Thank you all for your help.
However, I managed to get to the National Records office and look through the films, and my John Oliver's birth is not there.
I have a record of the first three children b. in this family, christened at Mayfield.
There are then no more records of births in this family; ( I am sure I have identified the Family/parents of the John I am searching for;) from 1804 onwards
However, my John Oliver says on a census record that he was b. in Mayfield in 1809.
I also find, what I think are these same parents, in their 70s, living down the road, just outside Mayfield Parish, after John and his siblings have left home.
So where is this family between 1804 and 1840, or more to the point, where are the children baptised?
Not in the local Independent Chapel.
Were they baptised all at once, when a daughter was getting married, as I know can happen?
If so, where would I find them?
John was later m. in the CofE; would he need to show proof of christening for this to be allowed?
I have checked all the surrounding Parishes foe his b. in 1809 at Lewes records office.
Should I try Kent records?
Annette