JAMES DINWOODY, GUNNER, CASTLE RUSHEN, CASTLETOWN, ISLE OF MAN

As James Dinwoodie was employed as a Gunner at Castle Rushen on the Isle of Man, it is of interest to know something of his duties and activities.  He was supervised by the Constable of the castle, Matthias Taggart, whose appointment by Governor John Wood had been approved by the Duke of Atholl.  Matthias was a witness at James' wedding, and appeared as a witness with him on several other occasions.  Governor Wood, who was the actual military head of the  island, appears to have been a friend or aquaintance of James, and it  is probable that he recommended him for his post.  Gov. Wood is said to have been born in 1722 in Carse, Dumfriesshire,  which is right in the middle of the Annandale area where James was probably born and raised.  Gov. Wood was appointed governor in 1761, and in 1763 commissioned James as a gunner.  

The following is a copy of the  official document from the Liber Irrotulimentum appointing James as a Gunner:

John Wood Esquire Governor of the Isle of Mann to James Dinwiddie.

By virtue of the power and authority in me vested from

and by the Grace James Duke of Atholl Lord of Mann

and the Isles et[c) and out of the confidence I have of the

judgement and integrity of you the said James Dinwiddie

to Do his Grace good and faithful service Have nominated

Constituted authorized and appointed and by these

presents Do nominate Constitute authorize e [and] appoint

you the said James Dinwiddie to be Gunner and

armourer of e [and] belonging to the Garrison of Castle

Rushen in the Room and place of David Johnston

willing and requiring you to Do all Dutys and services

to the said place belonging according to the art of war and

to the tenor of the oath usually administered in that behaff

and to have and recieve the usual salary e perequisits

to the said office to commence from the first day

of Jan[ua]ry last for which this shall be your com[m]ission

to continue During pleasure Given under my Hand

and seal at Castle Rushen this twentyfifth dayof

Octfober] one thousand seven Hundred and sixty threel'.

a true copy unrolled and John Wood seal place

Recorded by John Quayle

Com[ptrolle]r e [and Clerk of the) Rolls

Below is an excerpt from a  list of  expenditures submitted to the Duke of Atholl for the year 1765 listing James as Gunner.  Atholl Papers

Disbursements for salary and pensions to officers and soldiers for the year 1765. (From the Atholl Papers

Rushen garrison

Capt. Matthias Taggart Constable at £12                                     7,, 7,, 7

Wm. Clague Lieutenant at £5                                                       3,, 1,, 6

John Cottoon Ensign at £5                                                           3,, 1,, 6

James Dunwiddie & John Armstrong Gunners at £8                   4,, 18,, 5

Robert Woods Portar at £8                                                         4,, 18,, 5

Robert Woods Soldier at £5                                                        3,, 1,, 6

John Gick Soldier                                                                        3,, 1,, 6

Tho. Bell Soldier                                                                          3,, 1,, 6

Edward Walkington Drummer at £5                                              3,, 1,, 6

John Cottiman Soldier                                                                   3,, 1,, 6

Robert Quayle Soldier                                                                  3,, 1,, 6

Patrick Crojoon Sold.                                                                  3,, 1,, 6

Wm. Kellay Sold.                                                                        3,, 1,, 6

Rich. Halsal Sold.                                                                         3,, 1,, 6

John Ball Sold.                                                                              3,, 1,, 6

William Curlot Sold.                                                                       3,, 1,, 6

Thos. Corkel Sold.                                                                        3,, 1,, 6

John Koruoo Sold.                                                                        3,, 1,, 6

Wm. Killay Inn Sold.                                                                     3,,1,,6

Henry Killoy Watchman at £5                                                        3,, 1,, 6

James Brow Watchman                                                                 3,, 1,, 6

I have included below several excerpts from histories of the time describing the duties of  the military personnel.  As you will note, their duties (at least during peacetime) resemble those of a modern policeman more than those of a soldier.  It is uncertain whether James continued in his duties as a Gunner after 1765.

Military Organization.

(From Moore's History of the Isle of Man)

We will now briefly refer to the military forces in the island and to the precautions taken for its defence. After the Restoration, the total number of paid soldiers, &c., in the garrisons was 60, and their cost was f309 a year.

(They were distributed and paid as follows: Rushen- Constable f13 69. 8d., I gunner f8, I porter f8, I drummer f4, 2 watchmen f5 each, Library keeper and Chaplain f5, Surgeon fS, I "Customer" (Customs officer fI), 16 soldiers f5 each. Total 25, costing f137 6s. 8d. Peel-Constable f12, gunner, porter, drummer, 2 watchmen and a "Customer," as at Rushen, 10 soldiers at f6 each, and 4 boatmen at 45s. each, but no chaplain and surgeon. Total 21, costing f103. Dovglas-Deputy constable f6 13s. 4d., I Gunner f5, I "Customer," who was also a soldier, f6, and 4 soldiers f4 each. Total 7, costing f33 13s. 4d. Derby Fort- Commander f8, 8 soldiers f4 each. Total 4, costing f20. Ramsey-A " Customer," who was also a soldier, f6, and a soldier f5. Total 2, costing fII. A gunsmith for all the gar- risons f4.) (Lib. Scacc.VOL. 1.)

The following account of Castle Rushen was given by a contermporary observer: "Castle Rushen is well fortified with an out rampier and trench, within which there is an outer wall round the Castle with many oblick angles. The castle gates are secured by a draw- bridge, perculles and a double great gate gaurded with barrs of iron, and there are severall turrets and platforms within the Castle planted with drakes, feild peices and cannons of several sizes. The ledges of the batteries are laden with loose cobble- stones to pour upon the enemy in case of any attempt to storm the place. But the habitall of the Castle is not only unfurnished, but much out of repair, being never inhabited by any but 2 files of musqueteers."

The writer then proceeds to state that the military government " is managed by the Governor of the Isle who is in the nature of a Generall or Colonell, the militia of the Island consisting but of one Regiment of 20 companys whereof there are 18 Captains, one for every Regiment, one company for the Town of Castle Towne which is the Collinel (sic) Company, and one for the Towne of Duglas which is Major Coldcoat's company." He remarks that these companies had " a generall ren- dezvous yearly about midsummer at St. John's Chappell, near Peel, where they encamp and stay together a fortnight or 20 dayes in the feildes in little tents."

(From the book The Isle of Man Constabulary by George Turnbull)

From early times, the word "Constable" was frequently used in the Statutes and other records, but the Constable referred to in those times must not be confused with the Police Constable as we know him today. The Constable was an officer of the Castle who was, in the beginning, in charge of the Lord's stables. Later he enforced the Castle Rules, posted the "Watch" ' received the prisoners and kept them in safe custody, supervised the security of the Castle at nightfall and visited the "Watch and Ward" within the precincts of the Castle. The Towns of the Island were each within the jurisdiction of a Military Captain (or Constable) who commanded its Garrison, the members of which, apart from their Military duties, assisted the Captain to carry out some of his Civil duties connected with enforcing the law. This arrangement operated until several years after the Revestment in 1765.

To quote the wording of his Commission, the Captain had "Full power to command the Peace, supress riots, commit offenders and, either by himself or with the assistance of his soldiers, to execute all civil actions, arrests, Rules, Orders, Judgements, Processes, assistances and other proceedings of the several Courts, both in law and equity." It is clear, therefore, that these men became the Constables for the Island when carrying out certain of their civil duties and, indeed, are referred to as such in several Acts prior to the Revestment.

From evidence still to be seen by a perusal of old documents, the Towns seem to have been in a filthy condition. In the year 1701, it was said that the people did not keep them in "That decency and cleanliness that they ought". They were, therefore, ordered to cause their streets to be cleanly swept as far as their rents extended. The soldiers, under their Captains, being the Constables who were supposed to perform the duties of Police, were ordered to ensure that the regulations were carried out, but it seems doubtful that they did very much about it. Later, in 1753, it was said that the people should keep the streets clean and clear of all lumber, filth and dung, and that no person "Suffer their Piggs to strole, feed or run about the streets"; otherwise, in default, the Captain and Constable of each respective Town should present them at Court after having given them notice to abate the nuisance. Should the Captains and Constables fall to make such pre- sentment, they were liable to forfeit ten shillings. These extraneous duties of the soldiers ceased in 1765 following the Revestinent and it would appear that, for a few years following, a very few men were used as Process servers only.

The Smuggling Era on the Isle of Man

The early part of the eighteenth century was the era of smuggling - days of easily won prosperity. The Manxman had been denied the means as well as the privilege of honest commerce with the Mainland and was, therefore, not averse to carrying on a clandestine occupation. The increasing profits from the trade of smuggling which, over the years it had operated, had drawn many "foreigners" to the Island, quickly drew the more enterprising natives to share in the easily gained wealth. Gradually, it would appear to have become the Island's main industry. In this way the Islanders were introduced to luxury and plenty, money flowed freely and effort was unnecessary. This era of prosperity was, however, short-lived and, towards the end of the century, the British Government took strong and very effective measures to suppress the contraband trade. Consequently, the hundreds who had led a prosperous life with little effort had perforce to work strenuously on the land in order to gather a bare living. This was a period when Manx justice did not gain lustre. The laws themselves were largely customary and survivals from earlier centuries; the administration was weak and uneven. Thefts for the most part went unnoticed and unpunished and there were many forms of oppression, fraud and injustice to which the law actually gave sanction.