[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]

(39) Strangford Union Friendly Society: 1822-1875

Description

The high profile and rapid development of the Strangford Union Friendly Society as recorded in the papers, quickly established its importance in the eyes of its contemporaries and it is particularly frustrating that no records of either its constitution or its operation are known to be in existence The earliest report, in the Manx Sun of 23 May, 1823, described its first anniversary celebration. This started with a service at Kirk Braddan, followed by a lunch at Union Mills, both in the west of the parish, where the sub-settlement of the Strang, just northeast of the village of Union Mills, was situated, and from which the Club presumably takes its name, shortened from the original Strangford, a name given to the area by an expatriate Ulsterman in the eighteenth century.

For their fourth anniversary they met at the Club House at the Strang and dined again at Union Mills. For their eleventh anniversary, a procession of 200 members, led by a band, wearing red (or as often reported, orange sashes) marched in procession to Douglas where they dined, 'with loyal and patriotic toasts' at the National Schoolroom in Athol Street, Douglas, though recent very numerous'. Without any records of members or officers it is difficult at present to go further into the reasons for the popularity of this Society which appears to offer certain clues for its success.

Orange sashes, patriotic toasts, the resurrection of the Strang's old name in full, may point to Orange Lodge origins, quite congenial to the Protestant Manx at that time. Its success might also owe something to the existence of a more than usually politically aware workforce at the new corn and woollen manufactory of the Union Mills, a notable producer and employer from 1821, though with occasional shutdowns.

Prime movers in the setting-up of the first Oddfellows Lodge on the Island, the Loyal Mona Lodge (Yorkshire Unity) at Douglas in 1830 were two woollen workers from Yorkshire, J. Foster and Jeremiah Lee, employed there. An examination of the Census of 1841 (the first to to include data of persons) would be an important first step. The latest indexed record of the Club dates from 1853 and it is not entered as active in the Medical Aid and Poor Relief Commission Report.

Records

Isle of Man newspapers, ut supra et passim

Publications

Priscilla Lewthwaite, Flail and Fleece, A History of Union Mills ([1986])

Later research (by F.P.C.)

I suspect Harrison was somewhat confused about this society, possibly relying too much on the existing index to the newspapers which only went as far as the mid 1850s - the society survived until 1875 and failed for the very reasons outlined in the 1860 pamphlet. There is no indication from the, admittedly sparse, list of names of Officers that non-Manx members played any role in the Society, nor it seems of any obvious Orange Order involvement.. However it is worthwhile to record its history, mostly as recorded in the press; no society generated records seem to have survived.

The Manx Sun, 23rd May 1834 reported under the heading STRANGFORD UNION.

This Society held their 9th anniversary on Monday last, and after having transacted the necessary business, walked in procession, to the number of 220, accompanied by the band of the Philanthropic Society, to Kirk Braddan Church, where an eloquent sermon was delivered by the Rev. R. Brown, from Hebrews, xiii., v. 3. ; they then proceeded to Douglas, and dined in the National School-room, Atholl-street. It appeared from the Secretary's Report that the income for the past year amounted to £174 11s. 11d., and the expense, for sick money and funerals, to £117 4s. The total stock at present is £375 7s. 4d.

Later that year they would appear to have had problems with their landlord as reported in Mona's Herald, Friday, 14th November 1834;

IMPORTANT TO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

In a cause heard in the High Bailiff's Court, on Saturday last, in the matter of Cowin, v. the Strangford Club, when it appeared that this Club had been in the occupation of certain premises belonging to plaintiff, and that on their meeting night in March 1833, plaintiff and his father called at the Club-room and got paid the rent up to that month, which the receipt proved, though the year ended in November. It was stated by defendants' advocate, that there was a verbal agreement entered into at the time, that the Society should, from that night, quit possession of the premises without being liable to further rent, which they accordingly did, but to their surprise a further demand was made, which was granted by the High Bailiff, in consequence of the father swearing that he did not recollect any such agreement, although he admitted he had a "little drop" at the time. There were several members of the Society in the Court ready to prove the agreement, but were not allowed, because they were interested parties. This shows the extreme necessity of Clubs having disinterested persons to witness their agreements.

They were back in Court in August 1835 as reported in Mona's Herald, of Saturday,8th August 1835

In the Deemster's Court, on Monday last, a case came on to be heard —Gelling v the Strangford Benefit Society, in which it appeared that the plaintiff's late wife, having lived apart from her husband previous to her decease, was interred at the expense of her relations who now claimed £5 from the club, which according to the rules was due to Gelling as one of its members. The money was ready to be paid ; but the stewards demurred paying it to either of the parties without an order from the Court. His Honor informed them, that the matter did not fall within his jurisdiction, and therefore recommended that it should be settled among themselves;— could this not be done, the case must be determined by a jury

Manx Liberal, Saturday, 9th June 1838

On Whit-Monday, several of the Manx benefit societies celebrated their anniversaries, by attending divine service, and walking to and from church in procession, the Strangford Union was accompanied by a party of amateur musicians of this town, termed the "Independent Band," which has attained its present proficiency by the indefatigable exertions of its teacher and leader, Mr. H. Carran. In the parish church of Braddan an impressive sermon was preached to its members, by the Rev. R. Brown ; and in Kirk Onchan church a discourse was delivered to the Onchan and Lark Hill societies. It is understood to be the general wish of these valuable and loyal institutions, that both town and country clubs should assemble in full strength on the 28th instant, as a mark of public respect for their beloved Sovereign on the day of her coronation.

They did indeed walk in the Coronation procession stated to have been nearly 1 mile long and composed of some 3,500, including school children.

Mona's Herald, Tuesday, 9th June 1840

Yesterday being Whitsun Monday, the members of the Strangford Union Benefit Society celebrated their anniversary by attending divine service at Braddan Church ; after which they walked in procession to this town, accompanied by a band of music, where a substantial dinner was provided in the Market Hall, by Mr. Paul Kelly, of the Union Mills, to which they did ample justice, and spent the remainder of the evening in harmony and brotherly feeling.

The Market Hall was I think the room above the recently opened Wellington Market, which failed to persuade market stalls to move from the crowded, open-air, but free, market near Old St. Matthew's - the ground floor open arches were then blocked up with the upper floor becoming the Wellington Hall which would appear from reports to be the Society's usual place to hold their anniversary dinner.

Mona's Herald, Tuesday, 1st June 1841;

Yesterday the members of the Strangford Union Benefit Society celebrated their anniversary, by walking in procession to Kirk Braddan Church, accompanied by the Vale of Baldwin band. After hearing an excellent and appropriate sermon, they walked to Douglas, where they partook of a substantial dinner, in the Schoolroom, Thomas-street, and spent the evening in a friendly manner.

Vale of Baldwin, usually prefixed by beautiful or romantic, was a common description in property sales of the mid 19th Century - however I cannot find any other references to the band.

Manx Sun, Wednesday, 14th June 1848

THE STRANGFORD UNION BENEFIT SOCIETY.

This numerous and flourishing body celebrated their anniversary festival on Whit Monday. The members assembled at their clubroom in the morning, and after transacting the usual routine business, proceeded in procession, wearing handsome scarfs, with flags and banners, accompanied by the Rechabite band of music to Kirk Braddan Church, where an excellent and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. William Drury. After Divine service, the Society marched in procession to this town ; after which they sat down to a substantial dinner, provided for them in the Wellington Hall. After dinner the many loyal and patriotic toasts were given and responded to, and the company broke up at a seasonable hour, after having spent a pleasant and agreeable day in harmony and good fellowship.

The Rechabites were a tee-total organisation opposed to alcohol - one of the duties of the band at these anniversary dinners was to play appropriate music after each toast.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 6th June 1849

The members of the Strangford Union Society celebrated their anniversary on the same day[Whit Monday]. They met at their clubroom in the Strang in the morning, to transact the usual routine of business ; and when their financial affairs were disposed of and the balance exhibited in favour of the society, the members formed into procession. They then, with flags and banners, accompanied by the Mona Rechabite Band, proceeded to Kirk Braddan Church, where divine service was performed by the Rev. Wm. Drury, the vicar of the parish, who preached an affectionate and appropriate discourse on the occasion. After service the procession was re-formed, when they marched to this town ; and after perambulating the principal thoroughfares they sat down to a substantial dinner, which was provided for them in the Wellington hall. Ample justice having been done to the viands, appropriate toasts and sentiments were given and duly responded to, and the members spent the remainder of the day in good fellowship and cheerful conviviality.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 22nd May 1850

THE STRANGFORD UNION BENEFIT SOCIETY.

This numerous association met at their Clubroom at the Strang, according to custom, on the morning of Whit-Monday, to receive from the Secretary an account of the financial state of their funds, and to transact other routine business. The members then formed into procession, displaying their flags and banners, and marched in order to the parish church, where an appropriate sermon was delivered by the Rev. William Drury. After divine service, the procession was re-formed and the society proceeded to this town, accompanied by the Mona Rechabite band, and as each member wore a handsome orange-coloured sash, the society presented a very imposing appearance. After perambulating some of the principal thoroughfares, they proceeded to the Wellington Hall, where a substantial dinner awaited them, Ample justice having been done to the viands, suitable toasts were given and responded to, and the company separated at an early hour, highly gratified with the favourble termination of their anniversary proceedings.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 18th June 1851

STRANGFORD UNION SOCIETY.

The members of this association celebrated their anniversary on Whit Monday. Upwards of 200 of the brethren assembled at their clubroom, in the Strang, in the forenoon, where, after transacting the usual routine business, they formed in procession at 12 o'clock, and accompanied by the Mona Rechabite band of music, and their paraphernalia, marched to Kirk Braddan church, to hear Divine service. The Rev. Wm. Drury, the vicar, delivered an appropriate sermon after which they re-formed in procession, and marched to this town. After parading the principal thoroughfares, they proceeded to the Wellington Hall, where a good substantial dinner was provided by host Sayle, of the Bull's Head Inn. When the cloth was removed, several loyal and patriotic toasts were given by the President, and duly responded to, the band playing appropriate airs.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 13th April 1853;

NOTICE
To the Members of the Strangford Union Society.

THE ANNIVERSARY PROCESSION , of the above Society, will in future be celebrated on WEDNESDAY instead of MONDAY, in Whitsun week. W. CLUCAS, Secretary, Strang, April 11, 1853

The move from Monday to Wednesday might be a consequence of the greater number of tourists visiting the Island - Whit Monday would have many other attractions aimed at these tourists.

Isle of Man Weekly Advertising Circular, Thursday, 19th May 1853;

The Strangford Union Friendly Society, celebrated their anniversary yesterday. The members attended Divine service at Kirk Braddan, and afterwards walked into this town, having a keen appetite for the good dinner which was provided for them by Mr. William Sayle, of the Bull's Head.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 14th June 1854;

On Wednesday last, the members of the Strangford Union Society held their usual annual procession. They walked from their meeting room at the Strang to Kirk Braddan Church, where a sermon was preached to them by the Rev. W. Drury, after which they came on to town and publicly perambulated some of the principal of our streets. In the afternoon they adjourned to the Wellington Hall, where an excellent dinner was provided for them by Mr. Ewbank.

Manx Sun, Saturday, 2nd June 1855;

On Wednesday last the Strangford Union Friendly Society, celebrated their anniversary. As usual the members attended divine service at the parish church, Braddan, and walked into this town, where a good dinner awaited them, provided by Mr. W. Sayle, of the Bull's Head.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 2nd June 1858;

The Strangford Union Benefit Society celebrated its anniversary by walking in procession to the parish church, and after hearing service, marched to Douglas, where a suitable dinner awaited the appetites of its members.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 3rd June 1863

The Strangford Union Society celebrated its anniversary on Wednesday last. In the morning the members, to the number of nearly 200, assembled at the Strang, and after they had transacted the business usual on the occasion the procession was formed, and marched with banners, accompanied by the Laxey Band, to the Parish Church, where the Rev. Wm. Drury delivered a suitable sermon. After service the club re-formed, and marched to the mansion of His Honour Deemster Drinkwater, where the band played a few appropriate airs. After giving three cheers for His Honor and Mrs. Drinkwater and family (the eldest son being an honorary member), they marched to the town of Douglas, and after perambulating the principal streets sat down to a substantial dinner provided by Mr. Wm. Gelling, of Baldwin, in the Victoria Hall. This benevolent society paid last year to sick members and funerals the sum of £190. Since its establishment it has contributed much to alleviate suffering and want caused by sickness, accident, and infirmity. It is still vigorous and doing well, having the year that is past gained £32 11s. 0d.

Mona's Herald, Wednesday, 25th May 1864;

STRANGFORD UNION SOCIETY.

The members of this old-established and still flourishing benefit society commemorated their establishment by walking in procession on Wednesday, the 18th instant. From an early hour in the morning the officers of the past and ensuing year had assembled at their clubroom, Strang, for the purpose of transacting the necessary business usual on such occasions, Having disposed of it, about 11 o'clock the Secretary commenced calling over the names of the members, who decorated with the Society's regalia, formed in procession order, and at once marched to Kirk Braddan Church, to the heart-stirring music of the Staleybridge Brass Band. The Rev. William Drury, the respected vicar of the parish, delivered an impressive, energetic, and most suitable discourse to the society. Service concluded, the club formed in procession and walked to Kirby, the mansion of His Honor Deemster Drinkwater, where they drew up in a circle on the greensward in front of the mansion. Here the band, in discoursing some of their beautiful compositions acquitted themselves in a masterly manner, and we understand their performance gave the greatest possible satisfaction not only to the society, but to the Deemster's family and numerous friends assembled there to hear them. The usual compliments of the auspicious occasion having been given, and heartily responded to by the cheers of the society, the club, accompanied by the vicar marched to Douglas, and after perambulating through the principal streets, at 4 o'clock sat down to an excellent dinner embracing all the delicacies of the season in great abundance, provided and tastefully served up to the club by Mr. James Kaye, of Marown, in the Victoria Hall. Upwards of 200 dined together. The balance sheet of the society exhibits an accumulated stock of £839 2s. 6d.; the amount paid to sick and infirm members during the past year was £137 19s. 8d., And to funerals £52 ; leaving to the society a clear gain on the past year of £59 5s. 11d. The club has also during the same period received an addition of thirteen new members. The day was remarkably fine, and as the procession marched through the town it looked exceedingly well. 195 members walked.

A somewhat carelessly worded account in Mona's Herald, Wednesday, June 19, 1867;

CLUB FESTIVALS .On Wednesday, the Artificers of Peel, St. Johns Club at St. John's, and the Strang Club, at Douglas, all celebrated their anniversaries by walking in procession, attending divine service, and afterwards dining together.

Manx Sun, Saturday, 22nd May 1869

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES.

The annual meeting of the Strang club took place on Wednesday last. Headed by the Onchan band, and carrying the beautiful banners of the society, the members walked in procession to Kirk Braddan Church. The vicar of the parish, the Rev W. Drury, preached a very appropriate and impressive sermon from the 7th chap. of St. John's Gospel and 11th verse. After Divine service, the procession re-formed and proceeded to Kirby House, the residence of his Honor Deemster Drinkwater, who is an honorary member of the society and takes a deep interest in its prosperity, as indeed he does in all that concerns the good of the working men of the parish. The band having played several popular airs, which were very creditably executed, three cheers were given for her Majesty the Queen (the band playing the National Anthem), afterwards for his Honor the Deemster and family. From Kirby House they proceeded to the Wellington Hall to dine, the arrangements were good, the dinner excellent, and the men appeared to enjoy it very much. The Vicar of the parish, Mr. J. Lemare, and Mr. Hutchinson, of The Groves, dined with them by request. Before leaving the hall, Mr. Lemare, who is an extensive silk manufacturer in Manchester, addressed the members of the society thanked them for their invitation, and assured them that he had never dined with a more orderly or better conducted number of working men in his life, and gave them some valuable advice how to promote the prosperity of the society, and as working men to secure success in life. Their intelligent secretary, Mr. W. Clucas, of the Strang, reported the number of members to be 209, and the funds in a prosperous condition.

Isle of Man Times, Saturday, 1st June 1872;

STRANG CLUB.

This club has now 174 members and a capital of .£813 12s 11d, which is a pretty fair proof that it is prosperous, because well managed. At the annual dinner last week 121 members sat down to the good cheer provided in the Wellington Hall by Mr. William Gelling, Baldwin, and did it justice, having had their appetites sharpened by a sermon by the Vicar of Baddan, and a walk to the end of the new Landing-pier. Last year £80 was added to stock, and £130 given to pensioners, sick included.

The signs of the coming demise of the Society can be seen - a 15% decrease in members in three years but the next couple of years made it obvious.

Manx Sun, Saturday, 23rd May 1874;

WM. FARAGHER v. THE STEWARDS OF THE STRANGFORD UNION BENEFIT SOCIETY.

Mr. Cannell for the plaintiff, and Mr. Sherwood for the defendants.

Mr. Cannell said the plaintiff was a member of the Strang Club, and had been so for the last 40 years. For the last ten years he had been on the box of the Society, and receiving a certain allowance. During the last three years this had been according to the books of the society 2s a month, but eighteenpence a month was stopped out for contributions, and thus the plaintiff had only been receiving l½d a week. The defence was that the bye-law regulating these payments had been altered. The question was, however, whether this had been done in conformity with another bye-law which overrode the one in question.

His Honor said he was afraid he could not try the question. It was one for the Chancery Court.

Mr. Cannell: You stated last court, sir, that if they did not plead no jurisdiction you might decide the case. .

Mr. Sherwood: We don't make any objection on that ground.

His Honor: But I only now see what the case is. If these clubs would only take steps to put themselves in a proper position under the statute, I could hear their cases. It is a question of partnership.

Mr. Sherwood. The plaintiff is a very poor man, sir.

His Honor: Yes, and the club is very poor also.

Mr. Cannell: Three-halfpence a week is not sufficient to live upon, sir. If these clubs can pay no more than that it is time for them to be wound up.

His Honor: All the benefit societies in the Isle of Man are in that position. Under their rules they must become insolvent sooner or later. Fifteen years ago I mentioned to the officers of this very society that unless they consented to abide by the rules of the English Societies, as drawn up or sanctioned by the late Mr. Tidd Pratt, they must become insolvent. Those societies in the Island which are connected with and governed by the English Societies are in a flourishing state, but all the pure Manx Societies I believe are in such a state that insolvency must of necessity ensue in a certain number of years. It would be better perhaps if some gentleman could step in between these parties, and get the matter settled amicably.

Mr. Cannell -. We only wish to be satisfied about this bye-law, whether it has been altered in a legal way.

Mr. Sherwood: I understand that the plaintiff was present in the clubroom when the alteration was agreed upon.

His Honor: Well, I don't think I can interfere. I should recommend Mr. Cannell to withdraw the suit. This was agreed upon, and his Honor's suggestion to settle the matter by calling in the aid of an arbitrator was also accepted.

The Isle of Man Times, of Saturday, 23rd May 1874, recognized the import of the Deemster's comments and produced a long editorial on its implications for the remaining Benefit Clubs operating under the old unsafe rules.

A QUESTION of grave importance to the working classes of this Island cropped up last Monday in a suit in the Deemster's Court, between WILLIAM FARGHER , plaintiff, and the Strangford Union Benefit Society. The plaintiff, it appears, has been a member of this Club for 47 years; he had regularly paid his subscription of 1s 6d per month; but for the last 10 years he has been upon what is called " the box;" that is, he has been a recipient of the relief dealt out to the sick members of the society, which by the rules consisted of a donation of 2s 6d a week. For some time back, however, he has only been allowed 2s a month, out of which 1s 6d was retained as his subscription to the Club; so that in reality he was in the receipt of but 1½d per week.

His suit was brought to recover the arrears due to him upon the basis of the original rules of the Club, viz., the payment of 2s 0d a week to its sick members. The case, however, in itself, is important from a public point of view only in consequence of the expression of opinion it elicited from his HONOUR the DEEMSTER that almost every description of benefit society of the class of the Strangford Union must become insolvent in course of time, owing to the fallacious financial principles upon which they are based. It appears also that his HONOUR had, fifteen years ago, warned this identical society that it must eventually come to grief, although it appeared to be at the time in a flourishing position. An alarming state of affairs is thus disclosed at a glance, and action should be at once taken by our Insular Legislature to bring every benefit society in the Island to which our somewhat ignorant, yet trusting town and country labourers contribute their hard earned shillings, under the same rigid system of inspection and supervision of its rules and regulations as is applied to similar societies in England.

This task devolves upon his HONOUR, who is a legislator as well as a judge, and who seems to have acquired special information as to the working of such societies. It is nothing less than the grossest possible yet no doubt ignorant and unintentional fraud committed upon a poor man, who is now old and incapacitated, that his money should have been taken by any society for a period of 47 years, and that he should now be reduced to the ludicrous pittance of 1½d a week. And yet this is the natural tendency of all benefit societies who make no distinction in the amount of subscriptions to be paid by members of various ages. As the old men die off the funds of the society must be ruinously drawn upon ; and if the supply of young members be not kept up to repair the waste caused by the death of the old ones, insolvency must necessarily ensue. The extinction of the Artificers' Club in this town is a case in point. After the expression of opinion pronounced from the Bench by his HONOUR on this matter, we conceive he is in duty bound to introduce a measure into our Insular Legislature that will stop the propagation of the gigantic evil which he so justly stigmatizes; and if such a bill should be introduced by him, he may rely upon it that it will receive our most cordial support.

The final nail in the coffin came 6 months later:

Mona's Herald, Thursday, 5th November 1874

ISABELLA NOY v THE STEWARDS OF THE STRANGFORD UNION SOCIETY.

Mr. CANNELL. on behalf of the plaintiff, explained that the suit was brought to recover £10. amount due to her as funeral money for her late husband.

Mr. SHERWOOD : Our defence will be that there is an alteration of the rule.

Mr. CANNELL : The plaintiff's husband had been a member of the club for 47 years. It is under rule 17 that the widow is entitled to the money.

Mr. SHERWOOD : We will proceed on rule 25. We admit that the plaintiff would be entitled to the money if the rule had not been altered.

Mr. CANNELL : I will just examine the plaintiff to arrive at the facts of the case. The plaintiff was then examined, and swore that her husband had died on the fifth of March last; that he had been a member of the Strang club for upwards of 47 years ; and that he was a member at the time of his death. Witness had applied to the club for £10, but the stewards had refused to pay it.

For the defence, James Kelly, one of the stewards of the society, was called. He deposed that he was present at a special meeting on the 20th February, 1874, which was called to consider the best means of paying the club and sick money. A resolution was passed at that meeting, but he could not tell whether it had been brought on three meetings.

Cross-examined : Witness only received notice of the resolution for one night. The club was going to the bad and the special meeting had been called to consider the best means of remedying matter. The resolution. which had been proposed by witness was carried by a show of hands. There were 30 or 40 members, present at the time. There were about 100 members in the club.

Thomas Caneen, the President, was next called, and identified his signature to the resolution. He could not say whether the matter was called on three nights. He believed it was three nights, because it was the rule to do so.

Cross-examined : The resolution was not written down at the time of the meeting, but minutes were taken of the proceedings and the resolution was signed afterwards. The reason that the minutes of the other meetings were not entered was because the one entry was supposed to be sufficient.

His HONOUR: What we want to know is whether there was any minute taken at the first or general meeting.

Witness : I think there was. It was marked on a bit of paper but not entered into the book The book produced is the only book of the society.

John Gelling, another of the stewards, stated that as the meeting in question was called as a special one the resolution was not brought on three nights. It was regularly proposed and passed at the meeting.

Mr. CANNELL stated that the society were bound by their rules to bring the resolution on for three nights.

At this point the case was held over until the rules had been inspected, but later on in the day Mr. Sherwood reported that he could not find any rule that would prevent the society paying the burial money. His HONOUR therefore granted execution for £10 and costs.

Mona's Herald, Thursday, 29th April 1875;

THE STRANG CLUB.

The members of the Strangford Union Benefit Society have resolved to dissolve the society, and the funds will be divided amongst the members.

Isle of Man Times, Saturday, 15th May 1875

Strangford Union Benefit Society

Notice is Hereby Given that at a meeting of the Members of this Club, held at the Strang Club Room, on Monday last, the Resolution of the meeting held on the 5th day of April, 1875, was confirmed, viz., that the Society be Dissolved, and that the Stewards and President wind up its affairs as soon as possible, and, after paying all expenses, debts, and liabilities, divide the funds of the Society equally among the existing members.

JOHN GELLING, President May 7, 1875

Property Records and Key Officers

Some 8 legal deeds may be found that name the President and two stewards.

Alexander Broom is noted as 45 year old mason at Mount Rule in 1841 census but buried Braddan 18450406 age 56 ?bapt Mic 17900502 s/o Wm Broom + Ellinor Garret
Matthis Cain possibly 35yr old blacksmith at Baldwin in 1841 or his father Mathias schoolmaster who d. age 92 bur Onc 18570416
George Moore probably 44 yr old farmer at Mount Rule in 1841
Edward Cowley possibly 50 yr old Ag Lab at Strang in 1841
Kermod Taubman can be found in 1841 census as a 40 year old married miller at Glen Willan but no burial or appearance in a later census;
Thomas Caveen age 42 shoemaker emp 2men + 2boys Mount Rule in 1861
William Kinley ?tailor age 52 Union Mills in 1851

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2026