This white marble memorial tablet for George Paton can be found in St. Paul's Church in Ramsey. The dedication pays tribute to Rev'd Paton long service to the Church.
The dedication is reproduced below:
"THIS TABLET AND A WINDOW
IN THE CHAPEL OF
ST. CATHERINE'S, AT BALLURE,
HAVE BEEN PLACED BY MANY FRIENDS
IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF
GEORGE PATON,
CLERK IN HOLY ORDERS.
WHO WAS CHAPLIN OF ST. PAUL'S,
RAMSEY, FROM 1871 TO 1900;
AND WHO FOR ALMOST FORTY YEARS
MINISTERED FAITHFULLY AND DEVOTEDLY
IN THIS TOWN,
BORN 11TH OCTOBER 1836,
DIED 13TH JANUARY 1900.
From the Manxnotebook webiste:
"George Paton, 1834 – 1900
Born 11 Oct 1834 at Thurso – son of George Paton, formerly of H. M. Reg. Cape Mounted Rifles who according to memorial in Ballure Chapel died at Ormly, Lezayre, 4 December 1867, aged 80.
Deacon 1865, Priest 11 March 1867, Chaplain of Lezayre 1865-6 with responsibility for what later became St. Olave’s. However appointed Curate at St. Paul’s Ramsey in 1866 and then Chaplain in 1871 where he remained until his death in Jan. 1900. The Memorial Window at Ballure to his father reads “and the glory of God and the affectionate memory of his son Rev’d George Paton, who for 35 years was Vicar, Curate and Chaplain of Ramsey and fell asleep Jan 13, 1900, aged 64 years. And of Capt George Herbert Paton, son of the Rev’d George Paton, drowned in the North Sea, Nov 14, 1894, aged 24 years” – Note George Paton was never actually Vicar.
Harrison describes him as a “strong man of commanding personality. Though most genial, kindly and sympathetic, possessed of keen wit and much beloved by all sorts and conditions of men, he delighted in a battle, and few were his equals with the exact weapon of the pen.”
Married Ellen Mylrea Farrant (4th daughter of William Farrant of Ballamoor, Jurby) in 1865 by whom he had two sons and four daughters, three of whom are remembered in another window in Ballure – “In memory of Eleanor Annie, daughter of the Rev’d George & Ellen M Patton, who died October 13, 1872, aged 18 years, [? days as baptized 10 Oct 1872. Also, of Ellen Isabella, daughter of the above, George and Ellen M. Paton, born November 1873, died 6 May 1875. Also, to the memory of Jessie Theodora, youngest daughter of the above, George & Ellen Mylrea Paton, for some years a Church worker in this parish, who died whilst in the discharge of her duties as Queen’s Nurse at Bradford, Manchester, on St. Andrew’s Day 1905, aged 29. These windows are dedicated by many of her friends.”
His other son Edward Curphy Paton had been curate of St. Paul’s from 1894 and was wanted as Chaplain by the parishioners after his father’s death. Both father and son were High Churchmen which fitted badly with Bishop Straton who appointed his son for only 1 year at the end of which E. C. Paton was to resign, which he did and went to St. James’s, Kensington leaving much disquiet in the parish over the Bishop’s handing of the affair. However, one effect was to make St. Paul’s, in 1904, a separate Parish from Maughold.
Was a leading Oddfellow, in 1897 elected Provincial Deputy-Grand Master of the I.O.M. District – also set up a house for the Poor in Ramsey which he gave to the Parish in his will. Another abiding interest was the Lifeboat Institution – acted as secretary of the Ramsey station for 12 years from its founding in 1868, also interested himself in the Rocket Brigade.
A brother, Roderick, was the father of C. I. Paton"
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and
"[From Churches of South Ramsey,1923]
The Rev. George Paton had been assistant to Mr Kermode for six years, and in 1871 succeeded to the Chaplaincy. He was born near John o’ Groat’s House, and received his early education not far from Land’s End ! He was further educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University with the object of entering the Medical profession, but, his parents residing in the Isle of Man, he came under the influence of Bishop Powys, who persuaded him to take Holy Orders.
He was a strong man of commanding personality. Though most genial, kindly and sympathetic, possessed of keen wit and much beloved by all sorts and conditions of men, he delighted in a battle, and few were his equals with the exact weapon of the pen.
He took the greatest interest in the affairs of the Town, notably in the matter of Poor Relief. The Voluntary system initiated by his predecessor continued for many years until it was found inadequate in view of the increase of expenditure and growth of population. it was succeeded in 1887 by the Statutory Committee appointed under the Poor Relief Act of that year. In the following year an Act was passed under which the Chaplain and Wardens handed over the capital of their endowments to the Committee, which also assumed the responsibilities of the Ramsey Sanitary and Medical Dispensary.
The old list of Benefactors of the Poor may still be seen on the boards in the Church tower.
Mr Paton had been Chairman of the Committee and he was first Chairman of the Guardians holding that office till the time of his death.
The Rev John Kewley, who was for eight years his assistant-priest, helped in the Poor Relief work by acting as Secretary; and he was also Captain of Company of the Rocket Brigade, receiving on his resignation of the office a vote of thanks from the Board of Trade.
The cause of the Life-Boat found in the Chaplain an enthusiastic friend and supporter. The first Life-Boat was put on the Ramsey Station in 1868. Mr Paton was a member of the original Committee, and in the following year was appointed Secretary and Treasurer of the Branch. He faithfully discharged the duties of the dual office for twelve years, being succeeded as Secretary by Mr Edward C. Kerr. He was then appointed Chairman, and held that office till his death. At the meeting in August, 1900, Mr J. M. Cruickshank, his successor in the chair, in a very able and feeling speech, moved a vote of sympathy with the family of the late Chairman "who for more than 30 years as Secretary and Chairman had so nobly filled those positions."
The Chaplain also interested himself in Friendly Society work. A branch of the Oddfellows Society had been formed in Ramsey in 1820, but it made little head-way till his enthusiasm put new life into the dry bones. In 1899 [sic 1897] the High Movable Conference of the Order was held in Douglas, and in view of this Mr Paton was elected Provincial Deputy-Grand Master of the I.O.M. District.
Mr Paton bought the house No. 13 in Church Street. It is still known as "The Home" because it was used in his time and afterwards for the housing of some old and poor folk. A disastrous fire occurred there on one occasion and two of the inmates perished. To the rear of this house is the S. Paul’s Soup Kitchen, and there is a right-of-way through to King Street. The work of the Kitchen, which still continues, was started by Mr Paton and free breakfasts were also given to children of the poor, chiefly fishermen whose lot was very precarious at that time. The Chaplain by his will dated 1887, bequeathed the whole property to the Chaplain and Wardens and their successors in office. "The Home" is still in constant use for various parish purposes, and the Poor Law Guardians have held their meetings there since the Board was first formed.
The School of 1762, referred to previously, had been purchased by Mrs Hall, whose husband had been Arch-deacon. By her will dated March, 1886, she bequeathed the property to the Incumbent or Chaplain and the Wardens of S. Paul’s and their successors, to be used for such purposes as they should see fit. This is now used as the "Church Institute" , a Men's Club with Billiard room and Reading and Lecture room. The Billiard room has upon its walls an interesting memorial of Ramsey’s services in the Great War, in the shape of 360 photographs of the Ramsey men who served. They are framed in sets in large dark oak frames, and there is also a list of the 110 who fell. An attempt was made to obtain as many photographs as possible, but the set to be complete would need to be increased to over 430.
Mr Paton always looked forward to the day when. Ramsey should have a hospital, but the Cottage hospital was not built till after his death. Through the efforts of Miss Paton, a cot there is endowed to his memory. He died suddenly in January, 1900, to the great grief of the townspeople, who, together with many others who knew him, attended his funeral at Ballure in extraordinary numbers to pay their last token of affectionate respect to one who had served the Church and Town so long and faithfully.
Mrs Paton (née Ellen Mylrea Farrant), who was much beloved by all who knew her, survived her husband, for fifteen years, and lived at Brookfield, Ramsey."
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