Dear British Genealogy/Emigration Forum

Please can you help with this enquiry. Thank you.

Priscilla May Pope married Robert Thrasher/Thresher.

Our ancestor Priscilla May Pope was born in Hartest in 1840.
Priscilla is not found on the 1861 census.
We believe that Priscilla emigrated to somewhere in the Empire due to the agricultural depression at this time in East Anglia and escaping poverty - her father had died and her mother was a pauper laundress in the 1851 census. On the 1881 census Priscilla who is now a widow and her daughters are living at a lodging house with her brother Alfred Pope born 1836 Hartest - perhaps Alfred had previously emigrated and Priscilla emigrated to be with him as there is no other trace of Alfred, apart from the 1881 census.

Our ancestor Robert Thrasher/Thresher was born in Southampton in 1826/1831.
Robert is possibly found in the 1841 census as a servant but not on the 1851 census or the 1861 census. Robert therefore may have been a soldier, sailor, merchant or work for the East India Company. We cannot find Robert dying so believe that he was working and died abroad (the Robert Thrasher who died in 1879 London Strand is a fireman and Robert's professions were all known to be administration roles - three of his four known daughters are also baptised in 1880 with no indication that Robert had died).

Their first child that we know of is Eliza Priscilla Thrasher born in London 1868 - however, Robert and Priscilla could have been parents before this while living abroad and their children died abroad or stayed living abroad.

Please can you advise how to research where Priscilla went to after leaving Hartest.
Please can you advise how to research where Robert went to after leaving Southampton - without knowing Robert's possible army regiment it is almost impossible to trace him as a soldier (unless in an administrative role?), without knowing Robert's possible sailing ship(s) it is almost impossible to trace him in the navy (unless in an administrative role?)
We believe that Priscilla and Robert met and married abroad somewhere in the Empire - but without a wedding certificate naming Robert's father it is difficult to trace Robert's family - Southampton Local Archives and Hampshire Local Archives are unable to find a baptism for Robert - but this could be where baptism records were destroyed during the Blitz in World War II.

Thank you for your help.