Jane Mylchreest (1864-1908)
Here is some information about Jane Mylchreest who was baptised Eliza Jane Mylchreest at Malew church on 17 January 1864. She was the eldest daughter of our Thomas Mylchreest and Esther Corrin. She is believed to have had a number of illegitimate children. This belief came about after Ruth from Flintshire asked for help in uncovering the Manx roots of Jessie Mylchreest from readers of Isle of Man Family History Society's magazine. Jessie Ann Mylchreest was born on 8 March 1883. She was baptised at Malew church on 25 March 1883. She was recorded as the illegitimate daughter of Jane Mylchreest. Place of abode was Cross Four Ways where our Jane's family were living at that time. The proof that Jessie's father was a soldier called Peter Bentall came in a letter in his record of service it was dated 17 December 1883 and was sent from the War Office to Peter's regiment who were then in Cork, Ireland (he was previously stationed at Castletown, Isle of Man from 1881 to 1882):-
"An application having been received for a portion of the pay of Private Peter Bentall toward the support of Jane Mylchreest's illegitimate child of which he has acknowledged the paternity. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, by the power vested in him by the 145th Section of the Army Act, 1881, he directs you to withhold three pence each day from the man's daily pay, which sum will be transmitted by you monthly to Jane Mylchreest, Cross Four Ways, Isle of Man..."
Other illegitimate children believed to have been born to Jane after she moved to Douglas are Robert Gregg Mylchreest (born 30 November 1886), Benjamin Chapman Mylchreest (born 16 August 1888) and Euphemia Chapman Mylchreest (born 24 December 1889). Benjamin died aged 8 weeks old and was buried at Braddan on 14 October 1888.
In the 1891 Census Jane Mylchreest was working as a chambermaid at the Royal Hotel, North Quay, Douglas, Isle of Man. Her future husband Joseph Rane was also working as a servant at the Royal Hotel. Jane married her first husband, Joseph Rane, in 1892, in Staffordshire. The children born from this marriage were Catherine Jane Rane (born 30 August 1893), Joseph Rane (born 24 August 1895) and William Rane (born 24 January 1898). Jane's husband Joseph Rane died in 1899.
Jane married her second husband, John Smith, in 1901, in Staffordshire. The children born from this marriage were Esther Louisa Marion Smith (born 1902) and Mary Annie Smith (born 1905). Jane died in Staffordshire in 1908. In the 1901 Census John and Jane Smith are living at 72 Lower Mayer Street, Hanley, Staffordshire. Jane's sons Joseph and William Rane are living with their mother and step father. Catherine Jane (Katie) Rane was living with her uncle Thomas Henry Mylchreest at 8 Nestor Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.
Jessie Ann Mylchreest appears as Jessie Benthall, working as a domestic servant, on the 1901 Census at 8 Brookland Road Birkenhead. Jessie Benthall married Thomas Joseph Shone at St. Peter's church Birkenhead on 24 August 1905. Jessie died in 1918. Robert Gregg emigrated in 1907 and died in California in 1963. He was at one time president of the North American Manx Association. Euphemia last appears as a member of the Quilliam family on the 1911 Census in Douglas at 3 The Archway, South Quay. She may appear in later records in England as a widow called Euphemia Poynton but this is not confirmed as fact.
"An application having been received for a portion of the pay of Private Peter Bentall toward the support of Jane Mylchreest's illegitimate child of which he has acknowledged the paternity. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, by the power vested in him by the 145th Section of the Army Act, 1881, he directs you to withhold three pence each day from the man's daily pay, which sum will be transmitted by you monthly to Jane Mylchreest, Cross Four Ways, Isle of Man..."
Other illegitimate children believed to have been born to Jane after she moved to Douglas are Robert Gregg Mylchreest (born 30 November 1886), Benjamin Chapman Mylchreest (born 16 August 1888) and Euphemia Chapman Mylchreest (born 24 December 1889). Benjamin died aged 8 weeks old and was buried at Braddan on 14 October 1888.
In the 1891 Census Jane Mylchreest was working as a chambermaid at the Royal Hotel, North Quay, Douglas, Isle of Man. Her future husband Joseph Rane was also working as a servant at the Royal Hotel. Jane married her first husband, Joseph Rane, in 1892, in Staffordshire. The children born from this marriage were Catherine Jane Rane (born 30 August 1893), Joseph Rane (born 24 August 1895) and William Rane (born 24 January 1898). Jane's husband Joseph Rane died in 1899.
Jane married her second husband, John Smith, in 1901, in Staffordshire. The children born from this marriage were Esther Louisa Marion Smith (born 1902) and Mary Annie Smith (born 1905). Jane died in Staffordshire in 1908. In the 1901 Census John and Jane Smith are living at 72 Lower Mayer Street, Hanley, Staffordshire. Jane's sons Joseph and William Rane are living with their mother and step father. Catherine Jane (Katie) Rane was living with her uncle Thomas Henry Mylchreest at 8 Nestor Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.
Jessie Ann Mylchreest appears as Jessie Benthall, working as a domestic servant, on the 1901 Census at 8 Brookland Road Birkenhead. Jessie Benthall married Thomas Joseph Shone at St. Peter's church Birkenhead on 24 August 1905. Jessie died in 1918. Robert Gregg emigrated in 1907 and died in California in 1963. He was at one time president of the North American Manx Association. Euphemia last appears as a member of the Quilliam family on the 1911 Census in Douglas at 3 The Archway, South Quay. She may appear in later records in England as a widow called Euphemia Poynton but this is not confirmed as fact.
Ann Mylchreest (1866-1889)
Here is some information about Ann Mylchreest who was baptised Ann Edith Mylchreest at Malew church on 13 May 1866. She was another daughter of our Thomas Mylchreest and Esther Corrin. She is remembered on the gravestone at Malew church as Ann Selina and as having died in New York in 1889. She emigrated in 1885 on the SS Catalonia from Liverpool to Boston. She worked as a domestic servant for four years in New York but died in child birth while at the New York City Lunatic Asylum on 30 April 1889. No further information has been found to explain how Ann came to be in the asylum. It is remembered that one of the merchant seamen in the family went to visit her in New York and were told that she had died and that this is how her death became known to the family.
Renee Mylchreest (1921-1925)
Here is some information about Renee Mylchreest daughter of Alfred Mylchreest & Annie Kelly of Castletown. Alfred was the youngest brother of our Elizabeth Alice Mylchreest. On 23 December 1925 a van driven by William Cowin crashed into Castletown harbour in a blinding snowstorm after missing the entrance to the bridge across the harbour. William Cowin was drowned along with four-year-old girl passenger, Renee Mylchreest, of Bank House, Bank Street, Castletown, who was given a lift home along with her mother. Mrs Annie Mylchreest was saved from the icy waters by Cornelius Hayes, the mate of a schooner moored nearby. Renee Mylchreest was rescued at the scene but despite attempts to resuscitate her at a doctor's surgery she died. Mr Hayes was given a gold watch by the townsfolks for his bravery in the rescue. Jackie contacted me when I was researching Alfred Mylchreest on the Isle of Man genealogy messageboard and provided me with a lot of information and documents relating to her grandfather, Connie Hayes, the accident and the aftermath. Renee and her family are remembered by their beautiful grave at Malew church.