Happy New Year to all! I think my resolution this year should be to complete "Gelling" through to 1911, though I stil don't know what "complete" means when it comes to genealogy.

Francis Gelling is one of my incompletes. In fact, his parents John Gelling (b abt 1825 Whitehaven) and Jane (Raisbeck bp 3 May 1829 Ennerdale Cumb) are "lost" for me after 1881, as are most of their children. Wayne's note hints strongly that most if not all of them went to the US in the early 1880s.

Going backwards, Francis's father John Gelling was the eldest child of John Gelling (1799-1886) and Jane Cannell (abt 1803-1883), married 27 Mar 1824 Braddan. Children of John & Jane: John 1825-after 1881; Jane 1829 (she married Jane Raisbeck's brother Robert in 1852 Lonan and I think the family emigrated in the 1850s after 2 children born, IGI says she died 7 Feb 1923 patron submission); Elizabeth (1835-1840); Thomas (1837 d inf); Joseph (1839-1852); Mary Ann (1841-1883, maried William Walton 1861 Lonan, 10 children); Elizabeth (1843-1893, married William Shimmin 1866 Braddan, 9 children); Catharine (1845-1941, married Thomas Charles Hoskins 1864 Lonan, 12 children. Is she the mother of illeg Joseph Gelling s/o Catharine Gelling 15 Mar 1862 Lonan?). First 2 children John 1825 and Jane 1829 were born in Whitehaven, remainder in Lonan.

Quick skeleton back (I have details if you wish): John Gelling bp 24 Feb 1799 Braddan was eldest child (of 9) of Thomas Gelling (abt 1769 Braddan, bd 19 Jan 1853 Braddan) & Elizabeth Kelly md 19 May 1798 Braddan. A younger son Edward is the ancestor of Desley Brown of Australia who corresponds on this board.
Thomas Gelling seems to be missing for baptism but it ought be be about 1769 based on where he's listed in his mother Margaret Gelling als Caroon's 1781 admin. My suspicion is that the baptism of "Jane Gelling" 22 Jan 1769 Braddan should be "Thomas Gelling", especially as another Jane appears in 1775, but I could be wrong. Needs a check of the original.
Thomas should be 2nd son and 3rd child of 9 of John Gelling (1741-1822) and Margaret Caroon (1742/3-1781) md 28 Feb 1767 Braddan. Father "John Gelling Sr" was of Ballacaine Braddan according to his 1822 will. Margaret Caroon was the d/o John Caroon & Catharine Brew md 8 Aug 1741 Andreas.
John Gelling (1741-1822) is the eldest son (after a few sisters) of John Gelling (1705-1784) and Ann Fayle (ca 1710-1791) who probably married abt 1732 Marown (register missing). There has been a lot of discussion about him and his family. His youngest son Robert (1753-1815) was schoolmaster of Marown for 40 years and there is a huge number of descendents.
John Gelling (1705-1784 of Ballig) was the illegitimate son of John Gelling of Ballamillagyn Braddan and Ann Kneale. John Gelling of B'gyn's wife was Susanna Moore who were the parents of the "legitimate" John Gelling Jr of Ballamillaghyn, also with a large number of descendents . Illegitimate son John is mentioned in all their wills and he was the executor of his father's will in 1733.

I'd be very interested in filling in Francis Gelling's family and who his children were. I can't find him in the 1881 UK census so perhaps he went to America and then came back to marry in 1883? He doesn't seem to be in the 1880 US census either.

I have his elder brother Joseph (b 1850 Lonan) appearing in La Fayette Wisconsin in 1880 age 29 with wife Hannah 29, son Christopher T 10, John R 6, William E 4, Earnest 1mo. This may explain the Wisconsin connection mentioned by Wayne.

Next brother John b 1852 was a Sailor age 18 in 1871 but I've lost him after that. There's a death Dec 1878 of a John Gelling age 25 Barrow F but there's a JG b 1853 at Patrick s/o John James Gelling & Ann Gilmour who also was a mariner and is at least an equal candidate for this 1878 death.

Younger sister Elizabeth Jane b 1858 seems to be the "Elizabeth J Gelling neice unm 22 Assistant Draperess b "Laxley Isle of Man"" in 1881 census at 30 Lancaster St, Birmingham with George Stephens 47 and wife Mary A 38 b "Laxley Isle of Man" and "sister in law" Elizabeth Underhill 53 Living on Intst of Money b Egremont Cumberland. Mary Ann & Elizabeth were Raisbecks. I have nothing more on Elizabeth Jane.

Sister Catharine Ann (Kate) b 1861 is a Dressmaker in 1881 age 19 visiting Joseph & Ann Kewley in Laxey. Nothing more known.

Sister Georgine b 1864 is a Dressmaker in 1881 age 16 living with her parents at 5 King Street, Douglas. Nothing more known.

Brother Robert Raisbeck Gelling b 1867 is with the same Stephens family in 1891 age 23 Drapers Assistant that his siter Elizabeth Jane was with in 1881. He married Florence Daniels in 1893 Aston and I found 6 children. He was an executor "Robert Raisbeck Gelling" for shareholder Mrs Sophia Gebhard dated 28 Apr 1931 for Great Western Railway Shareholder entry in Findmypast. His address was "The Wood, Streetly, Staffs."

Youngest brother George Stephen 1869 died in 1870.