Dear List, Could anyone with access to the I.O.W 1881 census please look to see IF there is a mention of a John " Walter " ( " optional " ) SHIRLEY occ: Corporal Royal Artillery? I am still searching for him 7 years on and nothing, no clues anywhere, except that his son Henry James SHIRLEY b. 1879 at Fort Street, Sandown and daughter Lucy SHIRLEY ( first child ) b. 1876 at Saltash, CON were both Christened on the island at Sandown in 1879. There is supposed to be a strong farming connection and I have noticed that there were many SHIRLEY names on the island who weree AG Labs etc.. SOooo, I was wondering IF by some slight chance, J.W. SHIRLEY was born on the island c. 1845 - 1855 OR was stationed at the Fort at Sandown between 1878 - 1880. I now know that there are no personell records from the fort which is now a Zoo?. One other thing, J.W. is not on any census for Saltash CON as " home " with his wife ( who is down a Head/Married/ husband Corporal Royal Artillery ) so he must have been with the Army somewhere.. I have had a search done for the Boar War Casualties and a John W. SHIRLEY was found but details did not follow my family info. So, another blank. Thank you for reading this saga. I would truly appreciate some suggestions from you clever people on this list. Kindest Regards, Carol Lloyd nee SHIRLEY