CHARLES KILLEY jnr from THOMAS MURRAY

Purchase - 1761 (Braddan)

Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Murray late of the Isle of Man, but now of the parish of St Paul's Covent Garden, clerk, with the full and free consent of my wife Jane Murray testified by her being a party to and signing this deed and Bill of Sale but more especially for and in consideration of the full and entire sum seventy pounds of true and lawful money of Great Britain to us in hand paid before the execution and delivery of these presents by and from Mr Charles Killey of Douglas in said Isle, merchant, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge and thereof and of every part thereof do acquit him the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns by these presents

Have given, granted, bargained, passed over and sold and by these presents do give, grant, and forever bargain, pass over and sell from us the said Thomas Murray and Jane Murray, our and each of our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns unto him the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administratrs and assigns forever all that parcel of land commonly known by the name of Renscalt? meadow situate in the parish of KK Braddan, together with the last half year's rent payable to us out of the aforesaid premises preceding the first of November next old stile, which premises were devised unto the said Thomas Murray by the last will of John Murray, late of Douglas, merchant, deceased, which said meadow joins John Creer south, west and north, and William Corran easterly, being of the Lord's Rent of one shilling and two pence

To have and to hold all of the before granted premises with all its rights, members and appertenances with all ways, waters, watercourses, easements and liberties of what nature or sort soever thereunto belonging, to him the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever from us the said Thomas Murray and Jane Murray, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns he the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns yielding and paying thereout yearly all such boons, rents, fines, suits and services to the honourable the Lord of the said Isle and his heirs as, has or shall be settled and encumbent on the before granted premises at times and seasons usual accustomed, and we the said Thomas Murray and Jane Murray do further bind and oblige ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators to awarrant and defend him the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of all and singular the before granted premises with all its rights, members and appertenances against the pretension or claim of us, the said Thomas Murray and Jane Murray or any other person or persons whatsoever, the said honourable Lord of the said Isle only excepted and to do, perform and execute any other deed or deeds, thing or things which shall be reasonably devised, advised or required by council learned in the law for the better strengthening and confirmation of this present title deed to him the said Charles Killey, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns

And for the due and faithful discharge and performance hereof and every article, matter and thing herein beforementioned and comprised, we the said Thomas Murray and Jane Murray do for ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators covenant, promise and agree to and with him the said Charles Killey his heirs, executors and administrators in the penalty of one hundred and forty pounds to be levied and paid according to law

In testemony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals this twenty sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-one 1761. Thomas Murray (seal), Jane Murray (seal)

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us John Knowles, William Crebbin

12th November 1761 John Knowles and William Crebbin the subscribing witnesses to the before written Bill of Sale made oath upon the Holy Evangelist that they were by and present when Mr Thomas Murray and Mrs Jane Murray did sign, seal and duly execute the same as their voluntary act and deed. Mr William Crebbin made oath that the full consideration money mentioned in the deed was fully satisfied and paid unto Mr Robert Murray. This before me John Taubman

[Ref: N/SSS May 1769 #56]

NOTES

  1. Charles Killey jnr was the only surviving son of Charles Killey snr & Dorothy Gawn, and born in 1733
  2. When his father died in 1741, his land holdings were extensive, covering the quarterlands of Ballakermeen, Ballabroii and Ballawillingas well as several cottage allotments/houses in Douglas [#14,#15, #104, #105, #107, #108, #109], having grown from the gift of a house on allotment #104 (later renumbered 109) from his parents Jane and Richard Killey in 1723. The entire allotment #104 was described in Lib Assed three houses and two gardens 12d, another little house ¾d and a house and garden on the sand side 2d Total rent 14d. Included in #104 were two tenancies purchased by Richard in 1686 and 1692, and a third much more valuable tenancy which Jane had inherited from her parents. The allotments were on (now) Barrack St
  3. Next door neighbours were Phil Higgin and his wife Jane Mcylrea, and Robert Lewn, father of Margaret the wife of Thomas Mylrea
  4. When his father died, Charles jnr with his half-sister Elizabeth were heirs to a significant forture, Elizabeth's share somewhat smaller than Charles's since he had inherited his mother's half of the family fortune, and Elizabeth (from her father's second marriage) only a half of her father's. Robert Kennedy, Elizabeth's step-father, was her guardian and his name appears with Charles's in the land records for the jointly held properties because Elizabeth bequeathed her share to Kennedy when she died in 1758
  5. This current purchase is for a meadow in Braddan, and presumably extended Charles's farmland holdings. He had purchased another cottage allotment in Douglas (#41?) in the previous year. Charles jnr was showing signs that he resembled his father in acquiring property in Douglas and the surround area
  6. Charles jnr, also like his father, was a shopkeeper/merchant in Douglas, involved in the Manx import/export trade and on occasion, a partner in business with his father in law, Sir George Moore
  7. At the time of this purchase, Charles jnr was 28 years of age
  8. He had married Barbara Moore, the daughter of Sir George Moore of Ballamoore, in April 1757 and they had five children: Catherine (1759), Charles (1760-1765?), George Moore (1761), Dorothy (1762) and John (1764). All but John died before their father Charles jnr died, because John was described as "his only child" in the subsequent legal dealings
  9. The life of Charles jnr must have been difficult. He lost his mother at age 2, and his father at age 7, and although he inherited a significant fortune when he came of age, none of his own children survived and he (Charles jnr) died in his mid 30s, apparently in financial trouble: Philip Moore, his brother in law, in correspondence with his father Sir George said "I am sorry to hear Charles Killey''s affairs are in so disagreeable a situation", dated 25th July 1768 and written from Hallifax in Nova Scotia [MNHLA MS 2860c]
  10. Charles Killey jnr died in December 1768, at the age of 35. Hee died intestate, unlike his father who had left a detailed will for the distribution of his lands. The Court observed that "none of the next of kin by the father's side came forward to administer the goods of the deceased" (he had none) and awarded guardianship of the 5 year old to his grandfather, Sir George. Charles's widow, Barbara, married William Maxwell, a Scot, in 1779
  11. Sadly, a letter from George Moore another brother in law, writing to his father Sir George, tells of the death of Charles's remaining child: "I am very sorry to find the report of John Killey – Death is confirmed. Poor Bab will be in great affliction on this unfortunate event." and dated 18th March 1783 [MNHLA MS 2708c]
  12. In 1760, Charles Killey jnr bought back Elizabeth's share of the Killey lands from Robert Kennedy, Elizabeth's step-father. This move might have been economically disasterous for Charles
  13. Charles jnr sold his lands in Douglas to George Moore in 1767, the event recorded in 1768 LV. However, the sale documents do not seem to have survived
  14. This Charles Killey should not be confused with the individual who married Ann Waterson and died in 1766, because that Charles Killey had married daughters when he died in 1766 (MANX NOTEBOOK SUMMMARY - court states thos kermod h/o margt, wm gelling h/o ann,edwd taggart h/o isobel). This individual might have been part of the Malew Killey family
  15. NOTE: Be aware that cottage allotment numbers changed over time as Douglas expanded. Rent and neighbours become key elements in confirming whether the tenants (ie Charles Killey) have changed properties or whether they have remained stable while the allotment number from one LA to the next

Associated Documents

From Summary of Wills, A Manx Notebook

1759-1 E d KILLEY Richard d 17 dec 1758; only dau Ellinor admx; pledges John Christian carpenter, Matth Christian butcher (both Douglas). Is this his uncle?

Last updated: Dec 2020