An Australian author is appealing for help in gathering information about a Manx couple who boarded steamers bound for Shanghai in the late 19th century.

Maureen de la Harpe’s great grandparents, Eliza Radcliffe and William James Sayle, married in 1875 and became the first of four generations of the author’s family who would survive floods and rebellions, war and Japanese internment in China.

Finally, in the wake of the Second World War, when their home in Shanghai became a civil war battleground, the author’s third generation Manx family fled and resettled in Ireland, Africa and most recently, Australia.

The appeal for information comes from the Perth-based writer who is turning her colourful family history into a soon-to-be published book.

Along with her daughter Lara, an experienced researcher, the author has visited Shanghai and, briefly, the village of Andreas where Eliza’s home, Ballaradcliffe, still stands.

Maureen was hoping to return to the Isle of Man to try to track down photographs of Eliza and William, who were born in Ramsey, and to find out more about the couple who had briefly returned to the Isle of Man for the birth of their son in 1884.

manuscript

However, Covid-19 travel restrictions made that return visit impossible, and, with the manuscript nearing completion, the quest for photos has become a priority.

Maureen explained: ’When Lara and I began researching the lives of my forebears, all we had were a few sheets of handwritten notes from two much-loved elderly aunts.

’Lara’s research revealed that the first Radcliffes arrived in the Isle of Man from England in the 16th century, and the family of the original John Radcliffe went on to amass vast land holdings on the island.

house of keys

’We also know that a number of descendants of the original Radcliffes have held positions of prestige and responsibility, including membership in the House of Keys.

’At present we have a couple of snaps of Eliza but, because of her family’s status we’re hoping there are portraits of her as a young woman, and of her home, Ballaradcliffe, because we’d love to use them in the book.

’As the manuscript is all but complete, the fact that we can’t visit the Isle of Man ourselves has been a great disappointment.

’We’d be grateful for any assistance and will certainly acknowledge it in the book.’

Anyone with information can email Maureen at: [email protected]