John Stephens (1813 – 1895)

John Stephens was born in Portsea. According to the ages recorded in the 1861 to 1891 censuses John was born between 1805 and 1813, his age at death implied he was born in 1812 or 1813. There were three John Stephens/Stevens baptized around 1814 in Portsea and the most likely one was baptized 5 July 1811 at Portsea, son of James and Fanny.

No trace of John in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. In the 1861 census John was recorded as a lodger living in The City in Newbury, aged 48, a hawker, unmarried and born in Portsmouth. Ten years later in the 1871 census he was recorded in a lodging house in The City, aged 60, unmarried and born in Portsea and still a hawker.

In the 1881 census John was recorded as a lodger living with Michael and Mary Ann Willis in The City in Newbury. He was recorded as aged 76, a hawker, unmarried and born in Portsmouth. Michael Willis was also a hawker.

Ten years later in the 1891 census John was recorded as an inmate in the Newbury Union Workhouse aged 77, single, born in Landport in Hampshire and a hawker of hardware.

John died 18 April 1895 in the Workhouse and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 April 1895.

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