Hi - I've already been in touch with Steve about this one.
There might be a connection with my James Bibby, from Hull, who was born c1827 and who is described as Chelsea Pensioner. I do not have a marriage cert (despite looking for a very long time!) so do not know his father's name, nor anything about his early life.
There was a James Bibby (b1825) noted in the Ballymoney Parish records - son of Thomas. Searching through these (and nearby Kinneigh Parish) there are a few more Bibbys mentioned, including a John and a Thomas, both of whose fathers were named Thomas. (The mothers were names as Sarah and Susan although this could be a mistake and be the same name, I suppose).
In the 1846 Ballymoden Census (Boyle Street) there is a family: Thomas & Mary with sons William, John, Thomas, Frank & a foundling named Catherine.
I searched the 1861 census and found, in Croydon, both a John and a Thomas Bibby at Parchmore Farm - which is the place that James Bibby (Chelsea Pensioner b1824 nr Cork) said he was intending to go to on his Army Discharge record. I assumed they were brothers (or maybe cousins) but that is where my trail ends. John may possibly be in the workhouse in 1871, but Thomas and James I haven't found anywhere else in 1871. However a Thomas does appear in the 1881 census - again in Croydon.
If this James is my James I need to try and ascertain where he was between 1864 and 1876, when he turns up in Hull.
Of course it could all be wrong!!