Thanks Sylvia for your interest. I believe the Cummings family I am researching are almost certainly Scottish rather than Irish as they are listed on the Ramsey Census of 1841-1861 as being from Scotland and this also ties in with the names of their children. They are recorded as Henrietta and James (both born in Scotland), and Andrew, Jane and Elizabeth (all born in Ramsey). However I am having great difficulty in finding their parents' exact birthplace as there are so many James Cummings in Scotland! I have a feeling they may be from the Dumfries and Galloway area but have been unable to verify this so far. I suppose there is also a chance they could have come from Ireland as the Census returns are sometimes inaccurate. Nevertheless I will keep trying. Incidentally, James Cummings senior was a ships carpenter. Good luck with your own research.