Thomas Alfred or Alfred Thomas Gates born c1891

[nannyj]

I have Margaret E Hanley marrying Alfred Thomas Gates in 1932 Cuckfield.
I’m having real problems finding:
1) either of them on the 1939 census.
2) margaret anywhere … I’m told by her daughter and granddaughter that she was born 16 July 1903 on Bow, London … but this could be slightly out I imagine.
3) Alfred’s birth. On marriage, 1901 and 1911, he’s Alfred or Alfred Thomas, but on death and 1891, he’s Thomas Alfred. GRO has Thomas Alfred, cuckfield, MMN stoner. There’s no Alfred Thomas on GRO in Sussex around those years.
Also … his mother seems to switch between Mary and Elizabeth M. His siblings re consistent, so maybe they just had preferred names?

So help with 1) & 2) would be great and clearing confusion over 3) would also be great.

Many thanks.

[Neale1961]

Baptism for Margaret Elizabeth HANLEY
10 Aug 1902 Holy Trinity Southwark
Parents Matthew (lift-man) and Emma Jane

HANLEY, MARGARET  ELIZABETH     mother: BEARE 
GRO Reference: 1902  S Quarter in SOUTHWARK  Volume 01D  Page 93

[Neale1961]

In the 1911 census Margaret (8yrs), is with her mother Emma (35 widow) and sister Lucy (6) at 8 Victoria Place, Bermondsey

[Neale1961]

Birth rego
GATES, THOMAS  ALFRED       mother: STONER 
GRO Reference: 1890  S Quarter in CUCKFIELD UNION  Volume 02B  Page 159

Added: It looks like his father was called Thomas, so maybe the son was called "Alfred" to avoid confusion.

[Neale1961]

A possible for 1939
“The Acre”, Colgate Hill, Crawley, Sussex, England
(Male) GATES, born 9 Aug 1891, a Game Keeper on ….
with
(Female) GATES, born 19 Jul 1902, Unpaid Domestic Duties,
and a number of records closed.

Note: the page on the register (and surrounding pages) only gives surnames of people, no forenames

Alfred is a "game keeper" in 1911 census in Crawley, so it is probable he he still working in the same occupation in 1939.

[Neale1961]

Thomas GATES  married Mary STONER on 30 Aug 1873 in Cuckfield.
Mary’s mother was Elizabeth FALKNER, Mary's father was Thomas.

Possible birth rego:
STONER, MARY       mother: FAULKNER 
GRO Reference: 1848  D Quarter in CUCKFIELD UNION  Volume 07  Page 334

The name "Mary" used more often than "Elizabeth", in the records I could see.

[Annette7]

Their death entries (he 1971 and she 1988):

Thomas Alfred Gates b.9/8/1890 (this concurs with birth entry and 1 year out on 1939), death Dec.1971 Cuckfield, Sussex

Margaret Elizabeth Gates b.19/7/1902 (agrees with 1939), death Dec.1988 Haywards Heath, West Sussex.  (daughter and granddaughter were close - 3 days out on day, right month, one year out on year).

Annette

[nannyj]

Their death entries (he 1971 and she 1988):

Thomas Alfred Gates b.9/8/1890 (this concurs with birth entry and 1 year out on 1939), death Dec.1971 Cuckfield, Sussex

Margaret Elizabeth Gates b.19/7/1902 (agrees with 1939), death Dec.1988 Haywards Heath, West Sussex.  (daughter and granddaughter were close - 3 days out on day, right month, one year out on year).

Annette

Thank you everyone. That’s really helpful 😊