Help please! Ancestor who doesn't seem to have been born!

[Ever Stealthy]

I have four sources that are consistent with the birth of Alfred Horton in Leicester/Leicestershire in 1842: 2 censuses, his death certificate and burial, and the announcement of his second marriage. However there is no registration or baptism that I can find in that name or similar in the county from 1841-43. Alfred was a musician ("Professor of Music"). I have found him in the 1861 census (Northumberland), 1871 census (Torquay), but not in 1851. He was married twice, to Mary Jane Doutch in 1868 in Torquay, and to Frances Hannah Smith in 1871 in Buxton. He died in Liverpool of TB in 1876, and is buried in Anfield Cemetery. His father was Thomas Horton, also a Professor of Music. I have found lots of other trivial stuff about him, but I can't find his birth, so can't take the line further. Am I missing something obvious? Is it possible he was born in Leicester but registered elsewhere? His father was a musician, so possibly itinerant like Alfred seems to have been. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks

[BumbleB]

Welcome to RootsChat 

Unfortunately birth registration was not compulsory until the mid 1870's. 

...... In the early days of the system, it was up to each local registrar to find out what births, marriages and deaths had taken place in his sub-district. It has therefore been estimated that only about 50–60% of births, both legitimate and illegitimate, were registered as parents were not legally obliged to inform the registrar. It has been estimated that in some parts of England up to 15% of births were not registered between 1837 and 1875.[6] As a result of the Births and Deaths Act 1874, registration was made compulsory from 1875 and the onus was now on parents to inform the registrar when they had a child and penalties were imposed on those who failed to register. Births had to be registered within 42 days at the district or sub-district office, usually by the mother or father. If more days had elapsed but it was less than three months since the birth, the superintendent registrar had to be present and if between three months and a year, the registration could only be authorised by the Registrar General. ....

Taken from Wikipedia. 

Hope this helps

[trish1120]

Possible other reasons;
He was illeg.
Thomas Horton married or never married his Mother.
His Birth wasnt reg, Father died, Mother remarried before 1851 Census.

[amondg]

Anfield Cemetery is the Non Conformist Cemetery.
Check as many of the Non Conformists registers near Leicester or nearby as often the actual chapel
could be some miles away perhaps in another county.

[IgorStrav]

Who are the witnesses on the marriage certificate(s)?

Do they give any clues?

[softly softly]

Is this possibly Alfred in 1851, his mother having been widowed and re-marrying Richard Boddington

Marriages Dec 1846 
Atkins    Charlotte        Coventry    16   586   
Boddington    Richard    Coventry    16   586   
Horton    Ann                 Coventry    16   586   
Hunt    Ann                        Coventry    16   586   
Johnson    Sarah        Coventry    16   586   
Ludford    John        Coventry    16   586    
Mason    George        Coventry    16   586   
Thorniloe    Thomas        Coventry    16   586
John



   

1851 census
Richard Boddington   35
Ann Boddington   38
Samuel Boddington   3
Mary Ann Boddington   11 Mo
Alfred Horton   10  step Law (step son)

Edit: 19.27

[softly softly]

The Samuel Boddington born c1848 on 1851 census in Coventry has mother's maiden name BROWN,
so possibly looking for a Horton / Brown marriage if it happened.

John

[softly softly]

Possible birth:

HORTON, ALFRED       mother's maiden name BROWN 
GRO Reference: 1840  S Quarter in THE CITY OF COVENTRY  Volume 16  Page 348

I know it's not pob Leicester but!!

John

[iluleah]

Hi and welcome to rootschat

His father was Thomas Horton, also a Professor of Music. I have found lots of other trivial stuff about him, but I can't find his birth, so can't take the line further. Am I missing something obvious? Is it possible he was born in Leicester but registered elsewhere? His father was a musician, so possibly itinerant like Alfred seems to have been. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks

and you have his mothers given name.................... so of course you can continue to research

I wonder if he was born/registered in (Coventry) Warwickshire  possibly lived in Leicestershire when young  and just thought that is where he was born as there are several Alfred Horton registered in Coventry

As a Professor of Music it is possible he worked in schools or maybe even the theatre so moved because of available work, worth looking at where they lived ( census) and any local, schools/theaters nearby also worth checking newspapers to see if he advertised  private music lessons as well as local directories to see if he is in them