Hi Ray ,
Re the Alford information , please refer to the posting by Frances on 13 October 2007 in response to my posting on William Bruce .
I found on the IGI , John christened 13/3/1774 and William christened 30/6/1776 , with their father John either ch 25/3/1753 ( Father James - most likely ) or 19/3/1741 (father Alexander ) .

At first I thought that John may have remarried on the IOM to Mary , but checking again I realize his wife Margaret Wilson (I still can't find any trace of their marraige in any country ) was still alive when he made his will in 1838 , so the John who had children with Mary is another one . I found another John ch Alford
26/7/1780 , son of Charles . This John had bothers Charles and James , but no William .
This John may have left the IOM as his two children Mary and Sarah Davidson were born on the IOM but christened in London , and this family seem to have disappeared from the IOM.

For your information in the county of Aberdeenshire (Alone)in Scotland between 1766 and 1783 there are 47 Johns ,36 James, 30 Williams and 18 Roberts christened with the surname of Bruce !

Robert Bruce and his wife Mary , who had child John Robert in Malew in 1813 also seem tto have disappeared . I can't find him being born in Scotland .

John Bruce's children Robert and William may have been born between 1802 and 1808
but not on the IGI .

Now our side - William John and his wife seem to have had only 3 children John , William and Robert . John and William christened in 1803 (Twins ??? ) and Robert abt 1821 - huge gap !!

John appears to die early as there is no futher sign of him and William marries Elizabeth Kewley . Their first child is Ann Margaret after both their mothers . Their three boys are named James Kewley , Robert and John .
Ann Margaret marries William Clucas in Onchan and has amongst others a son George Willam who names one of his sons Edward Bruce , keeping his mothers maiden going .

Your Robert is a bit of a mystery , he says he was born in Malew and from his age given , around 1821 and his will shows William as his brother and names Williams children in the will and not his son James with Ann Cowley .

I take it that the James E Bruce and wife Matilda and children are at 31 Wagners Buildings , London on the 1881 census , is your family .

You can reach me direct on :

davsue77@yahoo.com.au

Cheers
David Dwyer