Thank you Donna
Your info seems to raise more questions. I had assumed that Thomas's wife Jane (Scarffe) would be mentioned here also. We know that Jane was widowed young - she is listed on the 1841 census as a widow living with her daughter Jane age 19 (who married William Christian on 28 Oct. 1845 at St. Matthew's Douglas.
Jane died on the 6th Feb. 1880 and buried at Lonan.
Have I got the wrong Thomas? I don't think so; but I find this very confusing!
Dorothy