Who is Henry Lucas?
 

I have John Howick born Q2 1841 in Graffham, Sussex.

He marries Ann Tucker in 1866. They have 8 children, 3 of whom are dead by the 1911 census. I have them all the way through the censuses, except for 1891.

1871
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...97108644/facts

1881
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...02/edit/record

1901
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...07/edit/record

1911
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...74/edit/record


There wasn't any sign of them in 1891 until I found this:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...03/edit/record

Henry Lucas Head 50 Mar Shoe Maker Sussex Graffham
Anne Lucas Wife 51 Mar Sussex Wivilsfield
John Howick Son of Wife S 15 Messenger Sussex Bersted
Bertha Howick Daur of Wife 7 Sussex Bognor

Apart from his name, Henry Lucas has the same details as for John Howick! John and Ann are together again in 1901 and 1911. Is John hiding under an alias?

I couldn't find anything on Henry Lucas born Graffham.

Yes, I think it could be John hiding under an alias.

Did he go bust? He's suddenly on the move after being in one place for ages.

Thanks, Kate and Phoenix. I looked in the Criminal Registers and newspapers to see if he had done something notable, but could find nothing.

Might there have been an illegitimacy issue further back? Two sets of my husband's Sussex ancestors used different surnames at various points due to a grandparent's illegitimacy.

I haven't found anything suspect yet, Jill, but it's worth bearing in mind. It made me think he had to leave the Graffham area and move elsewhere.

The fact that the children are listed as his wife's children on the census (assuming he is Henry under an alias) suggests that he was pretending to be someone else, not just using another name which the family was also known by.