This article concerns the only old letter from the Isle of Man which I have ever seen. It is dated 1820, but the writing and spelling is so individual, that it is impossible to read the month. The postmark is also illegible being smudged and incomplete, (Fig.1)
For readers not familiar with that part of the world the Isle of Man is a part of the United Kingdom, and lies in the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland. It has a long history, and also an interesting postal history. In 1766 Douglas – the capital city – became a sub-office under Whitehaven, (on the mainland) and as early as5.7.1767 a regular packet service was established between the two ports. The Whitehaven packets ran until 1822. From this, it seems likely that the smudged postmark could be Douglas and not Ramsey.
The other two postal markings have no indication of the date. The boxed additional ½d was applied in Carlisle, and this particular type listed in Hodgson & Sedgewick as type 3a, F161 was in use from 8.6.1816 to 27.1.1826. The ‘9’ charge mark was made up of the shipping cost from Douglas to Whitehaven on the mainland, then road to Dumfries via Carlisle. This image shows the route on a map(Fig.2)
The Isle of Man has a democratically elected parliament called the Tynwald, which exercises full control of internal finances and territorial waters. A stamp was issued marking the 1000th anniversary of this Viking introduced institution.
So now back to the letter, which is addressed to Mr Broun, at an illegible place which looks like Nothrevwood, by Dumfries. (See Fig.1) However, I can find nothing even vaguely like this on the map of the Dumfries area.
The spelling in the letter is not standardised, probably phonetic, and spoken with a Manx accent This may prove difficult at first glance, but apart from words like ‘Conterery’ which is obviously ‘contrary’, most of it can be understood. The date is difficult to decipher (see illustration –Fig.6),
but looks as though it is ‘May’.
Ramsey 14 Of May<?>
Mr Broun
Der Sir I on Satterday last received a letter from my son Hugh which from Conterery winds the Packet was staid for a week. He desir’d me to forward his caracter and sertificats from his diferint imployers which I hier inclose to you to be post’d at Whaithaven. I am sorie to put you to so much expences but I hop to have it in my powr yet to sattisfaie you for the saim. his trunk, with sum shirts and Bouks are sent to your cair by Smak from this to Whaithaven than to be sent by a Dumfries traider and if ther is none of the Dumfries sloops than it is to be left with Mr Handery for first opportunity if any of the sloops from your port are going to Whaithaven please caus them to call in cais it is thair for want of one opportunity I will estim it a partickler favour if you will writ me and say what appointment you have given him as his mother is very onhapies until she hers of his settlement and a letter from your hand will give her grait comfort.
I have wrot him by saim post and no dout if he is at Bankpattrick as saim as it araves then he will call on you or if he is with you it is directed to Cair of John Ball and left at the Black Bull Inn <sands?> Dumfries whair he can call for it
I beg as he is now under your Cair that you will gave him your good advaice which I trust he will attend to in ivery partikler
I am my dear Sir your most sincair frind and wellwisher John CarriePS I surely intend being in Dumfries in Caus of this Sumer whain I will mak free to call and see you
J.C.
I could find no information about the writer of the letter, John Carrie, but Mr. Broun, the addressee is of interest. A web search shows that he was born in 1768 and died on 30 November 1844 at age 76. He succeeded to the title of 7th Baronet Broun of Coulston, in 1781 but did not assume the title until 19 March 1826. So when this letter was written he was still plain Mr. Broun. He gained the rank of officer in the service of the 30th Foot, serving for 10 years in the West Indies, during the Caribbean insurrection. In 1799 he raised a troop called the Lockerbie Volunteers, and he lived at Coulston Park, Lochmaben, Dumfries. That does not seem to be the address written on this letter, but obviously the Post Office officials would have known Mr Broun, and been able to deliver the letter.
Many of our old letters have given me a similar challenge – and when it is coupled with the ‘crossed’ writing, it is even worse - but this is all part of the appeal of postal history.