WOW, a huge thank you to all involved here. Sue, Jean, Frances, David et al. I have today received Sophia's death certificate in Brisbane 3rd Feb 1901. As expected it did not tell me much more than I already knew. No mother or father listed so it would appear that those giving the information for her death cert did not know. Not even her father's surname is shown yet Gill is used for middle names for 2 of her children and 2 of her grandchildren. Her age is shown as 74 years 11 months. So that puts her birth around March 1826, almost 11 months before her bapt. in Braddan on 25 Feb 1817.
Sue, I have not looked at any IOM wills. I would be more inclined to order the scans that you mention by email as getting to an LDS may be problematic for me. Is there someone I should contact at the Manx Museum to enquire about this?
Many thanks
Maureen