Ewan Christian, Deemster & Gov. of the Isle of Man

First to use the surname "Christian." Deemster of the Isle of Man 1605-1653

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Ewan was the most powerful Manxman of his time. He held the office of Deemster (1605-1653). Deemsters are judges on the Isle of Man. He was also Deputy Governor (1634-1637). He bought the property known as Ronaldsway from the estate of his sister, Jane. In 1643 he gave that to his son William, also known as Illiam Dhone (Brown-haired William). He was Deputy Governor of Peel Castle. He was implicated in the Manx rebellion of 1651. He was the largest landowner on the island. He also bought Unerigg (later known as Ewanrigg) on the Cumberland coast. He opposed the attempts by the Earl of Derby to abolish the feudal 'tenure of straw'.

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Deemster Ewan Christian1 M, #118903, b. 1579, d. circa September 1655 Last Edited=5 Nov 2007

    Deemster Ewan Christian was born in 1579 at Milntown, Lezayre, Isle of Man.2,3 He was the son of William Christian and Mabel Curwen.1 He married Katherine Harrison circa 1599 in a Isle of Man marriage.2 He died circa September 1655 at Ronaldsway, Malew, Isle of Man.2 He was buried on 20 September 1655 at Malew, Isle of Man.2

    He held the office of Deemster between 1605 and 1653.3 In 1629 he purchased the estate of Ronaldsway, from the trustees of his sister, Jane, and presented it in 1643 to his son William Christian, the famous Iliam Dhone.2 He held the office of Deputy Governor of the Isle of Man between 1634 and 1637.3 He held the office of Deputy Governor of Peel Castle.4 In 1651 he was implicated in the Manx rebellion.1 

    He was the largest landowner, the most influential man in the Island, and the most determined and most powerful opponent to the Earl of Derby's endeavours to abolish the old feudal "tenure of the straw". He also acquired the Unerigg, or Ewanrigg as it was later known, on the coast of Cumberland.2 Children of Deemster Ewan Christian and Katherine Harrison Mabel Christian2 b. c 1599 Deemster John Christian+1 b. 1 Aug 1602, d. 1673 Edward Christian1 b. 1603, d. c 1654 Margery Christian+2 b. 6 Jun 1604 Ewan Christian1 b. 1606, d. 20 Oct 1613 William Christian+1 b. 14 Apr 1608, d. 2 Jan 1662/63 Margaret Christian+2 b. 1617, d. 1652 Children of Deemster Ewan Christian and Jane Woods William Christian2 b. c 1618, d. c 1706 John Christian2 b. c 1620, d. c 1689 Jane Christian+2 b. c 1621, d. May 1694 Citations [S35] BLG1965 volume 2, page 96. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S35] [S125] Richard Glanville-Brown, online <e-mail address>, Richard Glanville-Brown (RR 2, Milton, Ontario, Canada), downloaded 17 August 2005. [S64] Glynn Christian, Fragile Paradise: The discovery of Fletcher Christian, Bounty mutineer, 2nd ed. (U.S.A.: Bounty Books, 2005), page xiv-xv. Hereinafter cited as Fragile Paradise. [S18] Matthew H.C.G., editor, Dictionary of National Biography on CD-ROM (Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1995), reference "Christian, William, 1608-1663". Hereinafter cited as Dictionary of National Biography.