@Millipede "Who was the witness just out of interest? It might be useful or provide a helpful link you never know." Witness was Mary Barrett. She is in the 1861 census with spouse William and son Charles living in Upper George Street, so maybe a neighbour at the time of Joseph's death. I don't see anything that might be relevant on that page, or adjacent pages.
@jonw65 "Died at 11a Dunstable Road. Which was the address of St Mary's Hospital (formerly the local workhouse). Left a will. Have you got it?" I didn't know that 11a Dunstable Road was a hospital/workhouse - thanks! [added: Union Workhouse, Luton (1835 - 1930)] Cause of death was senile decay, which fits. Yes I have the will, plus a subsequent Deed of Family Arrangement which lists all of his children and their addresses, and these tie in with the 1939 register entries.
"On your tree you have a copy of the 1886 marriage of Charles Bright and Elizabeth Gardner, and it says he was a bachelor." Yes, but he has son Charles Frederick born before that marriage, and GRO Search gives his sons's mother's maiden name as Collins, hence my interest in finding out about her (but not enough interest to buy the marriage cert to check the details).
"You also have him in 1871 as a 24* year old living in Tottenham, *Or is it really 20?" As noted previously, my mistype, he married in Q1 1881 and appears aged 20 in the 1881 census in Tottenham.
"There's a death in Barnet in 1884 of a Mary Ann Bright, age 26, not much else!
Baptism at Friern Barnet, 22 January 1884
Charles Frederick
parents Charles Frederick + Mary Ann Bright
abode 3 Sussex Terrace
father a Labourer
In the margin - aged 1 yr 7 mo
That's in the same quarter as the Barnet death registration." So maybe Mary Ann dies then Charles remarries in 1866. Charles Frederick Bright appears in the 1939 register in Stoke Newington, born 3/6/1882, with father Charles born 4/7/1861.
So I'm still missing Charles from the 1871 census, and have the issues surrounding his parents.