I am very keen to find out about the ancestry of my great grandfather Robert Kelly born Lonan in 1849. He lived in England from at least 1871 serving as a policeman first in Liverpool and later in London (Censuses 1871-1911). He married Margaret Cowin (born Onchan) in Liverpool in 1873 naming James Kelly, Labourer as his father. Liverpool police records have been destroyed.
I cannot find on the 1851 Census any family with James Kelly father with son Robert of even approximately the right age. However, there is a Robert Kelly aged 1 in Balneleeney (near Glenroy), illegitimate son of Jane Kelly, aged 41, who was getting parish relief. Robert Kelly was baptised, as illegitimate, in Lonan 8 July 1849. What interests me is that in 1850 there was a Presentment for Fornication in Lonan naming Jane Kelly, affiliated on James Kelly, Onchan. A Jane Kelly of Lonan was buried in Onchan 26 March 1860 aged 50 and I cannot reliably find my great grandfather on the 1861 Census but have checked that none of Jane’s family were still living at Balneleeney.
I live in Leicestershire and visiting the Isle of Man is not easy although I would love to do so. In the meantime is there anyone who has this Robert Kelly on their family tree and can therefore disprove what is only desk research at this stage? Secondly, does anyone know what information is given on Presentments such as age, address etc from which the participants can be definitely identified (I believe the actual documents are lodged in the Manx Museum)?