Name

The Moore Family

Description

The dominant mercantile and political family of mid-eighteenth-century Mann. George Moore of Ballamoore was Speaker of the House of Keys and the most successful merchant of his generation — running triangular voyages from Peel to Boston, Barcelona, Barbados, Venice, and Naples. His Letter Books, now among the Bridge House papers in the Manx Museum, reveal a merchant whose sophistication matched his ambition. He maintained correspondence across northern Europe, insured ships in London, dealt in multiple currencies, and arranged a fictitious sale of the Peggy to a Danish captain to continue trading under neutral colours during the French war. His daughter Peggy married John Quayle, the Clerk of the Rolls. Moore spent months in Treasury antechambers at his own expense defending Manx rights after the Revestment. He wrote: 'I am become quite tired about the general Good of the Community of this Island, and of thinking about it, for I find by Experience that it is alike thankless and useless.' Philip Moore, member of the Keys, wrote of 'anarchy and confusion' in July 1765.

Active Period

c.1700–c.1800

Place

Ballamoore, Kirk Patrick

Peel

Bridge House, Castletown

Period

Atholl Lordship

Crown Administration

Role / Significance

Merchants

Keys Members

Speaker

Book Chapter

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 12