Hello to all.

I haven't been around for a while as have been unwell, so would now like to wish everyone a belated Happy Christmas and hope you all have a Joyful and Prosperous 2008!

Mary M - you have now started me on a mission to locate the man pencilled in on Jessie Starkey's baptism notice - Robert Quirk (fisherman)

I have located a Robert Quirk on the 1881 census as fisherman at 'Kinsale Mackerel Fishing 2'. He is aged 19 (so would have been about 23 when Jessie was born) and listed as working aboard 'True Blue". Unfortunately, I can find no other reference to him before or after that date, and as it only gives his location at the time, not 'where born' etc, it's difficult to be sure where he came from or went to....

There is another Robert Quirk, born about 1865/6 (he would be 19/20 when Jessie was born - Sarah, her mum was about 21)) in Douglas - father Robert, mother Annie. I have definite entries for him in 1871 and 1881 (siblings: Aughton, Annie, Christian, Eleanor, Emily, Hannah, Elizabeth) and a very likely entry in 1891, where he is no longer listed as a Sailmaker, like his father, but as a fisherman (aboard 'Antionette' 101) - in Peel (Arbory).

Although either could be the Robert I'm looking for, does anyone have any brilliant ideas as to how I could possibly find out which it's most likely to be? I do realise it's a longshot to say the least, but I'm constantly surprised at how much information you seem to be able to access, so it's worth a try!

Also thanks to Mary, who discovered Jessie herself had a child (Margaret) I was previously unaware of, who was baptised at home, so possibly a 'delicate' baby? on April 29th 1904 and 'received into congregation' at church during service on July 14th. I can find no further record of Margaret, so assume she died, but the father's name was given as James Gorry of 7 Church St., Ramsey. Does anyone have any Gorry family info which might include James? And does anyone know what the above means, with regard baptism at home?

Thanks to everyone for the invaluable help you gave me previously, and to those I owe e mails (Mary and Philip!) - sorry for the lapse, but back in the land of the living now, so will write asap.

Kindest Regards
Maggie