OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Manx Settlers of Ohio -- Article 10 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 Sept 7, 2002 *********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West S.L diaries Series of Articles by Darlene E. Kelley Manx Settlers of Ohio -- artice 9 and 10. ********************************************** Article 10 -- This writer in search of family history traveled to the Isle of Man to fully understand the history of these emigrants. Will try to put down in writing the history of these struggling and trustworthy peoples, who graced our Ohio landscape and became our neighbors. *************** *************** The name of the Island, "MAN", has long been a puzzle to philologists, and it can not be said with confidence that the right solution has been found. The present local name is " ELLAN VANNIN VEG VEEN ," meaning the Dear Little Isle of Man. Caesar in 54 B.C. called it " Mona." Nennius in A.D. 858 referred to it by the name of "Eubonia," while the Welsh Annuals of A.D. 1154 called it" Manaw" and the Scandinavian Sagas use "Mon" or " Maon." Broadly speaking all of these appear to be derived from a root meaning mountainous or hilly land. Upon the arrival of missionaries from Ireland the Isle was gradually christianized. Although his name survives in several places, it is doubtful if St. Patrick ever set foot in Man. He is said to have established the Bishopric, and to have cleared the island of venomous reptiles and toads, a task he had already accomplished for the sister isles. The old Manx Keills, or cells, were of simular type to Irish oratories of the sixth and seventh centuries. The Celtic Period lasted until the first part of the ninth century. Then came the Norsemen, riding and plundering at first, and later settling and making the Island an important base in connection with their settlements in Dublin, Northwest England and the Western Isles. Of the many Viking leaders of whom the sagas speak, the one most frequently mentioned in Man is the famous King Orry. As the saga goes; " it is said that on his landing on a clear starlit night the astonished natives asked him where was his country, and he drew himself up to his full height and pointed to the Milky Way and said ' That is the road to my country. ' In the Manx language it is still called King Orry's Road. " The King Orry of whom the legends tell is in fact Godred Crovan who ruled from 1079 to 1095. The Gaelic form of Godred was Gorry, and this, losing its initial 'G' after the title, King, produced the familiar Orry. He is said to have got his nickname of Crovan from the fact that he always wore white gauntlets when giving war. The Norse Vikings who had carved out for themselves a kingdom in Man and the surrounding districts owed nominal allegence to the King of Norway, but in practice they paid him but slight regard. The decendants of Godred ruled in Man and the Western Isles with varying fortunes until 1252 when Magnus the younger son of King Olaf II came to the throne. In 1263 King Alexander III of Scotland having decided that it was time the Western Isles became part of his kingdom and tried in vain to obtain them by bargaining, made an attack upon the Herbrides. King Haakon of Norway arrived off the Scottish coast with a large fleet to defend them and was joined by Magnus with the Manx ships. The Norweigians were defeated and Magnus was allowed to retain Man, only on the condition of doing homage to King Alexander. In 1265, Magnus died, and a year later a treaty was signed between Norway and Scotland which handed the Isle of Man over to the Scots. This marked the beginning of a troubled era in Manx history, since it became a pawn in a long struggle between Scotland and England, being alternately held and raided by both nations as well as by the Irish. The History thus became a long one, pawned between many Kings, Earls, Countrys and then finally into the hands of smugglers. The Island had become a place of refuge for the worst sort of debtors, a local law was enforced that meant that debts of England and Ireland could not be recovered in the Isle of Man. This meant that for one hundred years the isle of Man provided sanctuary for the unfortunate and profligate of the surrounding nations who flocked there in great numbers. After much haggling the third Duke was induced in 1765 to surrender the regality and customs duties to the Crown of England. It was actually sold to England. A verse found in the Island well expresses the disgust of the Manxmen at the bargain. " The unborn babies will rue the day, That the Isle of Man was sold away; For there's ne'er an old wife that loves a dram But will lament for the Isle of Man." The Fourth Duke was made Governor General of the Island in 1793, and held the dignity for a third of a century. He and his nephew, the then Bishop of Sodor and Man, incurred great unpopularity by asserting certain claims to manorial rights and thithes. He also contended all compensation was his and inadequate. The English Government did not interfer with his contentions. Jobs and households collapsed, food was scarce with heavy tarriffs, fishing was taxed, women were held as workers, children were not allowed schooling, and health problems became intolerable. It was time that England realized that they had to take over the balance of their payment to gain the surplus revenues for themselves. Thus one can see the way of the isle of Man in the early eighteenth century. The Manxman loved their Isle but no longer able to call it their own. Thus began the migrations to varoius countries, if they could find the ways to get there. ********************************************************************************************** to be continued in article 11 and 12.