hi tazette
thanks for your reply. first, i don't know how to link to other posts in Britain forum. most of the chatter there was my attempt to try to find him in Devon...but that showed to be almost impossible. i think i had everyone going around in circles including myself. i was advised by another to get more definite info in Canada.
secondly, the birth years are vague because like you say on his death 1898 puts his birth years 1824..
marriage certificate to Ann Calvert he says he is 42....they married Oct 11, in 1873 in Hagerman Twp, Dunchurch, Parry Sound ON....that would make birth year 1831. on marriage it said he was a widower.
on 1881 census in Hagerman & McKellar Muskoka ON his age is 50 that would make birth year 1831.
have found application for assisted fare in Toronto to King dated Jan 3, 1870. gives his name, ship he came over on NESTORIAN left Liverpool and landed Portland. his destination was Weston Ont.
by the application date (which in later applications became the arrival date) I figured that he must have come over late December....travelled from Portland to Toronto.
i searched theshipslist site and found a few sailings from Liverpool to Portland but the one in December fits in better with the time frame.
1. Nestorian - Capt Aird departed Liverpool Dec 23, 1869 arrived Portland Jan 4, 1870....hence my query!
2. Nestorian - Capt Aird departed Liverpool Feb 3, 1870 arrived Portland Feb 15, 1870
3. Nestorian - Capt Aird departed Liverpool Mar 17, 1870 arrived Portland Mar 29, 1870
on 1871 census where we think we have him in the strays. St Johns Ward D, Toronto West
he is living with another group of people with different names (head of house is Spencer) John Shaw age 42 born in England, Religion C of E, occupation: painter and that he was married.
tho his age here makes his birth year 1829...it could have been mis transcribed. the location so fits in with Weston as this is pretty close to within the borders of this Ward. his marital status is not a problem as we have info he was married in England with family he intended to bring out. the fact that he married again and stated he was a widow...could be so that he was...or maybe he found it easier to say he was.
i hope i was not too wordy here. some stuff is new compared to postings in Britain forum.