Genealogy Forum UK

Hi
I have tried everything I know and made hundreds of searches but still cannot find a relative on the 1881 census.

Edward Charles Boswell born 1859, South Stoneham, Hampshire
He would have been unmarried.
In the 1871 census he was age 12 and living with his parents, Edward b 1823 and Mary Boswell b 1833 in Botley, Hampshire
In the 1891 census he is age 31 and married to Mary Anne Boswell, back in Botley, working as a general labourer
He is also living in Botley with his wife and children in the 1901 and 1911 census

Any suggestions as to where to go next would be welcome
Thanks

??
Possible marriage freebmd
Marriages Dec 1894
Boswell Edward Charles S. Stoneham 2c 94
Sillence Mary Ann S. Stoneham 2c 94

This looks like his Mum
1881. High Street, Botley
Mary Boswell, head, W, 48, School Mistress, Holybourne
Denis G, son, 12, Botley
Sidney G, son, 6, Botley

May be he joined the forces?

Still looking for Edward , searched both ancestry and findmypast and not found him yet, not sure if this is his mother?

Annie

1881 High St, Botley
BOSWELL, Mary Head Widow F 48 1833 School Mistress
Holybourne
Hampshire
BOSWELL, Denis G Son Single M 12 1869 Scholar
Botley
Hampshire
BOSWELL, Sidney G Son Single M 6 1875 Scholar
Botley
Hampshire

I've got something similar; my relative was a general labourer, presumably working on the railways as everyone he lodged with was a railway worker of some kind. My relative seems to have stuck to one line (London to Brighton) but he crops up in various different places along the route.

Hi
Thanks everyone, sorry for late reply
Yes, that is his marriage and his Mum and brothers but he is still lost on the 1881 census. Can't find him in the forces so will have leave him for now and come back to him later. I just hate a missing census in an otherwise complete history !

He is in the armed forces but he didn't sign up till 1883. People have picture of him in uniform on Ancestry.

I looked at his service records and his next of kin is his mother which fits in if his dad passed away in 1876.

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription
First name(s): Edward Charles
Last name: BOSWELL
Calculated year of birth: 1862
Parish of birth: Botley
Town of birth: Southampton
County of birth: Hampshire
Age at attestation: 21 years 6 months
Attestation date: 29 March 1883
Attestation corps: 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
Attestation soldier number: 2284
Discharge rank:
Discharge corps:
Discharge soldier number:
The National Archives reference: WO97 / 2333 / 51