I have been following this thread out of impartial interest but fascinated by Frances' depth of information. As a result, I looked at the 1881 census for the home in question and was drawn to a couple of contenders. My favourite would be William Whitam born around 1876. He is possibly the William Whitten which landed from the Buenos Ayrean in 1886, aged 12, a couple of years out, but definitely from the Isle of Man. I have looked at the name Melnotte and have jumped to the conclusion, and please prove me wrong, but this may have, as your wife surmised, be an assumed name. At the time in question and for several years previous, Allan Pinkerton novels were very popular. Pinkerton, founder of the detective agency, created a detective in 1875 or so, called Claude Melnotte. He featured in several penny magazines. The only comparable name on the Isle of Man is a William Melbeau, born about 1868, no parents listed under the same name, but possibly the son of Ann Brew. I do not have access to any census listings, apart from Lawson's, but perhaps a tad early. To summarise and to repeat Frances, if your dates are correct, and if your first name, often retained, is correct, you only have a few candidates to work on. There are several groups in Canada who specialize in British Home Children and they may be able to help you tie your ancestor back to the Isle of Man. Very good luck in your search.