The 1858 marriage certificate of Martin James Lamb and Elizabeth Fox states that Elizabeth's father is Robert Fox, a Mariner. I couldn't find him on the census, but Mrs Fox, nee Shankster, was found, in Hull, where she lived for many decades, bringing up her children, and working, later, as a Crape cleaner, and a Tailoress, as the census records.
From the information Eliza gives in the census returns I was able to trace her baptism and marriage through the IGI records. Eliza Shankster was born about 1811 in Ousefleet, a village to the south of the Humber estuary. She was baptised on 13 Oct 1811, at Whitgift, a neighbouring village. Her father was Edward Shankster, her mother Joanna (?Longbones?).
Eliza Shankster married Robert Fox on 2 March 1831, at Whitgift.
Eliza from Ousefleet, with Elizabeth and the other children, appears on the 1841 census, living in "Temple's Entry", which is off the High Street, in Hull. Elizabeth, aged 5, has two brothers, William, 3 and Edwin, 1. But the mysterious Mr Fox is absent.
Eliza gives her occupation as Mariner's Wife, though the mariner himself is again absent. Eliza is aged 39, daughter Elizabeth 15. The other children are Edwin, 11, John, 9, Sarah, 7 and Marcus, 1.
The IGI has baptism entries for all of Elizabeth's siblings, all baptised at Holy Trinity church, Hull:
William Robert Fox (16 Oct 1837), Edwin Fox (10 Feb 1840), John Edward Fox (24 Jan 1842), Sarah Hannah Fox (10 May 1844), Marcus Fox (25 April 1850).
As my ancestor Elizabeth Fox was born before civil registration, there was obviously no birth certificate available, but I needed to confirm her mother's maiden name. Ordering the birth certificate of her brother Marcus, born in 1850, proved the connections I hoped for. Marcus's father was Robert Fox, mariner, his mother Eliza's maiden name was Shankster.
My ancestor Marcus Lamb was obviously named after this Marcus, his uncle - his mother's youngest brother.
Eliza is living with her daughter, Sarah Hannah (16) and son Marcus (11). She is working, as a Crape cleaner. The family are living at 58 Savile Street.
Eliza is now a widow, in Sculcoates (Hull), with two of her sons, John and Marcus, living with her. Also shown in the household is Sarah H E McKinder, aged 3, Eliza's granddaughter.
Eliza is living next door to where she was in the 1861 census, this time at 57 Savile Street. At 58 appears to be her daughter, Sarah Hannah, now aged 27 and married to James McKinder, and obviously mother of Sarah. Also next door, apparently in another self-contained household in the same building, is William Robert Fox, aged 33.
In 1881, Eliza's aged 69, living at 17 Church Street, working as a "Tailoress". Her birthplace is a strange scribble that looks vaguely like an interpretation of Ousefleet. I know it's the right lady, though, as her daughter and grandchildren are living with her. Daughter Sarah Hannah McKinder is now a widow, aged 37. Her four children are living in the household too.
In the BMD index there's a record of Eliza's death in the March quarter of 1884, in Sculcoates (Hull), aged 72.
As for Robert Fox - it seems I might have to accept that the online records aren't so helpful for finding wandering mariners.