Proclamation of the terms of the Act of Revestment
Date(s): 21 June 1765
Creator(s): unknown
Scope & Content: A royal order with seal pendant, requiring obedience to the Revesting Act and Governor and directing that officials swear an oath of obedience to the King and sign an acknowledgment required by the (British) Act of Parliament. It is also commanded that the order be read out publicly (proclaimed) in all the principal towns of the Island and that printed copies be affixed in public places and distributed to ministers of churches and chapels.
This document is significant for showing the public and formal mechanism by which the Crown asserted its newly purchased rights over the administrative structure of the Island. The Revesting Act of 1765 passed by the Westminster Parliament provided that the Isle of Man should be 'unalienably vested' in His Majesty, his heirs, and assigns. For a sum of £70,000 the Crown had purchased the regalities of the Isle of Man from the Duke of Atholl, Lord of Mann. This would have significant implications for control of customs revenue of the Island and other matters but first things first: under the new regime the Governor and other principal officers were to be appointed by the Crown rather than the Lord of Mann. This Order ensures immediate, binding loyalty from the personnel who would enforce the changes. However, the proclamation is written in English, a language spoken only by the wealthier members of Manx society at the time. It was only after the proclamation arrived on the Island that this was realised and it had to be hurriedly translated into Manx to be read aloud and understood.
Language: eng
Physical description: paper
Item name: document
Collection: Manuscript Archive
ID number: MS 09862/RA