The 1841 census notes that James was not born in his county of residence, Perthshire (it was a Yes/No question). This is correct because at the time of his birth, Old Fargie was in the Fife portion of the parish of Arngask.

The 1851 census, James Wanton was recorded as a 52-year-old widowed porter, living as a lodger on Pomarium Street in the city of Perth. Therefore his estimated year of birth is 1798, but it says he was born in that city also. He was living with 7 unrelated people, though curiously, the stepdaughter of the head of household was born in Arngask, Fife.

In the marriage record, James was described as being a private in 2nd Company, 78th Regiment, so, unlike most marriage records, it doesn’t say what parish he was from. His son, Archibald, was born in Ireland, so that is clearly one of the places he served in that regiment.

This article at this URL is believed to be about the poorhouse where James died:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Perth/

Private in 2nd Company, 78th Regiment of Foot (was already in this service at the time of his marriage) [6219] [6583] [6583] For some period which included the year 1818, this regiment was based in Ireland. [6850]

(pending documentation): enlisted at age 17 for 10 years during the Napoleonic Wars (so, about 1812-1822).

There was a James WANTON, a weaver, born in the parish of West Church in the city of Perth, who enlisted in the military at age 16, from 1812-1821, 2nd Battalion 91st Foot Soldiers. This is not the unit that our James was in at the time of marriage. The record strangely implies he was promoted to Corporal 9 days before he enlisted. Later he was transferred to 1st Batt. 18-OCT-1814
(The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Class Number: WO 25; Class Title: 91 Foot 2 Battn; Piece Number: 527; Piece Title: 91 Foot 2 Battn)

The only male children of James W?NT?N and Cath?rine STEWART in the period 1818-1835, who were born in Perthshire, were William (1826) and John (1832). - ScotlandsPeople.

I also found via an index on Ancestry & ScotlandsPeople, that a James Winton, was born 19 Apr 1799 (bap.22 Apr) in the parish of Perth (#387) to parents James Winton and Isobell Johnston.

In 1851 there were 5 adults named James WINTON/WANTON in Perthshire, but only one who was old enough to be this James and he was a porter, which agrees with the death record. So it seems likely the son of Isobell Johnston had already died or left the county. On the other hand, the death record appears to have the wrong name given as James’ mother.

In 1861, there is a James Winton living at the Poor Lodging Houses in "Perth Burgh" registration district, and is reported as a widower, age 69, so born ca.1792, but in Findo Gask, Perthshire. He was a "Stableman." Relationship to head of household is "Pauper." If this is our James, somebody confused “Arngask” with “Findo Gask.” Have not been able to find a James in the 1871 census of Perthshire old enough to be a close match.
(Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms)


11-MAR-2018: Searched “British Army Service Records” at Findmypast.com and did not find any entries with sufficient detail to match to James.