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Could someone please help untangle a mix-up? See below.

My ancestor William George BLUNT was born in Winchester in the June Quarter of 1870 to Henry Frederick BLUNT and Caroline Maria (nee RAYNER). In 1881, he is aged 10 living in Sussex with his mother and stepfather Charles PEMBERTON. The problem creeps in with a spurious (to me!) William John BLUNT who was born in 1869 - allegedly in Winchester but in reality I believe he was born in Kent. Can anyone find William George BLUNT in 1891 and 1901? Thanks for anything you can discover. Regs Annie

Cant easily see William George, might he of taken his stepfathers name or died? William J Blunt in 1901: Minnie J Blunt abt 1871 Hoath, Kent, England Wife St Lawrence Intra Kent William J Blunt abt 1869 Winchester, Hampshire, England Head St Lawrence Intra Kent Initial is deffinatly J and he is a boatman. Suzanne

1891 William J again: Wm J Blunt abt 1870 Winchester, Hampshire, England Members of Crew Royal Navy Hampshire Suzanne

Suzanne, Many thanks - I had 'accidentally' picked up William J's naval service record at the PRO and realised that my assumption about him being the same as William G was wrong! So you have found the wrong one really well - at least it does prove that they were two different BLUNTs! I think it's doubtful that he took his stepfather's name - his brother (my Gt Grandfather - Henry Frederick b1866 Winchester) didn't and I don't know what happened to their surviving sister Rose Ann M BLUNT (b1868 Winchester). In some ways, it would make more sense if I could kill off William G .... there is no family talk of him, but then again it's too long ago. Very many thanks for looking this early on a Sunday morning! Regs Annie PS: William J was onboard the HMS Excellent at the time of the 1891 Census! And in 1901, he was a coastguard at Ramsgate - my Gt Grandpa was same in Lymington, Hampshire ... hence part of the confusion!

There is this entry: 1891: W Blunt abt 1869 Winchester, Wiltshire, England Boarder Portsea Hampshire Initial is W, no occupation listed, Birth area deffinately Winchester but they have just ditto'ed the Wiltshire bit from the person in front of him. Suzanne

Suzanne, Winchester WILTSHIRE .... hmmmm someone's having a laugh! This does sound like him though - Portsea is where his bro, my Gt Grandfather hung out for quite some time. I had assumed that he followed his elder brother into the Navy .... and had now begun to think I was wrong. Do you have access to BMDs? If so, can you marry him off? Any suggestions where I could 'go' next? Regs Annie

HI, had a quick look at BMD on freeBMD.rootsweb website (patchy in areas) and couldnt see an obvious marriage or death. Still cant see him in 1901? Suzanne

Suzanne, Many thanks - I'd already tried FreeBMD and the 1901online Census and came to the same conclusion, although this week I'd begun to doubt my thoroughness! Any further ideas? Regs Jane

ANNIE, sorry got that wrong... the W Blunt in 1891 census occupation looks like 'sailor Hall service' whay ever that means! Suzanne

Just to confirm previous finds, this the marriage of William JOHN Blunt William John Blunt 1899 Oct-Nov-Dec Blean Kent Minnie Jane Steed 1899 Oct-Nov-Dec Blean Kent

Suzanne, Thanks for going back to 1891 - 'hall service' is beginning to sound like he was a servant! Maybe he was - after all the sailors needed someone to 'do' for them! I'll check it out! Regs Annie

Christine, Thanks for that - I have the wrong William married to a Minnie (who I'd assumed was STEED) in the 1901 Census. Why are the wrong ones always so easy to track!?? Guess it wouldn't be a challenge otherwise!! Regs Annie

Just to add to the confusion! on 1891 there is a GEORGE Blunt, born 1869 in Portsea, (occupation: sailor), lodging in Portsea. That's where he says he was born, but I can't find him on any earlier census.

Christine, Are you sure it says born in Portsea? Suzanne found that one earlier and said he was born in Winchester .... Regs Annie

No thats a different one Annie, the one I found just said 'W' not George. The thing I ind strange is that I cant see a birth for William John Blunt in Winchester and I cant find him on either 1871 or 1881 census. Im sure youve found the same Annie? Suzanne

Suzanne, Oh blimey, yes you're right .... sorry about that Christine! William J was, I believe, born in Tonbridge RD - there's a FreeBMD match for him. So dunno why Winchester is quoted against his name later. Perhaps his parents moved there - but I doubt it. It's odd that on his navy records it says born (14 May 1869) in Winchester - which is why I picked them up in the first place thinking he was William G, especially as there was no other William born in the right place! I'm beginning to wonder whether the Navy somehow 'merged' these two people into one! Regs Annie

I suppose a way to make sure that William John is not yours is to order the marriage cert. If father's name is not Henry, he's not yours.

He cant be the Tonbridge Kent one as I have him also on the 1901 census as well as the Winchester one???? Suzanne

Sorry Suzanne, I'm now getting totally confused too. I'm going to bow out and let you two sort it out! (Thank goodness for that I hear you say! LOL)