A couple of other thoughts
First: There are gaps in the 1861 census for Middlesex, which may explain why your John Daniels cannot be found there.
Second: There is a chance that John was born with a different surname (under his mother’s name, or a different father, and when his mother married or remarried, he then became Daniels after his step-father.
With this I mind, I found …..
John William Daniels (occupation smith or silversmith) born abt.1788 Finsbury, Middlesex, died abt 1876 Hackney.
He is living in the Hackney area in census 1851, 61 and 71.
- 1st marriage 1809 Islington to Catherine McEVEN or EBURN
- 2nd marriage 1849 Lambeth to widow Hannah /Anna Rebecca Stair (nee Randell) – b. abt 1795
It might be worth investigating this family more, in case your John was Hannah Stair’s son, or even an illegitimate grandson to John William Daniels the silversmith.