Thanks Sue - I've done as you suggested and ordered my Grandfather's birth certificate from the General Register Office.

I looked up how to do this by using the 'Answerbank' on the net and there were previous answers suggesting that this was the best way to get the info (however any other suggestions would be welcomed for future searches). I just need to sit tight and wait for this to arrive now. (No doubt my first eagerly anticipated wait of many!)

From a conversation with my Father this afternoon, I have also learnt the following:

My Grandfather had several siblings, these were Herbert, Edward, Joseph and May. It is thought that my Grandfather was the eldest. The story goes that his mother (Elizabeth?) put all of the children in a home when her husband died (possible suicide OR he may have just disappeared / left, as apparently there was no body found). My Grandfather vowed that he would get all of his family back together eventually and apparently he achieved this when they all moved in together in a house in Seaforth, Liverpool.

Elizabeth later went on to live with / marry a man called Jim Clegg or Cragg.

Apparently my Grandfather also used to talk of going to visit an aunt in the Isle of Man, so it may have been as close back as my Gt. Grandfather who was the first one to leave the island.

My Father recollects that the Manx aunt was very wealthy and may have owned a mill (?). JCV Joughin apparently received what was thought to be an inheritence letter when she died but no further details are known on this.

Finally, my Father now seems to think that his Father's Father and his Father's, Father's Father may also have been called John Charles rather than just Charles Joughin. (The plot thickens!)

Once again, thank you for your assistance. I will let you know further details as I start to receive the various certificates.

Best regards

Keith.