Hi Josey
Thank you for replying.
Yes the 1861 ref is my John Slater. He is my great grandfather. I found his army service from him being listed as a "gunner Royal Artillery" on his marriage cert. Then a colleague checked out the records at TNA and found his discharge & enlistment dates, where he was listed as a shoeing smith.
He is not with his wife on 1871 census (in Yorkshire) and she remarries as a "widow" mid 1872 in Ulverston Lancs.
I have checked out every John Slater who might fit the details I have and it is definitely not the one you mention, born Kirdford Sussex.
Details from marriage cert say age 29 (in mid 1867) so born c1838, born Hartfield Sussex, father Samuel Slater blacksmith. The only candidate I have is a Samuel Slater bap 1838 Maresfield, father Samuel Slater a labourer. The family moved to Hartfield when Samuel was a child. Samuel is on 1841 & 1851 censuses then does a disappearing act which would fit the RA enlistment.
I have not found a suitable death for a John or Samuel Slater, or census entries 1871 foll. There is a possibility for a John Slater in 1881, widower, blacksmith, the right age, but this one says born Forest Gate, Sussex. A possibility though as he does not appear to be on earlier censuses at Forest Gate.
I am wondering if he emigrated but haven't got far looking into this, with John Slater being a common name and place of birth other than just 'England' usually not given.
So I am at my wits end for ideas with this now.
Liza
