Searching for relatives recently I found a peculiar situation, and although there's probably an easy solution I haven't found it.
I'm looking for the parents of Thomas Brew, who married Elizabeth Faragher in 1875, Ballaugh and was on a fishing boat in 1881 census. He was born in about 1849, Andreas, and I think had siblings John (c. 1850), Elizabeth (c. 1852) and Robert (c. 1857). I believe his mother was called Jane but there is no trace of his father in the 1851 census and he's dead by 1861. This makes finding her maiden name somewhat difficult.
The puzzle is that Jane isn't in the 1851 census either and Thomas and John live with (non-Brew) grandparents. Jane might be in the 1861 census but is not living with any of her children it seems. Interestingly though, Jane is recorded as a 'Landed Proprietor' in 1871. Does this mean she left the IOM and then returned later?
The only possible 'Jane' I have is Jane Kissack who married Thomas Brew 1849, but this is only a guess. And the whole thing's not made easier by the birth of another Thomas Brew in Andreas in 1850!

I hope someone can help me unravel this. Thanks,
Jon