Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
Douglas's second oldest Friendly Society, founded in 1798, collapsed in scandalous circumstances in 1813. Run by a management committee exclusively of Methodists, the society offered insurance to Douglas men in sound health between the ages of 18 and 40 regardless of their religious affiliations (if Protestant) and soon became very popular. In 1811 its capital reserve of £600 was put into the speculative building, in the centre of Douglas, of a schoolhouse on the Lancasterian model, which bankrupted the society amid charges of serious committee jobbery.
Isle of Man newspapers passim ;
Kermotte Stowell, 'A letter to the inhabitants of the Isle of Man, or an exposition of the circumstances which led to the ruin of the Methodists Friendly Society of Douglas' (London , 1813)
...
A plot of land was bought in 1809:
SSS May 1814 21
[Douglas]dated 9 Aug 1809;John Moore(Hills) + wife Eunice Catarina Teresa Moore + Catharine Moore(widow, Hills) sell to Robert Cannell(President) + William Kelly + Hugh Cain (stewards) of Methodist Friendly Society for £160(British) 3 plots of ground as laid out by John Taggart viz plot 117, 118 + 119 premises being in line 66ft northward from house now occupied by Thomas Stowell(Clerk of the rolls) and 86ft in a line rangeing with the main street on NW , 23ft on on east and 85ft by new road to Ramsey; Witt Edwd Gawne, Lewis Geneste; Setting Quest place 0.75d rent
The only reference to an anniversary walk
Manks Advertiser, Saturday, 9th June1810;
The Methodist Friendly Society, in this town, held their Anniversary on the same day [Ascension day], and after attendance on Public Worship dined at the British Hotel, and spent the day with their usual attention to the rules of order and sobriety.
The loan from John Taubman
CTD Hil 1812 51
[Douglas]dated 14 Jan 1812; Thomas Callow, president and Robert Cannell, William Kelly + John Cowll committee ack indebted to John Taubman(Castletown) for £300 @ 6% commencing 26 Dec last and give in security that large new building in Douglas known as the Methodist Society club room or the Lancastrian School together with yard dwelling houses &c in Atholl Street adj road that leads to Ramsey; [several assignments noted in 1869 + 1886] the first dated 13 Mar 1865 by Wm Henry Cudd + wife Isabella extrx of late Caterine Taubmann + Henry Laurence ...
Adertisements of attempted sales.
Isle of Man Weekly Gazette, Thursday, 6th May 1813
TO BE SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION,
On the 12th of May next, if not previously disposed of, due notice of which will be given,
ONE LOT of the Methodist Friendly Society's NEW HOUSE, pleasantly situated in Atholl Street, Douglas; and also another LOT of the Yard adjoining the said House, fronting the street, below which will be a Housestead for Building and Yard. At the same time will be Let, the LARGE ROOM, well adapted for a School or Reading Room—The auction to commence on the said day at twelve o'clock.—For particulars, apply to John Quirk, bellman. Douglas, April 28, 1813, . .
Isle of Man Weekly Gazette, Thursday, 8th July 1813
TO BE SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION,
On some day in August next, of which notice will be given,
THAT large and well FURNISHED HOUSE and CONCERNS the whole or in lotts, commonly called the Methodist Friendly Society's Club Room.
Isle of Man Weekly Gazette, Thursday, 12th August 1813
TO BE SOLD BY PUBLIC AUCTION ,
BY JOHN QUIRK,On Saturday next, at Two o'clock,
THAT large and well finished BUILDING and CONCERN'S in Atholl Street, commonly called the METHODIST FRIENDLY SOCIETY'S CLUB ROOM. The above to be sold either in one or more lots, as may appear most desirable at the time of sale. Douglas,
Then appeared the Stowell pamphlet
Isle of Man Weekly Gazette, Thursday, 9th September 1813
JUST PUBLISHED, AN EXPOSITION of the Circumstances which led to the Ruin of the Methodists' Friendly Society of Douglas; with Notes, containing many interesting Anecdotes of some of the leading Characters of the present day. In a letter addressed to the Inhabitants of the Isle of Man, By KT. STOWELL.
Price 1s. 6d.—For the benefit of the Poor belonging to the above Society.
Sold by Messrs. J. Clarke, Shopkeeper, Big-well Street; P. Kewley, Stationer, York Street; and G. Barry, Market Place, Douglas: Mr. Philip Caley, Shopkeeper, and at the George Inn, Castletown ; Grant's Hotel, Peel; and Mr. B. Gibson, Shopkeeper, Ramsey. Douglas,
The last mention of the Society in the press was:
Manks Advertiser, Saturday, 21st May 1814;
The Treasurer (J. Quane, Esq) has also acltnowledged to the Committee of the Society for the Relief of the Poor, the receipt of 23s. 6d. from the Methodist Friendly Society, on account of the Poor.
The actual sales of the Club Room and School took place in 1815 - there is no record of the actual winding up of the Society.
A sale of part of the building to pay off the above loan
SSS May 1815 15
dated 7 Feb 1815;Daniel Christian + Robt Cubbon (president) and Daniel Mylechreest + James Duggan (stewards of Methodist Friendly Society of Douglas) sell for £304(British) to Robert Cannell(tallow chandler, Douglas) - £104 paid to us and £200 to to remain on Bond + Security held by John Taubman on premises - a part of that recently erected large and commodious building at north end of Athol Street known as the Club Room - part now sold 25ft 5in in length measured from centre of south gable towards middle and terminating midway between 2nd + 3rd windows and in breadth that of the whole building + yard from street to street Se + NE including shed + privy erected in the yard + also the well + pump; a sufficient boundary to be erected at joint cost; Witt James Cretney, Phillip Cubon
It would appear from the Taubman deed that it was not discharged until near 80 years later
The Society however took out two more loans, apparently using the same security of the remaing part of the building
SSM Oct 1815 14 £45 from John Quirk dated 15 July 1815 and SSM Oct 1815 12 £200 from William Kewley dated 1st Aug 1815 - neither of the loans mentioned in these deeds appear to have been discharged.
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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