Thank you Susan,
The pieces might just be starting to fit together.I had seen the marriage of William Ball and Jane Clayton , but had dismissed it as unlikely. However with the addition of a christening for William it begins to look more likely. Perhaps Liverpool was chosen as it was half way between th IOM and North Meols.
My interpretation of the 1841 census is also that the 2 boys were in a household on their own, which seems strange, and I have not been able to find either parent. By 1851 the boys have gone to apprenticeships and Jane is a widow thus, as you can see, there is no document which gives me any clue about the age of Jane's husband. So I have not been able to identify him from the large number of possibles.
Thank you so much for your time and efforts. Your help is appreciated.
Kath