Finding George Courtney c1841

When I started my research of Arthur George's origins I considered various people by the name of Arthur, George or William Courtney born in Middlesex and still living in the district at the time of the 1871 census. The first theory I explored probably about 20 years ago now, was George William Courtney, baptised at Shoredich in 1839 to parents George Frederick Courtney and his wife Elizabeth Sarah Crow.  The baptism certainly seemed to be in the right timeframe to be my man, but he was already recorded in the 1871 as being home with his wife Elizabeth (nee Duke) that night.  How could he be in two places at one time? Less than a mile walk between the two residences! My Arthur George Courtney was recorded in the 1871 census at 14 Sun Street, Woolwich.  Located behind Church Hill, Sunbury Street is the current name for Sun Street (originally Sun Alley).  George William Courtney m Elizabeth Duke was recorded at 7 Frederick Lane, Greenwich.  The two residences are a...

It occurred to me that Abigail and Edith Courtney may have been sent away to school at Holdenhurst whilst their parents had gone away.  Perhaps they had family residing there.  They were clearly not estranged from their mothers family as their cousins Henry and Martha Paice were visiting at the time of the 1881 census, suggesting their stay with the Brown family at Holdenhurst was not just a few days. Most of the Paice family lived around Droxford, Hampshire.  Their fathers family was possibly from Middlesex.   There was one Courtney family residing in Holdenhurst at the time of the 1881 census.  Four women of independent means born in Ireland and boarding at 'Stoney Crop'.  Sidney, Eleanor, Charlotte and Florence Courtney.  It does accord with the family story that the Courtneys were 'a bit better' - assuming that means wealthy of sorts?  Also, in his memoirs Ted Roberts describes his mother Abigail Courtney to have 'a little bit of Irish ...