Joseph was born c1808, he mentions his father William on two occasion on his two marriages but we don't find a baptism event that matches Joseph's given birth year as yet. As such a full extraction of Manchester parish church (Cathedral)  needs to be completed as it seems the family haven't really ventured far from central Manchester.

Joseph married Alice Devonport on the 22nd May 1839 her given address of Gregson St matches the 1851 census return for her parents. On the marriage entry Joseph's father is named as William and is occupation is a Hatter. They don't give their ages on the marriage entry other then a comment of 'full' in the age column?
Children:
James 1842
Sarah 1846

Normally after marriage children follow immediately but their first recorded child James is 2 years later.  I cant find them in the 1841 census so far, and there are only 3 Joseph's in the entire census return as held by Ancestry.com unless the transcribers have missed them off as these 3 don't match 2 off them being able to read and write and one with a large young family.

Marriage record Manchester Cathedral.

We have a recorded baptism  for Sarah Shelmerdine recorded in the Manchester Cathedral register on the 29th June 1851 and it states she was born on the 20th Feb 1846. Normally a birth is followed by baptism within days, so why the delay? Joseph's trade is mentioned as a Hatter. Could they have moved away and such explains them not being in the census? Possible to Denton or Stockport area which lie just in Cheshire, these areas being the center of Hat production in the region?  I would assume they did and this is under pinned by them ensuring Sarah was registered as baptised of 'this parish' to ensure if they or her fell on bad times she would be eligible for parish relief funds.  I would guess she is recorded else where in another parish register and that may be Denton where her parents originally came from.

Manchester Cathedral extract.

In the 1841 census return for lad lane, Manchester HO 107/570/14
James Devonport age 50.  Mechanic Not born of this county.
Jane Devonport age 60.  not born of this county.
Elizabeth Devonport age 15. not born of this county

James Devonport according to the 1841 census is 50 years old and Jane is stated as 60 years old. Their living with their daughter Elizabeth age15 at Lad lane, Manchester. James is stated as a Mechanic so he will be maintaining machinery probably in a cotton or hat factory. They had at least two other children being Alice.1816 and Phoebe. There stated not of this county meaning not born in Lancashire and Janes in later census gives Eddington, Staffordshire as her birth place but James gives Prestwich, Lans.  I assume they here living near Denton on the boarder of Lancashire and Cheshire being in Greater Manchester now.

1841 Census extract.

Birth of Elizabeth Devonport.1816 at Manchester Cathedral Parish church. Father James is a Hatter by trade so matches the census, but Elizabeth is born in Lancashire but the 1841 census stated not of this county.  The home address is stated as Denton being 6 miles down the present A57 and Denton is on the boarder of Cheshire. Denton being at the center of Hat manufacturing. (Moores Hat factory.)

Manchester Cathedral Extract

1851 census.  Gregson Street. Its in St John's Parish so on the boarder of Hulme and Deansgate.   Schedule Num: 73  piece2227  Fol 630 page 18
James Devonport.   age 71.      Head           occ. 'Spindle & Hatter'- unclear.  Born Prestwich, Lanc's.
Jane Devonport.  age 66.         Wife                                                                 Born Eddington, Staff's.
Joseph Shelmerdine.   age 43.  Son-in-law.  Widow. Occ Hatter.                   Born Manchester.
James Shelmerdine. age 09.     Grandson.                                                        Born Manchester.
Sarah Shelmerdine. age 5.  Grandaugter.                                                   Born Manchester.

1851 Census return

 Joseph remarries on the 5th April 1863 .  He marries a Elizabeth Chester widow, having lived together as featured in the 1861 census.  Joseph is illiterate  along with Elizabeth according to the register entry below. Their stated address is 2 Southern Street, Hulme. The below picture of Southern St was taken in 1906 and its a real old Terrance Street. You can see they have Gas supply to them for light, heating and cooking.

The marriage entry is of such good quality easy to read and clearly gives their parents names.  Also we assume the witness to the marriage are fiends.  What's interesting is John Taylor being her farther. This family names pops up in Joseph's sons family so they may be closely related of close family friends through marriages.

           
Manchester Cathedral extract                                                                                                                                                                                      Southern Street, Hulme.

In the 1871 census 13 Southern St, Hulme.
Joseph Shelmerdine is still livingin Southern Street but at number 13. The house is over crowded with 6 occupants being 3 families  and living in a 2 up 2 down Terrance house as featured in the above picture with six  other persons cohabiting. This is abject poverty at its worse.  Also he is stated as a labourer so he is still working at age 67.

1871 census featuring Joseph Shelmerdine

I cant find Joseph in the 1881 census, I also cant find a death between 1871 census and 1881 census that fits him, however there is a death entry recorded of oct/nov/dec1883 in the nation index for deaths in the Chorton/Hulme area,  age is given as  73 which put this birth date of 1810 matching thereabouts given we never had a baptism date for Joseph.  Note there is also a 2nd Joseph who died in Prestwich which could also fit but given such is 7 miles away seems unlikely.