Thanks Bob and hello again,

This is very interesting reading. I only began to research my family history last week and I have already made great progress thanks to discovering the Isle of Man website and your valuable responses.
My cousin has spent a lot of time researching the family history and recently sent me a complete family tree dating back to 1757. As you rightly say - Anne Bushell married JT Looney on May 12th 1836 in Harrington. THe Bushell family history can be traced back to 1757 when Luke Blumer-Bushell married Anne Bradford. There appears to be a connection with Tyneside from 1757 to present day.

I can't find your great grandfather (William) on the line of children born to JT Looney and Anne Bushell. My great grandfather was their youngest son - Ernest Looney. My grandparents lived in Kirkby Stephen (Eden Valley) for all of their married life. Incidentally, my grandfather changed the Looney surname to Duncan by deedpoll in 1922.

By coincidence, I was born in Redcar and lived there for 10 years before moving to Middlesbrough. My father was a GP there for 35 years - Dr Duncan.

I was aware of the theory researched by JT Looney(b. 1870) that Shakespearrian works were written by Edward De Vere of Oxford. I understand that the Edward Earl De Vere Society still exists.
Apparently, JT Looney (b.1836) manufactured leather boots for the South Shilds police force.

I still need to establish whether John Thomas Looney b.1798 was actually born in the Isle of Man as I imagine with the surname, Looney, he must have been of Irish extraction. Do you have any advice for tracing birth certificates pre 1800?

Kind regards

Chris Duncan