Hi Sue
Thanks for your input. I am trying to apply some lateral thinking to my research, hence the appearance of loosely put together facts.
Facts
- for Richard Steel in my research I have a parish extract from the IGI, with his Christening being 30 Nov 1828 at Holy Trinity, Whitehaven, Cumberland England, Father John Steel and Mother Christian Kinley.
I have Richard's death Certificate which verify's his origins as Cumberland England and his age at death would be right for a birth in 1828.
- Christian Kinley remarried to Thomas Cain 3 Jan 1839 at Braddon (IGI Parish extract). The association with the Christian Kinley who married John Steel is given by word of mouth, also verified by the 1851 census for Marown IOM.
- Thomas Cain and Christian had a grandson living with them in the 1861 Census called Charles Kelly, who by the age given on the census would have been born abt 1854.

Conjecture: As Richard was the only child I know of in the family old enough to have been this child's father, I am assuming he is the father. I have no proof of this however.
Being born in 1854 does not mean that Charles Kelly was christened that year - so the below may still be a possibility for this child.
The Christening of Charles Kelly 26 Apr 1857, at Maughold, Father Richard Steel, Mother Catharine Kelly. This, according to Familysearch IGI records, is an extract from parish records.
Conjecture: The Richard Steel, who married Catharine Skelly, has an abt 1825 birth and an abt 1856 marriage. As My Richard's parents were married 30 Jun 1827, in Marown IOM (IGI parish extract) and his mother returned to the IOM after her husband's death (death is a word of mouth information but not confirmed in records as yet), soon after Richard's birth - he could be mistaken for being born in IOM by someone who doesn't know his parents. If they guessed his age they were only out by about 3 years.
Could be that Charles Kelly may be their child but Richard and Catharine actually never married or their marriage was very brief.
Another fact is that Richard Steele married Margaret Corlett on 5th September 1857 and they migrated to Australia that same year, without Charles Kelly. As pointed out above Charles Kelly was living with his grandparents in 1861.

The reason I asked about finding Richard, Catharine and Charles in the IOM Census is, one I don't have access to the Census data, and two - if they ARE there then I can eliminate this possibility. However, as you state that there is no Richard Steel born or christened in the Maughold parish register, nor the marriage of Richard to Catharine then I could still follow my conjecture. I know it's a long shot, I will be purchasing some more certificates soon. (BTW no reference to a previous marriage or child to that marriage was mentioned on Richard's death certificate, but that may have been because the informant (his son) knew nothing about any previous relationship his father may have had.

I'm pleased you were able to inform me about the Cath. daughter of William Kelly and Ann Moore. I may be able to look up more information about her.
One of my Steele contacts was shown about the area in IOM by a Captain Moore and his daughter Margaret.They were no known relatives, but apparently were very helpful and knew the IOM family.

I'm doing my research from a small town 40km from the nearest FHS, in Australia. As yet I have not organised to have access to parish records on line and since re starting my genealogy research I've been relying on the records I can access freely on the net. I hope to join the "local" FHS soon.
BTW - not all details on certificates are 100% correct. Richard's father on his death certificate is noted as Rupert Steele. All our record searching and cross referencing has indicated that Richard's father is actually John Steel. I have considered that John Steel may actually have been Rupert Steel, the same person, but had changed his name deliberately before his marriage to Christian Kinley (more conjecture?).
On the same certificate Christian Kinley was transcribed as Christina Kinla.