Sydney Frederick Barney

Sydney Frederick Barney was born January 19, 1861 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

He was Baptised at Saints Mary and John's Catholic Church, Wolverhampton on February 24, 1861. (Baptism register entry)

Note that in keeping with Catholic Church record-keeping tradition, the entry was written in Latin.
https://www.familytreeforum.com/content.php/370-latin-names

As yet unexplained, Sydney changed his 'Barney' surname to 'Barnett', the name first being found on his Marriage certificate; and then carried on in the naming of all his children.

He worked as a 'bootlaster' and married Maria Eliza Claxton* Smith (b. bet July-September 1858 in Northampton) on September 21, 1880 at St. John's Church, Bethnal Green, Middlesex. Maria was the daughter of Frederick Smith (a clicker).
*Note that Maria's birth certificate gives her name as 'Maria Eliza Clackston Smith'

INSERT MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE HERE

They were living at 8 Ernest Place, Bethnal Green at the time of the 1891 census, and Mare Street, Hackney (house number unclear) in the 1901 census. Curiously, in 1901 the Barnett family are entered by the enumerator with the surname of 'Lillie'. This is almost certainly a mistake on the part of the enumerator as another 'Lillie' family were living in the same building.

Maria Eliza Claxton Barney (date unknown)

According to the 1911 census (see below), Sydney and Maria had seven children, two of which had died.

Sidney Frederick Barnett (b. March 10, 1881)
Alfred Henry George Barnett (b. April 22, 1883)
Caroline Ellen Barnett (b. September 14, 1885
Mary Ann Rose Climer Barnett (b. December 25, 1890)
Maria Eliza Claxton Barnett (b. December 4, 1895)
Ada Alice Florence Barnett (b. September 17, 1898)
UNKNOWN 7th CHILD (b. ? / d.?)

In the 1911 census, Sydney (as 'Sidney') was living at 14 Russia Lane, Bethnal Green, London with wife 'Eliza', son Alfred, daughters 'Ellen', Mary & Ada.

Sydney died September 23, 1921 in Hackney, London. His death registration reverting to the use of his birth name, 'Barney' but with the words 'otherwise Barnett' inserted. The word 'formerly' also appears but is crossed out (struck-through). This perhaps suggests that there was some confusion when the death was registered. Both names must have been discussed with the informant (Sydney's daughter) Caroline Hardy. Note that Caroline is identified in the death certificate as N. Hardy. She was known in my family as Aunt 'Nell'.

Maria died in October 1954 aged 96 years.

 
Maria Eliza Claxton Barney (1954)

My father (Wilfred Huskisson) told me that he missed a rare opportunity back in the early 1950's when he could have photographed 5 living generations of the family. (i.e. my brother David, his (and my) mother - Mary (Rutland) Huskisson, her mother, Mary Ellen (Barnett) Rutland, her father, Sidney Frederick Barnett (Jun.) and his mother, Maria Eliza Claxton (Smith) Barney/Barnett.*

* I'm convinced that my late mother, Mary Joan Huskisson (great grand-daughter of Sydney and Maria Barney), would have only recognised the 'Barnett' name. She met and knew Maria - as 'Granny Barnett', just as I met and knew my own great-grandmother as 'Nanny Barnett'.
For a theoretical explanation for the change of family name, please refer to the 'Barney' or 'Barnett'? section at the bottom of the Edwin Frederick Barney page.