married Ellen Mylrea Farrant (4th daughter of William Farrant of Ballamoar, Jurby) in 1865 by whom he had two sons and four daughters, three of whom are remembered in another window in Ballure - " In memory of Eleanor Annie, daughter of the Revd George & Ellen M. Paton, who died October 13, 1872, aged 18 years [? days as baptised 10 Oct 1872]. Also of Ellen Isabella, daughter of the above, George and Ellen M. Paton, born November 1873, died 6 May 1875. Also, to the memory of Jessie Theodora, youngest daughter of the above, George & Ellen Mylrea Paton, for some years a Church worker in this parish, who died whilst in the discharge of her duties as Queen’s Nurse at Bradford, Manchester, on St Andrew’s Day 1905, aged 29. These windows are dedicated by many of her friends."

His other son Edward Curphey Paton had been curate of St Paul's from 1894 and was wanted as Chaplain by the parishioners after his father's death. Both father and son were High Churchmen which fitted badly with Bishop Straton who appointed his son for only 1 year at the end of which E.C. Paton was to resign, which he did and went to St. James's, Kensington leaving much disquiet in the parish over the Bishop's handling of the affair. However one effect was to make St Paul's, in 1904, a separate Parish from Maughold

Was a leading Oddfellow, in 1897 elected Provincial Deputy-Grand Master of the I.O.M. District. - also set up a house for the Poor in Ramsey which he gave to the Parish in his will. Another abiding interest was the Lifeboat Institution - acted as secretary of the Ramsey station for 12 years from its founding in 1868, also interested himself in the Rocket Brigade.

His funeral on 16 Jan 1900 was a major event in Ramsey, with thousands lining the route to Ballure Chapel .

A brother, Roderick, was the father of C.I. Paton.

There was apparently an unrelated Paton family in Ramsey - Robina Tyre Paton , b. 1819, married William Cruickshank, brewer, of Birkenhead whose son was J.M. Cruickshank, later High-Bailiff of Ramsey and sister Margaret, b. 1817; d. 19 December 1907 at Andreas,; m. John Qualtrough, 21 September 1859, Ballaugh, b. 25 December 1812, Douglas, Isle of Man; d. 27 May 1879, Bride Rectory.

References

Some additional information from family.

Canon J. Gelling A History of the Manx Church Douglas:Manx National Heritage 1998

M.W. Harrison South Ramsey and its Churches 1923 (Chap on St Paul's)