I'm a bit stuck

[innerspark]

I just looked at google maps, Tawton/ Zeal is quite far from Plymouth...so I wonder why they moved to have John...

[BumbleB]

Work would be a good reason.

[Jamjar]

So is it Hooper and not, Hopper?

HOOPER, MARY ANN mmn COUNTER 
GRO Reference: 1855  J Quarter in OKEHAMPTON  Volume 05B  Page 342

HOOPER, EMILY mmn COUNTER 
GRO Reference: 1856  D Quarter in OKEHAMPTON  Volume 05B  Page 357

HOOPER, ELLEN mmn COUNTER 
GRO Reference: 1858  J Quarter in OKEHAMPTON  Volume 05B  Page 367

HOOPER, WILLIAM  WARWICK mmn COUNTER
GRO Reference: 1861  M Quarter in OKEHAMPTON  Volume 05B  Page 390   
 
HOOPER, ELIZABETH  ANN mmn COUNTER
GRO Reference: 1862  S Quarter in OKEHAMPTON  Volume 05B  Page 377

And John’s:

HOPPER, JOHN mmn COUNTER 
GRO Reference: 1859  J Quarter in PLYMOUTH  Volume 05B  Page 227

Jamjar

[heywood]

I am a bit lost now.

John’s father seems to be William.
I posted re James as possible father 
Birthplaces are different too.

[Jamjar]

Mary Counter with father William on the 1851 census:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJH-2GW

Jamjar

[Jamjar]

I am a bit lost now.

John’s father seems to be William.
I posted re James as possible father 
Birthplaces are different too.

Yes, I too thought that it was William, as per 1871 census. Then it was suggested that it was HOOPER and not HOPPER.

[heywood]

Looks like those mentioned by the OP on the 1871, on the 1861:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7TR-8ZD

Jamjar

Mary Counter with father William on the 1851 census:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJH-2GW

Jamjar

Mary Ann in 1861 is born Milton Abbott and a different age.

[BumbleB]

Sorry, could be my fault, I just looked at FreeBMD for the Mary Ann Counter in 1854 and the surname for a possible spouse was HOOPER.  And then I found the marriage image.

So apologies if I got it wrong 

[Jamjar]

Looks like those mentioned by the OP on the 1871, on the 1861:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7TR-8ZD

Jamjar

Mary Counter with father William on the 1851 census:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJH-2GW

Jamjar

Mary Ann in 1861 is born Milton Abbott and a different age.

Yes, the 1851 would be the Mary who married John Hooper.

Interestingly, Mary, to John, has father a mason and Mary to William has husband a mason.

Jamjar