I can't believe that Stokes didn't know. The man was a brilliant master of deduction, after all. (Who else could have figured out that Leona Eltridge was in fact Danielle Roget?!) So, my theory - and one that quite a few other cousins share - has always been that even though Stokes did figure things out, for his own personal reasons (perhaps out of respect for Barn, respect for his ancestor Ben's devotion to Barn (to which Stokes had frequently referred) or whatever) he simply never let on...
I think that is a good deduction. I likewise often wondered why Barnabas wouldn't have placed even more trust than he did in Prof Stokes, as he had Ben, realizing of course they were different people. Perhaps had the series gone on...
Likewise, I voted for both Stokes, with my third for Matthew Morgan. I think Jonathan Frid and Thayer David had excellent onscreen chemistry in all their scenes together. I think Thayer is quite fascinating offscreen too in the stories I have heard. I also highly reccomend Thayer's work in Rocky, The Eiger Sanction and Journey to the Center of the Earth. I love the Count Saknussem with his skulking and deceptions.
I think Matthew Morgan is a somewhat underrated character. First, Thayer was one of the few actors on DS to attempt a real "down east" regional accent, what with so many of the cast being southerners, not that that ever bother me as another southerner, but it gave him authenticity. I think Matthew and the Old House ghosts really set the bar for what DS would be able to do from then on. (I often think DS did ghosts better than any other type of supernatural character or event.)
I think Thayer always layered his characters so well. He was the consummate character actor. Plus that hearty laugh.
Your Cousin from Virginia
Michael
Great Thayer lines: "No! No! Mr. Barnabas, don't ask me to do that."
"I usually get asked whether I prefer sherry or port."
"More rum, more rum."
"Cheese. I ususally like a good cheddar."
"I have but one god and his name is Petofi."