Hello Toni, Hello Mike from Leicester
I apologise again but just too tired to stay the distance lately.
You have been doing great work.
First up though. Toni asked if I could send the D.O.B. so you could see it for yourself.
The place where he said he was born only shows up on this image below - I have not got a paper copy myself but viewed it on here also. You will see it on the right side of the page above Devon (I could only find a Reckleford, Yeovil Somerset, once called Rackleford - nothing in Devon)
http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/ImageViewer/image_viewer.htm?CON18-1-22,248,132,S,80To Mike from Leicester. I think you clinched it. Finding Sarah Stanning claiming to be a widow on Parish Relief with two sons Samuel & John still living at home in 1851 was good. But better still, finding Samuel getting married and declaring he was the son of a Wool Sorter called Richard Stanning lifted the odds even higher. I am prepared to say I believe this is the family Richard left behind.
The baby born 1830, Mary Ann may not have survived.
Not sure what NBL or FWK stand for in 1851 Census - is probably where they were born? but not sure what they are abbreviations for.
Samuels marriage to a widow of 46 suggests his line died out without any offspring..lets hope John did better.
Let me know if you have any ideas about Richards place of birth.
Thanks again MC