1881 census Little Wild St, St Giles in the Fields (my transcription)
? Thos? Vanhackovens head 31 labourer
M.Anne Vanhackovens wife 41
Wm Vanhackovens son 7 scholar
Walter Vanhackovens Son 4 scholar
Rbt Vanhackovens Son 1
- Meakins 30 Chair maker (married lodger) – I think this is Robert Meakins
F(rances)? Meakins Wife age?
Thos? Meakins Son 3
Yes I was thinking that Thomas Vanhackovens and Henry Whitlock could be the same person.
He was possibly named Thomas Henry, and took on the name Henry to avoid confusion with his father, Thomas. My theory - One parent was named Vanhackovens and the other was named Whitlock.
Very difficult to find much on Vanhackovens in London.
The 2 boys seem to have been in the poor school from about 1854 to 1861. Not surprising that Thomas/ Henry did not know where he was born. Possibly not born in England, but had some childhood memories of Cornhill parish in London.