Under the Radar

[PeteBrooks]

Is it possible for whole families to live under the radar, with no apparent birth or death records?

My ancestor, Alfred Love, married Sarah Ann Scott in 1875. According to the marriage certificate his father (deceased) was also called Alfred.

Alfred junior appears in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census records, and I have his death certificate dated 26th January 1910.

I can find absolutely no records appertaining to the Love family before 1875.

I have searched BMD's from all over the country, even though census records show his birthplace being Nottingham, to no avail. I'm beginning to believe that Alfred's family managed to leave no traces at all prior to 1875. Is that possible?

Pete

[Milliepede]

Now that sounds like a challenge 

What is his approx. birth year/birth place from census please?

He may have been illegitimate and made up a fathers name. 

[PeteBrooks]

On the 1881 census he is 26. He seems to be married to Eliza, but I think this is a mistake and Sarah has been confused with Eliza, the daughter. The older Eliza is the same as as Sarah Ann.
On the 1891 census he is 38 and Sarah is 37
On the 1901 census he is 45!! and Sarah is 44!
Both Alfred and Sarah appear to have been illiterate as the marriage certificate just bears both their marks.

Never though about the illigitimatacy angle. That's interesting!

Pete

[PeteBrooks]

Sorry, I meant to say Eliza and Sarah are the same age.

He was born in Nottingham, Nottingham - Sneinton Parish.

[Milliepede]

Thank you I see him now.

On the marriage certificate what are the names of the two witnesses? 
If by chance one of them was called Love they were likely a relative and might help us.

Not seeing a birth for him as you say.  It could be his mother was unmarried and he was registered under her name then she married a Mr Love, several possibilities.

His birthplace 1891 is Sneinton Purich - not sure where that is!  Could check the registration district for an Alfred and see if one pops up.

[Andrew Tarr]

Or his father may have changed name for other reasons?

It seems unlikely that this surname would have been mis-spelt in earlier censuses, but it's always a possibility - Luff, for example, or Lough.  The existence of a national census was no guarantee that all citizens were recorded, or that all records were complete, or that they all survived.

[Lostris]

His birthplace 1891 is Sneinton Purich

I'd venture 'Parish'  ...... 

[PeteBrooks]

Yes, Sneinton was a rather "rough" area of Nottingham at that time! The witnesses on the marriage certificate are William and Martha Warsop.

[Milliepede]

Well ventured!

Looking for Love families from that parish 1861 has this

James Love 35
Betsy 34
William 12
Elizah 10
Emma 7
James 1

just in case our Alfred is an off shoot of this family