Leece Family - Ballamona, Braddan

The following is based on information given me by a relative.

Earliest recorded is William Leece (1) & Ann Moore at Ballmoney (Bal ny moaney, now Ballamona), Braddan. William died 1709, Ann d. 9 Nov 1739 aged 'about 90'. Five known children (4 in Baptismal reg which only start 1680) all at Braddan :-

William (2) b. c.1678
Robert bap. 1 April 1680
Nicholas bap. 17 June 1684
Christopher bap 5 May 1687 bur. 20 Nov 1720 (unm); owned several hives of bees
Ann bap13 Oct 1689

It is possible that William (1) was son of John Leece of Balladoyne, Kirk German. His daughter Margaret Leece "perished by sea" together with John Faile and Ewan Curgie on 25 July 1647 - the administration would indicate that her married name was Curlett and that her siblings were John, William, Ann and Jayne. The conjecture as to parents is that the Administration of John Leece of Balladoyne in 1643 names his children as John, William, Margaret, Ann and Jane. The John Leece of Balldoyne died 1712.

Second Generation

William (2) inherited Ballamona in 1709; married Dorothy Kewley 15 June 1706 Braddan. Died 1734, widow married 2ndly John Oates of Santan in 1737 (died 1740).
Five children (all bap Braddan ):-

William (3) bap 13 June 1708
Robert bap 10 April 1711
David bap 3 March 1713
Nicholas died smallpox 13 May 1725
Paul died small pox 15 May 1725

Robert married Ellinor Brew (date/place unknown), sometime around 1723 went to live at Knockfreiy, Santan; her father was John Brew (died 10 April 1729, mother Carter Brew). He buried 12 Jan 1762 (aged 82), she 9 Oct 1772 (aged 80) both at Santan;
Eight Children :-

Elizabeth, bap Braddan 6 Sep 1713
John, bap Braddan 1 April 1714
Isabel, bap Braddan 4 June 1717
Ellinor, bap 31 July 1723
William, bap 27 Feb 1725
Robert, bap Santan 8 Oct 1732, no further mention in Registers but mentioned in mother's will of 1772
James, bap Santan 2 March 1734, no further mention in Registers but mentioned in mother's will of 1772
Emmilia /Emma - bap not recorded (? 1726-1731), resided in Douglas and buried Santan 28 Oct 1794

Nicholas married Isable Crain 13 Nov 1722 at Braddan; She was daughter of Robert Crain and Margaret Stean (Stephen) of Ballabrunt and was widow of John Hampton of Ballaquiggin (m. 20 April 1704) by whom had had six children - the youngest, Christian, born, 1717, after her father's death. Nicholas and Isable had one child, Issable, bap 23 Jan 1724 but who died some 16 months later (bur Braddan 25 Apl 1725). Nicholas apparently treated step-daughter Christian as his own, settling inheritance on Robert Moore (of Bolerenny) in a marriage contract dated 1742 (+ deed of Settlement 28 April 1744). Isable bur. 17 Nov 1751 at Braddan; Nicholas died intestate, buried 10 Jan 1760 at Braddan; brother Robert appointed administrator but he relinquished task unto Nicholas's son-in-law Robert Moore.

Ann married Mathew Crellin of Kirk German 4 Dec 1718 (John Leece of Balladoyne, German, signatory to Marriage Contract and also stood as Pledge). Buried German 24 July 1739.

Third Generation - Braddan

William (3) inherited Ballamoaney in 1734; married Isabel Kissack at Santan 15 July 1729. Buried Braddan 17 Jan 1794; Isable bur Braddan 29 Jan 1775
Five children known:-

Robert,
Ellinr,
Issabel, 2 May 1736 (left legacy in Uncle Thomas Kissack's will of 1745
Dorothy, bap 6 May 1739
William (4) bap 17 Jun 1744

Robert married Ann Brew (date/place unknown); buried Braddan 24 Nov 1797 age 86. Initially farmed Balley Erjaghyn (Boayl Injeign) but later Ballaglionney (Ballaglonna). Ann buried Braddan 28 Jan 1795. Eleven known children:

Ann (1733-1734) bur Braddan 20 May 1734,
Isabel,
Ellinor,
Dorothy, bap. 6 Jun 1740
Robert (1742-1743),
William, bap 17 Jun 1744
John (died Nov 1750)
Robert (1748 died before 1754),
Thomas, bap 16 Jun 1751
Robert 1754,
Emy (1757-1760)

 

Fourth Generation - Braddan

Robert - married Margaret Crebbin

Children
John - 17 May 1767
Esther - 1 Apr 1770
William - 2 May 1773

William - bur 21 Dec 1794 Braddan 'late of Ballamoaney but now of Ballabrebbag'

Fifth Generation - Braddan

John - married Anne Bridson 12 Sept 1789 at Santan; died 1849

Children:
William - 1 Jan 1790, bur Braddan 1 Feb 1836
Anne - 14 Dec 1794; m Thomas Creer of Ballaslig
John - 23 Oct 1797
Paul, - 30 Mar 1800
Elizabeth - 25 Jul 1802
James - 10 Mar 1805
Catherine - 12 Jul 1807; m William Kneale of Marown
Paul Henry - 7 May 1809; inherited estate in 1849; died 1885 (see obit)
Caesar Bridson - 22 Jun 1815

Third Generation - Knockfreiy

Elizabeth - no further record in Registers; not mentioned in Mother's will; Sister Emilia bequeathed "£3 British to her nephew John Jones, if he is heard of" thus possibly he was son of Elizabeth. (FPC however Feltham records Memorial to Betty Leece dau to Robert Leece 30 May 1714 (no age is given) - suspect Jones might possibly be the Capt Jones of Leece & Drinkwater's William Leece which sank 1819)

John - inherited Knockfreiy; married Jane Crebbin at Santan 14 Dec 1760 - she was 29 to his 46. He was buried aged 80 26 Jul 1794 at Santan, she aged 87 on 8 April 1808. Five Children (all bap Santan):

John (2), bap 14 Dec 1761
Ellinor, 27 Sept 1763
Jane, 17 Oct 1765
William, 13 Aug 1769
Robert 27 April 1774

There is a conjecture that John of Knockfreiy inherited Ballaleece (Kk German) on death of unmarried John Leece in 1784, this estate being sold in 1785 for £1,100 to John Lace of Castletown.

Isabel - buried Santan 14 April 1810 (? FPC - no such entry in Santan Burial Reg); marriage not in registers, husband was a Brew. Baptism of son James Brew not recorded though thought to be born 1748. James, a master mariner, commonly known as Captain Brew (commanded Duke of Athol, Earl of Surrey and James Holmes) - married twice, his second wife Alice being 50 years younger! - both died of Cholera in 1831 (?fpc - must have been off Island as 1st cholera on Island was 1832 and they are not in my list of deaths).

Ellenr - no record of marriage or burial found; in mother's will of 1772 left a bequest of 40s.

William - went to Liverpool in 1740's where he died and is buried 1804. Became Liverpool agent for John Joseph Bacon (leading merchant in trading Manx herring as far as Baltic, Mediterranean, North America and West Indies (these later two being food for slave plantations). William Leece provided chadlery, tar, salt and barrell staves.
Acquired sufficient capital to enter business as a linen merchant (one queriable mention is of owning a flax mill in Ballasalla). Link with USA encouraged him to enter cotton trade, purchasing salted herring from nephew William Leece of Douglas and trading them for cotton.
Married Margaret Barrow at St Nicholas, Liverpool 30 Oct 1752; only child, Ellinor baptised St Nicholas's 6 Oct 1757 - she married James Drinkwater at St Nicholas's 18 October 1777.
William prospered becoming a ship owner (also entered public life - benefactor to Public Infirmary and Blue Coat Hospital, on Parish committee in 1790). James Drinkwater was son of George and Alice Drinkwater, George was a broker and next door neighbour in Tower Gardens, Water street. William took James into partnership and they traded as "Leece and Drinkwater". In 1790 Gore's directory gives William Leece, merchant, 8 Tower-garden with Linen Warehouse at 7 Tower-garden which address was also that of Capt. James Drinkwater (by 1796 described as merchant with 7 Tower-garden being described as Leece and Drinkwater's Linen warehouse). William moved to 28 Drury lane in 1796, with the Linen warehouse at 27
Possibly William's business interests on the Island were conducted by his unmarried sister Emmelia who lived in Douglas and whose will of 1780 suggestes she was an educated lady of considerable means, she died 1794 after which possibly Isabel and Captain Brew acted as agents.
In 1811 Leece and Drinkwater are noted as owners of the Brilliant (Packet) and Duke of Atholl - both vessels trading Liverpool/Douglas.
One of streets in Liverpool named Leece street in memory.

Fourth Generation - Knockfreiy

John - bur 28 Oct 1827 m. Anne Kissack (died 12 July 1844 age 72) (see Santon MI's)

Children
Ann - 8 Aprl 1804