Hi Pat,

Do you think it is too unlikely that Edward had an earlier marriage than his one to Mary, when he was aged about 21?

In your original message you wrote "Edward GELLING b abt 1801 Douglas, grocer, was married to Mary BROWN in 1835" and asked where he was in 1841, because he was not with Mary and their children in Scotland.

In the 1841 census there was an Edward Gelling aged 40, grocer, in Bond St., Douglas, with Sarah 15, & Margaret 10.

Edward Gelling married Jane Cannell 19 Feb.1822 Braddan, and among their children was Sarah Jane bapt.4 Aug.1824 St Mathews, Douglas. Their last child was bapt 14 Nov.1832, and Jane Gelling als Cannell was buried in Braddan a couple of weeks later on 4 Dec 1832.

My theory was that this Edward Gelling, grocer, b.c.1801, then married Mary Brown in 1835 and had several children with her until 1842. Her possible burial aged 44 in Douglas 28 Jul 1846. Her age in the 1841 Scotland census (rounded) was 35 and her occupation was wife of a Grocer in Douglas Isle Of Man.

Edward then married Eleanor MILBOURNE 12 Feb.1850 Braddan who was 64 b.England in the 1881 census, and seemed likely to be Eleanor Ann Milbourn bapt. 8 Oct.1815 Liverpool. In the 1901 census Eleanor A Gelling was at 4 West View, Douglas, wid aged 85 b.England with Edward's daur Elizabeth aged 61 b.Douglas. Eleanor Ann GELLING aged 92 was buried Braddan 23 Nov 1907.

Obviously you need to check these in the Braddan and Douglas parish registers, but it wasn't unusual for a man to marry several times in the days when women often died young, and especially if he had young children.

Sue