Thought you might be interested in my findings so far after all your wonderful helps. Not actually sure i am any further forward but may have narrowed the field somewhat. I did not know whether this info might be of use to you for anyone who has any queries in future where this might tie in.
Regarding the father of William being Philip Cain (publican) - the plus points being he lived close to where William and Selina were in 1851 and there was a William of correct age with him in 1841. Have examined the inventory of the will online and also the addition for when Philip died. No mention is made of a William to tie them together. The only children mentioned are Robert Dickenson Cain and Sarah Margaret who were the young children of Philkip and Sarah. One Anthony Dickenson and Matthias Cain were sworn guardian superiors over them. I believe these could be brothers of Sarah and Philip respectively. Also mentioned is a Richard Dickenson. Not sure if this was another of Sarahs brothers. If her father was Joseph Dickenson and mother Mary Tyson then yes Richard ws an older brother. Anthony was born in 1817 but to JOseph Dickenson and Mary Atkinson. MAybe Joseph remarried . I have not checked as either way there is no way to tie Philip to William.
As for all the Matthias'. There are more listed on the burial index then are wills for. The 92 yr old who died in 1857 and was married to Marg Quark - there is no will for him that i could find. I checked the wills for Daniel and Ann Quark who were Margs parents and again nothing to tie them to William. I also think they were too old anyway. If he was 92 in 1857 then he would have beenin his 60s when William was born and Margaret late 40s.Possible but not a strong contender.
The Matthias who died in 1853 age 75 can find no will for. Im kind of a little lost as to who he was with all the mathhias'
Matthais who died age 80 can find no will for.
The only other will was for Matthias who died 1863 #106464#111. He died in 1860 (cannot work out why he is not on the burial list) He was a baker and left Catherine Crane Cain a widdow. She actually lived till 1896. The will left by Matthias is quite difficult to read in places but there is a list of petitioners of which there is a William. Others are children listed on 51 census. The petition was submitted because Catherine was not doing anything to get the will proved. NOthing else is mentioned as regards the children. The will was sorted and everything went to her. When she died in 96 she left the bakery to Thomas who she was living with in the 91 census. No mention is made of any other children. William was dead anyway but i wondered if his wife would have been left anything but as no one is mentioned again i cannot tie them together.
The MAtthias who died age 40 in 1852, although no contender, i thought you might like to know i have the will and he was a joiner of some sorts. He died leaving no offspring and his brother John Cain was sworn in to administrate. He had a business and built homes etc from what i could translate. Will # 106453 #60.
Matthias who died age 87 in 1852 was i think the schoolteacher whose will is online #106452 #35 and does not tie to William.
So there you have it. As far as i can see i cannot tie anyone to my William. As far as i understand - and i might be worng - we kind of got caught up with the Matthias because of Frances provisionally tieing him to Matthais and MArg Quark and we were trying to ascertain which Matthias he was because of incorrect ages being declared on census but now we see they are too old.
I think i am back to square one as they say.
I hope all this makes sense. Let me know if you would like any of the info i have from the wills for your records. I have full copies of #106464#111 and 106452#60 - just notes for the others.
I so appreciate your help on this. If you should stumble accross anything else let me know.
Jackie