Hello Frances,
W.H. M. was raised from a newborn infant in the orphanage. When he left Canada, Peterborough, at about age 18, he came first to Rochester, NY. He never returned to Canada, don't think he enjoyed being indentured. My wife has a theory that WHM changed his name because he ran away from the farm. My theory is that he was illegitimate or given up by a very poor family.