Hi Lizzie,
OK, here goes.
My G-grandfather was born 
Albert Edward THOMPSON in Marylebone in 1867/8.
On the 1871 Census, aged 3, he was living with his mother 
Sarah aged 29 (b. Reading) and 1 year old sister (Mary THOMPSON aged 1 b. St Giles, London) at 7 Phoenix Street, St Giles North, St Giles in the Field, London
No sign of any father.
In 1881 
AET was with his grandparents, 
Joseph GIBBS aged 43, b. Greenham, Berks., and 
Sarah GIBBS aged 67 at Chapel Street, Thatcham.
Therefore their daughter, AET's mother, must/should be a Sarah GIBBS, if only we could find her!!
The 1851 Census for Chapel Street, Thatcham, is as follows;
Joseph GIBBS, Head, 50, Winterbourne, Berks.
Hannah GIBBS, Wife, 39, Greenham, Berks.
William GIBBS, Son, 17, Greenham.
Joseph GIBBS, Son, 14, Greenham.
Thomas GIBBS, Son, 10, Newton, Hants.
Elizabeth GIBBS, Daughter, 8, Thatcham, Berks.
Therefore, I 'think' the people AET was with in 1881 was his grandmother, 
Hannah, and uncle, 
Joseph. 
One possibility is that Elizabeth could be AET's mother but using another name???
Now, getting around to 
Joseph THOMPSON!!
Using 
www.familysearch.org I found the birth of an 
AET in Marylebone on November 13th 1867 with the christening at St. Mary's, Marylebone on December 3rd the same year. The parents were listed as 
Joseph THOMPSON  and 
Elizabeth.
A search on 
www.freeBMD.org found a marriage took place between October-December 1867, in Marylebone, of a 
Joseph THOMPSON  and an 
Elizabeth.
All possibilties, nothing concrete.
Fast forward to the 1901 Census; 
AET is now aged 33 and married to a 
Louisa DURHAM  aged 32, b. Bishopstone, Wilts., with their three children and living in 37 Hampden Street, Paddington. 
Among the others listed as living at Hampden Street was a 
Beatrice A THOMPSON  aged 16, neice, b. Swindon, Wilts. 
Hence my 'idea' that, possibly, Joseph THOMPSON had Wiltshire origins.........??  
If you can throw any light on my possibilites/probabilities/guesses I'd be very grateful.
Kindest regards,
Carol  
.