Hi Shelley
This is my 2nd attempt to send this so apologies if you get two replies. Although mum remembers her grandmother Rebecca well and we even have some photos (she died in 1939) her grandfather died many years prior to mums birth mid twenties. My grandfather, also Thomas became the man of the house at a very young age. I think it is very unlikely that g.grandfather cared for the step siblings. The Isle of Man census show that; In 1861 he was living with his mother and grandmother in Andreas, in 1871 aged 12 he was living with his mother and her new husband John Daugherty and children of that marriage in Andreas and he was still with the family in 1881 when he was 22 prior to his marriage. The family strayed very little at that time from the same small area between Bride and Andreas and in fact I was born there myself. I think its unlikely that he would have been much involved with his other family in Rushen. Although the Island is small I regularly even today meet people In the South who tell me that they havent been to Ramsey for years. Sorry I cant be more helpful but I will continue to ask around and if I can do anything "on the ground" as it were, please let me know. Best wishes