John Norris, 1710

Note: The pagination may not be correct and translated or doubtful wording may not be indicated.

5      Castletown
To all whom these may concern, 
I John Norris of the Whitestone in the parish 
of KK Malew, sent greeting & xxxx that whereas 
my brother in law Thomas Tubman of Castletown 
late deceased did amongst other things by his 
last will and testament give and bequeath unto 
my children one dwelling house wherein he then 
lived, with a garden thereunto belonging situate 
lying and being in the said town, with the 
moiety or one half of another house, which stands 
over against the house lately belonging to 
Redmond Hewn, being all of the yearly rent of 
seventeen pence half penny to be disposed of 
by me, and my late deceased wife Salsbury Norris 
als Tubman after the death and decease of the 
said Thomas Tubman’s wife amongst our said 
children in such manner as we should think most 
fit and proper; to which the wife of the said 
Thomas Tubman did in open Court give her full 
consent and assent, as by the said will bearing 
the date of the 24th day of July 1683 Registered 
in the Spiritual Records of this Isle may more 
fully appear; 
In pursuance whereof my said wife Salsbury
Norris did by her last will and testament 
bequeath and declare, that her daughter 
Eliz. Tubman als Norris of the Bowlingreen 
should have the before mentioned dwelling 
house (then in the occupation of John Peigot 
late deceased) wholly to her self; And now 
to take away all differences and disputes
which might hereafter happen or arise, 
between my said children for or concerning 
the further disposal of the said houses and 
garden amongst them; and the better to 
continue true love and amity betwixt xxx near 
relations, I do for these and other reasons 
and consideration hereafter mentioned,
hereby will and declar; that my said daughter 
Elizabeth Tubman shall have hold use occupy 
possess and enjoy all the said dwelling house 
and garden, with the moiety of the little 
house before recited, all of the yearly rent 
of seventeen pence half penny wholly to her 
use her Executor and Administrator after my 
decease forever according to the aforesaid 
will she paying and satisfying unto the rest 
of my children their Executors and Administrators 
the sum of ten shillings apiece when the same 
is lawfully demanded by them or either of them. 
And I do further declare, that the reason and 
consideration I hope for the settling of the 
whole premises on my said daughter Elizabeth 
Tubman is to prevent any fraction or division 
to be made therein, but that the same may be 
continued in one entire holding to avoid all 
contention and law suit which might happen 
upon that occasion, and likewise by reason my
said daughter Elizabeth not then too well 
provided for, not hath received so much of 
either mine or her mother’s part of goods and 
Estate as the rest of my children have already 
had, and that she hath assist with the sum of 
five pounds short for the proffering and xxx 
of my children, when my occasions required the same. 
I desire that this my real will and declaration 
may after my death and decease, stand good in 
law to all intents and purposes to establish 
and settle my said daughter Elizabeth Tubman 
her Executor and Administrator in the quiet 
and peaceable possession of the present and
former Deed or writing heretofore made by me 
to all and any of my said children or such as 
might be interpreted to thxxx contrary hereof 
not withstanding. In witness whereof I hereunto 
put my hand and seal the 18th February 1709/10. 
[signed his mark] John Norris. 
Witnesses: 
Henery Corrin, 
Wxxxx Casement. 

At Castletown 7th November 1710: 
This Deed of Gift being proved & confirmed by the
Temporal Officers, it is accepted for the last Will 
of John Norris & his son in law Thomas Tubman is
sworn in Court in form of Law. 
Pledges, John Cannell & John Kewn. 

To all Christian people to whom these presents 
shall come to be received heard or understood, 
I John Norris of Castletown now of the Whitestone, 
feltmaker, send greeting. 
Know ye that I the said John Norris for sundry
causes and considerations me thereunto moving 
but especially out of the natural love and affection
which I have and do bear to my well beloved son 
in law and daughter Thomas Tubman and Margaret 
his wife, Have given and granted and by these 
presents doth freely dearly and absolutely
give and grant to my said son and daughter 
all my houses and gardens in Castletown, with 
all the easements and advantages thereunto 
belonging (except the barn with the garden 
belonging thereunto) which I do reserve unto 
my self during my life, as also all and 
every my mortgaged lands with all other my 
goods moveable and immoveable unto my said 
son and daughter and their heirs, Executors
Administrators and Assigns from the day of 
the date hereof forever, excepting one horse 
and a cow which I reserve to my own disposing, 
To have and to hold all the premises above 
said forever (except as before excepted) 
provided that all the before recited premises 
shall fall and come unto the issue that shall 
be lawfully begotten betwixt the said Thomas 
Tubman and Margaret his wife my said daughter 
after the decease of either of them the said 
Thomas or Margaret or to such child or children
of their issue as they shall think for to 
bequeath the same unto yet nevertheless it 
shall and may be in the power of the said 
Thomas and Margaret his wife to set mortgage 
or sell all the premises or any part of them 
at any time they shall think fitting, so that 
the consideration money so received by them
for the premises is laid out or otherwise 
secured for their said issue or such of them 
as they shall leave the same unto as afore 
said, and for better assurance hereof I the 
said John Norris have given and delivered unto 
them the said Thomas Tubman and Margaret his 
wife one piece of silver called a shilling in 
possession of the whole premises according to 
the usual forms and customs in these xxx.
And for the true performances of all and 
singular thxxxx above and within recited 
premises I the said John Norris do hereby 
bind myself my heirs and Assigns in the penalty 
and forfeiture of one hundred pounds xxxx 
one half to the use of the Honorable Lord 
of this Isle and the other half to the said
Thomas Tubman and Margaret his wife. 
In witness whereof I have put my hand and 
seal this 30th of xxx 1708. 
[signed his mark] John Norris. 
Witneses: 
John Steane, 
Gilbert Cottigns, 
William Casement. 

At a Sheading Court holden at Castle Rushen 8th June 170x: 
John Steane, Gilbert Cotteen and Will. Casement the three 
subscribing witnesses to this deed of gift have deposed in
Court the same was signed sealed and lawfully executed by 
the above Jo. Norris in their presence whereupon the same 
is allowed of and confirmed according to law. 
[signed] Robert Mawden, 
Chris. Parker, 
J. Row, 
Wm Sedden