Hello Cajondy, Darklady (& gengen)
It's clear we have a lot in common in terms of the Bateman line.
In recent times, I've done a good deal of digging and diagnosis.
My own analysis has been helped by creating an electronic version of 'post-it notes on a wall' summarising the census records from 1841 to 1901 that include Bateman families & connections in Dillicar, Firbank, Patton, Grayrigg, Howgill etc. By adding connecting threads I can pictorially trace how a given person stays /moves / marries / disappears etc over each decade. Of course other information adds to the scene too.
It's very fortunate that so many Bateman families and spouses stayed in immediate vicinity at, say, High Island House, Cowperthwaite, Birchfield, Goodies, Bowers, Lakethwaite, Knott Hall, Cold Seat, Beck Foot Post Office etc. As you know, these places are all within a stone's throw of each other. My parents, cousins and uncles lived in some of these homes in my lifetime (one uncle still does). I visited the Post Office as a boy, when my grandfather's sister (Eleanor Proctor nee Bateman) was doing the same job as did Mary Bateman nee Udall in earlier times.
It isn't easy to comment precisely on previous postings because of the proliferation of William / Mary/ Miles / Elizabeth, so I hope we might establish private communication, please. Cajondy - you have already suggested that on another thread, I know.
Just to say, though with reference to Darklady's post of 16 August 2010 (which is of course some years ago) I concur with all the suppositions you raise. I happen to have a screenshot of Mary Udall's baptism record at the Inghamite chapel in Kendal on 22nd Jan 1863 (born 22nd Dec 1822).
My own ancestry is that William Bateman (b~1826) blacksmith & whitesmith of Half Island House is my great, great grandfather. He is the brother of blacksmith Miles who married Mary Udall. My understanding is that Miles died 20th Oct 1859, aged 29 at Ewe Bank, Old Hutton. The distribution at that time of recently widowed Mary's young children - James (~1855) and William (~1857) - with parents and parents-in-law respectively, whilst she cares for 1 year old son Miles (~1860) is a poignant insight to her situation, particularly as Mary and Miles also had a fourth son James who died aged 5 on 4th February 1860, just a few months after his father's death.
Anyway, I do hope Darklady that you are still online, and that we can communicate further.
Cajondy - I will purpose to respond to you on that other thread.
with best wishes