Knights of Laxey

This would appear to be a group of individuals, probably all involved in the running trade, connected with William Fine and active in the 1740's and 1750's. Little is known about the society but several of the medals issued under its name exist.

The first mention in print is in The Manx Note Book, No.1, January, 1885, page 36:-

I have a curious nickel medal, 1¾ inches in diameter. On the obverse it bears the "three legs", surrounded by the motto "We stand firm together". On the reverse, in the centre, "Sir Geo. Sheweld, Brewer Generall to the Knights of Laxey, Augt. 14, 1749", surrounded by "In Love and Friendship". Can any of your readers enlighten me as to its history?
JAMES GELL, (Attorney-General).
Castletown.

In The Manx Note Book, No.6, April, 1886, page 91:-

NICKEL MEDAL,(Vol.1, p.36) – I have a nickel medal, evidently of the same kind as that previously referred to in The Manx Note Book. On the obverse it bears the "trie cassyn" encircled by the motto "We stand firm to each other". On the reverse, in the centre is inscribed "Sir R. Black, L. Privy Seal to the Knights of Laxey, Augt. 14, 1749", surrounded by "In Love and Friendship". It appears probable that these medals were struck for some social club that existed in Laxey, all record of which has passed away, as the query propounded in your first number has not yet received an answer.

In the Manx Museum is a cast of a silver (or nickel?) medal of simple form inscribed on the obverse "We Stand Firm to Each Other" round the three legs, on the reverse "Sir Ellis Wynne one of the Knights of Laxey under Sir Owen Wynne Grand Master of North Wales. Comptroller of ye Navy, and round the edge "In Love and Friendship" and another differently designed medal of brass; obverse: three legs (probably copied from the 1733 Derby coinage) and round the edge the inscription "WE STAND FIRM TO EACH OTHER". Reverse: "SR. ION. BOOTH Chief Ranger North of Trent to the Knights of LAXEY March 14 1754" and round the edge "IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP".

Two more medals are known (all photographs appear by permission and are (c) Mannin Collections)

Reverse: In Love And Friendship round Sir / OWEN WYNNE / Grand Master / of the Knights of / Laxey for north / Wales 12th Decr. / 1749 in seven straight lines.	Obverse: We Stand Firm To Each Other round engraved Triune, armoured and spurred.
	Metal: Nickel? Flan 38mm(with suspension loop) Edge: Plain Weight: 20.33 grams The medal is housed in a lined, folding, mahogany case, which is almost certainly as issued.

Thus we have following names:

• Geo. SHEWELD [Shemeld], Brewer Generall to the Knights of Laxey, Augt. 14, 1749
• R. BLACK, L. Privy Seal to the Knights of Laxey, Augt. 14, 1749
• Owen WYNNE Grand Master of the Knights of Laxey for North Wales 12^th Decr. 1749
• Ellis WYNNE one of the Knights of Laxey under Sir Owen Wynne Grand Master of North Wales. Comptroller of ye Navy
• William VAUGHAN One of the Knights of Laxey Admiral 21 June 1752
• Ion. BOOTH Chief Ranger North of Trent to the Knights of Laxey March 14 1754

George Shemeld, had been William Fine’s tenant in the White Lion (later York Hotel) Parade Street, Douglas some time before 1762 as appears from William Fine's will - possibly the 1757 reference to William Fine giving up the business is to Shemeld's departure. Fine himself had "houses and concerns at Laxah", perhaps a brewery?, and "a new house in Douglas known by the name of Laxah Hall" – possibly an inn, possibly where the "Knights" met. Children of George Shemeld and Sarah Paine are found noted as baptised at St Mathew's Douglas 1750-1753 (William & Samuel 18 May 1750, George 6 Mar 1753); there is also the baptism of a child of Nathaniel Shemeld and Elizabeth Eccles in 1756 - no marriage can be found in the IGI for either, the name Shemeld is usually found in the Sheffield area.

Fine is sometimes described in genealogical notes as Sir William Fine of Ballahott, (possibly a relic of his membership of the so-called "Knights"); the choice of name may suggest that he played a major role in the society.

George Booth,(father-in-law of Peter Fannin, the map-maker and circumnavigator), was also a brewer – the founder of the brewery now known as Clinch’s, on the North Quay, Douglas - the burials of a George & Sarah Booth (als Gambel) are recorded in Douglas in 1793..

Robert Black, builder of the present Douglas Hotel, North Quay, Douglas, circa.1750, was a Bordeaux wine merchant from Ulster.

William Vaughan may well be a member of the well known North Wales family associated with Harlech Castle, the name Wynne is also associated with that part of North Wales.