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On and off for many years, I have been searching for my great grandfather Joseph.
No matter how I approach it I cannot find him before 1891 census.
As far as known, with info from an older relative, was born 'Gordon ' in London.
His father was Jewish.
He was believed to have become a bandsman Kings Dragoon but no record.

He first appears as a lodger with the Wood family and clearly gets together with Mrs Polly Wood!
They go on to have several children, one was my grandfather, but never marry.
Various census records see him and Polly change their surname gradually and end up as 'Steele' some of his children become 'Gordon Steele' some just 'Steele'
Halfway Cemetery records show:
Died 1922 aged 57 making birth year 1865 which does not match previous records:
1891 census aged 37 birth 1854
1901 census aged 46 makes birth year 1854/5.
1911 census aged 57, hard to decipher makes birth year 1854
1921 census :
changed his name to John Edward Steele aged 58 born 1863
Polly Edington Steele born 1865 aged 56.
Perhaps he was born abroad but I don't know where to start if so, or perhaps he's one of the JEG,s I've seen born in the time frame and disappeared to start a new life!

Firstly, until 1875 there were no penalties for not registering births, so his may simply not have been registered

Where was the man living in the censuses to which you refer?

Posting for our reference, and for location and supposed birthplace (which also varies):

Joseph Steele
in the 1911 England Census
Name: Joseph Steele
Age in 1911: 52
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Oxfordshire, England [ NK on image ]
Civil Parish: Faversham Within
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Street Address: 14 Orchard Place, Faversham
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Farm Labourer
Registration District Number: 60
Sub-registration District: Faversham
ED, institution, or vessel: 07
Piece: 4396
Household Members:
Name Age
Joseph Steele 52
Edith Steele 45
George Steele 22
Edward Steele 18
Amy Steele 16
Ernest Steele 15
Cecil Steele 10
Dennis Steele 8
Norman Steele 6


Joseph Gordon
in the 1901 England Census
Name: Joseph Gordon
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Spouse: Polly Gordon
Birth Place: London, Middlesex, England <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Civil parish: The Mint
Search Photos:
View blank form
Ecclesiastical parish: St Michaels
Town: The Mint
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Registration district: Bridge
Sub-registration district: Chartham
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors:
Piece: 789
Folio: 72
Page number: 29
Household schedule number: 17

Listed with Polly, and children George, Edward, Amy, Cecil, and Earnest.



Joseph Gordon
in the 1891 England Census
Name: Joseph Gordon
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Relationship: Boarder
Birth Year: 1854
Birth Place: St Johns London, Middlesex, England <<<<<<<<<<<<<
Civil parish: Harty
Ecclesiastical parish: Eastchurch
Residence Place: Eastchurch, Harty, Kent, England
Registration district: Sheppey
Sub registration district: Eastchurch
ED, Institution or Vessel: 4
Neighbors:
Piece: 724
Folio: 35
Household Members Age Relationship
George Wood 32 Head
Polly Wood 26 Wife
Ada Wood 3 Daughter
Philip Wood 6 Son
Emma Wood 4 Daughter
George Wood 2 Son
Joseph Gordon 37 Boarder , agricultural labourer


???
Joseph Gordon
in the UK, Military Deserters, 1812-1927

View Original Image on Fold3.

Name: Joseph Gordon
Age: 25
Birth Year: Abt 1854
Birth Place: St John, Middlesex
Desertion Date: 5 Aug 1879
Desertion Place: Aldershot
Publication Date: 1 Sep 1879
Regimental Number: 3400
Military Corps: Royal Artillery

For some help for others............much easier if you C&P info

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Leysdown, Harty, Sheppey, Kent, England
George Wood Head Married Male 32 1859 Agricultural labourer Lenham, Kent, England
Polly Wood Wife Married Female 26 1865 - Milton, Kent, England
Ada Wood Daughter - Female 8 1883 Scholar Lynsted, Kent, England
Philip Wood Son - Male 6 1885 Scholar Teynham, Kent, England
Emma Wood Daughter - Female 4 1887 - Tong, Kent, England
George Wood Son - Male 2 1889 - Tong, Kent, England
Joseph Gordon Boarder Single Male 37 1854 Agricultural labourer St Johns, Middlesex, England

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

'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?

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.

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

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.

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