Hugh Kerruish

Cubbon, under the name J Kerruish, summarises him as:

Kerruish was not a letterpress printer. He was for long while a bookseller, and he published some important prints. His visitors' guide-book was issued in 1849.

The J is I think a typo for H as no suitable J Kerruish can be indentified eg none appears in 1851 & 1861 censuses nor in directories. . Hugh Kerruish was noted as a draper in Duke Street in the 1841 census.

I'm not sure quite what important prints Cubbon is referring to - the guidebook is well illustrated by woodblocks - the three plates in my 'shilling edition' are good but not exceptionable; the 2s 6d Extra Edition indicates 5 additional plates.

The early address was 38, Duke Street. which is, I think, the property Hugh Kerruish, draper, bought in 1843 - SSS Oct 1843 23

[Douglas]dated 22 Apr 1843; long recitation of a trust deed set up by late Wm Chambers in 1833 - all parties, Samuel Harris + several family in Scotland, wanting a final division of property, sell for £700 to Hugh Kerruish (tailor, Douglas) that dwelling house yard + premises in Duke St with a right of entrance from Cambrian place, currently tenanted by John Ward bounded on south by Esther Fargher, on north by Andrew Croghan[Croughan] , on west by Duke st and on east by Cambrian place and a certain warehouse sold by sd parties to Roger Roney by deed of same date[SSS Oct 1843 36];parties in Douglas witnessed by Geo W Dumbell, Sam Harris jun. [John Ward was noted as a boot and shoe maker in the 1841 census]

from O/S plan XIII.13.2

Duke Street is on the left with the junction of King St and Duke Street shown - Cambrian Place is on the right showing the access from Cambrian place to the purchased property above the warehouse sold to Roney

A D. Kerruish is first noted in March 1848 when he announces that he has taken over the shop, at 40 Duke Street, lately occupied by O'Brien and that he has acquired O'Brien's Circulating Library and is awaiting alterations to be made in his new premises - 40 Duke Street was I think the neighouring property either directly below Hugh Kerruish's purchase or one property below directly opposite king Street. D. Kerruish's advert that he has opened a Circulating Library, Book and Stationary establishment first appeared on the 4th March 1848 in several papers, three weeks later on the 25th March it was altered to state H & D Kerruish have opened .. - the identical advert except this 'minor' edit.

In May 1848 there appears a legal advert re the estate of J B O'Brien requesting all debts to be paid and all claimants to give notice to L and G Crebbin and H Kerruish(acting trustee).

By the 3rd June 1848 H & D Kerruish's shop at 38 Duke Street is advertised as open -

An inspection of their LARGE AND VARIED STOCK, which has been personally selected in London from the Principal Houses, for Cash, is most respectfully solicited. All the STRANGERS' GUIDE BOOKS, VIEWS, AND MAPS OF THE ISLAND....A Largs Stock constantly on hand of LEDGERS, DAY BOOKS, CASH BOOKS, JOURNALS, MEMORANDUM. METALLIC COPY BOOKS, and General Stationery. A NEWS AND READING ROOM for the accommodation of Visitors, liberally supplied with London, Manx, and Provincial papers.

The shop drew a notice by the Manx Sun - "It will be seen by reference to an advertisement in our paper of to-day, that Messrs. Kerruish have supplied what has been too much wanted -a News and Reading Room for the accommodation of visitors to our delightful little Island, at very moderate charges. We recommend the undertaking to general support, knowing, as we do, that it will be carried on with right good spirit."

However in May 1849 there appeared a notice that the Business of a STATIONER and BOOKSELLER, lately carried on in Duke street, under the style and firm of HUGH KERRUISH and DANIEL KERRUISH, will in future be carried on in the name of the said HUGH KERRUISH, who alone is entitled to receive all moneys, and will discharge all Debts due by the said Firm.

These have to be the brothers Hugh and Daniel Kerruish - Hugh is noted as a Tailor and Draper in 1837, one of his apprentices, Thomas Callister, became a Mormon and left an account of his time with the Kerruishes. Hugh was obviously go-ahead, being an early adopter of gas-lighting for his shop. From census information he would appear to be born in 1806 but I cannot find any baptism on the Island - he appears to be missing from the 1861 census.

There are several loans by Hugh that shed some light on his business dealings:-

Registered Deed Aug 1849 48

[Douglas]dated 28 Aug 1849;Hugh Kerruish(draper & tailor, Douglas) + wife Sarah ack indebted for £275 @ 5% from Thomas Dinwoodie(rope-maker, Castletown) and Robert Kerruish(harbour master, Peel) trustees under deed of settlement from Wm Dinwoodie(Castletown) in favour of grandchildren, and give in security two certain adjoining dwelling houses, shops and premises in Duke St in Douglas now in occupation of Henry Green and John Mylrea bounded on west by Duke St, south by Mrs Fargher, on east by Cambrian Place and on north by late Andrew Croughan - sd property to be insured; witt J C Bluett, Richard Taylor; discharged 12 Apr 1854; Dinwoodie + Kerruish ack full repayment witt Ridgeway Harrison, John Kneale

Registered Deed Dec 1853 51

[Douglas]dated 29 Dec 1852 [?1853];Hugh Kerruish(tailor, Douglas) + wife ack indebted for £700 from Philip Moore(Derby Square Onchan [Douglas]) @ 6% and give in security Two certain dwelling houses, shops + premises in Duke St Douglas at present in occupation of Henry Green as tenant bounded on north by Andrew Croughan, on south by Esther Fargher, on east by Cambrian place and a warehouse the property of Roger Roney and on west by Duke St which sd houses + shops were purchased by Hugh Kerruish from Samuel Harris + others by deed dated 22 Apr 1843; witt Alfred Walter Adams, R J Roberts; [note orig dated 1853 but appears changed to 1852]; assigned 9 Nov 1854 by Philip Moore to Samuel Harris who on 9 Nov 1854 assigned to Miss Eliza Anne Porter(Onchan) (for whom Philip Moore is guardian) - on 20 Sep 1856 Hugh Kerruish paid off £250 Witt William Kneale;on 2 Dec 1856 Philip Moore acks received balance of debt and acks fully repaid.

The following deed explains his non-appearance in the 1861 IoM census - he can be found in Manchester

Registered Deed Feb 1855 45

[Douglas]dated 9 Feb 1855;recites that Wm Christian(baker, Douglas) + wife Elizabeth did on 26 Mar 1852 pass their B+S to Hugh Kerruish(then tailor of Douglas, but now printer of City of Manchester) for £300 encumbering that Dwelling house and premises in Strand Street Douglas now in occp of Alexander Brown(publican) bounded on east by sea shore, on south by late John Croughan, on east by Strand St and on north by John [blank] which property sd Wm Christian purchased from P Stephen by deed dated 21 May 1838, together with a dwelling house on Castle Mona Lawn being No 1 Clarence Terrace and in occup of - Bateman; now Hugh Kerruish assigns to James Quine(chemist + druggist, Douglas) for £300 sd B+S; Witt Thos Cowin, John Kerruish

By 1862 Hugh and wife appear to be back on Island but now living in Ramsey - probably at the same address as found at in the 1871 census - the sequence of deeds by which another well known printer and newspaper proprietor became owner of the Duke Street properties is still to be researched.

Registered Deed Dec 1862 65

[Douglas]dated 11 Dec 1862;Hugh Kerruish(Ramsey) + wife Sarah ack indebted for £500 @ 6% from Thomas Butler(surgeon, Douglas) and give in security the two houses and shops in Duke St Douglas now in occup of Henry Green + a piece of ground previously owned by late Wm Chambers and purchased from trustees of sd estate by Hugh Kerruish on 22 Apr 1843 bounded on west by Duke St, on north by Misses Croughan, on south by Alfred W Adams and on east by Cambrian Place and warehouse owned by Richard Roney; Witt Elizabeth Kerruish, Robert Teare; discharged 14 Nov 1885; William Okell + Rev Arthur Butler(Birmingham) exors of late Thos Butler ack full repayment from Samuel Keown Broadbent (printer + publisher, Douglas) and present proprietor of sd incumbered properties

In 1871 he is found, aged 66, as 'retired newspaper proprietor' living at 33 Bowring Road Ramsey with wife Sarah and daughter Sarah with her husband James Hannay (seed mercharchant) and their two children

However in the 1881 census he is a widower and inmate of the House of Industry so had obviously fallen on hard times.A burial at Maughold of a Hugh Kerruish aged 78 on 14th December 1883 is probably him - the burial register merely notes Lezayre (Bowring Road is in North Ramsey); no Memorial Inscription can be found..

His marriage to Sarah Lee (born c.1806) is noted at Braddan, 13 Oct 1838 - she is probably buried in Maughold age 70 in Jun 1875; three children are noted as baptised at St Mathew's Robert 1841, Elizabeth, 1844 and Sarah Eleanor 1847 - interestingly all baptised on 25 Dec! Thomas Callister states that Daniel, who had worked in London, left his brother c.1840, to set up shop 'in a town 10 miles distant' - this was most likely Ramsey though this is nearer 20 miles rather than Castletown or Peel which would fit the distance.

A Daniel Kerruish age 42, tailor, can be found at 1 Fancy Street Douglas in 1851 with wife Isabella

The 1849 guide is "A Hand Book for Visitors" Douglas: H & D Kerruish, 1849 pp 148 - Cubbon identifies some 3 editions, the later ones were edited by Thomas Booth - my copy is dated 1855 and entitled "Kerruish's New Illustrated Guide to the Isle of Man", published by Kerruish and Kneale, 38 Duke Street, the map has imprint 'H&D Kerruish, Douglas', though the few copperplate engravings have the imprint 'H.Kerruish, Douglas'. An advertisement within the guide gives the address of Kerruish & Kneale as 39 Duke street, noting that they offer a judicious selection of works of standard literature, illustrated note paper and view cards as well as a public newsroom and circulating library.

References

W. Cubbon Bibliography of works relating to the Isle of Man Vol II section L4 p1166 Douglas:1939

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor © F.Coakley, 2006