In memory of James Walton 16 March 1871

The Isle of Man is located about 22 miles off the northwest coast of England in the middle of the Irish Sea. It is a favorite spot for British and Irish vacationers as it is a mere 83 miles from Liverpool and just 90 miles from Belfast.

IOM is not a large island, only 33 miles long and 13 miles wide. More than 40% of the island is uninhabitable.

While it is a dependant territory of the Crown, the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom. It is self-governing with its own parliment called Tynwald; its own laws, traditions, cultures, and cuisine.

If you were born on the Isle of Man as the Bee Gees were, and my great-grandfather James Walton was, you would be Manx. Perhaps you've heard of the Manx cat?

When my great grandfather was seven months old his parents immigrated to Cleveland Ohio. James was the oldest of six children born to James and Isabella (nee Joughin) Walton and the only one who lived to adulthood.

As a young man, my great-grandfather left Cleveland and traveled to Chicago where he met his future bride. But that's a story for another time.