I have known for a long time that my great-great-grandfather, Ascott James Vanstone was born in Jersey, Channel Islands in 1842.

In searching for clues I found some other Vanstones (or Vanstons) also in Jersey!

John Vanstone and his wife Ann Bates/Bales were there in 1851 - no children in the census.
I did however, find baptisms!
10-9-1848 Mary Ann Vanstone
23-9-1849 John Edwin Vanstone
25-5-1851 John Edwin Vanston
20-2-1853 Henry James Vanstone
22-4-1855 William Henry Vanstone
20-9-1857 Susana Louisa Vanstone
30-1-1859 Elizabeth Ann Vanstone
6-8-1861 James Vanstone

The 1861 census shows the family still in Jersey, where John plied his trade as a Coachman.
John was 38, Ann was 36, John (jnr) was aged 10, William 6, and a daughter Ann was 3 years old.

By 1871 we only find 13 year old Annie, a domestic servant.
Ann died in 1863 (buried with her children), and John died a few years later.

In 1851 we can also find Mary Ann Vanstone, age 25 working as a domestic servant.

My thoughts are that John was the son of Richard Vanstone & Jane Ward, born 19-2-1826 in Iddesleigh.
Anybody claim these as ancestors?

Kevin

I think John was more likely to be the younger brother of Ascott. People did tend to follow close relations when migrating. Which is why I have brazenly added the Jersey children to John son of James and Grace. But I am willing to be persuaded otherwise.
I think John Edwin is to be found later in the Navy. No sign of the others though.
Barbara