Hello Johan,
Since last week I've had a look at a few things, to see if it is possible to prove/disprove the families we have on the English 1841 and 1851 census returns, references mentioned previously.
I've found a few bits and pieces that might help - or might not!
I have concentrated my searches on people with a birth place of St Agnes, Cornwall.
The childrenLouisa b.abt 1832. I can find only one baptism (transcribed) for 8 April 1832. Parents William & Mary Ann Roberts. Search range was 1830 - 1850.
William b.abt 1834. Many options, but only one with parents William & Mary Ann, bap 21 June 1834
James b.abt 1838. 3 options, 2 for 1837 and 1 for 1838. Bap 23 July 1839 at St Agnes. Parents William and Mary (not Mary Ann). Birth registration Dec. qtr. 1838 Truro v.9 p.322.
Samuel b.1841. 2 records found, March qtr 1841 Truro v.9 p.317 and Dec qtr 1841 Truro v.9 p.308. as mentioned previously.
There is a death registration for a Samuel Roberts in 1850 June qtr. Truro v.9 p.223. No age given, so could have been any Samuel amongst many. Could not find a burial.
English censusI checked a couple of the children through the census records to see whether they stayed in England/Cornwall. It seems that most of them did.
James can be found in all records up to 1891 (and probably later, I didn't re-check for others).
In 1861 he is with sister Nancy, now married to a Mr Cocking, a tin miner in Mithian Downs.
I cannot find another Samuel b.1841, St Agnes, in the census, beyond the 1851 record that we have.
There is a public tree on the Ancestry site, that has Samuel Roberts listed. It seems that he moved to California, USA at some stage - no details of his travel are given. None of the details in the tree tie up with the 1841 or 1851 census, i.e. siblings, parents' names, even his birth date - BUT by chance, they have what seems like the correct probate record following his death on 22 Oct 1869 age 29, a single man - because the probate was granted to his
sister Nanny Cocking So, the Samuel shown in the 1851 census ended up mining in USA.
We can therefore discount the Samuel & family in the 1851 census. Only x-dozen more to go ....
p.s. Forgot to mention that the probate date was 11 October 1882 at the Principal Registry.