Moore describes Teare of Ballawhane as a little man, far along in years, dressed in clothes of undyed loaghtan wool, and the most powerful charmer on the island. In parts of the north, farmers would not sow their spring crops until Teare had given his blessing.
The best known story about him is dated precisely. In July 1833, at Mr Fargher's inn at Laxey, Teare was asked to deal with a great flock of sparrows that was stripping a wheat field. He carried out his rites, and the sparrows did no more damage, however many of them there were.
He was not infallible. Moore says the buggane of Gob-ny-Scuit in Maughold defied him, and was only disposed of when someone found that its wailing was the wind in a rock cleft. His daughter kept up his craft after him, with a particular name for charming fishing nets so that boats would have luck.
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