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Robert does seem common in the family - but is found commonly whereas Jervis/Gervaise seems very unusual - so serves as a useful marker for this Clough family.

The Robert (1794) was my first candidate for my Robert but a 1794 birth would put him at under 50 in the 1841 census and recorded (if accurately) as 45.  My Robert is recorded as 50 (fits with the 63 at death in 1850). This Robert senior is another branch of the same family and is probably the brother or cousin of the Jervis of Jervis and Mary.

What would clinch things one way or the other would be to identify the third son of J&M in the years 1784-1788.  If it is a Robert, it would almost certainly be my missing ancestor.  If not, then the search would continue.

I'm looking for the baptism of a Robert Clough in about 1787.  From the age given at death, he would be between Sep1786 and Sep 1787 - but that depends on the age at death being accurate.

He belongs to that Clough family of Lancashire yeoman farmers where the eldest son of every generation of every branch is a Jervis/Gervaise/(spellings vary).  I suspect he may be the 3rd son of a Jervis and Mary Clough who had their 5th-10th children baptised at St Pauls Independent, Wigan (1788-1797).  However, of their 1st four children (1 girl and 3 boys), 2 of the boys are bap'd at Wigan All Saints (Gervaise 1782 and Thomas 1784) .  Robert falls in the gap and (if he is the missing 3rd son) may be at either church.

Any help to confirm the above theorising - or to disprove it - would be much appreciated.