My g.g. grandfather, Robert Hilliard Smith, was baptised at St Mary's Castletown on 16 February 1834. The registers give his parents' names as John Smith (Lieutenant half pay Army) and Matilda. From other sources I know that Matilda was born in England and that her full name was Matilda Margaretta Sophone (or Sophona) Jolliffe. There is, however, no evidence that she married John Smith, either on the Isle of Man or anywhere else.
Matilda married a tailor, Robert Quayle, at Malew on 23 November 1848 and they appear in the 1851 census in Castletown along with their children Robert Hilliard Smith, Henry Smith (born abt 1837 in England) and Catherine Jane Quayle (baptised 18 December 1844 at St Mary's Castletown). Matilda (d. 1857) and Robert (d. 1870) Quayle and Robert Hilliard Smith (d. 1903) are commemorated on the same tombstone in Malew churchyard.
A search of the Army Lists and returns of half pay officers at The National Archives has not identified anyone who could be the Lt John Smith (half pay) mentioned above. Does anyone know of a retired army officer of this name living in Castletown around 1834 or have any further details about Matilda M.S. Jolliffe/Quayle ? I do not know where Matilda was born and have not found a will. Might John Smith have been a pseudonym? Any suggestions or information would be gratefully received.
