William Tear,was buried at Jurby in 1756. He is mentioned by A. W. Moore in Manx Worthies (1901) – “Manx schoolmasters have usually been clergymen also. Of the Schoolmaster whose name follows we know nothing except from his epitaph.”
But as you will see that’s not quite all we know.
The original epitaph in latin was translated by the Rev. John Quine:
Remains of Sir (Bachelor) Will.Tear, schoolmaster of Peel, buried.July 5th, 1756, in the 74th year of his age.
By way of epitaph of WILLIAM TEAR, an author having written.*
Death, alas! the penalty indeed (of life) is nevertheless a most certain portal of a blessed life, and that ‘I glad one to the good.
Although the bonds of death retain me here temporarily, hope nevertheless in Christ, (a hope) that will not die, remaineth.
In the merits of Christ and in the pitying Father’s love is my humble hope: in this faith I die.
Thou God Thyself knowest. my heart and the heart’s secrets, to whom obscurity not hidden all things are open.
Here nothing worthy to be descried is; alas ! all things are vain.
Therefore come blessed (life) and vain life go.
*literally, “having been written.”
However that’s not all we know of him because this Peel schoolmaster did not lead an altogether blameless life. Because of a ‘great scandal given by his disorderly life’ he was suspended for 6 months in 1741 following what today we would call a ‘disciplinary hearing’ the results of which were documented by Bishop Wilson:
“Whereas Upon the 31st of August last we with our Vicars General (the Vicars of Kk. Patrick and Germain with some gentlemen present) were obliged to suspend Mr William Tear the late Schoolmaster of Peel town ab officio and beneficio for the space of six months because of the great scandal given by his Disorderly life. And that at the time of our proceeding in that case Mr Tear afores’d upon our Reproving him for the Irregulartys he had been guilty of Resigned the School into our hands, declaring openly that he would not teach nor be concerned with the said School any longer.’ However out of a Fatherly Compassion towards him and upon his humble petitions wherein he sorrowfully lamented his Irregularitys and great Irreverence as also in regard that the Vicars of Patrick and German together with the Town Wardens have certified under their hands that the peticoner during his suspension has behav’d himself soberly and unblameably. We do hereby upon trial of his good Behaviour and in hopes of a thorough Reformation, permit him the said Mr. Tear to teach the Free School in Peel town, and do also Impower him to Receive the stipend settled thereon. And this to continue during our pleasure. And We do Require and Expect that the Vicars of Patrick and German as also the Wardens with the principal Inhabitants of the Town, as they tender the Welfare of the place, the Education of their Children and Our good Intent, that without fail they signify unto Us, if this Our Indulgence to the petitioner has not its due Effect upon him.
Given under our hands at Bishop’s Court, this 8th of March, 1741
THO. SODOR AND MAN. Vera Copia pr. ED. MOORE, Ep. Regr. 8th March, 1741.”
So what the specific offences were we do not know. Bishop Wilson was a rigid disciplinarian and would not tolerate in any of his Clergy or any others under his authority any deviations from the straight path. Perhaps today we would not have considered it so serious, was he a little too fond of an occasional or even regular drink? We don’t know. Whatever he did wrong, ‘during his suspension has behav’d himself soberly and unblameably’, so he was reinstated and remained in the School for another 15 years up to the time of his death.
And then there’s the church candlesticks . . . . . In 1902, when St Peters Church was undergoing restoration work a pair of brass Altar Candlesticks were discovered in a cupboard. They were covered with dirt and verdigris, and one of them was broken into two pieces.
They were both inscribed
– ‘The Gift of M. Est. Tear to Kk. Germain,1746.’
Esther Tear (nee Harrison) was the wife of William Tear, that same schoolmaster in Peel for 52 years. She died in 1756, a month after her husband. She left to the Poor of Peel a field called ‘Close Beg,’ and a meadow called ‘Lace’s Meadow.’