# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260218_132449.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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[margin:] Insula de Mona

To the Honourable John Wood Esquire Governor of the said Isle—
The Defence of John Quayle Comptroller of the said Isle to the Accusation
and Prosecution of M^r. John Taubman—

This Defendant saving and reserving to himself All benefit and advantage
of Exception to the many Untruths Errors and Imperfections in the said Accusation—
and Prosecution contained And also saving All and all manner of Right and—
Benefit in the prosecuting and Recovery of such Relief Satisfaction and
Redress which he the said Defendant may hereafter seek as Damages or—
penaltys for so false and injurious a Prosecution— This Defendant doth for
Answer unto the said John Taubman the Prosecutors said Accusation, answer—
and say—

. . . . . . . . . . And first this Defendant Saith and admits that the said prosecutor
John Taubman was early introduced into the House of the Keys— for that—
it appears to the Defendant, that on the 28^th. October 1752 He took the Oath—
administered to the Keys of this Isle Whereby he the said John Taubman hath
among other things sworn that he should true faith and fidelity bear to His
late Grace James Duke of Atholl Lord of this Isle and his Heirs during life.

. . . . . . . . . . This Defendant likewise admits That by the Inrollments of two—
several Commissions from His Grace the Duke of Atholl bearing Date—
respectively the 5^th. Day of November 1755 the said prosecutor was appointed
Captain of Derby Fort, and Steward of the Demesnes and Garrisons and—
succeeded this Defendant in both the said places, the former of which is a—
sine Cure, And the Defendant annually had the trouble of making up the—
said Prosecutors Accounts of the latter since his said Appointments—

. . . . . . . And this Defendant doth also admit that, when the Worshipful
John Taubman deceased late Deemster of this Isle was visited with his
last Illness, He the said prosecutor was appointed Deputy Deemster—
during the Indisposition of his late Uncle the said John Taubman
deceased But the Defendant never heard nor does he believe that any
person took the least pains to influence or prevail on him to accept the
said Office