Hello Looby, how absolutely fascinating but also terribly sad, although Janet sounds like an indomitable woman. I wonder where all the grandchildren came from over the years. The Craig connection is explained, and also William McCallum being the orphan of Janet's brother (although the 1871 census says she's his mother...) - but Morrison, Small and then the Townleys? Bit of a tangled web, although I wonder if they were extended family just called 'grand children' for convenience.
I didn't understand the bit about Nancy Steel but have found her in 1851 (68, widow) with the indomitable Janet (30, daughter) and Elizabeth McCallum (17, daughter) in North Knapdale, all of them wandering tinkers and all born in Scotland. Nancy would have been 51 when Elizabeth was born
Further back in 1841 in North Knapdale, there's William McCallum (1761 Argyll), Christian (1769 Argyll), Margaret (1781 Ireland) and Ann Steel McCallum (1781 Ireland), plus six McCallum children born 1825-1835 in Scotland, most of which seem too young to be the offspring of the ladies of the house (nothwithstanding any rounding down of ages).
All very confusing, but many thanks for finding the article - much appreciated.
