Hi amber39 & yonderpeasant
Thank you for the information. I have a copy of the 1861 Census showing Elizabeth and the children and also details of her remarriage to Bugg. For some unknown reason I have not been able to access all the 9 census records that amber39 mentions, so I am very grateful for the confirmation that Robert is not listed.
I realised that Robert was probably dead prior to 1867, when Elizabeth remarried, but cannot find a death record. His brother James emigrated to Australia and one of his daughters was born in Amsterdam, so I have even looked there for his death record. On his son's, Alfred's birth certificate, no father is listed. When Alfred marries, he lists his father Robert Adams, Sheppard.
Thank you for taking the time to try to help
Jack