oK, forget the date in the family bible!
Info on Wills is all on here -
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htmIf you are in or near or can get to London then the index can be searched free at the Probate place in Holborn - so that can save a few pennies - otherwise a search for a few years is included in the price you pay and then you get the Will if there is one.
I have always searched myself and then only sent for one if I know there is one!
Anyway all info on the website
James Mockler seniors death cert looks like it might be worth a look when finances permit - IF the informant is James junior it might at least show they were still in touch. Likewise if the Dees it would show he was still in touch with them. I am not sure it will give any more details about James juniors birth, though.
You said you'd traced James M senior back through the censuses. Where was he in 1901, I know that is still some time before James jnrs birth ... but he didnt have a girl in tow then at all did he?
Frustrating one isnt it.
I would forget the deed poll thing. You can call yourself what you like, few people actually go to the bother of Deed Poll.
And we know from censuses that James senior went through life with the same name. James junior may well have used the name Dee if he was brought up by them, but unlikely to have used Deed Poll to change it, esp as reverted to his 'Dads' name as an adult.
We have two rererences to James snr being his dad One is the marriage cert, but if J jnr had been brought up by othrs this may only be based on what he was told. The other is 1911 census. Presumably it was James Dee who completed the census schedule.
Exactly how did he describe the Jameses?
Was James senior 'brother in law'
And little James 'nephew'
I think you implied it was purely 'lodger' for J sen, but what about 3 yr old little J?