[From Proc IoMNH&ASoc vol 3]

WILLIAM CUBBON, 15th March, 1928.

The custom of keeping Watch and Ward in the Isle of Man probably goes back to prehistoric times.

Our first record is in the Lex Scripta under date 1417, when the Deemsters declare :

First, that Watch and Ward be kept through your land as it ought, upon pain of Lyfe and Lyme ; for whosoever fails any night in his Ward, forfeiteth a Wether to the Warden ; and to the Warden the second Night a Cowe; and the Third Night Lyfe and Lyme to the Lord.'

Although the custom was followed religiously for so many centuries, right down to the 18th century, there is not to my knowledge any document existing, excepting the one I am about to refer to, which gives a list of the Hills and Ports for the Watches or a list of the Wardens of the Watch. This is very remarkable, and is another illustration showing how many public records have been destroyed. The document belongs to the Castle Rushen Papers, and is worth quoting word for word .

This document gives us most important information. We learn, for the first time, something about the Wardens of the Watch, where the Watches were held, and the hills for the day and the ports for the night Watches. But the chief interest lies in the places where the watches were held, for we have known very little about them. To many people, however, the place-names are of the greatest interest. I will take each parish in turn, and make a few notes which may add something to the interest of the document,

A pfect Remembrance conteyning all the names of the Wardens both of the Day and Night Watches throghout the Isle of Man together wth the names of evry Pishe and Place where the Watches are kept.

An Dni 1627

PATRICK.

Hill for the Day Watch: Knockaloe. Warden: Jo: Crosse, Capt. of the Parish. The family owned Knockaloe in Gordon treen in 1515.

Port for Night Watch: Orestell. This is the only record of the name Orestell in Kirk Patrick. Apart from Peel, there are only two inlets in the parish which could be of use as a watch port: they are Dalby and Glen Maye; and Dalby is far and away the most suitable. Orestell may be an earlier name for Dalby; if so, the name is of great interest. Professor Marstander, the well-known Celtic scholar, thinks it may represent 'Godred's dale.'

The warden of the Night Watch was Henry Radcliffe. In 1643, sixteen years after the date of the document, I find Margaret Radcliffe as an owner of land near by (Alia Dalby).

GERMAN.

Hill for Day Watch: Knockaloe. The same as in Kk. Patrick. It is the most dominating hill on the coast, and near the fertress of Peel Castle.

Port for Night Watch: Peel Towne. —There is an alternative Pert set down, but it is crossed out with the pen of the writer: Try Bane (White Strand)

The Warden of the Night Watch was Wm. Bridson. —The family of Bridson owned a cottage in Peel Town in 1643.

KIRK MICHAEL.

Hill for the Day Watch and Port for the Night Watch: Borodaill. In the Manorial Roll of 1515 there is an entry of 22/- for Bordall Mill in K. Michael. —This is, undoubtedly, the same place. I place it at Glen Moar, adjoining Ballagawne, where there was a mill; what bears this out is that the Master of the Watch was Jo: Caine, Captain of the Parish: one of the family which in 1515 owned Ballagawne. It is interesting to note that the present Captain of the Parish of Kirk Michael is a Caine, in all likelihood one of the same family,

The Warden of the Night Watch of Kirk Michael which was also at Borodaill —was Jo: Cannon, one of the Cannons of Ballanea, an ancestor of the celebrated Mormon, Senator Joseph Cannon, of Utah. ,

BALLAUGH.

Hill for the Day Watch and Port for the Night Watch: Whet- ston Hill. The hill was, I think, on Ballakinnag in the Treen of Balymony, on the coast, just below the old Church of Ballaugh. Sir Nicholas Thompson, the Vicar, was the Warden of the Day Watch. The Night Watch was at the same place, where there is a suitable shore for boats, and a road leading to it.

The Warden of the Night Watch was Phill: Corleod, who be- longed to the Corleods who owned Ballakeog, adjoining Ballakinnag on the south. In 1643, sixteen years after the date of the document, the owner of Ballakeog was the same Philip Corleod.

The Hill of the Day Watch and the Port for the Night Watch was Knockmore. The situation is just south of Jurby Church, where the large tumulus stands. The Warden of both Watches was William Clarke, who was Captain of the Parish at that time. The family afterwards became knownas the Clarkes of the Nappin,which adjoins Knockmore. There are many descendants of this old Warden of the Watch, including the present Vicar of Kirk Marown and the Speaker of the House of Keys.

KIRK ANDREAS.

The Hill of the Day Watch and the Port for the Night Watch : Sonday Fill. Sonday Hill is an English translation of Knoc y dooney, 'Doonaght' meaning Sunday. The tumulus on the hill- -top is the one Mr. Kermode has opened and examined with such interesting results.

The Master of the Day and Night Watches in 1627 was Ffinlo Martin, a direct ancestor of the present owner of Knoc y dooney.

In the original there is a place called Ballihane Hill set down for the Day Watch, but it is crossed through. We know no hill of this name. It may have been intended for Ballalhane.

KIRK BRIDE.

Hull for the Day Watch: Blew Hill. —The name Blew Hill is quite unknown in the parish, and has not been seen in any early records. It must have been near Port Cranstall, the place for the Night Watch. The highest hill on the Kirk Bride coast is Cronk ny Irey Lhaa, which is Gaelic for —The Watch Hill,' and that is the place I set down for the Day Watch. —The Warden of the Day Watch was Wm. Cowle. In 1643, he was the owner of the land on which Cronk ny Irey Lhaa stands, which supports my suggestion.

Port for the Night Watch: Cranstall Port. The Warden of the Night Watch was David Xpin. David Christian, in 1643, owned land in Cranstall More Treen, and was probably one of the Balla- yonaige Christians. The scribe's rendering of the family name Christian in the contracted form Xin is interesting. It suggests that he had some acquaintance with the Greek alphabet, as shown by his use of the Chi-Rho. As the pointed letter X sufficiently represents the Greek Cha, so he has used the ordinary letter # as most nearly representing the Greek for the letter Rho. I might add that I have found in other 17th century documents the same use of the Greek Xp.

An alternative port for the Night Watch was Dease Hill, but the name is crossed through. Where it was and what the name imports, we can only guess. Mr. Ralfe suggests 'Dease' may have been a mis-spelling for 'Day's', the hill for the Day Watch.

KIRK CHRIST LEZAYRE.

Hill for the Day Watch: Scayhold. This is clearly what is now wrongly called 'Skyhill': originally Scacafell, where the historic battle was fought in 1077,and where the 'Royal Way' begins to the south. The Warden of the Watch was John Curghie, who was at the time Captain of the Parish. He owned Ballakillinghan.

Port for the Night Watch: Hangman's Hill. This name is quite new to us. It must have been on the high land at the site of the old Fort at the north end of the Mooragh, north of where the Children's Home stands. The length of coast line in Lezayre is restricted, and this could have been the only point suitable for the Night Watch.

KIRK MAUGHOLD.

There were two Day Watches in Maughold. The first on Slew- lage, and the second on St. Maghald's Head. —The Warden of the Slewlage Day Watch was Robt. Xpin, junr., and that on St. Mag- hald's Head, Ro: Xpin, senr.

There were three Night Watches on the coast in Kirk Maughold. The first was Ramsey, with Thos. Xpin Warden. —The other two were at Renaige and Port Donan, both new place-names to us. Renaige I believe to be the little shore at the foot of Ballure Glen, where the old mountain road, so called by Ramsey people, from Douglas comes to the sea. Renaige was, it is suggested, on Ballure, which was owned in 1627 by Ro: Xpin. He was Warden of the Watch and Captain of the Parish. The other Night Watch was at Port Donan. This name does not occur elsewhere to my knowledge. It is probably 'Dhyrnane,' close to Maughold Head, marked on the 6 in. Ord. map. Mr. Kneen thinks the name comes from Doncan, the holder of land here in 1511.

KIRK LONAN.

Hill for the Day Watch: Sir William's Hill. This was on Clay Head, so named because Sir William Norris was Vicar of the parish at the time, (1585-1627). In fact he died that year. (See page 106 —Church Notes,' Manx Soc. vol). The Warden of the Day Watch was Phill: Moore, who was Captain of the Parish and owned Balla- killey, near the Old Church. (See page 106 'Church Notes').

There were two Ports for the Night Watch. —The first was at Laxsey, where the Warden was James Kermod. —The second was at Gob Stoell, just south of Garwick, where the MacStoiles seem to have originated, ;

KIRK CONCHAN.

Hill for the Day Watch: The Howe, now known as Howstrake.

The Port for the Night Watch was Port Conchan. The Warden for both Day and Night Watches was Tho: Bancks, who owned what was then called Balnahow.

KIRK BRADAN.

Hill for the Day Watch: The Carnane, the heather-covered portion of Douglas Head,

The Port for the Night Watch: Duglas Towne. The Warden for both Watches was Ric: Scaresbreck. He was, I think, Captain of the Fort at Douglas.

KIRK SANTAN,

Hill for the Day Watch: Knockloghan, now called Oatland. The Warden was Xpher Brew, probably of the Meary Voar.,

The Port for the Night Watch: Gren Vicke, now called Port Grenaugh, The Warden was Jo: Moore, who was probably of Ballafurt, the adjoining farm.

KIRK MALEW,

Hill for the Day Watch: The Barrow, the hill north of Ronaldsway.

The Port for the Night Watch was Reynoldsway. The Warden was Deemster Xpin, father of Hliam Dhone.

There was also another Night Watch at Scarlett, the Warden being William Pickard. He was an officer in Castle Rushen.

KIRK ARBORY,

Hill for the Day Watch: Hehewle. —This name is the most difficult to solve. There is no other record of the name in this form, —There is set down on Collins' Map, dated 1724, the name Ecule. It is marked on a hill northwest of Ronnag, and very likely intended for Cronk ny Arrey Laa, and this might possibly be the site for the day watch. The name Cronk ny Arrey Laa means the 'hill of the day watch,' and this confirms our supposition. —The Warden of the Watch was Jo: Cubon, The Cubon lands lay close around Barrule and Cronk ny Arrey Laa, in the Treens of Warfell, Aryssynnok, and Kyrk Patryk. At the date of the document, a John Cubon owned lands in Kerrow Barrool, Ronnag and Ballakilpheric.

The Port for the Night Watch was Polebash. —The place is still called Cronk y Watch. The Warden of this Watch was Geo: Symen.

KIRK CHRIST RUSHEN.

The Hill for Day Watch was Bradoe, and the Warded of the Watch was Danold Duke. Richard Duke, who was probably Danold's father, owned land in Bradda Treen in 1603. The family owned properties in the parish of Rushen and in Castletown in 1511.

The Night Watch was at Port Yrne, and the Warden was Gilbt Nelson, who owned Ballanele and the Rowany. In 1603, twenty- four years before, one of the same name held these estates. There are no Wardens set down for Kirk Marown, for the reason that it has no coast line. All the seventeen hills mentioned are, of course, on the coast, the most inland being Knockloghan, Scayhold and Slewlage.

THE CAPTAINS OF THE PARISHES.

The document also gives a list of Captains of the Parishes. This is, I believe, the first complete list on record. The List commences with Kirk Patrick and goes round clock-wise; this was the ancient custom. The list is set down exactly as in the original.

Douglas is the only town which has a 'Capten,' although there must have been military captains in Castles Rushen and Peel.

HOW WATCH AND WARD WAS KEPT.

So little has been recorded about this ancient custom that it might be interesting if I quoted some at least of the relative passages which occur in the great work of Deemster John Parr, which, although compiled in the latter part of the 17th century, has not yet been published.

Watch and ward how to be kept on the coasts of this Isle and the penalty against such as neglect their watch, and what persons are freed from doing Watch and Ward,

"FOR the safeguard and security of this Isle it hath been provided and declared by certain antient Acts and Statutes that the Watches and wards on all the coasts of the Isle and ports of the Sea be well and duly kept, and that none be sent thither but such as are of discretion and able to discern and be careful and that the night watch shall come at sun setting and not depart before sunrising and that the day watch shall come at sunrising and not depart till sunsetting.'

Stat. fol, 2 and 46, —AND whosoever faileth any night in his watch and the warden appoint another in his room, forfeiteth to the warden the first night a wether, the second night a cow but if he fail the third night body and goods to the Lord of the Isle.'

Stat. fol. 10 and 48. Lib. scac. 1611 and 1614.

'AND if any person should come to the place where he should watch and then after the watch is set to go his way before the ordi- nary time without consent of the warden such person is to forfeit body and goods to the Lord's pleasure.' Stat. fol. 48,

'AND as oft as any forfeitures happen in this nature it is to be presented in Court by a jury or by sufficient witness before the Governor and officers, considering that most forfeitures of this kind stand in peril of loosing body and goods.' Stat Ole obs

'AND it is accustomed that the captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, 24 Keys men, the Moars and their Runners, the Coroners and their Lkmen, the Customers and searchers of every port, one head smith, one head or chief miller in every parish, have their freedom from the watch, unless in time of apparent danger they, as well as all other persons upon warning given to be ready to encounter the enemy upon pain of forfeiting body and goods to the Lord.' Lib, scac, 1595. Custom Stat, fol. 10—and 46.

'AND if the Warden of the watch do not nightly see the watches set at the hours appointed or do commit any other neglect in his place, he is to be punished at the Govrs. discretion or otherwise as the offence will demerrit.' Stat, fol, 51,

EARLY REFERENCES TO THE WATCH

In addition to the record of 1417 in Lex Scripta, there are many references in the civil records relating to the Watch. Here area few:

1418.— The Constable found to be a Traytor for not searching the Watches at Peel.'

1499. —Persons fined for not bringing sufficient arms to the Watch Hill.'

1499. —A presentment for keeping the Watch Cross in his house 9 days.'

1595. —Searchers and Lockmen free from Watch. Ale-house keepers are to Watch. The freedom of the Moar is questionable.'

1628. "The Great Enquest present the Horsemen for not searching the Watch. [Each Horseman had 3/8 per week allowed him for his maintenance, paid by all persons of ability who live by land, trade or traffick." 1643].