Grandfather st Helens 1871

[Qwackers]

Hi , I am trying to trace my Grandfather William Henry Eccleston s birth . I have found him on the 1871 census age 3 months in Eccleston St. Helens The census was collated in April. So I assumed he was born in 1871 . But the only birth I can find of the same name is in 1870 born in prescot . I have checked this birth at the register office . And they told me mother unmarried but yet census does not state that . It may be the grandparents have taken responsibility for him . I seem to beable to find him on the next census age 10 living with Grandparents in parr St. Helens they are the Dixons , so this is a bit of a mystery to me . I also presume that the parents have passed away .in between census's any help gratefully received .