Thanks

I did wonder about the possibility of William and Phebe being John's Grandparents but being referred to as nephew on the 1841,1851 and 1861 made me abandon that idea, perhaps I should reconsider it.

I hadn't given any thought to the two little girls who appear on the census with John, I'll see if I can find out any more about them, like you say they could provide a lead.

Many thanks