Kirk, Here’s another possible identity for your James Radcliffe b 1843 IOM who became a tinsmith in the USA.

**********
James Skelly or Radcliff baptism (illegitimate)

Event Type: Christening
Event Date: 17 Aug 1842
Event Place: St Mary's, Castletown, Isle of Man
Gender: Male
Father's Name: John Skelly • Edit
Mother's Name: Esther Radcliff

Abode Castletown, father a labourer.

***********************
One possible candidate for the John Skelly above:

1841
Malew Street, Castletown

Name Age
Margaret Clarke 63
William Clarke 38
Margaret Clarke 30
John Clarke 20
William Clarke 6
John Skelly 23

JS 23 servant

******
Another possible candidate:

1841
Queen Hithe St, Castletown

Name Age
Robert Skelly 60
Catharine Skelly 40
John Skelly 20
Margaret Skelly 15
Mary Skelly 12

RS fisherman

***************************
This is the 1841 household of the Quine couple who, 10 years later, were uncle/aunt of 9 year old James Skelly/Radcliffe, illegitimate son of Esther Radcliff and John Skelly, labourer of Castletown:

1841
Queen Hithe St, Castletown

Samuel Quine 40 shoemaker
Leonora 40
John 20 shoe m journeyman
Elizabeth 13
Esther 10
William 8

********************************
1851
Queen Hithe Street, Castletown

Name Age
Samuel Quine 51
Leonora Quine 52
Elizabeth Quine 23
William Quine 18
James Skelly 9
Margaret Quine 3

JS 9 nephew
all b Castletown

*******************************
Also in Castletown was 9 yr old James’s mother:

1851
Parliament Square, residence of the High Bailiff of Castletown

Name Age
John Kelly 56
Margret A Kelly 52
Cathrine Kelly 31
Margret A Kelly 25
William Kelly 21
Martha Kelly 17
Thomas C Kelly 12
Charles Kelly 10
Margret Quayle 56
Esther Radcliffe 35
Ann Clucas 13

ER 35 unmarried general servant b Castletown

Esther remained unmarried in Castletown and died in 1883.

*************************
I haven’t found any definite evidence of the whereabouts of James Skelly/Radcliffe b 1842 thereafter.

One theory is that he left the IOM and went to the USA where he used the surname Radcliffe --- but it’s pure speculation. Where would he have served his apprenticeship and who would have financed it ?

I’ve sketched out 2 “trees” to show two possible theories for the nephew/aunt/uncle connection.

1) The connection could be through uncle Samuel Quine b 1800 who might have been closely related to Esther Radcliffe nee Quine b 1787, maternal grandmother of James Skelly Radcliffe b 1842.

2) The connection could be through aunt Leonora Quine nee Baxter b 1799 whose mother was Leonora Baxter alias Skeally nee Corlett b 1753.

The images of signatures from the marriages of Thos Radcliff & Esther Quine and Samuel Quine & Leonora Baxter are to demonstrate the likelihood that the 2 Thomas Radcliffe signatures were probably made by the same hand.

Links to the parish reg images to get a better view:

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PPC-ST?i=104&cc=1784428

******
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6PP4-YB?i=159&cc=1784428

******
Jean C
***********