Hi John I'm pretty sure it was Thomas b 1879 as he was my husbands grandfather x
I'll leave it to John to pick up the thread tomorrow but in the meantime, I think this birth reg. in 1879 probably isn't the Thomas you're looking for.
This one looks like he's the son of Thomas Pitt Houghton and Elizabeth Catherine Smith.
GRO BMD references:
1873 Q2 Marriage - Thomas Pitt Houghton and Elizabeth Catherine Smith; Bethnal Green; 1c; 613
1879 Q4 Birth - Thomas Houghton (mmn: Smith); Bethnal Green; 01C; 228;
1879 Q4 Death - Thomas Houghton; age 0 (born c1879); Bethnal Green; 01C; 177;
Marriage
married: 26 May 1873; St Jude, Bethnal Green; banns
groom: Thomas Pitt Houghton; 20; bach; gum sorter; 9 Grove St
bride: Elizabeth Catherine Smith; 19; spin; -; 9 Caumen? St Road
grooms father: James Houghton; weaver
brides father: Henry Smith; dock labourer
witnesses: James Houghton (x), Amelia Ann Wa_king? (x)
Burial
name: Thos Houghton
buried: 11 Dec 1879; Manor Park, Newham
age: 3m
abode: 29 Cordova? Rd, Bow
1881 Census
29, Cordova Road, Bethnal Green
Thomas Pitt Houghton; age 27; Head; gum sorter
Elizabeth Houghton; age 26; Wife
+children
Ref RG11; Piece 418; Folio 67; Page 90