A memorial stone made in the Isle of Man has been laid at the grave of Manx writer and inventor William Kennish in Brooklyn, New York.

Kennish was a man of many talents, a Royal Navy veteran, inventor, explorer, poet and engineer, but was buried in an unmarked grave at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

A trust was formed by Isle of Man Victorian Society chairman Bob Stimpson and Roy Moore, who is a direct Kennish family descendant, to seek public donations from individuals and organisations to get the stone carved and shipped out to America.

Speaking from Brooklyn yesterday (Monday), Mr Stimpson said: ’It was quite amazing. Things started off with a brief dedication in the chapel at Green Wood Cemetery.

’There were four generations of William Kennish’s descendants present. The youngest was 18 months and the eldest was a senior citizen. Some people had travelled from California.

’By pure coincidence a lady who was visiting the cemetery and passing by saw the triskelion - and she turned out to be from Port St Mary.

’The cemetery was vast with around 600,000 graves.

’It was long overdue recognition - an absolutely wonderful tribute.’