thanks for suggestions. My own feeling is 'Selina'.Maybe wasnt name registered at birth. where born is very specific-Sutton Beds. I think it must be Sutton although the t's are not crossed.I had trouble cropping census page to reduce posting size, the house 18 Hawley Road St Pancras London borough where they are shown occupying 1 room also there is Halsey family of 6 and 3 boarders. It may be that the main occupier of the house Christopher Halsey filled in the census form which is why only initials shown for 4 of the occupants as he didnt know them well-although birth places specific so my impression might be wrong.
G Greenfield shown as born St Pancras, occupation looks like Coal Salesman. There is a George Percy Greenfield born St Pancras 1872, occupation traveller he was living with mother 1901 in Finchley and married later that year,1911 with his wife Mary Matilda. I have eliminated all other George Greenfields born 1872 for 1901, and 1911 census there isnt a Greenfield with wife that could possibly be this couple.I am hoping age correct so can focus on 1872 born George Greenfields.
My grandfather born George Greenfield November 1872 in Pulborough cannot be found in 1901 census other than the person with mystery name wife. He is shown born St Pancras but this could be 'convenient' birthplace.
I'm fairly certain he is William Mat(t)hews living with Emma in 1911 in Shoreditch. Tramway platelayer correct but age and birthplace arent correct, Emma's details match perfectly. Later in 1911 they moved to Brighton, my father born there in December 1911, where William worked until he retired as Tramway Platelayer. My father told when we were quite young children that surname had been changed, 'skeletons in cupboard' which he would explain when we were older. He mentioned cousins in Pulborough 'but they dont want to know us'.
Unfortunately he died long before I was interested in the family history so never knew reason. Fortunately my father registered death of ' William George Matthews aka George Greenfield ' .
I have been trying to solve this mystery for many years, started 1995 after my mother died-who probably did know reason .
Sutton Beds is a small village, I found that the parish records are with Bedfordshire Family History Group, I may have to ask if there is a kind person could look through a couple of years birth registrations to see any possibilities for the mystery 'Slina'!
