Why was Maughold the home to the principal Manx Quakers?
Maughold, jutting out towards the then Quakers strongholds of Cumberland and Lancashire on the north east of Man, was more likely to receive lay preachers because of it’s relative proximity. Accessibility to these counties was facilitated by Ramsey’s large protective bay and to a lesser degree, Lewaigue and Port Cornea. Because of the flow of legitimate or illegal foreign trade, Maughold and particularly Ramsey had been open to the sway of England’s spiralling radicalism and bitter philosophical clashes in the 1640s and 50s, as well as more direct incursions throughout it’s history. This is reflected in the fact that ‘strangers’ were often looked on with suspicion by authorities. The presence of merchant strangers was to be reported immediately and they had to swear oaths of loyalty; yet, as regards legal status and privileges they were at a significant loss to natives.’121 However, due to troublesome north-easterly winds and recent devastation by the sea, Ramsey did not engage in as g
