NICHOLAS MYLREA jnr & MARGARET KNEEN

MARRIAGE CONTRACT - 1774 (Ballaugh)

Articles of Marriage concluded and agreed upon between William Kneen and Catherine Kneen als Cowley his wife of Squeen in the parish of Ballaugh for and in behalf of their daughter Margaret Kneen of the one part and Nicholas Mylre snr and Joney Mylrea als Cowin his wife of said parish for and in behalf of their son Nicholas Mylrea jnr of the other part as follows: witnesseth

First It is agreed upon that the said Nicholas Mylrea junior and the said Margaret Kneen is to be joined together in the Holy Estate of matrimony within fourteen days next ensuing the date hereof, God and his holy church permitting the same.

Secondly It is hereby further agreed upon that we the said William Kneen and Catherine his foresaid wife do hereby give, grant, passover & estate upon their said daughter Margaret and intended son-in-law Nicholas Mylrea junior all and singular their property and interest in & unto their whole Intack land situate in the foresaid parish the sum being three distinct parcels commonly known and distinguished by the names Ellan-Beg, another of Croit e Churry and the other by the name of Cooilne Isingyn Nigh one moiety or half of the above premised parcels with the appurtenances thereunto belonging in present or immediate possession and the other half of the premis immediately after the decease of the said William Kneen and Catherine Kneen and the decease of the survivor or longer liver of whom the above premis to be possessed enjoyed by the said Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret Kneen his intended wife foresaid in all and every respect as above recited and specified and the said William and Catherine Kneen do hereby further promise and enjoyn themselves to give unto the said Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret their daughter a feather bed with sufficient bedding and implements thereto

Thirdly It is hereby likewise and further stipulated and agreed upon that the said Nicholas Mylrea senior and Joney his wife doth hereby enjoyn themselves to give, grant, passover and estate upon their foregoing mentioned son Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret Kneen his intended wife all and singular our whole estate of houses, garden or gardens lands buildings and edifices thereupon erected at present or hereafter may be effected thereon with all and every the appurtenances and privileges appertaining to their said Estate as well Quarterland and Intack land situate in the parish of Ballaugh aforesaid to be possessed and enjoyed by them the said Nicholas Mylrea junior and his foresaid intended wife immediately after the decease of the said Nicholas Mylrea senior and Joney his wife and it is hereby further to be understood that one moiety or half of the above described estate is to be enjoyed and possessed by the said Nicholas Mylrea junior immediately after the decease of the first deceased of either of the said Nicholas Mylrea senior or Joney his said wife and the other half of the premis immediately after the decease of the longer liver of the said Nicholas Mylrea senior and Joney his wife debtless and free of all encumbrances. And further the said Nicholas Mylrea senior and Joney his wife doth hereby promise and enjoyn themselves to give unto the said young couple namely Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret Kneen a bed with sufficient beddings and the other implements appertaining and fitting for a bed

Fourthly It is hereby also agreed upon that William Kneen and Catherine his wife doth promise to give unto the said young couple namely Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret Kneen a cow.

Fifthly and lastly For the faithful and punctual performance of all and singular the beforegoing Deed of Contract and every clause and sentence herein contained, all parties concerned doth hereby firmly bind and oblige themselves each unto the other and their prospective heirs, executors administrators and assigns in the penalty and under the forfeiture of three hundred pounds sterling to be levied and paid (in case of non performance) according to the law and practice of this Isle. As witness our subscription or marks to our names this 13th day of December 1774

William Kneen X Catherine Kneen X Nicholas Mylrea senior X Joney Mylrea X Nicholas Mylrea junior Margaret Kneen X

Signed and duly executed in presence of Thomas Craine, Daniel Stephen

12th March 1779 William Kneen, Catherine Kneen, Nicholas Mylrea junior and Margaret his wife four of the executing parties to the within and beforewritten Articles of Marriage acknowledge the same to be their proper act and deed before me Robert Farrant

27th April 1779 Nicholas Mylrea senior acknowledged the beforewritten Articles of Marriage to be his proper act and deed and Thomas Craine and Daniel Stephen made oath upon the Holy Evangelist that Joney Mylrea duly executed the abovementioned Deed in their presence before me Thomas Moore

At the Baron Court holden at KK Michael the 2nd August 1780 for the parishes of Michael, Ballaugh and Jurby. The beforewritten Articles of Marriage being acknowledged before the Deemster and now openly published in Court and no objection being offered against it the same therefore is allowed of for and in the name and on behalf of the most Noble John Duke of Atholl Lord of the Manor of Mann and Isle and confirmed by this court. Rev J. Heywood

The beforewritten deed having been acknowledged and proved before an High Bailiff and now openly published in court and no objection offered against it the same is ordered to be recorded. Thomas Gawne

[Ref: SSS May 1780 #22]

NOTES

  1. Ballacorraige
  2. Nicholas jnr was oldest son of Nicholas snr & Joney als Cowin, born 1747 in Ballaugh
  3. Nicholas jnr & Margaret had 7 children in Ballaugh: William (1777), Margaret (1778), William (1781), Catherine (1784), John (1786), Thomas (1789), James (1792)
  4. In 1789, Nicholas jnr & Margaret had begun to mortgage parts of "the estate" created by the collection of Mylrea & Kneen lands from their Marriage Contract
  5. Ultimately Nicholas jnr lost all of the assets provided to him by his family and by the Kneens in the Marriage Contract
  6. Sons William and James died in a fishing tragedy; sons John and Thomas left Ballaugh and established their families in Andreas and Bride respectively. Several of their sons migrated to America or Australia

Associated Documents

Last updated: Jan 2018