While searching the 1901 census for "George" (unsure if 1st or 2nd given name) FISHER son of Phoebe Annie FISHER and William Henry FISHER, I found George G FISHER listed as the 2 year old adopted son of John FOSS, a 40 yr old widower living at 6 Alpha Cottages Prittlewell, Essex.
The key reason for my interest in George G is the accidental death of William Henry FISHER on 5 June 1898. Perhaps the death of his father before his birth resulted in him being given up for adoption?
Phoebe Annie already had 6 other children to raise and at the time of the 1901 census was lodging at 33 Hartingdon Road Prittlewell, Essex. Both Phoebe's youngest child Horace (age 3) and George G (age 2) appear in the census as born at Leyton, Essex.
Does anyone know where I might find adoption records for Leyton/Southend-On-Sea/Prittlewell around 1900, that I might confirm/eliminate George G as Phoebe Annie's son? Would George G appear in the birth indexes in view of his adoption? It seems odd to me that he would keep his birth name if he was adopted as an infant.
FishMan
