[From Manx Families, A.W.Moore, MS 1889]

Calcott's of the Nunnery & Caldecot or Calcott, Co. Chester

Daniel son of Richard de Caldecote or Calcot of Calcott in the County of Chester, was living in 1230. The direct descent from him to Richard and to his brother Henry, who settled in the Isle of Man towards the end of the fifteenth century, is fully set forth in the family tree.

Henry, who was Deemster in 1488, married Margaret daughter of Randle Mainwaring, Alderman of Chester, and had issue Robert, who was Comptroller of the Isle of Man in 1538.

Robert married Margaret daughter of William Goodman, Alderman of Chester in 1536, when the Nunnery (near Douglas) of which she was Prioress, was dissolved, and the property belonging to it granted to her and her husband. They had issue Henry (obit 1607) who married Elizabeth daughter of Richard Birkenhead and had issue, Richard, Henry, Edward, Robert, Ann.

Richard married a daughter of John Moore of Bank Hall (see Moore's of Pulrose) and had issue Robert (see below).

Henry married ? and had issue Henry, who had issue Robert and Henry, the latter of whom was Deemster in 1679.

Edward obit sans progeny.

Robert (obit 1670) was proprietor of Scarlett. He married and had issue Robert and Ferdinand. Ferdinand in 1671 sold Scarlett to Henry Corrin and in 1672, he sold 'Ory Chee'[?] in Malew to Arthur Calcott, probably another member of this family. He was Steward of Lord Derby's household, one of those who presided at William Christian's trial, and one of the trustees appointed under Bishop Barrow's will. It is not known whether he or his brother Robert left issue.

Ann married Richard Stevenson of Balladoole (see Stevenson's).

Robert (son of Richard, see above) married Margaret daughter of Thomas Quaile and had issue Robert and Richard. He was entered for the Nunnery in 1629, became Comptroller in 1637. In 1643, to please James, Earl of Derby, he surrendered the ancient tenure of the straw by which he had previously held it and took a lease for three lives, those of his wife and two sons.

In 1679, Robert was the only one of them living (born 1620, obit 1681). He was Captain of Douglas Fort and one of the President's at William Christian's trial. He married Alice, daughter of Sir Francis Gamel, Knt, and had issue Ewan (obit sans progeny) and Margaret who succeeded to the property in 1681.

Margaret (obit 1717) married (1) Hugh son and heir of Deemster Hugh Cannell and had issue an only daughter Leonora who in 1685 married Peter Heywood, who became proprietor of the Nunnery (see Heywoods). Margaret (2) Major Charles Christian of Milntown but had no issue.

Thus the elder branch of the Calcotts came to an end. Nor can descent of the younger branch be certainly traced.

Arthur Calcott, mentioned above, was Captain of Ballaugh. His sister Elizabeth (obit 1693) married one of the Cæsars of Ballahick and had issue. An Elizabeth Calcott married John Curghey, proprietor of the Creggans in Malew, which he sold to John Quayle in 1733.

The name Calcott, which was from 1538 to 1681 probably borne by the most powerful family in the Island, is now only found in one peasant family in Andreas. The Calcotts were the bitter enemies of the Christians during the earlier part of this period and their decadence is consequently gloated over in the Ballad relating how William Christian was done to death, which is so well known to Manx Men.

Mention in 3rd Manx Scrapbook