Copies of Correspondence of Governor Dawson 1778-1783
Date(s): 1778-1783
Creator(s): various
Scope & Content: Copy letters relating to the administration of the Island including court hearings; Paul Jones's activity; Watch & ward; the militia; summoning The Keys to meet; constabulary; guard duties; Public House licences; instructions to the Coroners; permission required to leave the island; Surveyors and Highways; fines and amercements; game shooting; gunpowder; chimney fires; John Tear of Maughold as public executioner; deserters Thomas Crellin, John Spence and James Heron; appointment of Surgeon Patrick Scott of Douglas; the neglect of ships passengers; chief constable George Stowell being beaten by Thomas Cowin of Peel (witness Mary Bodin), Public fasts, the state of the old bridge on Castletown river, Gilbert McHutchin appointed Chief Constable, permission needed to export potatoes, grain, corn, poultry or eggs; summoning jury's; Parochial Surveyors; the case of Alice Stevenson- widow of Richard Stephenson of Balladoole and Dublin, also known as spinster Alice Waters of Dublin (1749), the clarks oath, and various written questions for witnesses in Dublin regarding the Stevensons.
Administration / Biographical History: There is an article about these letters- see Mona's Herald, Tuesday, December 21, 1937; Page: 6
HANGMAN ARRESTED IMPRISONED UNTIL HE FULFILLED HIS CONTRACT.
How a Maughold farmer took on the job of Common Executioner, but shirked when called upon to fulfil the duties of the office, is told in a document from the Diocesan Registry, whicii is reproduced in the December issue oj "Th<- Journal of the Manx Museum." It is an order issued by Governor Dawson from Castle Rushen. " on 10th April. 17S1 . to the Jailer of Castle Rushen, and stated that John Tare (or Teare) of the parish of Kirk Maughold, husbandman, in the year 1770, became bound to the King that he would perform the duties of Common Executioner in the Island whenever required, and was duly sworn. Two convicts were then in Castle Rushen lying under sentence of death, and it had been found necessary "to apprehend tlie said John Tare in order to be secure and forthcoming to execute the said sentence at the place and time appointed for that purpose according to his duty in that behalf."'The Jailer was therefor ordered to receive John Tare into custody in Castle Rushen, and there to safel y keep and detain him for the duty aforesaid, until further order to the contrary was given.
Isle of Man Examiner, Friday, September 09, 1927; Page: 8
Letters of Governor Dawson
In our last issue we quoted from the official correspondence of Richard Dawson, Lieunt.Governor of the Isle of Man'.... 'which correspondence, after having remained at Castle Rushen, under imperfect means of preservation, is now housed at the Museum. Governor Dawson lived in a period when England was more or less constantly in a stale of war, with France or the insurgent American colonies, and the Isle of Man was frequently vexed with alarms of the close proximity of enemy ships. It was in this period that the daring American privateer Paul Jones committed depredation on the very coast of Great Britain, shelling Whitehaven and committing considerable damage. Readers may remember how the French privateer Francois Thurot, before he met his doom at the hands of EIIiott near Ramsey, had robbed and burned the Irish town of Carrickfegus. The shortest sea passage to the Isle of Man, then as now, was from Whitehaven, and fears were entertained that bold Taul wonld run across to the Island and make himsel.' troublesome. The Governor therefore calls upon the Insular militia to he vigilant, and to observe most strictly the obligations of watch and ward from the hilltops. On the 24th April, 177 S, he writes to ihe captains of militia at Castletown, Douglas, Ramsay and Peeltown'...'And you are also to cause strict watch and ward 10 be kept within your i>'strict as the law directs, and the Wardens p_ 'such Watches are hereby strictly enjoined upon the ..ppeariuce or apprehension of an Enemy lo make signals upon every alarm and return regular reports immediately to you of all ships and vessels and number of boats thev shall observe hoverine about or approaching towards this Isle '....'And in case you apprehend your force is insufficient to oppose them and , revent such their Landing and committing acts of Deveasiation on chis Isle, vou are then forthwith to give information thereof in writing to the Captain or Captains of Militia of parishes adjacent to you that they with their companies may give their aid and assistance to oppose the Enemy and protect this Isle as occasion shall require.And the several and respective captain?, and companies of militia throughout this Isle are hereby Ordered and strictly Enjoined to be aiding and assisting to each other to the utmost of their power iu the Repulsion of the Enemy and ihe protection of this Isle according to Law as often as thereunto required, as they and every of them shall answer the contrary at their peril'...'In the same day instructions were given to the captains of the militia of Castletown, Malew, Arbory, Rushen, and Santon, ordering them, "whereas in this time of danger it is found necessary to keep a guard of twenty men everv night in Castle Rushen," to supply twenty men nightly, everv fifth night from Castletown or one of the parishes enumerated, for this purpose'..
BEACONS ON MAUGHOLD HEAD TO WARN CUMBERLAND.On the 19th May, 1779, Paul Jones is heard of again, and the Governor thus circularises the captains of all the towns and parishes : "Whereas I have received advice that Paul Jones latelv sailed from Brest with four or five sail of armed vessels and a number of land forces in boats, and that ihe said Jones being well acquainted with this channel, there is too great reason to apprehend that his Designs are against some part of these coasts, and as this Isle is the most profitable place of rendevous—You are therefore hereby ordered and required to cause Watch and Ward to lie strictlv observed and kept at the usual places in vour town [or parish!, and that a Horseman do always attend in readiness to bring unto me an account by Express of such Intelligence as may occur to the said Watch, specifying ihe Number and Oualitv of such ships or vessels as shall be observed by the said Watch upon the occasion.
And you are also requested to have the militia of vour town [or parish] in readiness to assemble with their best arms and weapons of defence at the shortest notice, so that I may give them such orders for the protection and safety of the Isle as shall be found expedient upon so alarming an occasion. And herein vou, the Wardens of the Watch, Horsemen, Militia, and all others whom it may concern, are not to fail, as you and each of you shall answer the contrary at your peril'.In the case of the parish of Maughold and " the town ..1 Ramsey, the following clause was added to this precept 'vou are likewise strictly required to cause " a sufficient Quantity of Gorse c.r other ffewel to be provided on Kirk Maughold Head, and to take particular care that the same be set .,11 Fire ill the beginniag of or in any part of the night when an.l after there be any ceitain account or appearance of the ______ "n this Cast, in order 10 give the alarm to the coast of Cumberland thereof. And vou are also to observe an.l send an immediate Express to nie upon any apliearance of a Fire upon St. bee's Bead, besides the Light House, as such Extrai.rilin.irv File is ordered to he made there to give the people 0/ this Isle the signal in case the Enemy shall make their descent on those Coasts."
LIMITlNG THE EXPORTATION of FOOD .There are probably members of the agricultural community to-day who would approve, with some reservations to suit their own convenience, of an order like this : —
"Whereas ii hath been represented ...it appears that there is it present a Scarcity of provisions in the said Isle, and particularly in the Articles Hereinafter mentioned '.....''it is nerebv strictly ordered and required, that from and after the 31st Day of March Instant until the 1st day of August inclusive no person or persons whatsoever do presume to export from off this Isle any Corn, Grain, flour, Meal, Potatoes, Poultry, or Eggs, under any pretence whatsoever, is they would avoid the penalties of Law."
Language: English
Extent: 1 file
Physical description: Conserved copyletters: bound
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: FONDS
ID number: MS 12988
Record class: Public Records
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