Daniel Goodwin STEPHENS b c 1860 - 1869 Canada?

[Tgapitbull]

I have no family connection, however seeking assistance to identify family of Daniel Goodwin STEPHENS b c 1860 - 1869, Canada.
He married Dinah Day nee West on 28 Aug 1894, Registrar's Office, Auckland, New Zealand.  According to the marriage transcript he was born in Canada [exact place not stated], age 30 years.  Father Reginald Goodwin Stephens and Mother Jane Stephens nee Smith.  Occupation Accountant.  I have found him in NZ electoral rolls 1893-1897 as an Accountant in Aratapu, Kaipara, Northland, NZ and in Nelson street, Auckland.
He was a member of the St George Lodge, Freemasons Dargaville, Auckland, NZ Lodge No 1801, born c 1869, Initiation date 6 October 1892, Accountant, Aratapu.
Dinah and Daniel were divorced in March 1904 - following is link to Court proceedings (story is half way down);

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19031208.2.46?end_date=31-12-1904&phrase=2&query=daniel+goodwin+stephens&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1880

Dinah stated in Court that she saw him in Sept 1894 and Nov 1895 and last letter received June 1897.
I have checked Ancestry (Australia & NZ records) Public Family trees and been unable to find anything further.  Also checked FamilySearch. 

Grateful if anyone is able to assist with birth details and family members.  Also where did he die?   Or any advice as to further research.

Many thanks
TPB

[CaroleW]

Have you ruled this one out

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVF8-7DG?lang=en

IGNORE - HE WAS DANIEL GEORGE

[J.J.]

 One thing for certain about these people - is that nothing is for certain about these people. He may or may not be an accountant (may have just been a clerk) She states he's a carpenter in the divorce proceedings?...He may already have been married before & have married again after Dinah Day.
 The Grand Lodge Freemason Membership (why is this registered in England?)...may be the only one truth to be found in there.
 But if he's sharing a load of Hogwash...parent's names might not be valid either. Nor the "born in Canada" - He's already in North Island, New Zealand - Voter Registration 1890 and there is also a Daniel Stephens in North Island 1885 & 1887 (when she said she knew him 8 yrs. I imagine that was prior to marriage?)

[jorose]

There was a Gordon Goodwin Grant Stephens, also an accountant, who married in 1916 and also ends up in the army claiming to be born 1879,

However, he was discharged due to his health, described  "looks much older".
He claims his parents are Gordon Cameron Grant Stephens and Jessie Adeline Grant Stephens (the latter born Paris).

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DTN19160913.2.4
At marriage he claimed his father was "late of Edinburgh, Manchester, Paris and now Switzerland", a university professor.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBTRIB19160920.2.21?items_per_page=100&query=%22Grant+Stephens%22&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA
 and grandson of the "late Eugene Neville Petavi" (this reads like absolute balderdash to me and none of these people are traceable).

He first appears in 1905 (Palmerston North electoral rolls), so the timing is somewhat suspicious...

[J.J.]

Brilliant, Jorose! Hogwash & Balderdash Indeed!!!
The identity you've found -b. 1879 of course  died in N.Z. 1947...
Burial-Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01trw/

adding: The funeral notice is also in this lot! Funeral notice mentions "loving wife".
Trial appearances 1936...which we'd all like to hear about!
    Or let's just read about the trials for misappropriation of funds from his clients.
   Total £535 plus over two years.  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01trv/

also appealed against service / military charge 1917, 1919 using Gordon Goodwin Stephens, Hastings ...likely had forgotten his third made-up name

[J.J.]

hmmm???...Have found a can of worms which may or may not be of his making.
Did he ever leave New Zealand?
Modified, but will leave basics on here in case he did move back & forth.
 an Edward  1860 birth registered midname Goodwyn Montgomeryshire, Wales, U.K.
 1871- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDDP-R79

Edward - Married Sarah  1889 Church Stretton, Shropshire, England

1891 Census Smethcott, Shropshire, Engl RegDistChurch Stretton
 Sarah Age 22 Birth 1869 Shropshire - married
 Daughter age 1 Montgomeryshire, Eng
 Living with parents George & Sarah & brother William

hmmm???...Is this another can of worms? There's a tree on FHS with no mention of father
1911 shows twin boys  - b. 10 years after daughter?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X728-S9F?lang=en
ahhh adding- 1901 as pointed out in next post by mckha489
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSQQ-TDW?lang=en

[mckha489]

Just about to add, 1901 has Edward G with this family.
I don’t think he is the same man as “Daniel”

Although, cannot find a death for him. 

[J.J.]

  Husband's GFather (U.K)...off building bridges after ww1 (in Egypt, so the story goes). Gma was left with 4 children.  Came back, married again & made 4 more children, brazenly not far away from first wife.
Guess he knew she was too busy bringing up his children to get out much.
Neither knew about the other until his death pension went to the valid wife.
   He does seem to cling to one name he remembers... Closer to home then:
Can this man be traced to offspring?
John Goodwin Stephen bapt. 1839 in Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, NZ.
Father  James Stephen (b. about 1810) Mother  Harriet
http://www.nzearlyhistory.com/mysitepre1846-o/g1/p416.htm#i10378

Are freemasons a plentiful lot? Might they be relatives?
   James Goodwin Stevens (Stephens) d. 1941 age  73  Freemason/Grand Lodge
Lands Dept. Lands Office.- Wagga until 1904
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144525795?searchTerm=goodwin%20stevens
   Burial Of Old Freemason  1953
The funeral of Mr. James Stephens (87), of George Town, one of the oldest Freemasons in Tasmania, took place at George Town cemetery yesterday. 
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27164778?searchTerm=stephens%20freemason

[Tgapitbull]

Apologies for not responding earlier, as I have been unwell.
Thank you to everyone who has posted information which I will work through.

TPB