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I have a Samuel Morris aged 2 on the 1881 census. He was born in Bermondsey and is a son of Charles and Mary Morris (both b 1849/50 in Staffordshire).

I cannot find him on 1891 census but cannot find a death for him on FreeBMD either.

Any ideas?

The Indusrial schools were a part of the workhouse system -so maybe his mother died and father could not care for him
There is a Military record (of sorts ) but it does not make happy reading
It seems he enlisted with Army Service corps in April 1899 but deserted before final approval -he was then tried and convicted of fraudulent enlistment and sent to prison 12/9/1899
The papers show a physical description:
Age 20 Occupation Carman Height 5ft 3 1/4 inches weight 120lbs
Hair Brown Fair Complexion Eyebrows meet Scar on nose
Religion Cof E
His father is listed as george Morris 151 Camden Grove Peckham and he has a brother George in the ASC

Given that this Samuel is not exactly an example of moral rectitude I wouldnt worry about a wrong Christian name for the father There might be many reasons for this -father known as George , or even forgotten if the son was in Approved school for any length of time, or even an error by the recruiting sergeant
The name date and place of birth do fit and he does have a brother George who is not with father (and new wife Sarah) in 1901 and th add ress he gives in the Peckam area (last 3 children born Peckham per 1891)
So dont rule it out unless you find him elsewhere

You have planted doubts in my mind , Annie, but the reg dist for Bermondsey is St Olaves Southwark and registration became compulsory for births in 1875. There is only one Samuel Morris registered in St Olaves at that time
1878 Sep Q vol 1d page 243

The only thing that does not fit is the fathers name given as George and unless another Samuel shows up I reckon its him

I should add that Hackney and Mile end are East London and islington is West London and all are north of the river whereas Bemondsey is in Surrey south of the river

Thank you Annie and Gillian - you have been busy.

So, if the details are correct Samuel lived with his parents at aged 2 in 1881 and he was then in an Industrial &/ approved school at the age of 12 in 1891. I wonder when he went in there? Is there any way I can find out?

His sister Elizabeth who was 6 years older than him died at the age of 17 in 1890.

His mom died in 1893, presumably while he was in the school but his father didn't re-marry until the September quarter of 1899 - so after a sufficiently decent interval had passed and after Samuel had enlisted in the army. Samuel would have been 20 then.

I don't understand the father being listed as George though - especially as an adress is given.

I am also looking for his brother George in 1901 anyway but think I have found him living with a wife called Sarah and a son called George at 29 Upcott Road, St Paul's, Deptford. I've looked on Google maps and this is only about 5 miles away from Camberwell and Bermondsey (I'm in the Midlands) so looks like it could be him.

I've just taken a look at the Army enlistment form (page 4 I think) and it does say for next of kin Father George Morris of the address already given and then underneath it says "older brother George Morris".

Is that because two contacts had to be given (it doesn't say so) or do you think they presumed he was given his father as next of kin and were clarifying underneath that it was actually his older brother?