Hi Jackie

I've found a missing baby in this household:

1861

CAIN William Joseph 35 Douglas 4416 54 48

William Joseph Cain head mar 35 grocer b Braddan
Jane wife 33b b Malew
Eliza J dau 1yr 6m b Douglas
Jane Creer mother in law wid 59 b Malew
Thomas Creer brother in law 32 baker b Malew

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Children of William Joseph Cain and Jane Creer from IGI:

1. WILL JOHN CAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 16 DEC 1860 Braddan, Isle Of Man, England

2. HELEN CORRAN CAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Death: 16 NOV 1863

3. HELEN CORRAN CAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 01 NOV 1863 Braddan, Isle Of Man, England

4. ROBERT LEWIN CAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 29 MAR 1868 Braddan, Isle Of Man, England

5. ELIZA JANE CAINE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Death: 13 OCT 1861

6. ELIZA JANE CAINE - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 13 NOV 1859 Braddan, Isle Of Man, England

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So there was no baby William John Cain in their 1861 household.

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Then in 1871

CAIN William J 45 Onchan 5774 148 46

Ancestry's transcription:
1871 Isle of Man Census
about William J Cain
Name: William J Cain
Age in 1871: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1826
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Jane Cain
Gender: Male
Where born: Onchan, Isle of Man, Isle of Man

Civil Parish: Conchan
County/Island: Isle of Man
Country: Isle of Man

Street address: View image
Condition as to marriage: View image
Occupation: View image
Disability: View image

Registration district: Isle Of Man
Sub-registration district: D
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 46
Household Members: Name Age
William J Cain 45
Jane Cain 43
William J Cain 10
Robt Lewin Cain 3
Jane Creer 70
Thos Sayle 49
James Bridson 18
James Killey 12

It's definitely the same family. The "6 week" old baby, William Cain, who was boarding with Selena and William in 1861 could be this William John Cain bap Dec 1860, and his age could have been misheard by the census taker ---- maybe 16 weeks misheard as 6 weeks.

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It seems likely that Selena was acting as a wet nurse to the baby ---- perhaps Jane Cain nee Creer was struggling to provide her baby with enough nourishment and wanted to give the baby a good start in life. Jane's next child died at 2 weeks old.

Under these circumstances (presumably a wet nurse would be paid for her services ?) there doesn't necessarily need to be a blood tie between the 2 Cain households. What do you think ?

Jean C