At thirteen years of age he was apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner, and subsequently acquired good practical experience in his trade at Liverpool.

On the advice of his sister Elizabeth who had already immigrated to Australia, on 26 October 1850 he sailed on the Tartar from Plymouth arriving in Sydney on 8 February 1851.

For many years in succession he was chairman of the trustees of the Ipswich General Cemetery, and was as a director, and in other ways, connected with several building societies.

[5] After residing in West Street for several years, he purchased a beautiful site known as Rose Hill, Newtown, where he lived the rest of his life.

[3] In March 1891, Shenton had a buggy accident, which crushed his side, and brought on lung disease, eventually developing into pulmonary phthisis.

Although he was not able to take that active part in public matters which characterised his life up to the time of the accident, he was able to drive about in his buggy until a week before his death, when he had to take to his bed.