Just writing the narrative summary did do a lot to convince me that the Scarborough George and the Hartlepool George are the same person. I do still have a niggling worry that there could have been two Georges born in Lowestoft in 1837 as the Leggett name is quite common in that area. Please keep digging but I agree with what you say, this is a very interesting scenario.
The 1920 electoral records do seem to indicate that they were estranged. I've also seen family In Memoriam notices from 1932 when Jane died, whereas when George died there was nothing in the local papers apart from the funeral notice.
MARTIN
Yes I found the proliferation of Leggett's around Lowestoft in this search and even farther afield in Suffolk. The fact that Thomas Garnham was from Suffolk and George was described as a Visitor rather than a Boarder when he stayed with him in Hartlepool suggests some kind of relationship. I have tried to find it but no success as yet.
Here is one example of the many Lowestoft Leggett's and what stands out here is the forename 'Daniel'. I suspect that this family must be cousins?
Name Daniel Leggett
Event Type Census
Event Date 1871
Event Place Lound, Suffolk, England
Enumeration District 18
Gender Male
Age 34
Marital Status Married
Occupation Farm Labourer
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Birth Year (Estimated) 1837
Birthplace Lound, Suffolk
Entry Number 18
Affiliate Image Identifier GBC/1871/1781/0140
Daniel Leggett Head M 34 Lound, Suffolk
Elizabeth Leggett Wife F 28 Somerleyton, Suffolk
Charles Leggett Son M 9 Lound, Suffolk
Daniel Leggett Son M 8 Lound, Suffolk
Samuel Leggett Son M 6 Lound, Suffolk
Laura Leggett Daughter F 4 Lound, Suffolk
Elizabeth Leggett Daughter F 2 Lound, Suffolk
Sarah Leggett Daughter F 0 Lound, Suffolk
We are so lucky when we find children given the middle name from a maternal side. This happened just a couple of days ago with a Sarah Cromack who married a John Wright and they named a child Jane Cromack Wright. In your case we have George's son George Boynton Leggett living with his mother Jane in Scarborough which cements that connection. I haven't been able to find George Boynton Leggett in later years and suspect that he went off to sea quite early.
Cheers Malcolm