Diary of Reverend William Kermode

Date(s): 1839-1844

Creator(s): Kermode, Reverend William

Scope & Content: The diary covers the period of William's career as Chaplain at Dalby and Lezayre, following his ordination as deacon in 1839. He begins the diary by describing 'a new part of his life'. There is a description of his religious training and church services. He describes his duties as a chaplain, his daily activities and visits. William also writes of his religious feelings and thoughts. There are glimpses of Manx society of the time and Kermode's attitudes. He writes on 6 June 1839 whilst in Peel, 'I was going down the street I found a great crowd of children at the door of a public house and I learnt that several of them had been in drinking. I immediately ordered the house to be cleared and lectured the landlady very severely. Dreadful state of immorality!' Other content includes detailed commentary on events on the island such as the funeral of Mr Llewellyn in 1840, off-island visits, difficutlies travelling around the island by horse or on foot. He writes of his visits to Ballcosnahan where his first wife Mary Ann lived. On 2 October 1840 he records ' I love her more and more! Oh what a blank my life would be were it not cheered by her!' William also writes of their marriage on 4 November 1840 at Patrick, the birth of William John in August 1841, and Mary Ann's death in Febuary 1844. The last entry, on 24 Feburary 1844, is a colour sketch with the caption 'St Maughold's Church with its old cross as it now stands- a little memento for dear Willie sh'd the almighty spare him'.

Administration / Biographical History: William Kermode (1815–1890) of Maughold was the second son of Thomas Kermode and Margaret Callow (heiress of Claughbane, Maughold). He attended King William's College 1833-1836, Trinity College Dublin 1837 or 1838, and was ordained as a deacon in 1839. He was Chaplain of Dalby, Patrick 1839-1840; Chaplain of Lezayre 1840-1843; Chaplain of St Paul's Ramsey 1843-1871; Vicar of Maughold 1871-1877; Rector of Ballaugh 1877-1890. He was president of IOMNHAS in 1884. He was married three times: 1. Mary Ann Judy Griffith on 4th November 1840 in Patrick. They had one son, John William Kermode (1841-1865). Mary Ann died 14th February 1844. 2. Jane Bishop (1819-1858), married in 1845. Their children were: Charles Chatterley (1846-1878), Mary Ann Emily (Minnie), born 1848 and married Rev. Stephen N. Harrison in 1876, Frederick Bishop (1849-1936), George Harper (1850-1850), Margaret Letitia Josephine (1852-1937), Thomas (1853), Beata Theodosia (1854-1864), Philip Moore Callow (1855-1932), Georgiana Sophia Elizabeth (1856-1945) (married in Wyoming 1898); 3. Margaret Pizey (1827-1903), married in 1860. Their children were Caroline Matilda Cherill (1860-1946), Sidney Alfred Pizey,Rev of Onchan (1862-1925) ), Amy Rosa Roberta (1864-1926), and Griffith Theodore (1865-1951). Reverend Kermode died in 1890 and is buried in Maughold Churchyard.

Language: English

Extent: 1 volume

Item name: diary

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: FONDS

ID number: MS 01584

Retrieval number: MS 01584 A

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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