Hi Donna, thanks for your comments.

I'm starting from Frank Reuben Christian born 8 MAR 1890 in Foxdale (Malew). Brian Lawson has him as Frank Resha Christian (Malew 114). The Reuben is rather badly written in the copy I saw at the Gen Reg. I knew his date of birth and place of birth from his US WWI enrolment card. His parents are named on the birth record as William Joseph Christain (a Miner) and Susanna Craine. I found a marriage record on Lawsons for a William Joseph Christian and a Susannah Carine, the Registrar seemed to have problems with AI and IA's... Christain/Christian and Craine/Carine. They married 25th Sep 1884 at Rushen.

I have viewed the marriage details in the Rushen marriage register kept at the MM. This shows WJC's father was a Robert Christian. Susanna(h)'s father was a John Carine (Fisherman). She was from Bradda. Both full age.

So far so good.

A young FRC is shown as being at home with his parents in 1891, aged 1. This shows him living ar Barrule Road No. 2, Foxdale (but Malew part of Foxdale). His father is shown as a Lead Miner aged 33.
His father is called William (33) and his mother Susanah (26). Strangely it just says born IOM. No parishes shown.

As they married in 1884 they are not together in the 1881 census. There is a William Jos. Christian listed in the 1881 census, aged 23, a Lead Miner, living 'East Foxdale Road', father Robert, mother Catherine. Robert is 48, born Maughold, and Catherine 46, born Arbory. As the age, place of residence and occupation fit, and I have not come across any other William Joseph Christians with a similar y.o.b. I am happy with this match.

I am not interested at this point in finding out who Catherine was. So have not have not persued this line of enquiry.

This leads me to Robert born Maughold c1832 (1881-48).

In 1871 he is living at Kerrowdhoo, Foxdale - aged 41 (funny how he only aged 7 years between 1871 and 1881). He was a Lead Miner born Maughold. His wife Catherine born Arbory. Son William 13.

I looked then for a Robert Christian in 1861, aged about 31, but possibly only 28, born Maughold.

I found one, rather mysteriously aged 34! Married with a wife called Catherine, born in Arbory. Occupation was Ag Lab. They had a son called William aged 3 (which fits).

I suppose that as young get older, age matters less, and eventually you can't remember how old you are!

On this basis, 1861-34 = 1827 for Robert Christian born Maughold.

The 1851 census has a Robert Christian living in Maughold, aged 22, son of Thomas and Margaret. 22 is not the age I was hoping for. He should be 24... Have I gone wrong? But then if his age was correct in the 1871 census (41) he would have been 21, which is close...