Thank you for all that work, Averil. I should have given more information in my previous posting:

James McQuiggin was born in Douglas about 1874, the son of James McQuiggin (c.1850-1939) and, probably, Louisa Caugherty. Both men were boatmen/mariners, running rowing-ferries to Douglas Head in the summer months. I can’t find the family in the 1881 census at all, even though Louisa is buried in Braddan in June 1881, and James (senior) is in Brown’s 1881 directory for Post Office Lane. In 1891 James senior is in Fancy St, Douglas with 2nd wife Elizabeth (Blithing), James junior & 2 daughters. At the 1901 census 27 year old son James is a crewmember on the SS Creaden, anchored off Greenhithe, Kent, while his wife Eleanor (McVey) and adopted daughter Frances Cunningham are at St George’s walk, Douglas. The James McQuiggin you found in the 1871 crew lists was James senior.

In the summer of 1904 James, father & son, were working the ferry-boats in Douglas again, and then in 1905:

IOM EXAMINER Sat 2 Dec 1905
“About People”
“News is just to hand that James McQuiggin, junr., a sailor well known in Douglas, has been drowned in the Bay of Biscay. He leaves a wife, resident in this town.”

I have been hoping to find out more about what happened, and when exactly, what ship he was on – if it sank? – and if there could have been a burial (I expect not). I haven’t been able to find a mention in the GRO deaths, and I don’t know how you get to see the indexes for those lost at sea, which is why I was so interested in your posting. I was just wondering how you find dates for as late as 1905 (or perhaps registered in 1906).