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I'm not sure that this is the right man.  According to the newspapers  - the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser of Monday 18 October 1886 (and others) - the Thomas GILL who was the mate on board the Matilda was from Goole, Yorkshire.   On the 1881 census there is a Thomas GILL, a mariner, living in Goole - his wife is Hannah - and they have 5 children. 

The 1881 census describes Eliza as the wife of a mason - not a sailor.  I realise that he could have changed occupation but I really don't think that this is him, unless you have some further information about him.  Did you already know that he was at sea?

It would be interesting to see what occupation he gives on the marriage certificate.

The great grandfather was on the ship Matilda.  Thank you for this information.  Do we know anything else about him?

Yes that is my grandmother,
Emily but she went by Emma.  I did hear that her father drown.  I guess my grandmother didn't know the brother was in a special "school".  She really never understood why he was left.  Does he show up in later cencus?

Was your grandmother, Emma Elizabeth GILL, the same as the Emily E. GILL who was 5 months on the 1881 census, whose birth was registered in the Dec qrt 1880 as Emily Elizabeth and appears on the passenger list as 11 year-old Emily GILL?  Was she known as Emma?  If so, a copy of her birth certificate should confirm father's name and mother's maiden name.

I think you probably had a slip of the finger when you mentioned that Thomas GILL was at the school - this was of course, William GILL the son, not the father, Thomas.  If any records have survived for this school they will be at the Bristol Record Office. Click here for more details of the catalogue for the BRO.

1861 England Census

Name: Eliza J Clark

Age: 11

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850

Relation: Daughter

Father's Name: John Clark

Mother's Name: Emma Clark

Gender: Female

Where born: Compton Bishop, Somerset, England

Civil parish: Compton Bishop

County: Somerset

Country: England

Street Address: In the Village of Compton

Occupation: Blank

Condition as to marriage:  Unm

Registration district: Axbridge

Sub-registration district: Axbridge

ED: 11

Neighbors:

Household schedule number: 60

Piece: 1675    Folio: 45    Page Number: 13

Household Members:

John Clark 39  Head  Agric Lab'r.

                           b. Compton Bishop, Somerset

Emma Clark 37  Wife  b. Banwell, Somerset

James Clark 13  Son  b. Compton Bishop, Somerset

Eliza J Clark 11  Daug  b. Compton Bishop, Somerset

Edward Clark 7  Son  b. Compton Bishop, Somerset

Emily Clark 2  Daug  b. Compton Bishop, Somerset

Free BMD’s – Rootsweb.com

Marriages Mar 1878

CLARK  Eliza Jane    Bristol  6a 115 

Gill  Thomas     Bristol  6a 115

You are great.  My grandmother was Emma Elizabeth Gill and her mother was Eliza Gill and so you have the right family with Clark.  You could be right that Thomas Gill was in the school for troubled boys.  What info can be gotten on that?  My grandmother ended up at 99 years a wealthy woman with two good marriages so a happy ending but it appears that this side of the family was very troubled!!