Info on Wills is all on here -
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htm
If 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
Thanks for your help liz! I looked on the beginners guide but this information hadn't been entered yet. Unfortunately, I'm based in Northumberland so Holborn is quite far away - if only I'd started doing this 10 years ago when I was there fairly regularly! It certainly is a great idea to get a will, if it's available so searching for that is now one of my top priorities
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.
This is certainly worth doing as it would be good to know if he was a rascal and left his child with his sister and brother in law. I'm pretty sure I've found his grave, well, at least know where it is so next time I'm down that way (next month) I'm going to find it. It might have "loving father of . . . " etc on it - you never know! I'll be ordering the certificate tonight so by next week I might have more information for this search
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?
He has always been a Mummy's boy. From the moment he was born he's lived with his parents, after his fathers death he stayed living with his Mother. In 1901 he was living with his sister Catherine (later to become Catherine Dee) and his Mother. No lady friend apparent!
Frustrating one isnt it.
You're telling me, especially when you've got family that just keep quoting the same old family story and can't seem to understand that it simply can't be true. He can't have been registered as a Mockler. End of.
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.
Noted.
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?
It was indeed James Dee that completed the schedule. The household is listed as follows:
James Dee (head)
Catherine Dee (wife)
James Mockler (Boarder)
James Mockler (Boarder son)
Thank you as well Carol. Unfortunately, I rang Stockton registry office and they checked both those James for me. Neither were born on the date I have (even though I'm taking that date with a pinch of salt) and there are a father and mother listed for each child.
I have the marriage certificate of James Mockler Jnr and he's put his father as James Mockler
what a lot of James's 
You're telling me! There are a 150 years worth of them! It's a traditional name, I had to give it to my child (as a middle name) on pain of death! My husband was under instructions that his wife would have to provide an heir and that heir would have to be called James. Luckily our first born was a son otherwise I'd have probably had to keep going until a boy came along
