Diary of the Reverend William Kermode (1814-1890), father of P M C Kermode and Josephine Kermode (Cushag)

Date(s): 1839-1843

Scope & Content: Diary covers the period from 24 March 1839 to 14 February 1844: this covers the period of William's career as Chaplain at Dalby and Lezayre, having been ordained as a deacon in 1839. He begins the diary by describing 'a new part of his life'; there is a description of his religious training and church services. He describes his duties as a chaplain, his daily activities and where he visited. William also writes of his religious feelings and thoughts. There are comments about Manx society and Kermode's attitudes: he writes 06 June 1839 whilst in Peel 'I was going down the street I found a great crowd of children at the door of a public house and I learnt that several of them had been in drinking. I immediately ordered the house to be cleared and lectured the landlady very severely. Dreadful state of immorality!' Other content includes detailed commentary on events such as the funeral of a Mr Llewellyn in 1840, off island visits, difficulties traveling around the Island by horse or on foot. William writes of his visits to Ballcosnahan where his first wife Mary Ann lived: on 02 October 1840 he writes ' I love her more and more! Oh what a blank my life would be were it not cheered by her!' William also writes of their marriage on the 04 November 1840 at Patrick, the birth of William John Kermode in August 1841, and Mary Ann's death in February 1844. The last entry is a colour sketch with the caption 'St Maughold's Church with its old cross as it now stands-a little memento for dear Willie sh'd the almighty spare him' 24 February 1844.

Administration / Biographical History: William Kermode (1815–1890) of Maughold second son of Thomas Kermode and Magaret Callow (heiress of Claughbane, Maughold). He attended King William's College 1833-1836, Trinity College Dublin 1837 or 1838, ordained as a deacon in 1839. Chaplain of Dalby, Patrick 1839-1840; Chaplain of Lezayre 1840-1843; Chaplain of St Paul's Ramsey 1843-1871; Vicar of Maughold 1871-1877; Rector of Ballaugh 1877-1890. President of IOMNHAS in 1884. Married three times: 1. Mary Ann Judy Griffiths 4 November 1840 Patrick they had one son John William Kermode 1841-1865, Mary Ann died 14 Febuary 1844; 2. Jane Bishop 1819-1858 married 1845 their children were: Charles Chatterley 1846-1878, Mary Ann Emily (Minnie) 1848 married Reverend Stephen N. Harrison in 1876, Frederick Bishop 1849-1936, George Harper 1850-1850, Margaret Letitia Josephine 1852-1937, Thomas 1853?, Beata Theodosia 1854-1864, Philip Moore Callow 1855-1932, Georgiana Sophia Elizabeth 1856-1945 (married Wiscon in Wyoming 1898); 3. Margaret Pizey (1827-1903) married in 1860 their children: Caroline Matilda Cherill 1860-1946, Sidney Alfred Pizey 1862-1925 (Rev of Onchan), Amy Rosa Roberta 1864-1926 married de Vere Skrine 1889, Griffith Theodore 1865-1951. Reverend Kermode died in 1890; he is buried in Maughold Churchyard.

Language: English

Extent: 1 volume

Item name: Diary

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FONDS

ID number: MS 08620

Retrieval number: MD 12559

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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