In the last month I've been busy sorting out the Gellings and now a lot of it is making sense. A lot of it still doesn't, so it's a work in progress. Thanks to the contributions here and some good luck, I think I have these two families at subject in this series of notes ironed out. I'll explain in other notes.

Meanwhile, some comments about the folks in Donna's note:

Jane COTTIER als GELLING d 1828 was bp 30 Apr 1775 d of Robert GELLING and Jane KELLY (the couple who married in 1770). She was granddaughter of the John GELLING and Catharine KILLEY of Ballamillagyn who were married for nearly 70 years. His fascinating Will probated 1812 mentions Robert COTTIER (husb of Jane) as a "next of kin".

Jane GELLING d 1881, mother of Elizabeth CUBBIN, was the daughter of the mysterious Michael GELLING of Santan, born 1812. She had "Agnes Elizabeth Cubbin" by William Cubbon in 1839 but did not marry him. Jane Gelling ran an "Infant's School" at Marown for years. Jane's mother's name was Elizabeth COTTIER, which brings that surname into play here too. Probably a coincidence, but maybe not. Michael Gelling just appears out of the blue, married twice and died 1814. His widow remarried a William Cannell and lived past the 1851 census.

The MI's are very useful for me, as I don't have access to them. Thank you, Donna.

The John GELLING of Ballig would be the one who married Ann FAILE probably mid 1730's. Their youngest child Robert bp 1 Jul 1753 at Marown is the Schoolmaster of 40 years. He's the one who matches the second Robert GELLING - Jane KELLY marriage at Marown of 1780. As mentioned elsewhere, Jane died of childbirth in 1795 with her 7th child, so he married Alice COWLEY in 1799 and had 6 more. Some died, but that's a lot of kids on a schoolteacher's salary.

The third name on the MI, Thomas, matches to his first child bp 7 Oct 1781 at Marown. I'm still having a bit of trouble with him, but I think his wife was Margaret CREER (no marriage found yet). The IGI has three children Robert 1816, Daniel 1822 and Margaret 1828, but that has a lot of gaps. He's a stonemason at Balladoo, Santan in 1841 (Robert 60, Margaret 50, Robert 20 [son?], Elizabeth 3 [perhaps a granddau?]. Margaret is 65 and a widow in 1851, lodging in Douglas.