Hi David,
Thanks again. Yes that is where I got the 'possibly John' bit from although I did not realise it was listed on TNA, his discharge was something I just happened to copy down many years ago when I was at Kew, because of the Ramsey connection, long before I knew about the Will etc.
Unfortunately it makes no mention of marital status, wife anything like that. He was enlisted in Sussex and received the discharge certificate in Wisbech.
The ages for my Barnabas vary but the span is 1794/97, always said to have been born in Ramsey and lived there all his adult life. His supposed father, Barnabas Brighty, had 13 children, none of which were named Barnabas which has always seemed to me to be another clue that he was the chap involved! Apart from making the yearly allowance he left provision for an apprenticeship and a lump sum at the age of 21 etc., which shows that he obviously had a great interest in the boy.
Without a marriage or a baptism its a bit of a dead end at present, but we all have to call a halt somewhere!
I will check up on the Alice Stevens who died 1813, thanks.
Selina