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Thanks again.

You've confirmed a train of thought that I've been moving towards recently.

 I began to wonder about illegitimacy, especially as Susan seems to change her identity (surname, age, married/ single/widow?!) with each census, but not in the obvious order!I  couldn't decide whether Susan Webber was actually George's sister, as you suggested, and her son named his uncle or grandfather in his marriage certificate, or whether she was indeed someone else called Susan Webber, and I just couldn't find their marriage, despite her claiming to be married at times. Like you, I think I veer towards the former idea, but still seem unable to find George and Bessy's birth registrations ( the George Webber you found is not the same one).

I just wonder whether the police records might help me to find their whereabouts at times, and possibly more information about them. Both Susan and George Tapp have police records, as previously mentioned, so it is therefore quite likely that they were conservative with the truth ( and possibly took pseudonyms, which I've seen more than once on these records.

What do you think? ( I'll also follow up your help with finding out more about these records)

I have Vicarys in my family tree, in Thorverton, Devon - then in Exeter later in the 19th century.

Possibly we have a link?

I'm hoping that someone will be able to assist me with my search for further information about George TAPP, a fish dealer, born in Exeter c.1859. The 1871 census names his mother as Susan TAPP and sister as Bessy, born c. 1858, living in Smythen Street, Exeter. I have his marriage certificate which shows he married Elizabeth ATKINS in 1886, ( and confirms his father as George TAPP, deceased), residing in West Street, and later King Street in Exeter. I cannot find him on the 1861 census, nor can I find his birth registration.
 
 I believe his father to be George TAPP, a mason, born in West Teignmouth in 1816 to John and Mary TAPP. I have found him living in Teignmouth in 1841 and in 1851 with his sisters and mother. In 1861, he is living in Smythen Street, Exeter, (unm.) with his sister, Mary Ann and her two children. I can find no marriage record for George and Susan, though she is listed as a widow in the 1871 census. He died in Smythen Street in 1868.
 
 I am trying to find enough information to link these two as father and son, and to find out who Susan was. I have traced a number of records in the police charge books of the era, as transcribed by Brian Brassett, which appear to suggest that both father and then son remained in the vicinity of the West Quarter of Exeter between 1859 and 1895.
 
I hope someone can assist - or provide ideas of where else I can look? Many thanks, in anticipation!
 
Other names of interest : ATKINS, ALLEN, BAMPFYLDE, GLEESON, HODGE, LASKEY, LETHBRIDGE, MAPLEDORAM, PRESTON, SHILSTON, SOUTHCOTT, VICARY