hi Donna,
As your Samuel in the census shows birth at Smallthorne, which is on the boundary of Burslem and Norton parishes in Stoke on Trent, he only matches one born in 1847 . Parents seem to be Joseph and Mary (Holdcroft ), married 1844 at Burslem. His father is dead by 1851 census, but Samuel has two brothers, John and Joseph. Can't find him till 1891, nor any marriage. Possibly he was abroad in army or navy. Mary's listed birthplace of Silverdale is a few miles west of Smallthorne, past Newcastle.
The name Samuel Eardley is frequent, going back to the first one born 1648, died 1727. You should look at all the data on website Eardley.org to help out, esp. sue Parker's geneaology section.
bye pete