Nelly Brennan

Biography Early life Eleanor Brennan (always known as Nelly) was born in Douglas, Isle Of Man in 1792. Her Irish father was a boatswain on a man-o-war and had been drowned at sea a few months before her birth. Her mother died when she was 16 requiring her to develop self-reliance and diligence.

By 1809 she had become a regular attendee of the daily early morning services at St George's Church where she met Thomas Howard who was the curate of the church, leading Nelly to devote her life to God. She was employed with an annual salary of £30 per year in addition to which she received a house with a gas and coal allowance. Due to her devotion to the job she suffered a breakdown after 18 months and was compelled to resign.

However she still sought to aid the sick and the poor, known throughout the town of Douglas in her efforts to relieve distress and hardship.

In her later years Nelly Brennan achieved her ambition to have a house built for herself, and making a will leaving the house to a young woman whom she had reared as her own and following her death to the Wesleyan Connexion. She became actively involved in the Douglas Dorcas Society, some of the early meetings of which took place at her home in Wesley Terrace.

Death Following years of exposure to numerous illnesses, in the latter part of 1858 Nelly Brennan's health started to decline dramatically. Advised to rest, she continued to collect clothes for the poor of Douglas, however she was confined to bed during Christmas week.

Nelly Brennan died at her home on 23 January 1859, three days before her 67th birthday.

Funeral Nelly Brennan's funeral took place at St George's Church. Seven ministers of different congregations were in attendance in order to pay their respects and of whom they described as: