Is there someone on the Island who could help me find the answer to a challenge I have with my Crebbin, Hamlin, Holmes, McGowan lines there in the 1800’s.

I have a William Crebbin marrying Elizabeth Hamlyn/Hamlin (nee McGowan) around 1862-1864. They are my Gt. Gt. Grand-parents. They had 2 children born in Douglas in 1865 (Thomas Henry Crebbin) and 1866 (Robert William Crebbin – my Gt. Grand-father). Elizabeth married again to William Holmes around 1867 and the children are listed as Thomas and Robert Holmes on the 1871 census:

Park View Cottage, Braddan,

William Holmes Head Married 50 Miller Birthplace Braddan, Isle of Man

Elizabeth Holmes Wife Married 40 Birthplace Ireland

Mary A. Fish Wife Married 18 Braddan, Isle of Man

Thomas Holmes Son Unmarried 6 Scholar Braddan, Isle of Man

Robert Holmes Son Unmarried 5 Braddan, Isle of Man

Emily Holmes Daur. Unmarried 1 month Braddan, Isle of Man

The Mary A. Fish is actually Elizabeth McGowan’s illegitimate daughter born before she married Samuel Hamlin on 12 Apr 1851 at Kirk Braddan. She (Mary Ann McGowan) married Lawrence Fish (of Fleetwood, Lancashire) at Kirk Braddan on 11 Oct 1870. Lawrence is a mariner and would have been at sea so that is why Mary Ann Fish is staying with her mother and step-father in 1871. Thomas and Robert were sons of Eizabeth’s second marriage to William Crebbin, so they are step-children of William Holmes. Emily was born 1 March 1871, Douglas, and is baptised at St. Barnabas Church, Douglas, the daughter of William Holmes and Elizabeth.

The 1861 census finds Elizabeth Hamlin (nee McGowan) missing from the index for Ancestry.Com and maybe missing from the census altogether. She may be in Ireland visiting family after losing her husband. Her children are living with her mother, Mary Ann McGowan:

7 Barrack Street, Douglas

Mary Ann McGowan Head Widow 46 Lodging House Keeper Birthplace Ireland

Thomas McGowan Son Unmarried 23 Mariner Ireland

Mary Ann Hamlin G. Dau Unmarried 8 Scholar Douglas, Isle of Man

William Hamlin G. Son Unmarried 4 Douglas, Isle of Man

There are various lodgers there too.

Thomas McGowan is Elizabeth’s brother. Mary Ann Hamlin is the Mary Ann Fish of the 1871 census (explained above). William Hamlin is one of the 2 children born to Samuel Hamlin and Elizabeth McGowan. There was a Samuel Hamlin baptised 1 Jul 1855 at Douglas (he died as an infant – I don’t have the details). William Hamlin was baptised 18 Jun 1857 at Douglas). He seems to disappear after the 1861 census so maybe he died too.

By 1881 they are all living at Fleetwood, Lancashire – Robert William Crebbin (listed incorrectly as Robert Henry Holmes) is living with his half-sister Mary Ann Fish. Elizabeth Holmes is a widow working as a lodging house keeper with her youngest child, Emily Holmes also at Fleetwood.

There is a William Crebbin living with his wife Margaret at Rushen on the 1861 census. He is a 26 year old joiner and they have a 1 day old child, William. I am wondering if Margaret and William died shortly after the 1861 census (possibly due to complications with the birth). This may be the William Crebbin who married Elizabeth Hamlin (nee McGowan) shortly after the census. I can’t find any of these Crebbins on the 1871 census for Isle of Man or England. This adds to my beliefe that he may be the one who married Elizabeth and then died before 1871 as she is married again.

The help I need is as follows:

1. If someone could see if there is a gravestone, burial record for Margaret and William Crebbin in Rushen shortly after the 1871 census.

2. If there is a marriage record for William Crebbin and Elizabeth Hamlin (widow) between 1861 and 1865.

3. If there is a burial record/gravestone for William Crebbin between 1866 and 1868.

4. If there is a marriage record for William Holmes and Elizabeth Crebbin (widow) around 1866 to 1868.

5. If there is a burial record for William Holmes after the 1871 and before the 1881 census.

If someone has a digital camera and could take digital photographs of gravestones or the census address houses above it would be greatly appreciatedl. If anyone has links to any of these people I would also love to hear from you. It is very difficult living on the other side of the world. One day I hope to visit the Isle of Man and see all these places.

Stephen Hansford
Adelaide
Australia