Nan Wade

External image
image icon Nan Wade doll in the Manx Museum

Nan Wade was a Manx wise woman and herbalist. She became one of the island's best known practitioners of folk medicine in the 19th-century. Sources have attributed the alias to two women: Ann Wade (née Cannell; 1768–1844) and her daughter Ann Boyde (née Wade; 1796–1866). William Harrison described the "mantle" as having "descended to her daughter".[1]

Originally from Kirk Michael,[2] Nan's house was located by the Rhenass River ford in Poortown, a hamlet in German.[3][4]

Activity

There survive several contemporary anecdotes of Nan Wade being called upon by residents of the Isle of Man for charms "to avert misfortune or cure disease", as well as clairvoyance and good luck. Many of these anecdotes were collected by Sophia Morrison.[5][6] The charms were incanted while herbs were "lifted" (not picked).[7] It was common for people to seek folk remedies at the time, particularly if they could not afford to see a medical doctor,[8] with one of Morrison's witnesses praising the "only sixpence she was asking".[6] Examples of other kinds of charms included "giving away the luck" to fishermen for a good catch[9] and clairvoyance.[10]

Legacy

In the decades after her death, it became a tradition in the Isle of Man to pick leaves from Nan Wade's grave for good luck or protection.[5] This was referred to as picking "a bit of Nan Wade".[11][12]

A 19th-century doll of Nan Wade is kept in the Manx Museum. The doll is 42 cm tall.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Harrison, William (1869). "Fairy doctors". Mona Miscellany: a selection of proverbs, sayings, ballads, customs. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  2. ↑ "Index Vol 7" (PDF). Isle of Man Family History Society. 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Quine, J. "Mouths of Manx rivers: Glyn Moar". Ramsey Church Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Notes on information contributed by Mr W. Thompson, formerly of the Post Office, Glen Maye, interviewed by Margaret Killip". Manx Museum. September 1977. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. 1 2 Douglas, Mona (28 August 1964). "Can ills be charmed away? The Herb and the Word: Stories of the traditional Manx cures". Isle of Man Weekly Times. Retrieved 18 August 2025.(subscription required)
  6. 1 2 Morrison, Sophia (c. 1901). "Manx Folk-lore Notes: Buitcheraght (Witchcraft)". Yn Lior Manninagh - The Manx Book. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Bovenizer, Noah (31 October 2022). "Witches of the Isle of Man". Isle of Man Today. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Doll depicting 'Nan Wade', the Manx 'wise-woman' and charmer". Manx Museum. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Gill, W.W. (1963). "Chapter II Cures and Charms 6. Other cures and charms". A Thirs Manx Scrapbook. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Gill, W. Walter (1932). "Witchcraft and charming". A Second Manx Scrapbook. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Miller, Stephen (3 October 1936). "More graves at Peel: Nan Wade" (PDF). Isle of Man Weekly Times. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Weyde, Ber (17 September 2021). "Nan Wade – Manx wise woman". As Manx as the Hills. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
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