I have a soldier (not related, so I won't be ordering certificates) who changed his surname - yet both names appear as separate registrations in the GRO Index, neither having any kind of note attached ... How is this possible? He enlisted as LOFTS, then informed the Army that he "has been granted permission to change his name to MARCUS" GRO Birth entries show: - LOFTS, Albert George (GRO: Q1 1889 St Olave) - MARCUS, Albert George (GRO: Q2 1889 Lambeth) and Marriage (in Leyton, Essex) as - MARCUS, Albert G (Q3 1915 W. Ham). There's a "Statutory Declaration" in his Service Records, but that's usually for aliases. This appears to be a proper legal change of name - so how can there be 2 births? Jane
There is a death of a Albert George LOFTS St Olave 1891 March qtr born 1889 1D 23 Found on FS but his birth reg is March qtr 1889 1D 237
Ah. Maybe this is just a case of COINCIDENCE. The 2 births have different mother's maiden names (BROOKS & KENDALL). So perhaps LOFTS really did change his name to MARCUS. Please ignore the above! Jane Edit: Just seen your suggestions - thanks. But this is looking complicated. I'm going to leave it for descendants to sort out!
I believe you! But he still enlisted with the Middlesexes on 22 March 1915! And signed this declaration in the September. TOO COMPLICATED FOR my poor little brain! Jane
funny thing is on his marriage cert 4th July 1915 to Elizabeth Frances Tompkins as Albert George Marcus one of his witnesses was a John Lofts! he put father as Albert George Marcus no profession stated they married at All Saints Leyton
right now on 18 Oct 1918 John Percy Lofts married Ada May Tompkins he used same address as Albert George Marcus of 9 Russel Rd and Albert ws his witness John said his father was Edward Lofts a builder Now I think Edward on Alberts service record was down as father Edward webb lofts married to Mary Ann think I had better stop now before we all go gaga
sorry back again on 1901 census Hackney is Edward Lofts builder 35 from Suffolk Mary Ann 34 Hackney Albert age 12 Hackney John age 6 Hackney Robert age 4 Clapton living 1 Rushmore Cresent
I think the Statutory Instrument in his Service Record is claiming that he signed on as Albert George LOFTS. He then somehow found out his name was actually Albert George MARCUS - and sent a copy of his birth certificate to prove it. So his name on his Army Record was changed. Not having seen a copy of his birth certificate (shame they didn't keep a copy on his Army records), we don't know if it named his father - but I think his mother Mary Ann KENDALL married a Maurice MARCUS in Bethnal Green in 1888 - can't find certificate on line, but marriage listed on BMD's. From where I have him on the census, it appears that Albert George probably didn't know his real father. I can't see for sure, a Maurice MARCUS in the census that could be the one that married Albert George's mother, so don't know what happened to him. I think I saw one toddling off to America - but that could just be wishful thinking. I also wondered if it was a Jewish name and he is on census as something else. Albert George had a sister Ada born 1889 (I think she died 1893). Her birth reg on the GRO gives mother's maiden name as KENDALL. I found Mary Ann, Albert and Ada (all 3 with the surname MARCUS or MARCAS in the household of Emma DUNCOMBE (this confused me) in 1891 - listed as daughter and grandchildren. RG12/195/135/52 By 1901 Mary Ann is living with Edward LOFTS as @Sandiep has shown, (claiming to be married, though I can't find a marriage). GRO births for John and Robert from the 1901 census give a mother's maiden name of DUNCOMBE . RG13/218/160/30. Mary Ann and Edward are still together in 1911 now living at 9 Russell Road, Leyton. I think Albert George is in the 1911 census as a General Servant in the household of a Laura Jones - looks as though she owns a Dairy. Didn't Albert give his occupation as a Milkman on his Attestation papers? It transpires that Mary Ann's mother was Emma Celia TURNER who married a George Thomas KENDALL (otherwise Duncombe) in 1865, West Hackney - marriage cert on Ancestry. From the census, before she was widowed, she went by the surname KENDALL. After she was widowed, she went by the surname DUNCOMBE - haven't a clue why - probably just to confuse those looking for her. Census ref's for Emma KENDALL/DUNCOMBE 1871 = RG10/324/91/13 1881 = RG11/308/21/36 1891 = RG12/195/135/52 1901 = RG13/229/51/35 Fingers crossed this all makes sense.
My feeling is that mary ann is Albert georges mother she is mary ann duncombe/kendal Albert was baseborn and she married Edward loft after and he accepted Albert as his own.
not that I can find a marriage for Edward and Mary yes there is a tree with photos of the Lofts as well but nothing to say why Loft and Marcus or a marriage lol