hidden-metaphor

Manx Genealogy Archive 2

Re: Cutting the heir off from inheritance

Willliam Christian of Ballakey who was born in 1777 succeeded to Ballakey in 1815. The 1851 Census lists William 74' ELiza 61; William 29, Thomas 29, John 20, Elizabeth 30, Isabella 23, William H Christian, grandson aged 3 and two servants.

All the above children make sense to the parish register; In Bride churchyard there is a row of memorials enclosed within a low railing to the Ballakey Christians. They refer to Sarah buried in March 1836 aged 14 weeks; Elinor Jane buried Apr 1843 aged 11, and to John C Christian buried March 1851 aged 20. The first two did not make it to the 1851 census, and the third is presumably the 20 yo John in the census of the same year, who died a few weeks later.

Another stone in the family plot refers to several children of Ballakey who died between 1882 and 1891, and their parents, William who died in Jan 1904 ages 82 ( so born c1822 and his wife Margaret). William was christened 17 Nov 1821 so fits exactly to the description

It therefore seems clear that Ballakey descended from William and Eliza to their eldest son William. Only three boys reached adulthood, John who died aged 20, and the twins WIlliam and Thomas. The house remained in the possession of the family at the time of Constance Radcliffe's book on Bride which was written in 1982. The foreword was written by W D Christian CP, of Ballakey who had succeeded his father, also W D Christian.

The house therefore remained in the family for at least 160 years after the events of the 1820s, and until 1904 was in the posession of WIlliam and Eliza's son.

Robert