My great grandfather Frank Shimmin came over to the mainland in the 19th century and became a Methodist minister. A member of IoM FHS kindly helped me trace his origin to the census below. It seems his father was james Shimmin and his mother was Jane nee Kneal or MacNeal. Family legend had it that she came from Barra but it seems that that must have been her distant ancestors rather than herself.

I wonder if anyone is related to any of these people?

Many thanks
Desmond Allen

1861, Douglas, district 3, schedule 27, 3 North John Street
James Shimmin, head, married, 38, boot & shoemaker, Malew
Jane, wife, married, 38, Santan
James, son, 16, waiter, Castletown
Christian, daughter, 15, general servant, Castletown
Amelia, daughter, 12, scholar, Douglas
George, son, 11, scholar, Douglas
Frank, son, 9, scholar, Douglas
Walter, son, 5, scholar, Douglas

1871, Douglas, district 4, schedule 202, 26 King Street
James Shimmin, head, married, 49, shoemaker, Malew
Frank, son, unmarried, 19, painter, Malew
Walter, son, unmarried, 15, shoemaker, Malew