John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae and Deemster

Deemster John McCrystyn was born circa 1368 at Isle of Man. He died after 1422 at Altadale, Lezayre, Isle of Man. He held the office of Deemster in 1408.

Owing to the disappearance of all early Manx records, this John McCrystyn is the earliest of whom a written record exists, when he is recorded in 1408 as a Deemster. An "indenture" is to be seen at the British Museum, signed by him as "John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae".

From the earliest records extant, the Christians held the Office of Deemster, an office of the greatest dignity and authority. In the ancient court rolls, the deemsters were styled "Justiciarii Domini Regis". They were not only the chief judges, but were also the Lord's Privy Councillors, and their influence over the people resembled the civil authority of the ancient Druids. They alone knew, and were guardians of the unwritten laws, which only on important occasions were verbally divulged to the people. The Deemstership was hereditary in the Christian family, either by some decree of which all knowledge is lost, or because it was convenient for a son, as soon as old enough, to attend his father, the Deemster, at Courts, acting as his amanuensis and assistant, in order to be initiated into the duties, to learn the unwritten laws and customs, and to prepare himself for the serious and important oiffice. Notes from a Christian family genealogical table prepared in the early 1900s.

http://www.thepeerage.com/p15348.htm#i153471

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Arms: Azure a chevron confrée, between three chalices OR.

Crest: a unicorn’s head argent, erased, armed and crested OR.

Motto: Salus per Christum

A family of Scandinavian origin, the MacCristens, or Christins, or, as they now call themselves, Christians must have attained an important position in the Isle of Mann at an early date, as John McCristen, the first of whom there is any record, was one of the Judges or Deemsters in 1408 and a Member of the Tynwald Court in 1422. Of his three successors, who also bore the name of John, the first was seated at Altadale, in the Parish of Lezayre; the second was Deemster, from 1500-1510, and the third was also Deemster from 1511-1535. This later acquired the property adjoining Altadale and called the whole Milntown. He was the first to put the Manx Laws in writing. Daniel, his brother, was the ancestor of the Christians of Baldroma, in Maughold. His sister married Garret of Ballabrooie, and his eldest daughter Samsbury of Ronaldsway. John, his second son, was Water-Bailiff. William, the eldest, who was Deemster with his father, succeeded to the estate in 1535, but died four years afterwards. William’s second son, Robert, was also Deemster. From him the Christians of Lewaigue, in Maughold, are descended. Ewan, the fourth in descent from William, changed his name from MacCristen to Christian. He succeeded to the property in 1593. In 1605, when only 26 years old, he was made Deemster, and held that office 51 years. He was also Deputy-Governor of Peel Castle, and the most influential man in the Island. His sister, Jane, married Thomas Samsbury of Ronaldsway, and died without progeny. He purchased that estate from her trustees, and presented it, in 1643, to her third son, William, the famous ‘Iliam Dhone.’ John, his eldest son, who died before him, was Assistant-Deemster. His eldest daughter, Mabel, born in 1599, was John Curghey of Ballakillingan’s second wife. Ewan, John Curghey’s son, by his first wife, married Margaret, born in 1617, a younger sister of Mabel’s. Ewan was succeeded in 1656 by his grandson Edward, who was also Deemster. Edward’s eldest son, Ewan, purchased the property of Ewanrigg Hall, in Cumberland, (circa 1680), and also succeeded to the Milntown property on his father’s death in 1693. His eldest son, John, married Bridget, daughter of Humphrey Senhouse, of Netherhall, a lineal descendant of King Edward the First. Of his numerous 7 daughters, several married into Manx families—Ann to one of the Bacons of Ballabrooie, (Major Cæsar Bacon was her grandson); Jane to Thomas Moore, of the Abbey; Elizabeth to William Fine of Ballahott; Alice to Quayle Curphey, of Ballakillingan; Margaret to Thomas Wattleworth, of Peel: she had two daughters, one of whom, Elizabeth, was Archdeacon Moore’s and W.F. Moore’s grandmother; the other, Margaret, married her first cousin, Joseph, son of Thomas, vicar of Crosthwaite, in Cumberland, who was Edward Christian’s fifth son. From him are descended a branch of the family who are numerously represented at the present day.

Source: From Manx Families, A.W.Moore, MS 1889

Appeared in Manx Note Book No 1 p17/20, 1885

Deemster John McCrystyn1 M, #153471, b. circa 1368, d. after 1422 Last Edited=5 Nov 2007

    Deemster John McCrystyn was born circa 1368 at Isle of Man.1 He died after 1422 at Altadale, Lezayre, Isle of Man.2

    He held the office of Deemster in 1408.3 

    Owing to the disappearance of all early Manx records, this John McCrystyn is the earliest of whom a written record exists, when he is recorded in 1408 as a Deemster. An "indenture" is to be seen at the British Museum, signed by him as "John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae". [TAB]From the earliest records extant, the Christians held the Office of Deemster, an office of the greatest dignity and authority. In the ancient court rolls, the deemsters were styled "Justiciarii Domini Regis". They were not only the chief judges, but were also the Lord's Privy Councillors, and their influence over the people resembled the civil authority of the ancient Druids. They alone knew, and were guardians of the unwritten laws, which only on important occasions were verbally divulged to the people.  The Deemstership was hereditary in the Christian family, either by some decree of which all knowledge is lost, or because it was convenient for a son, as soon as old enough, to attend his father, the Deemster, at Courts, acting as his amanuensis and assistant, in order to be initiated into the duties, to learn the unwritten laws and customs, and to prepare himself for the serious and important oiffice. Notes from a Christian family genealogical table prepared in the early 1900s

The family name had many spellings which, for ease of continuity and understanding, have been standardised as McCrystyn.2 Child of Deemster John McCrystyn Deemster William McCrystyn+1 d. 1448 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.