Thanks for your information Frances. Antipodeans don't as a rule have the sort of detailed knowledge of Manx history that you bring to the forum - its a real plus.
Clearly my great grandfather was carrying hay and manure for somebody else if the English were not at the fort at that time period. Definitely he was a widower for a few years before re marriage and the daughters of the family whom I spoke to when they were alive could recall being "farmed out" to Douglas - ( actually their deceased mother's sister) and seeing their father in and around his work commitments. my grandfather on the other hand ended up at Camlork for much of that time

Regards Gary Cain
New Zealand