ROBERT JOYNER to CHARLES COSNAHAN

Settlement - 1737 (Douglas)

Know all whom it may concern that I Robert Joyner of the town of Douglas being old, sickly and infirm for several years past and nobody to provide for or take care of me in this my old and declining condition but my son in law Charles Cosnahan and his wife Margaret my daughter who out of the tender love and regard they bear unto me have promised and hereby obliged themselves, executors and assigns to find and provide me with meat, drink, washing, lodging, clothing and other necessities befitting my condition during my natural life and in order to make them such small satisfaction as lies in my power do therefore (as I have the sole right in myself) make over unto them a certain dwelling house, backside and garden by Deed of Gift as is hereafter mentioned

Therefore be it known that I the said Robert Joyner for the causes above recited do hereby give, grant, settle, confirm and make a full, perfect free Deed of Gift forever unto the said Charles Cosnahan and Margaret his wife of all that dwelling house, backside and garden which adjoins to the rent of Mr Quayle Somervil towards the east and to Charles Joyner’s executor's rent towards the west, the garden adjoining to Richard Killey’s rent, the whole premises being of about fourteen pence rent be the same more or less as also all other my goods moveable and immoveable whatsoever and wheresoever

To have and to hold unto him the said Charles Cosnahan and Margaret his wife the said dwelling house, backside and garden forever together with all and every my household goods and effects of what nature or kind soever, immediately after my decease without any claim, challenge or demand to be made by any person whatsoever, he the said Charles Cosnahan and Margaret his wife paying the annual rents and customs usual and for the avoiding of all disputes and controversies that might any ways arise or happen touching the disposal made already by me, do hereby cut off and debar all lawful claimers with one English shilling legacy when the same shall be lawfully demanded. And for his the said Charles Cosnahan’s further security of the said dwelling house, backside and garden together with all and every the goods and chattels beforementioned, I the said Robert Joyner have put the said Charles Cosnahan and Margaret Cosnahan in full and peaceable possession by the gift and delivery of one English shilling in the name of Possession Livery and Seizin of all and singular the said premises according to the custom of the Island

And for the true and faithful performance of all and singular the articles and conditions beforementioned, we the said parties do bind and oblige ourselves, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns the one to the other in the penalty and forfeiture of one hundred pounds sterling to be levied according to law.

Witness our hands and seals May 9th 1737 Robert Joyner (seal), Charles Cosnahan (seal), Margaret Cosnahan (seal)

Signed, sealed, Possession Livery and Seizin given in presence of Silvester Corris, Thomas Cannell

16th May 1737 Robert Joyner came and hath acknowledged the within and above Deed of Gift to be his free and voluntary act and deed and Charles Cosnahan and his wife do acknowledge the obligation within to be performed by them. And this before me Charles Moore

At a Sheading Court hold at Douglas 16th May 1737 The above and within Deed of Gift and Obligation being acknowledged before the Deemster and now published in open Court and no objection offered against it the same therefore is allowed of and confirmed according to law. Charles Moore, Dan Mylrea, Charles Stanley, Allen Stanley, William Christian

[Ref: SSS May 1737 #63]

NOTES

  1. Charles Cosnahan was the son-in-law of Robert Joyner. He was the second husband of Margaret Joyner, Robert's older daughter
  2. Daughter Margaret b1686 had first married Robert Quillin in 1717 (children: Richard b1717, Robert b1718, William b1719, Susannah b1721). He died in 1722 and she then married Charles Cosnahan 1724 (chn = Francis b1726, Charles b1727, Margaret b1728)
  3. Charles Cosnahan was a glover and born in 1686, as was Charles Joyner, his brother-in-law
  4. Only Joyner son, Charles, was also a glover. And given a similar settlement in 1727. He died in 1729 so this current Settlement with Robert's son in law might have been necessary to ensure Robert had someone to look after him in his old age
  5. The statement about cutting off and debarring all lawful claimants might be an indication that their other daughter Emma, to whom her mother had left her half of their house "if Robert had no need of it", was alive and with this Deed of Gift meant she was left nothing by her father
  6. Robert Joyner was baptised 1653 so he was in his 80s when he made the Settlement
  7. Robert Joyner died 1744: his MI in Malew church - Robert Joyner, mariner, buried Braddan and the parish records "old Robert Joyner aged 91"
  8. MI, Santon: Margaret Cosnahan alias Quillian alias Joiner from Malew, buried the 11 March 1764
  9. The Joyners (Robert & Margaret) might have been relatively wealthy. Robert inherited several allotments in Douglas from his father, William Joyner (b1628), and Margaret enjoyed a similar legacy from her mother, Catherine. See manxroots.info for more detail in the 1705 Survey of Douglas allotments [12/15, 13/09, 16/05] The allotments were on (now) Barrack St
  10. This current gift amounted to about 1/3 of cottage allotment #75
  11. The other 2/3 had been settled on son Charles Joyner in 1727 and then passed to his four children - John, Robert, Charles & Ellinor ( a fifth had died in infancy)
  12. The Cosnahans sold their share of cottage #75 to Robert Brown in 1746
  13. NOTE: Be aware that cottage allotment numbers changed over time as Douglas expanded. Rent and neighbours are key elements in confirming whether the tenants (eg Robert Joyner) have changed properties or whether they have remained stable while the allotment number from one LA to the next has changed

Associated Documents

From Summary of Wills, A Manx Notebook

1730-1 E d JOYNER Charles d 14 dec; ch Jon, Robt, Ellinr + Charles all ua, uncle Charles Cosnahan jt supv with wife Jony als Clucas; claims; inv; debts - Court allows widow to mortgage houses

 

Last updated: Sept 2019