Thank you Vicky and David for taking the time to look up my John Phillips request. Having John on his own in 1851 and 1861 is a bit perplexing.. Here he is in 1881 with a wife and two older sons, a widowed daughter and a widowed son in law.
I also found him in 1871 with his wife Elisabeth, three sons and 1 daughter.
I have searched and searched the 1861 census when I get down to the FHS and have access to Ancestry but cannot find any trace of the rest of his family.
They had to be somewhere since the three boys were born in Aberdare in 1856, 1858 and 1862. It's a puzzle.
1881 census
John PHILLIPS Head M Male 66 Gellygaer, Glamorgan, Wales Coal Miner
Elizabeth PHILLIPS Wife M Female 62 Llanblethian, Glamorgan, Wales
Philip PHILLIPS Son U Male 22 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Checkweigher (At Colliery)
David PHILLIPS Son U Male 19 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Collier
Mary JONES Daur W Female 36 Llangynydd, Brecknock, Wales
Elizabeth JONES Niece U Female 6 Llangynwr, Glamorgan, Wales
Thomas Joseph JONES Nephew U Male 1 Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales
Edward JAMES Son In Law W Male 44 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Haulier (Coal)
Philip JAMES Nephew U Male 22 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Haulier (Coal)
Sarah JAMES Niece U Female 16 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Servant
John JAMES Nephew U Male 13 Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales Striker (B Smith)
Source Information:
Dwelling 10 Primrose Hill
Census Place Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales
Family History Library Film
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 5305 / 80
Page Number 62