This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: bonshawdrum Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.shaw/6760/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I am searching for information on my great grandfather Matthew Stanley Shaw Irving. He was born 23 Aug 1883, in either Dornock, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, or Bolton, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to Canada @ 1904 and was killed at Ypres, Belgium during WWI, 27/28 Jul 1917. I am trying to find his parents, if possible. He told my grandfather (his son) that his parents' names had been Matthew Irving and Lucy Shaw. On his attestation papers when signing up for service in Canada, he lists his birthplace as Scotland, but I since have found information that leads me to believe that he may have been born in Bolton instead. I have located a birth certificate from that area which lists a Matthew Stanley Shaw (no Irving) born on the same day. The certificate lists the parents as Leonard Shaw (sea captain) and Lucy Shaw, formerly Philps (spelling error?). This matches the mother's name that Matthew S.S. Irving related to my grandfather. I also have found two census reports, from 1891 and 1901, listing the household of a Matthew Irving from Withington, Lancashire. The 1891 report lists a Matthew Stanley Shaw as a member of the household, age 7, listed as "nephew". The 1901 report lists a Matthew S Irving, age 17, listed as "son". Between these two reports, I'm beginning to think my gr. grandfather was born a Shaw, and was adopted by the Matthew Irving from Withington. This would make his parents' names Matthew Irving and Lucy Shaw, as he related himself. If anyone has any information on the Leonard and Lucy Shaw (nee Philps) discussed here, please feel free to contact me. Thank you. Dave Irving irvings@tds.net Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.