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I can not find Richard Oakenfull born 1847 Canterbury Kent , in any census records prior to 1881 . The earliest record I have of him is his marriage in 1875 in Southwark Surrey . He gives his fathers name as Richard Oakenfull . I have him in all censuse to 1911 . He gives his dob as 1847 . I cannot finf his birth . Can any one help please . Thankyou Lynda

Registration of births wasn't compulsory at that time so he may simply not have been registered.

Is it possible that he was a mariner in his earlier life and therefore at sea when the census returns were taken? Either that or he is badly mis-transcribed as I can't find him before his marriage either (marriage in 1875 by the way and not 1885).

Does his marriage certificate give his occupation at the time?

Kath. x

Thankyou for looking . Sorry I meant to write 1875 . His occupation is labourer and his fathers occupation also labourer .Many thanks Kath

Who were the witnesses on the marriage certificate?

Could he have been born to a single mother who then married after his birth and he took on his step-father's surname in the census? He could then have decided to use his proper surname for his marriage and afterwards. I have seen this happen before. The father's name on the marriage could have been "made up" so as not to appear illegitimate in front of the "in-laws".

Kath. x

Yes Kath , I've had that happen before . I ts so confusing xx

The witnesses on the marriage cert are a Thomas and Eliza ,, Prudhoe ,, I think thats what the sur name is ,, its very scraweled .

Ancestry version

Name: Richard Dakenfull
Age: Full Age
Spouse Name: Gertrude Amelia Sargiant
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 21 Aug 1875
Parish: Bermondsey St Mary Magdalene
Borough: Southwark
Father Name: Richard Dakenfull
Spouse Father Name: George Sargiant
Register Type: Parish Register

Am I looking at wrong marriage ?

Richard is a stoker and his father a licensed victualler

Witnessed by Thomas and Eliza Prudhoe

Thankyou for all your help,, I have looked at the mrg cert again and realised he states that his father was a licenced victualler .

I also tried the family search org and they have a record of a Richard Oakenfull born 1847 living in Ashford Kent , but there is no one else on the page

No your not looking at the wrong mrg cert Glitterbaby I was , but his name is wrongly transcribed , it is definatley Oakenfull , in all later censuse , but I will try searching for Dakenfull ,, just in case he changed his name ,, thankyou for your help .

On the 1861 census there is a Richard Okenfold b1847 Canterbury. Could that be him?

Yes Christine , thankyou so much , is it on Ancestry

Yes on Ancestry, but I don't have full access.

Christina [Lancashire ] Ive just found it on Ancestry and I'm sure it is the right one . It gives the fathers name as Richard and he is a publican . Many many thanks

You're welcome. :-)

Lynda,

Did you find them in 1851 under the name of Pool!!!

BatMansDaughter

Thankyou , I have just found them in 1851 under the name of Pool , thanks to you .

I have the parents and elder siblings on 1841 in the name of Oakenfull .

Maybe Pool was the mothers maiden name . Nothing stranger then cenuses .

Thankyou for your help .

Lynda

Think her maiden name may have been Chattle, think Richard snr was illegitimate and his mother most likely Rebecca Oakenfull.

I see that some of the births were registered under the name of Pool for Richard snrs children, including your Richard........ all very strange!

BatMansDaughter

My you have been busy on my behalf ,thankyou .

Did you find this out on Ancestry , I'm quite a novice compared to you ,

Thankyou again for all your help .Greatly appreciated .

Lynda