I am researching JOHN NATHANIEL SYLVESTER, born 1869 in Greenwich. His 1901 marriage certificate states that he was 32, a Drill Instructor living at the Children's Home in Alexandra Road, Farnborough. His father is given as Edward Sylvester. The 1901 census (which was taken a few months before his marriage) backs this up. He is living at the children's home, but his occupation is given as Shoe and Bootmaker. His place of birth is given as Greenwich. However, he is not found in any of the previous census records, so using Free BMD I searched just his Christian names + date and place of birth. To my surprise one result came up - JOHN NATHANIEL CATT. A search of the 1871 and 1881 census records shows him living with his parents in Greenwich (the father's name is Edward, as shown on his marriage ceritficate). John's date and place of birth match (1869 in Greenwich). In 1891 he is shown as a Visitor, with his occupation as Bootmaker. So, unless it is a bizarre coincidence, it appears that John Nathaniel Catt changed his surname to Sylvester some time between 1891 and 1901. I've checked to see whether his mother re-married and changed her name to Sylvester, but it appears that she died soon after John's youngest sister was born. Does anyone have any information on the above? Or any idea why he would have changed his name? Christine