From time to time, sons have succeeded their fathers as Captains. This was the situation illustrated in Canon Quine’s novel The Captain of the Parish, published in 1897, but depicting life in the Lambfell district of German in the 1850s. This is one of only two novels which take their titles from a Manx office-holder, the other being The Deemster by Hall Caine. In the former, old Arrosey is followed by his son John Molroy, both of them being also in turn members of the self-elected House of Keys. The parochial lists bear witness to the importance of certain families in carrying out a Captain’s duties, but the much-prized honour of Captaincy has always been conferred by the Lieutenant-Governor on the person considered most suitable at the time when a vacancy occurs, that is, on the death or resignation of the previous holder.
