Hello all. One of my great-grandfathers is currently a dead end, and I'm all out of ideas. I have a theory he might have changed surnames - how does this sound?
I have him in the 1901, 1911 and 1921 censuses. I also have his marriage certificate from 1910.
1901 census - says he is single
1910 marriage cert - says he is a widower, but I cannot find any record of the first marriage. Also simply says "Deceased" for father. This is what's given me the idea that he may have been born out of wedlock, as my experience is that even a deceased father would be named.
1911 and 1921 censuses consistent with 1901 census regarding age, place of birth and occupation. (Looks like he shaved a few years off his age on the marriage cert, perhaps because his bride, my great-grandmother, was a fair bit younger, but I've no doubt it's him).
What I'm missing is his entire life before 1901 - i.e. his birth and youth. He was born around 1877, and I have searched the records of the area he consistently claimed to have been born in, but those with his name turn out not to be him (e.g. same person still living there in later censuses when my ancestor had moved away). I then wondered whether he had been born under a different surname, and then later acquired his surname from a stepfather perhaps - or changed it for another reason. Therefore, his early records and first marriage could be under a different name (though that would mean a period of overlap since the 1901 census was presumably before the first marriage).
Does this sound possible? Any tips for how I could check this theory? Or am I missing something obvious? I know it's a little far fetched but I'd love to solve the mystery!
Unfortunately he had a really common name - both first name and surname - so it's a bit of a needle in a haystack job. I also can't find him or his wife in the 1939 register, though she was definitely alive and I think he was too. And I haven't found a death certificate for him yet. So, I don't know his exact date of birth.
Any tips appreciated!
