James Johnstone - My White Whale

[sancti]

The poor relief record states he was born in Lancashire and was a labourer.

If he deserted her how would she know when he died?

[Maiden Stone]

2.  Looked for his parents in both Manchester & Ireland.  My great grandmother put on the Canada census that her father was born in the UK, although it should be noted she never met him, and she listed her mother as being born in Scotland.  She was famously anti-catholic, although it appears her parents had a Catholic wedding, and likely were in fact Irish

Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. The War of Independence was happening 100 years ago. Irish people who travelled abroad had British passports. 

[Maiden Stone]

The 1881 census will have been taken before the wedding and ages can be 5 years out.  It could be that he was working in the shipyards in govan and got a job in the monk lands area for a new foundry as sometimes the best workers got moved over.

He was a lodger. The householder or whoever completed the census return may not have known his real age. My 24 year-old farm labourer granddad was a lodger and was recorded as age 22 on a census. He lost a few more years in subsequent censuses.