Brew of the Guilcaugh, Andreas

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Kind permission was obtained from Mr. James A. Brew (†), to publish the following information. It is a part of his own research into the history and origins of the Brew surname on the Isle of Man, and the movements of various families around the United Kingdom, and subsequently around the world. This database has been transcribed by Steve Brew, with additional items added by Sue Pedersen (most recently, corrections made in October 2009).

To the right is a photograph of the Guilcaugh, taken by Jon Wornham on 11 September 2001. Jon writes, "The Guilcaugh... is the collection of buildings in the centre foreground. You can see Andreas village top left with the WW2 Andreas Airfield behind". Click on the picture to see a larger version.

 Guilcaugh110901.jpg (81025 Byte)

© Reproduced with the kind permission of Jon Wornham. View his website

  1. Muldonny McVriw or McBrew flourished 1406-17, "one of the Eldest and Worthiest of all the Land of Man and the Inquest of the 24 Keys". He had two sons:

  1. John McBrew had a son Patrick.

  1. Patrick McBrew had a son John who was entered 1532 and paid rent (with John McMartyn) for intacks acquired in 1534.

  1. John McBrew had three sons:

  1. John McBrew had a son John who was entered 1599 and died before 1618. He signed an indenture in 1601 (See Moore's "Manx Notebook", 1855, vol. 1, page 61) and was also a grand juror in 1599 and 1601.

  1. John McBrew had two sons:

  1. John Broow had six children:

* October 8th 1676: Richard Brew and his son Philip Brew enter against the executor of Marjorie Craine for the sum of 13 pounds 10 shillings due debt as appears by specialty, having land in mortgage for the same, and craveth trial. [From the 1675 will of  Margerie Lace als Craine of Andreas.]                  October the 14th 1682: Richard Brew in behalf of himself and his children enters his claim against the Executors of Wm Brew of 5 pounds sterling. [From the 1681 will of William Brew.]

Richard Brew will Andreas, May 18th 1684: to daughter Jony a heifer in Willm Rattliff’s hands …(& other bequests); to grandchild Nelly Keey 18s due from Nelly Keey; to William Keey; to son James Brew….; to son Philip’s children; to son Philip**…. his executor; to Mally Keey a sheep; he left a calf at the Gilcaugh betwixt James Brew’s children and his son Philip’s children; to James Brew….; he left the mortgaged lands at ye Gilcaugh to his Execr. Exec sworn in court.

** Son Philip see “Brew of Andreas, Jurby, Bride & Ramsey”

  1. William Brew married Joney ? [£5 and land, inventory £7 5s]. They had two sons:

Archdeacon Will 1681 #70 Andreas, of William Brew, died 8 January 1681/2: “Andreas 1681/2: The last will and testament of William Brew who departed this life about the eight of January anno predicto.  He left to the poor one bowle of corn at Hallowtide.  Item, he left to his wife the sum of five pounds as it was promised in their marriage contract, also his part of a piece of cloth that is in Ireland be dressed.  Also he left to his said wife three days mowing of hay in the lane near Jurby head with another day math of hay adjoining to William Patrick’s land with her during her natural life and after to return to the Heir the same being formerly promised to her in the marriage contract which is supposed to be lost.  Item, he left to his two daughters 4 sheep apiece.  Item, to his grandchild (the son of James) a choice cow calf and an ewe lamb.  Item, to his grandchild at KK Michael a heifer of three years old when he comes to age.  Item, to the witnesses of his will 6d apiece.  Item, to the minister a mutton.  And lastly he constituted and ordained his only son James Brew sole Executor of all the rest of his goods moveable and immoveable.

Testes: John Kneal, John Kneal minor, John Christian, jurati.

The wife and Executor sworn in Court in form of Law.  Probatum et Solvit 1s.

The Inventory prized by 4 sworn men (vizt.,) John Cleaxxx, Dan Insh, Wm Skinner, & Henry Insh, amounts to the sum of  7 pounds 05 shillings 00 pence.   Pledges in form of law Henry Insh & John Wattleworth.

January 4th ’82: Alice Crenell in behalf of herself and children enters her claim against the Executors of Wm Brew for 3s &c.

July the 29th 1682: Adam Cannell in behalf of himself and the Executors of deceased wife Isabel Brew enters his claim against the Executors of his father in law William Brew for the sum of three pounds sterling due debt as wil be made to appear by specialty & craveth trial

July the 18th 1682: John Wattleworth junior in behalf of himself and his father John Wattleworth enters their claim against the Executors of Wm Brew for 26s sterling. Die predicto: Nicholas Christian enters against the Executors of Wm Brew for 30s &c.

September 29th 1682: Nicholas Brew enters his claim against the Executors of Wm Brew for 10s 4d.

October the 14th 1682: Richard Brew in behalf of himself and his children enters his claim against the Executors of Wm Brew of 5 pounds sterling.

November the 1st 1682: Jony Cowle widow enters her claim in behalf of herself and her children against the Executors of Wm Brew for 6s 6d &c.

Item, the said widow enters against the Administrators of Dorothy Camaish for 4s.          November the 2nd 1682: Thomas Kelvye[?] enters his claim against the Executors of Wm Brew for eleven shillings nine pence due by shop book as shall be made to appear and craveth trial.

December the 11th 1682: John[?] Quark enters against the Executors of Wm Brew for 12 pounds of his mary xxxx portion.  Item for 2s 6d rent paid for him.  Item, for the half of 30s xxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [bottom of page worn away] wife & 20s lent by his wife 40s xxxxxxxxxx[bottom of page]          December the 14th 1682: Charles Sayle enters his claim against the Executors of Wm Brew for the sum of ten shillings due debt; also for 5s 3d due from his mother before she was married to Wm Brew on the dead’s part & yet unsatisfied all due as will be made to appear and craveth trial.

die predicto: This day all parties appeared and it appears by the testimony of Margaret Christian the widow of Wm Brew that the above ten shillings was satisfied to the Claimer, 5s in money and for the other 15s he accepted of John Sayle deceased for debtor to pay the same the like sum being one to the said Wm Brew from the said Sayle and that therefore the said claim is satisfied.  And as for the other 5s 3d xxx as due from his mother it appears to be her part of the consideration of a certain parcel of land set by her and her said son in her widowhood, and therefore the claimer shall recover nothing.  Exam per me Jonem: Christian Registry Adjr.            February the 12th 1682/3: Richard Brew enters his claim against the Executors for 12s in lent money, 1 firlet of barley, 10s and 10d the price of a pair of xxxxx which he had xxxxx.”

  1. William Brew married Margaret Christian, widow of John Sayle of the Craig (Captain of Andreas 1644). Margaret had a son Charles Sayle, heir of The Craig, and William and Margaret had five children:

  1. James Brew, who died 1735, married [1] Margret WATTLEWORTH who died 11 April 1711 (Archdiaconal Will #34).

Andreas, of Margaret Brew als Wattleworth, died about 16 April 1711: “KK Andrews: This is affirmed to be the last will and testament of MARGRET BREW ALS WATLEWORTH, who departed this life bout the 16th of April 1711, being in perfect mind and memory at the making thereof. First, she committed her soul to got and her body to Christian burial. Item, she left to her GRANDCHILDREN THOMAS[?] COWLE & JOHN LACE a sheep and a lamb betwixt them. And a sheep and lamb also to her two other GRANDCHILDREN at home, vizt., JOHN & WILLIAM QUARK. To her DAUGHTER JONY a red petticoat. To her DAUGHTER ALICE a brown gown. To her SON WILLIAM BREW twelve pence as legacy, to cut him off any right he might claim to her goods. She left and bequeathed to her SON JOHN BREW six pounds. To her son RICHARD BREW eight pound. To her DAUGHTER MARGERY ten pound. To Mrs. WATLEWORTH of KK Andreas a small barrel. To the witnesses 12 pence apiece. Lastly, she constituted and appointed her loving HUSBAND JAMES BREW sole Executor of all the rest of her goods moveable and immoveable whatever. Witnesses: John Kneal, Alice Kelley. THE EXECUTOR IS SWORN in form of Law.

THE DECEDENTS HAVING OFT DESIRED me and my son to dispose of her goods, or give her directions how to do it for the benefit of her children unmarried, we did advise her as we thought fit; and finding that she has made this will much agreeable to what we proposed, we do as far as we are or may be concerned allow and approve of the same. [signed] SAM: WATLEWORTH, CHARLES WATLEWORTH. 8 APRIL 1712: MR. ARCHDEACON WATTLEWORTH enters his claim against the Executor of MARGT. BREW ALS WATTLEWORTH for arrears of tythe corn, offering, xxx, &c.”

By this first marriage, with Margret Wattleworth, James had seven children:

James Brew married [2] Alice Cowle in 1721. She was buried on 20 September 1763 [Epis. Will 1764]. Their children were:

James named only these three children “all under age”, and ordained them his execs, in his 1735 Epis will, with Margaret no.2 as his only daughter. Therefore much litigation followed.

  1. William Brew had five children:

  1. John Brew, whose will appears in the Episcopal Register, and whose tomb is mentioned in "Monumental Inscriptions" (Manx Soc. 1861), married Margaret Cowle in 1741. He left £50 each to his sons Arthur and Charles and £80 each to his four daughters - all of them unmarried. These were substantial sums as a yarded servant's yearly wage in 1763 was 40 s. On 9 September 1759 a stack of rye corn was ignited by lightening and burnt to ashes, but there was no other damage. The same thing happened to a rye corn stack of James Wade of Crot-y-Cain, Andreas. His wife Margaret, who died in 1781, was daughter and eventual heiress of Arthur Cowle, Miller of West Kella, Lezayre (see "Mannanin's Isle", page 162, for some of her exploits). In 1769 she agreed to pay a moiety [i.e. a half] of her children's legacies (Ann, Jane and Charles, aged 14) - the legal majority. Her pledges were Thomas Sayle and John Cleator but they petitioned a Vicar-General that Margaret had become executor of her brother Charles Cowle who had died in debt and "feared the consequences" as she (like her brother) was "notoriously litigious and they conceived their fortunes in imminent danger". She named as counter-pledges John Corlett and John Colvin, shopkeeper of Ramsey (her brother-in-law). They had eleven children:
  1. James Brew was Captain of Sulby, which in 1789 had 160 infantry militia. He married Elizabeth Crebbin in 1771. She was daughter of Rev. William Crebbin, Vicar of Jurby, who died in 1803, aged 86, and Christian Brew of Ballavarran (see Brew of Ballavarran). They were married at Bishopscourt by Bishop Hildesley.

In 1793 James mortgaged his estate:

Northside Mortgages May 1793/22. James Brew of the Guilcaugh
Consideration £600 - Eleanor Moore of Poortown, widow
Mortgage Of all that one half or moiety of the said estate...chief rent... £13 19s. 2d. quarterland rent and £1 5s. 8d. intack rent.

In 1787 James sold Robert's Croft in Andreas to the parish for £98 (Thwaites 1863, page 309). By deed of 2 May 1794, he settled Guilcaugh on James Brew jnr., his son. Before and after his father's death he farmed Kella, returned to Guilcaugh in 1798 after his son's death, but returned to Kella in 1803, and let Guilcaugh to James Drinkwater. There is a map of James Brew's landholdings east of the Lhen Moar trench "ca. 1750" [sic] in "Old and New Watercourses" in the Manx Museum.

He bequeathed :

James was very slow in paying his wife's legacies (they were not paid until after he died) and he made Richard Worthen wait 8 years, until 10 November 1807, before paying him the sum of £430 16s. 7½d. as ordered by the court.

She bequeathed:

Attached to the will is a petition to the Archdeacon explaining that James Brew's poor health has prevented him executing this will.

Their children were:

  1. John Thomas, 1819-1860, (Decree in the Episcopal Register 1863). He emigrated to the U.S.A., but returned to and died in England. He had two children who were born ca. 1850-60 (?), who were living in England in 1863.
  2. James Lace, 1820-1853, who died abroad unmarried.
  3. Emily Alicia, who died unmarried, aged 97, in Ramsey in 1913. Of 1 Mona Terrace, died at 11 Lezayre Terrace, and buried in the same grave in Lezayre with her uncle, C. J. Harrison of Cooilbane and her first cousin, Miss Ann McMaster. An obituary appeared in the Isle of Man Times on 16 August 1913. Her principal legatee was Mr. H. Forsyth of Crosby. She had 28 shares in Dumbell’s Bank when it failed in 1900. (The Forsyths were Douglas joiners in 1825).
  4. Ealey Jane, 1826-?, who emigrated to the U.S.A.
  1. William Thomas Corkill, 1813-1841, buried at Queenstown, Ireland, aged 27
  2. Elizabeth Ann Corkill, who died unmarried in 1863, aged 41
  3. John James Corkill, who died in 1866, aged 44, "suddenly cut off by fever"

They have a large red sandstone tombstone in Andreas churchyard.

  1. James Brew married Elizabeth .....?..... in 1796. They were married less than a year [before James died] or she would have inherited a moiety. (See note below). After James' father had settled the estate on him in 2 August 1794, he mortgaged it as follows:

Northside Mortgages

October 1795/21, James Brew jnr. to Wm Leece, Liverpool

Consideration

£300 Bond and Security: All the estate ... of Guilcaugh with ... intacks.

This mortgage was repaid on 24 June 1795. James then re-mortgaged his estate:

Northside Mortgages

May 1796/57, James Brew to Wm Leece

Consideration

£1000...etc.

James was deemed to have died intestate on 9 July 1797 by Chapter Court 20 January 1798, where his father refused to exhibit the deceased's last will (!). So the principal creditor, Richard Worthen of Lezayre, was appointed administrator, claiming on 29 October 1799 the sum of £1500. James Brew snr. claimed £1700 on 21 January 1799. James jnr.'s effects in the house of Ely Shaw are listed - a large quantity of muslin (200 yards @ 3/- per yard) and 20 shawls (3/- each) totalling £29 3s. 5d. (14 September 1799).

"Ely Shaw is, in the same house, a billiard table keeper, a woollen draper, a publican, and he keeps a post chaise for the use of travellers" (Woods "IOM", 1811, page 110), son of James Shaw who had the "Black Bull" in Duke Street, Douglas, in 1782, "with a well-stocked draper's shop and accommodation for horses" (Mathieson). Ely's daughter and heiress, by his wife Fanny, married Edward Gelling, Captain of the 59th Regiment (See "Manx Worthies", page 151). Possibly, James' wife was another daughter of Ely's.

Manorial Entry

Andreas 1815-1818 (1818, page 207) Guilcaugh

James Brew snr., the former proprietor of the premises by Deed dated 20 April 1793, mortgaged the one moiety ... to Elinor Moore who, in 1812, assigned the same to William Leece...and the said James Brew snr. ... by Deed ... 1794 settled the premises on James Brew jnr., his son, by Deed [who] 1798 assigned the same to ... William Leece ... and the said James Brew jnr. by and with the consent of his wife by deed ... 1797 mortgaged the ... premises to William Leece and Mrs. Ellinor Drinkwater otherwise Leece having become entitled to the said mortgages under the will of ... William Leece, she by deed ... 1814 transferred ... the same to ... George Drinkwater who is entered absolutely for the said premises and the sd mortgages having become lapsed in law.

William Brew / George Drinkwater : Lord's Rents - £3 12s. 2d. (1815), £1 14s. 2d. (1816), £1 14s. 2d. (1817), £1 14s. 2d. (1818). These only ceased to be payable in 1913.

This action took place under protest. When the Drinkwaters threatened to take over the estate in 1816, William Edward's trustees got together £920 to defray monies due, and paid it into court, but the Drinkwaters refused to accept it. The money was therefore lodged with the senescal, Mr. McHutchin, and there was an appeal and a petition. The petition which is enclosed in the £600 mortgage deed issued by James Brew snr. was refused and the Drinkwaters took over the property. They let it to tenants. Mr. Humphrey Stephen advertised sheep and pigs for sale there in 1826. His son Thomas Stephen of the Guilcaugh married Miss Ann Teare of the Ballabeg in 1827. In 1834 the Coroner sold stock and crops at the Guilcaugh. In 1835, 300 acres were for sale: Apply to Sir George Drinkwater, Kirby, or William Leece Drinkwater Esq., Douglas. Sir George died in 1850, aged 70, and left his estate to his niece Eleanor, who married Colonel Clarence Horatio Carey who had 157 acres at Guilcaugh and part of Kerrowmoar in 1867. He rebuilt the house in 1895 and put the date and his initials on the gable wall. The Cleators were also at sometime at Guilcaugh (They were in Ballalane in 1862 and in Ballacrebbin in 1867). Some Cleators came from Canada in the 1950's to see their old home. William Clarke was in the Guilcaugh in 1917, second son of Thomas Clarke of Ballaseyr, Andreas (70 acres in 1867) whose wife Ellen Jane died in 1914, aged 72, at the Guilcaugh. Her eldest brother, Thomas Henry Teare died unmarried in 1917, aged 79, at Ballavarry, leaving her £1200. Her second brother, John, was in Rheast Moar in 1912. She was the eldest daughter of John Teare of Ballabane, Andreas. The Guilcaugh is now owned by the Crellins of Ballachurry (1955) and farmed by a Mr. A. C. Callow. In 1958, Winifred Joan, daughter of F. Callow of the Guilcaugh, married Dr. Donald Stephen Dugdale BSc PhD, of Swansea University, and son of S. Dugdale of Andreas. Lying in the farm street (1958) was a sculptured stone tablet with the Drinkwater crest and "Sir George Drinkwater 1814".

West Kella, property of the Brews of the Guilcaugh, in Lezayre

West Kella was tenanted by Mr. and Mrs. St. George in 1812, and described as "a pretty looking farmhouse, with a good garden and orchard" (Miss Weeton, 1776-1844). In 1867, West Kella was owned by A. MacLean Skinner (60 acres) and Robert Corlett (6 acres). It is now (1958) the property of Mr. Percy Radcliffe, a retired potato farmer, whose father, Mr. Arthur Radcliffe of Greystones, West Kella, died in 1957 leaving net estate of £27,000.

Archdeacon's Close belonged to the Brews for 150 years. Susan Black, of Archdeacon's Close, Lezayre, married Thomas Brew of Close Clark, Jurby in 1863.

Part of the (purchased) property in Lezayre which Captain James Brew's second son Thomas inherited from his mother, consisting of Ballacuberagh, Sulby bleachmills, etc, was advertised for sale in 1844. At that time, the two dwelling houses were occupied by Charles Cain and Thomas Southward, and interested parties were invited to enquire to Mr. John Martin of Smeal. Ballamanagh was acquired by the late Sir Mark Collett Bt [Baronet] who built a mansion there in the 1930s. (The builders were my uncle James Kewley and his partner Mr. McKibben).

The Will of William Brew, 1783-1812

By deed of trust (Episcopal Register) registered 18 May 1812 (He died 12 May 1812), he transferred to Robert Allen (of Ballavarry, Andreas) and Evan Gin (High Bailiff of Ramsey, who died 1815) and their heirs his entire estates at the Guilcaugh (let to various tenants) and Kella (including mills (let to John Corlett and partly sublet by him), and Arthur’s Park in Lezayre and the Cronk in Santan (all described in detail) on trust during his life and in the minority of his son William Edward. He left the following legacies:

In order to pay these legacies and his debts, mortgages were to be raised on his estates, the residue to his son, and after him to the heir-at-law. By a cod[???] he bequeathed his great grandfather William Crebbin’s Library to his son. He was deeply in debt and his creditors included:

He had 300 acres of the best type of land, worth in the prosperous period 1808-16 some £30 an acre. His moveable chattels [assets] are listed in an inventory. They included:

The Intestacy Decree of Thomas Brew, 1785-1831

He died of the cholera morbus in the great epidemic of 1831-32 which swept the British Isles and killed 4½% of the entire population. He and his wife died intestate. The principal creditors Thomas Mylecharane, William Cleator, Charles Moore, and James Crebbin applied for letters of administration (Episcopal Register 1833), and Daniel Christian was made administrator. Thomas’ debts included:

His goods and effects were sold by public auction in 1833. The inventory included:

The proceeds totalled £3 3s. 2d.

Destiny of the Guilcaugh

Captain James Drinkwater had had the tenancy of the Guilcaugh from 1803. He died in 1813, aged 58. The Guilcaugh was advertised for sale or to let in 1813. Part was sold by the Coroner in 1814, and Mr. Reynolds had a subscription ball in the house in 1815. It was to let again in 1815, and 150 acres intack were advertised for sale in 1817. Meanwhile the Drinkwaters signified their intention of taking over the whole estate in 1816.

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