Name

The Christian Family

Description

The longest-serving governing family in Manx history, producing Deemsters from 1408 and members of the Keys across every generation. John McCristen served as Deemster in 1408 and at Tynwald in 1422 — 'the first to put the Manx Laws in writing.' Ewan Christian served as Deemster for fifty-one years, the longest tenure on record. Edward Christian proposed elected Keys and accountable Deemsters under the Great Stanley and was imprisoned for eighteen years. William Christian — Illiam Dhone — negotiated the Parliamentary surrender of 1651 and was shot at Hango Hill in 1663. Ewan Christian of Lewaigue negotiated the Act of Settlement at Lathom in 1703. Captain Matthias Christian commanded at Ramsey and was held at gunpoint by revenue cutters. Fletcher Christian, of the Milntown branch, mutinied on the Bounty. Three Christians signed the Keys' Resolution of March 1765. The Virginia branch, emigrating in 1655, produced the Fincastle Resolutions of 1775 rejecting Parliamentary overreach, and in 1888 four Christians served simultaneously as judges in Virginia — 480 years after John McCristen first sat as Deemster. The family's farms at Ronaldsway became the Island's airport. Edward Christian of Bemahague was forced to sell in 1789; the property became Government House — maintained at Manx expense for a Lord who has never slept in it.

Active Period

1408–present

Place

Milntown, Lezayre

Lewaigue

Ronaldsway

Bemahague, Onchan

Cedar Grove, Virginia

Fincastle, Virginia

Period

Stanley Lordship

Atholl Lordship

Crown Administration

Role / Significance

Deemsters

Keys Members

Merchants

Military

Diaspora

Book Chapter

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 15

Chapter 17

Alternative Title

McCristen

Christians of Milntown

Christians of Lewaigue

Christians of Ronaldsway