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I have an extensive tree on MyH for Pollys side, including the children had with George Wood and beyond.
As for Joseph Gordon, I know his name , assuming that was his original name, and thats where it stops, very frustrating :-(

Thank you all for your help so far, especially the newspaper items, they were news to me .

The births above are of Joseph and Polly's children.

Polly's obituary Sheerness Times Guardian 24 October 1935

mentions 5 sons, Cecil, Dennis, Norman, Edward, George and 3 daughters, Mrs Pointing (Sheerness) Mrs Knell (Queensborough) and Mrs Heard (London) and 10 grandchildren.
George and Mrs Knell do not appear to have been at the funeral.

Thank you.
He definitely was Gordon prior to 1911 and appears to have taken Pollys middle name of Steel, so the Steels above are not him.

His son, my grandfather's birth 1901, was registered as Cecil Steel Gordon
Father: Joseph Edward Gordon
Mother: Polly Edith Steel Gordon formerly Horsford
(Even though they didn't marry and Polly was married to George Wood)
;-)

GORDON, EDWARD JOSEPH STEEL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1893 M Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 879

GORDON, AMY NELLIE STEEL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1895 J Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 884

GORDON, ERNEST STEEL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1897 M Quarter in BRIDGE Volume 02A Page 845

GORDON, LAURIE MARY STILL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1899 J Quarter in BRIDGE Volume 02A Page 884


Deaths Mar 1900 (>99%)
Gordon Laura Mary S 0 Bridge 2a 703


GORDON, CECIL STEEL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1901 J Quarter in BRIDGE Volume 02A Page 887

GORDON, DENNIS STEELE HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1903 S Quarter in BRIDGE Volume 02A Page 969

GORDON, NORMAN STEEL HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1905 D Quarter in BRENTFORD Volume 03A Page 227


Children are all born Gordon.

He seems to have been Joseph Gordon up until 1911 with Polly on the census.

Two Joseph Steels in the Dragoons got bravery awards at the same time but don't think either of these are your man.

Private Joseph Steel, 4th Dragoon Guards, showed great determination and gallantry in action at Abet Klee. When very severely wounded In the
27 February 1886 - Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser - Gravesend, Kent


Private Joseph Steel, .1st Dragoons-Showed conspicuous gallantry during the attack on the square at Abu Klea; also great coolness and determination in
24 February 1886 - Daily News (London) - London, London, England

Posting just in case it turns out to be relevant:

Joseph Steele
in the UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949
Name: Joseph Steele
Service Date: 1877-1879
Service Place: South Africa
Campaign or Service: South Africa
Regiment or Unit Name: 1st King's Dragoon Guards
Regimental Number: 1919

That man was a private, according to Forces-war-records.
No mention of being a bandsman.

If your Joseph was in the army, that could account for there being no sign of him in the 1881 and 1871 censuses , if he was abroad - but he should be findable in 1861.

An ag lab is an agricultural labourer and I found the articles on fmp for which I have a subscription.

You can also view them here if you only have a few pages to view and don't mind registering.

View 3 pages FREE when you register to help you get started

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

alviegal - amazing :-) thank you

A relative did say he was a bandsman in the Kings Dragoons and I have a copy of a photo of him in a group , saying it's at the Shepherds Bush Empire.

Where did you get these newspaper articles please.

'The man on the military record was a carman (as I said above) when attested, and his trade in the army was driver

Would that man realistically be an ag lab in 1891?

Not discounting him - just making an observation'

Thank you , what is 'ag lab' please?

FUNERAL Or MR. J. STEELE. The interment of the late Mr. Joseph Steele of 2, Barton's Hill. Minster. took place at the Isle of Sheppey Cemetery yesterday. The Rev. R. J. Lubbock (vicar of St. Paul's, Blue Town) officiated. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr E T Kemp, undertaker, of Queenborough and Sheerness. As a tribute of respect, the flag was flown halfmast at the Victoria Club yesterday. The deceased gentleman was formerly a bassoon player in the Club orchestra and was a skilled musician.

19 October 1922 - Sheerness Times Guardian - Sheerness, Kent, England

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/folder/contents/1

Polly mentioned in a court case for a neighbour. Her husband is a musician?

Defendant said that all he said was that it was enough to make a fellow burn the house down. He called Polly Edith Gordon, wife of a musician living at Mint, who stated that defendant said many silly things a man would do when he was drunk
05 January 1901 - Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Whitstable, Kent, England


1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
14, >>The Mint, << Harbledown, Bridge, Kent, England

Household members (7 people)
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Joseph Gordon Head
Married Male 46 1855 Labourer on farm London, Middlesex, England
Dolly Gordon Wife
Married Female 33 1868 - Sittingbourne, Kent, England
George Gordon Son
Single Male 12 1889 - Faversham, Kent, England
Edward Gordon Son
Single Male 8 1893 - Faversham, Kent, England
Amy Gordon Daughter
Single Female 5 1896 - Faversham, Kent, England
Cecil Gordon Son
Single Male 0 1901 - Chartham, Kent, England
Earnest Gordon Son
Single Male 5 1896 - Harbledown, Kent, England

The man on the military record was a carman (as I said above) when attested, and his trade in the army was driver

Would that man realistically be an ag lab in 1891?

Not discounting him - just making an observation ;-)
BTW I re-read your very lengthy OP and realised my mistake re 1891, hence the amendment to my earlier post

You can save the document to your "Keepsafe", setting it for public viewing, and then post a link to it on your thread.

https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/help/faqs?key=386

ErikaH - Thank you I didn't realise there was no need to register births pre 1875.
I said I cannot find JG 'before' 1891 census.

Bear with me this is my first experience on this or any forum.

ArgyllGran - Thank you, I have found a copy of the original military record for a Joseph Gordon, deserter, dated 8th May 1875, but didn't know if it was him or just coincidence.
Can copies of documents be added to these threads?

First name(s) Joseph
Attestation corps Royal Artillery
Last name Gordon
Discharge corps Royal Artillery
Birth year 1854
Document type Attestation
Birth parish St Johns Upper E Smithfield
Archive reference WO 97
Birth town London
Series Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913
Birth county Middlesex
Box 2901
Birth country England
Box record number 149
Service number 78931
Archive The National Archives
Regiment Royal Artillery
Country England
Year 1875
Record set British Army Service Records
Attestation date 05 May 1875
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Attestation age years 21
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Attestation age months 6

Trial for desertion did not go ahead - he was discharged, having forfeited all pay etc

Father's name said to be JOHN, of Smithfield

Records are on FMP

Civilian occupation when attested - CARMAN

re AG deserter record he was discharged 30th may 1890 at woolwich after trial
nok father john smithfield -- if i read it correctly

service from 5/5/75 - 30/5/90
First name(s) Joseph
Attestation corps Royal Artillery
Last name Gordon
Discharge corps Royal Artillery
Birth year 1854
Document type Attestation
Birth parish St Johns Upper E Smithfield
Archive reference WO 97
Birth town London
Series Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913
Birth county Middlesex
Box 2901
Birth country England
Box record number 149
Service number 78931
Archive The National Archives
Regiment Royal Artillery
Country England
Year 1875
Record set British Army Service Records
Attestation date 05 May 1875
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Attestation age years 21
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Attestation age months 6
Collections from Great Britain, England
Attestation service number 78931

Marriages Jun 1864 (>99%)
Horsford Alpha James Steel Milton 2a 1060
Tucker Emma Lydia Milton 2a 1060

HORSFORD, ALFRED JAMES STEELS (MMN)ROSSITER
GRO Reference: 1843 S Quarter in MILTON Volume 05 Page 367

Steel is the middle name of the children listed in 1891, and also of Polly, so it seems Joseph took the name from that:


WOOD, GEORGE STEEL mmn HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1888 D Quarter in MILTON Volume 02A Page 865

WOOD, EMMA JANE STELL mmn HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1886 D Quarter in MILTON Volume 02A Page 858

WOOD, PHILIP STEEL mmn HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1884 S Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 869

WOOD, ADA STEEL mmn HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1883 M Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 888

GORDON, AMY NELLIE STEEL (MMN) HORSFORD
GRO Reference: 1895 J Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 884


Marriages Dec 1882 (>99%)

HORSFORD Polly Edith S Faversham 2a 1451
Wood George Faversham 2a 1451


Name
Polly Edith Steel Horsford
Birth
05 May 1866
Death
10 Oct 1935


HORSFORD, POLLY EDITH (MMN)TUCKER
GRO Reference: 1866 J Quarter in MILTON Volume 02A Page 675