RootsChat.Com

Hello All

I hope you are keeping well, or getting better (delete whichever is applicable). Do you remember Forms like that?

I feel like this Winter has been a bit tough, so nice to see the Sun and so glad to get beyond December and looking forward to a nice Spring.

I am going to try the:-  Tai Chi For Beginners in the next few days.

I suppose they make the money from the amount of views, likes and comments and advertising.

The movements suggest it looks like it would be good for inflammatory conditions too, because many movements are covered and the way it is done draws the energy in and then away with the arms and there are breathing exercises as you go.

My inflammation is back in my right forearm, with numbness toward wrist (cleared at moment) and a rash trying to clear and my right knee needs a Sports support bandage for a short time when out walking, it usually clears in a few days.

So there is movement, relaxation and a psychology to it as well in Tai Chi. Nothing strenuous like a gym.


This evening though, a nice shower and an earlier night and dream of the Bounty advert on the 'Island of Paradise' (and being the only man there) came into my mind today for some odd reason.

The only thing is, knowing my luck a coconut will drop off a palm and just miss my edd with a thud in the sand in my dream!

Like this morning I was in dream sleep (can't remember what) and a single thud on the front door ... I shot upright and thought oh Sainsburys! ... No, not an expletive, a delivery, so I was at the door in my Boxer Shorts, my bed top and a hastily grabbed sleeveless waistcoat fleece zipped it up.

I opened the Front door with the Hall light on and said I hope you have not been here long and he said with a chuckle only 59 minutes ... really? I enquired. He replied, not really - just arrived and we had a quick laugh.

Sainsburys didn't have to send a man dressed like Shackleton the Polar explorer, but it was extremely cold as the house warmth started a reaction with the severe cold and frost from outside.

Only one Rump steak, I ordered 5? As I counted the salmon and meats (Substituted for 1, so there is a shortage).

Probably send UK into panic buying now.

He said ... you ain't going to starve are you and I replied no, I don't think so, with a smile and then thought of some of the unfortunate who would be pleased to receive this.

Yesterday was Vit D day, out for a walk in the midday Sun.

Mark

Seems, Richard Townley, Esq., who wrote about the Isle of Man was a Colonel residing on the island for about two years.

The 1960 newspaper refers to 1789 and the then Governor of the Isle of Man Edward Smith, using Great Meadow, as his Summer residence and the Antiquarian refers to Colonel Richard Townley's Journal.


Isle of Man Daily Times, 29th March 1960

This interesting fact was disclosed by a past president of the Antiquarian Society, Mr. Neil Mathieson, F.S.A. Scot.. who discovered an extract in Colonel Richard Townley's Journal (now in the Manx Museum). Col. Townley wrote that in September 12th 1789 he had called upon the Governor of the Island at "Big Meadow".


Another Isle of Man newspaper (1st May 1889) refers to Colonel Townley residing there 1790 and 1791.


Barrack Street, Douglas was named after the Barracks there, so probably based in the Barracks.


A possible is Colonel Richard Townley of Belfield Hall, nr Rochdale, Lancashire, but not 100% confirmed to be the one on the Isle of Man c.1789 - c.1791.

If he was linked, it would show that the Townley Family had a link (albeit only a few years) with the Isle of Man.

Mark


Added:

Other mining families have named places on their English Estates after places they had connections with abroad.

So perhaps they had links with Havannah as well.

Quote from: Elliven on Monday 05 January 26 23:52 GMT (UK)

In 1859 the Burns brothers, mentioned in our previous posts, sunk a new shaft in West Stanley Colliery and named it The Kettledrum Pit.  Co-incidence?

The site of West Stanley Colliery lay within Charles Towneley’s estate.

Agree.
In my reply #57 mentioned a farm at West Stanley (in a Court Case) was owned by Col Townley.

The Townley Family had 40,000 acres of property and land in several Counties, when Claims were made to the British Government, resulting in an Act of Parliament (see my previous pieces, replies 56, 57, 59).

The Durham parts were known as the Vane Tempest Estates which came into the Townley family Reply #59.

Mark

Shields Daily News 29th September 1885

THE TOWNLEY CLAIMANTS
 ...

 ... The estates cover 40 000 acres of land in England. They are known as the Townley estates, in the counties of York and Lancashire, and the Vane Tempest Estates, comprising extensive mining properties at Stella, Blaydon, Ryton, Winlaton, and Stanley in the County of York, Lancashire, and Durham. They are now in the hands of the Imperial Government and managed by the Marquis of Londonderry. Elizabeth Townley, of Lancashire, England, married Sir Robert Lawrence in 1504, and she was willed 30,000,000 dols., which was never paid over. Mary Townley married John Lawrence in 1693. The Vane Tempest estate came to the Townley family through the marriage of Sir Richard Townley to the heiress of Lord William Widdrington in 1665. ...

According to the newspaper, apparently an Act of Parliament was passed on August 4th, to deal with the claims.

1883 Book
In 1883 James Usher published a book
History of the Lawrence - Townley, And Chase - Townley Estates in England.

There is a copy on Open Library which directs you to archive.org but seems to deal with the Lancashire Townley Pedigree and their links.

Seems to be nothing for Whitehaven or Stanley on the quick search. But a reference to Cumberland and Durham.

Page 23
But they have

 ... estates known as Townley Hall, Howard Estate, and Widdrington Estate, and found over thirty thousand acres of improved lands, and city and village property, therefore yielding all a large revenue. That the three estates above named are lying in the Counties of Cumberland, Durham and Lancashire.

The 107 page book is far too brief to deal with the acreages mentioned.

If the Act of Parliament has a full Survey of the all lands, you should get a lot more detail and usually names of individuals occupying the properties, farms, lands and places (the Tenantry, when Surveyed).

ADDED:
There are quite a few references to "Townley Hall" on Rootschat?

But whether you can discover the Manx naming connection and why, I leave that up to you.

Mark

I wonder if it was Townley of Stanley Hall (and not Stanley), with the Isle of Man connection?


Northumberland Record Office
NRO 438/A/10
1868
Lease from Charles Towneley to D. and J. H. Burn of West Stanley Hall Farm

Stanley, Durham, was part of the former Manor of Stanley, it would seem.

Townley of Stanley Hall, Co. Durham
(Which was situated a little West of Stanley Township, Durham)

Townley, surname is of Anglo-saxon origin.

The following known as Townleys Journal of 1791 and Richard Townley Esq., looks to have had a connection with the Isle of Man according to a Book there?

 ---------------

A JOURNAL KEPT in the ISLE of MAN

ANTIQUITIES OF VARIOUS KINDS, NOW EXTANT THERE:

A Trait of the Manners and Customs, both general and peculiar, of the Inhabitants

An Account of their Harbours; great Usefulness of Douglas Harbour; Neglect, and Want of Repairs.

Description of their Noble Herring Fishery, &c.

TOGETHER WITH A LARGE

APPENDIX:

TOGETHER WITH

EXPLANATORY NOTES and OBSERVATIONS.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

By RICHARD TOWNLEY, ESQ.

VOLUME THE SECOND.

WHITEHAVEN

Douglas January 1st 1790

" BUT my learned and Right Reverend author, Bishop Rutter, in his manuscript now by me, agrees with Mr. Camden, in the situation as before, and observes farther, that the original of the Stanleys was of Saxon extraction; as indeed, I find by the best and approved antiquaries, were all the families in England. whole surnames end in ley, ton, (b) and comb ; as Bolton, Dalton, Walton, Sefton, Singleton, &c. &c. also Stanley, Tyldsley, Townley, Mawdsley, Walmfley, &c. &c. and also Duncomb, Tidcomb, Jacomb, and Edgecomb ; and that the family now before us was seated at Stoneley as aforefaid, and is of opinion that the Stanleys might assume their surname; from that lordship ; which is very probable, with respect to the name, the soil being, as above, of a rough, stony nature; and that nothing was more common and usual, in those early times, than for families to give surnames to their seats; or to take them from that of the fact; of which we have many instances in our own memories; as well as in history.


Comment

I am wondering if the Richard Townley Esq., who appeared to have had a connection or interest with the Isle of Man, was related to the Townley family Landowners of Stanley, Durham?


They want the old Ferry Service to be reinstated
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4z1dvdnjdo


Mark