One simple fact that many seem to ignore is that before the coming of the railways in 1873 the only way to go courting was to walk, or if well off have a horse but then there were generally other consideration in choice of a partner - thus most wives would live within easy reach of where the male lived - I suspect a four mile walk in a manx gale would douse the ardour of most - the parish of marriage generally (but not always) was that of the woman - thus in my studies on Peel it is rare for partners to come from the other side of the hills or even much further than Patrick or Michael - sometimes fisherman seem to meet their girl in other ports but one suspects they lodged there for the season.