Picking up a thread from almost 3 years ago. We know more now, though still can't answer Carl's question.

I had listed 6 potential IOM Gellings in the previous note:
22 Jan 1797 Braddan s/o John G & Margt Kewley
29 Jan 1797 Braddan s/o Philip G & Anne Kewn
20 May 1798 St. George Douglas s/o Ann Gelling
11 Dec 1798 Malew s/o John G & Ann Brew
24 Feb 1799 Braddan s/o Thos G & Elizth Kelly
16 Jun 1799 Douglas s/o Robert G & Ann Clark

To which should be added:
27 Oct 1798 St. Mathews Douglas s/o John Gelling & Elizabeth Walkinson
16 Jan 1799 St. Mathews Douglas s/o William Gelling & Margaret Kneen
abt 1800 (date not known), s/o Robert Gelling & Anne Kelly
30 Aug 1801 Lonan s/o John Gelling & Margaret Scarffe.

So that makes 10, but we can eliminate some.
The last one, 1801 Lonan, is in my family. He married Elizabeth Gell and lived his whole life at Glen Gawne, Lonan.
The 2nd last one, of the unknown date abt 1800, married Dorothy Shimmin in 1827 and then Alice Collister in 1847.
The Feb 1799 one (s/o Thomas) married Jane Cannell in 1824 Braddan and was a lead ore miner at Laxey.
I would eliminate the two baptized Jan 1797 because they are too old.
I'm not keen on the next one, son of Anne Gelling, because he's slightly too old.

So we're down to 4 who need to be considered seriously.

1. 27 Oct 1798 St. Mathews Douglas s/o John Gelling & Elizabeth Walkinson. They married 2 Sept 1792 Braddan and had 4 children: Elizabeth 1793, Margaret 1796, John 1798 and Ann 1801. The family lived in Kirk German. Elizabeth Sr is in the 1841 census at German, and died there in 1844 age 79. John Sr died before the 1841 census. Daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Fargher 1815 German and they lived at Queen Street, Douglas. Daughter Ann eventually married William Mylrea in Lonan and had children before and after marriage. I have nothing for either Margaret or John.
2. 11 Dec 1798 Malew s/o John G & Ann Brew. No marriage of this couple on IGI and no other children. Possibly an illegitimate. I know nothing about this person.
3. 16 Jan 1799 St. Mathews Douglas s/o William Gelling & Margaret Kneen. Parents married 1797 Braddan and had 7 children. Wm was s/o John Gelling & Margaret Quilliam and so belongs to the Ballamillaghyn family of Gellings. One daughter, Esther, married Thomas Craine and they emigrated to Michigan and Ohio.
4. 16 Jun 1799 Douglas s/o Robert G & Ann Clark. Parents married 1796 Braddan and they had 6-7 children. I'm almost sure Robert belongs to my family of Gellings, but I know little about him.

Of the list, I think I like the first one the best because of the Kirk German reference. As you had noted, your John Gelling was known as a "German sailor" so perhaps that's where that reference comes from. Naming of children works well too, if first born "Sarah Elizabeth" was named after her two grandmothers.

Second choice would be the 3rd one, which also fits for naming of children. The other two are possible but not great for children's names.

Carl, I would be interested in learning more about the children of John Gelling and Elizabeth Eagles, to add to my Gelling database. Please email me at egelling at shaw dot ca. Thanks a lot.

Eric