he married widow Margt Cosnahan als Moore at St Georges 17 Sept 1789 (the 2nd marriage at this church) both described as of Douglas- I have several deeds of sale + mortgages involving him as well as his will but none give any clue as to his origins (there are 2 court cases reported in Avocates Notebook online on Manxnotebook - one possible clue might be the witness at marriage Margaret Ogilvie.
There should be records of his appointment as Surveyor general held by Manx Museum that might help but as I'm stuck off Island I can research these