Caesar Cashin

Epithet: Fisherman, Manx Gaelic linguist (1856-1943)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

A native speaker of Manx Gaelic, Caesar Cashin had an extensive knowledge of local customs and lore and was an enthusiastic member of Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh. One of the founding members of the Peel Manx Language Association in 1897 (which later led to Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh) he taught a Manx class in Peel as well as contributing to the national society's publications: 'The Shores of Baie Mooar' in Mannin, and a recipe for her­ ring broth in the 1908 Manx Cookery Book. He was one of the chief mourners at the funeral of William Cashen, the legendary custodian of Peel Castle, and as one of the Peel Players he carried Sophia Morrison's coffin in 1917.

As a speaker of the language he was highly regarded. He was recommended to Professor Carl Johan Sverdrup Marstrander who recounts stories of their meetings in his Dagbok. Not only did he rate him highly as a speaker; Marstrander also thought Caesar Cashin an extremely pleasant man. Cashin was one of the first group of Manx speakers to be recorded by Sophia Morrison and William Cashen, contributing two hymns (titles not known).

In common with many of his generation, for a period Caesar ' went to the herrings'. On giving up fishing, he kept contact with the sea through yachting. He later set up a greengrocery and confectionery business.

Leslie Quirk (1914-2004, a leading figure in the 20th century language revival) went with his brother and sister to Caesar's Manx class in the Harbourmaster's Office in Peel around 1932. Learning by reading from the Bible, they also delighted in listening to Caesar speaking. Leslie wrote of Caesar that he was, without doubt, Ayr ny Gaelgey, the father of Gaelic, in Peel in those days. His Gaelic was wonderful to hear, his pronunciation reflecting a belief that 'two II r"s will do for English, but you need three in Manx.'

Leslie always talked of Caesar's Manx being more idiosyncratic, and perhaps more natural, accounting for this by the fact that Caesar had learnt much of the language from older relations. Oscar Mac Uilis (Willys), a friend of Leslie's through the Celtic Congress and a talented linguist, told Leslie to keep hold of every word he heard from Caesar, because his pronunciation sounded just right, lying somewhere between Irish and Scots.

Leslie recounted that, for many years, his family went with Caesar to Eairy Cushlin every Good Friday in an old Ford van. Caesar would tell them stories about the land round about. One story was about the pub at Niarbyl, which comprised two houses under one roof, with two women looking after them. There was one door at the north end and one at the south. 'Many times you would hear one of the women shouting, 11 Come in this way, boy, there's good drink in here!" and another voice, just as loud, from the other side of the house, 11 Come in this way, boy, there' s better drink in here!"

Leslie remembered Cashin as one of the best customers for milk (which he used to make ice cream) from the Quirk family farm at Ballanayre. He gave up his shop during World War I to supervise cargo boats discharging goods destined for the prison camp at Knockaloe.

A keen member of the primitive Methodist Church in Peel, Caesar Cashin was described by (later sir) Joseph Davidson Qualtrough, Speaker of the House of Keys, as ‘a patriot, a Manx scholar and a fine character’. His funeral service included the hymn 'Give me the wings of faith', 'heartily sung' in the Manx language. His gravestone in Peel Cemetery has the inscription: Ayns y Chiarn ta mish cur my hreishteil (I put my trust in the Lord).

Biography written by Leslie Quilliam with additional material from Breesha Maddrell.

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.71-3.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Nationality: Manx

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 1856

Date of death: 30 May 1943

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