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Independent Islands => Isle of Man => Topic started by: lengramar on Monday 20 November 17 14:04 GMT (UK)
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Hi can anyone please help - I am trying to find the burial details of Dixon Brearley, he was burnt to death in a fire in the Douglas area of the Isle of Man on 1st February 1868.
Regards
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Are you sure it was in Douglas?
I have searched Douglas, Braddan and Onchan Burial Registers so far - to no avail?
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Hi KGarrad - yes the fire was at Crescent Academy boarding school in Douglas. Dixon was born in Yorkshire England then lived in Manchester before going to the Isle of Man in the Uk his surname is spelt Brearley but in IOM it appears to have been spelt Brierley. I understand he had a wife named Ann and possible 3 or four children the last of the children being born shortly after his death and was named after his father.
Regards
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Yes as lengramar says -- it was at a Boarding School in the 'Douglas area' -- according to a report in the Liverpool Mercury 4/2/1868.
He did have 3 children and the report confirms his wife was about to give birth to their new baby. How very sad. A collection was made so there may be other reports concerning the burial.
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The Manx Museum Library is closed until Wednesday - I can take a better look then.
Meanwhile, there is this:
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/educ/do_stl.htm
The Crescent is now called Queen's Promenade.
It's where the Queen's Hotel is located.
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KG If it helps, the child his wife was expecting was baptised at Douglas St George 23 Feb 1868
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High KG that would be great if you could look for me if it not putting you to any trouble.
Regards
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Hi Kg - thanks for the link
Regards
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FindMyPast has a transcribed burial record under "Isle of Man Deaths and Burials" of a -
Dixon Brievley (sic), age 30, burial date 2 Feb 1868, burial place Braddan.
The fire occurred on Saturday 1st and burial the following day.
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Hi Hanes Teulu,
Thank you for the info I will have a look but it does sound promising.
Regards
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KG If it helps, the child his wife was expecting was baptised at Douglas St George 23 Feb 1868
I did see that, Rosie99! ;D
I walk through St George's churchyard every day, going to the pub! ;)
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KG It would seem that looking for a burial in St Georges on the way to the pub will be no good.
FindMyPast has a transcribed burial record under "Isle of Man Deaths and Burials" of a -
Dixon Brievley (sic), age 30, burial date 2 Feb 1868, burial place Braddan.
The fire occurred on Saturday 1st and burial the following day.
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KG It would seem that looking for a burial in St Georges on the way to the pub will be no good.
FindMyPast has a transcribed burial record under "Isle of Man Deaths and Burials" of a -
Dixon Brievley (sic), age 30, burial date 2 Feb 1868, burial place Braddan.
The fire occurred on Saturday 1st and burial the following day.
Still can't find him in the Braddan or St George's Burial registers?
St George's didn't become a parish in it's own right until 1878, and was until then a chapelry of Kirk Braddan Parish.
So he ought to be in one or the other Burial Register?
When the Manx Museum Library is open again, on Wednesday, I can take a better look.
I can also look at newspapers (they're free at the Museum; PPV otherwise)
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Dixon Brierley was a local volunteer fireman - probably employed by Douglas Corporation, as they ran a Fire Service at the time.
I found nearly a whole page in the local paper of the time, regarding the fire and inquest.
https://screenshots.firefox.com/dfbekIzlZkJOIN6j/null
I have some other snippets, which I need to sort out, regarding charity concerts and donations to his widow and child.
I'll post them later.
Dixon was born in Yorkshire in 1838, his wife Ann was from Hulme, Manchester.
On the 1861 census, they were living in Hulme.
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Hi KG,
Many thanks for the link and would look forward to the other info you can post. I had located Dixon on the UK census then onto the Isle of Man - but any further details on the death or related news cuttings would be fantastic.
Kind regards
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Starting with an OCR transcription, I have edited out all(most? ;D) of the errors. File is attached.
Reading the reports of the fire and inquest, we can see that Dixon Brierley was "a native of Manchester", and already had 3 children. His wife's intention was to return to Manchester.
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Hi KG,
Many thanks for your help on this and the news extracts it has been of great interest to me and my family even though it was a very sad event. Can I ask which website/websites you have used to obtain the news articles?
Kind regards
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I didn't use a website!
I paid a visit to the Manx Museum Library - once there I can use www.imuseum.im (the same as anyone can at home), but I can get a free 24 hours pass to look at Newspapers.
This can only be done at the Museum ;D
So, I did a search on "Dixon Brierley".
What is intriguing is the mention of a funeral at "The Cemetery"?
That would normally mean Braddan Cemetery, but could also refer to Onchan or St George's, Douglas.
However I still cannot find an entry for the burial?
I have searched online at the Museum, and also consulted the printed burial lists - but no joy.
Also mentioned on the iMuseum website, is a poem to Dixon - I need to speak to the Museum staff about getting a copy of that.
It's called "In Memory of Dixon Brierley, who perished in the Fire at Dr Steele's Academy, Crescent, Douglas, Isle of Man, Sat. February 1st. 1868."
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Hi KG,
You have been a great help - if there is a cost to obtain a copy of the poem please let me know as I would willingly pay for that. I notice the article you sent , towards the end of the script is the mention of a picture to be published in the newspaper - would it be possible for you to seek this out and again if there is a cost involved let me know.
Kind regards
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Couldn't find anything at the Museum re a picture?
For info, Newspaper access at iMuseum: 24 hrs for £7; 7 days for £10; 30 days for £30; 365 days for £100.
Meanwhile I have attached the entry from the burial register for Dixon.
Also details of the Entertainment laid on to raise funds for his widow. Very non-PC by today's standards! ::)
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Hi KG,
Thank you once again for your help and the images attached to you messages. If I can be of any help to you here in Manchester please let me know.
Kind regards
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If you PM me your email address, I can forward some clippings.
RC only takes 4 at a time ::)
Far quicker in 1 email ;D
Do NOT put your email address in a reply to this message - that simply ensures it can be seen by anyone with an internet search engine!
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KGarrad -- I just want to say what amazing information you have found for lengramar. Just brilliant research you have done.
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Well, I only live a short walk away from the Manx Museum (10 mins tops) ;D
And I know, and understand, the systems there pretty well.
Just happy I could help.
Finally; the fund raising raised the sum of £175 for the widow and children. Quite a sum for 1868 :)
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It's still flippin' great info - AND you went to that trouble. You get a gold star!
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Hi
I agree with Pennies - a lot of effort was put in. I am extremely grateful for the information.
Kind regards
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Family Search transcribed the name wrong they had it as Dixon Brievley:-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-CYCG-F?i=171&wc=ST5V-VZ7%3A1381235302%2C1381287973&cc=1784428
Blue
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Family Search transcribed the name wrong they had it as Dixon Brievley:-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-CYCG-F?i=171&wc=ST5V-VZ7%3A1381235302%2C1381287973&cc=1784428
Blue
Thanks, Blue.
But Hanes Telu had already found that - reply #9! ;D
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Family Search transcribed the name wrong they had it as Dixon Brievley:-
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9396-CYCG-F?i=171&wc=ST5V-VZ7%3A1381235302%2C1381287973&cc=1784428
Blue
Thanks, Blue.
But Hanes Telu had already found that - reply #9! ;D
Ah well I'll get me coat ;D
Blue
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Hi,
Thanks to all that have contributed to my initial post.
Kind regards
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Re Dixon Brearley. I am also researching Dixon Brearley as he was the brother of Samuel my mother’s grandfather. It was interesting to hear more about the fire as I had only known that he he had died in a fire in I O M a day before his son was born. The other siblings that I know of are Luke aka Walter Grace Mary and Thomas Do you have any more ? Regards. Maureen
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lengramar hasn't been online since we finished this thread?
However, he should get a notification of your interest.
Hopefully, he will be in touch.
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Just want to thank KGarrad who sent me the link to this thread when I posted about Dixon's death (even without his name he figured it out!) in a recent thread about IofM papers being viewable for free during the pandemic.
Dixon's wife, Ann Hibbert Brearley (this is how the name was spelled in my family) was my great-great aunt, i.e. my great-grandfather's sister. After Dixon's death she returned to Manchester and in 1874 remarried, to George Bower. He was a widower with children and they had four more together. Ann lived to a good age. I was thrilled to see that the community had raised money for her after Dixon's death. Am sure it helped cover some of her rent when she returned home. In the 1871 census she is working as a charwoman.
Also happy to have found where Dixon was buried, which had always been a mystery.
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lengramar was recently looking in to RootsChat.
He should get a notification of your post, and may reply? ;D