Mystery father: John Spurgeon

[jonw65]

Especially if John was baptized in 1830 he too would have been young

Yes, sorry. Brain switched off then! But Jonathan may be a possibility perhaps.
If Emma's father was ever a soldier, there are a couple of John Spurgeons - but no Jonathan - in the British Army 1851 Worldwide Index. But was he still alive then?  If he died when he was in the army, there would be no pension record. 
John     

[LizzieL]

There is an army record for a John Spurgeon b Halstead abt 1847 invalided out in 1873. Could he be the John Whelms age 4 in 1851, following in his natural father's footsteps?

[LizzieL]

And there is a birth reg for a Jonathan Welham in Halstead reg district Q2 1847, but no John Spurgeon at that time
The John Sturgeon in the army record attested on 6 Oct 1866 aged 18 5/12, which would make dob abt May 1848. Is a 1 year mistake in age possible?

added
GRO index has Welham as Williams, dash for mmn, so possibly illegitimate

[ard]

Thank you all for your responses. I've not really been able to follow up as I broke my right arm over the weekend and the cast will be on for a few weeks yet. Kind of gets in the way of most things that need doing! I appreciate the time you have taken and I will eventually again be able to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes! Thanks again