Cyril Ingram Paton (1874-1949)

Brief obituary in Proc. IoMNH&ASoc vol V #II

Described in obituary as born Scotland but with blood ties in the Island - however 1881 census gives him as son of Roderick Paton (born 1831 Scotland) and Catherine Ingram (m Kk Michael 4 Sep 1866 where her father was vicar) but born in Camberwell on 14 April 1874 where his father was Statistical Clerk in H.M. Customs. ( Roderick was the brother of Rev George Paton, Curate/Chaplain of St Paul's, Ramsey from 1866/1900 - one of the servants at Rhoderick Paton's home was Manx born Mary Hudson (?mistranscription for Bridson). His brother Roger Clavell Paton was headmaster at Streatham College- this was a preparatory school for boys aged 15 or younger - it started sometime in the 1880's (possibly by Revd W. Hodgson, then run by Clement Venn), in 1906 Roger Paton bought the freehold at auction, and is noted as Principal. The school continued till about 1928 when the buildings were demolished. Cyril and brother were active in the Streatham Entomological & Natural History Society (1902-1928) for which Cyril was secretary. Moved to Sutton until 1946 after which he retired to Castletown to join some cousins on the Island - named house on Arbory Road 'Ormley' after his house in Sutton (and his grandfather's Ormly Hall, Lezayre). John Brown provides the following reminiscence of the Paton brothers "they deplored the coming of the internal combustion engine and would not travel by car or bus. Field meetings of the Society were reached on bicycle or foot and more distant botanical expeditions that could not be undertaken by train might necessitate several days on the road". Described as a keen and well equipped naturalist with an extensive collection of Manx botanical specimens (now in Manx Museum) - an earlier collection put together in his Streatham days was acquired by the UK National History Museum in 1998. Was nominated as President of IoM NH&ASoc for 1947 but felt unable to accept. Died in a road accident on 17th May 1949.

Friend of G.W. Wood - the pair were neighbours in Streatham and worked together on Manx texts until Wood's last illness in 1923; possibly it was this friendship that gave him the interest in Manx folklore and music though he does mention a boyhood knowledge of the Manx Oeil Verrey and had begun to study the Manx Language a few years before meeting Mr Wood. Helped see the manuscript of Clague's Manx Reminiscences through the press. Elected member of IoMNH&ASoc in 1913.

Grateful acknowledgments to John Brown, local historian for Streatham for information regarding his early life

Bibliography

Mylecharaine: A few notes on an old Poem Proc IoMNH&ASoc ii pp303/309 1920

Manx Carvals and carval Books, with notes on some of the M.S.S. Proc IoMNH&ASoc vol ii pp480/501 1925

Manx Calendar Customs (Folklore Soc publications No. 110) 147p Glaisher 1942

Pargys Caillit Douglas 1947