Julia,

I can't thank you enough.

I have now verified that Matthias Cain's wife was indeed Catherine Craine.

However from the info I've gathered on the IGI, it appears that she was his 2nd wife.

Matthias Cain married Ann Lawson in 1826 at Braddan. They had 2 children William b 1827 and - the 1841 census has her enumerated as Ellen but the IGI record has her as Eleanor (bit of a thrill as my own daughter's name is Eleanor), and she is my gt gt gt grandmother.

I haven't found the marriage for Matthias and Catherine yet but the next child born after Eleanor is Mary Ann b in 1835 - a significant gap, which makes me believe Ann must have died in the interim.

I've made more progress on this line this afternoon than I have for years.

Thanks again.

Bob