James Stephen (1873 – 1945)

Sarah Ann Stephen (1873 – 1910)

Ann Maria Stephen (1865 – 1941)

James Caird Stephen was born on 22 June 1873 in Edinburgh, the son of Alexander and Helen Elliott MacDonald, nee Caird, Stephen. The family moved to Belfast soon after the birth of James as all his younger siblings were born in Belfast.

In the 1891 census James was recorded with his parents and siblings Isabella aged 21, Francis aged 16, John aged 12 and Helen Eliza aged 4 at 75 Park Street in Abergavenny. Alexander was a tailor, Isabella a mother’s help, James a grocer’s assistant and Francis an ironmonger’s apprentice.

Ten years later in the 1901 census James was living as a boarder at 9 Jesse Terrace in Reading and was a grocer’s assistant and unmarried.

James married Sarah Ann Bown in Q4 1902 in Fareham district. Sarah was born circa 1873 but it has not been possible to trace Sarah before her marriage with any certainty. 

Sarah died in February 1910 aged 46 and was she buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 5 February 1910. Her address was 2 Cadogan Villas, York Road in Newbury.

In the 1911 census James was recorded as a visitor lodging at the Coopers Arms, 39 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. His occupation was a grocer’s manager and he was a widower.

A few weeks after the census James remarried on 26 April 1911 at St John’s in Newbury to Ann Maria Thompson.

Ann was born 27 May 1865 in Middleton in Norfolk, daughter of Simon and Harriett, nee Fox, Thompson. She was baptized on 8 June 1865 at Middleton. In the 1871 census she was living with her parents and siblings in Middleton, her father was an agricultural labourer. Ten years later in the 1881 census Ann was living as a servant at 23 Albion Road in Hampstead, her occupation was a general servant. In 1891 Ann was residing as a boarder in Wakefield working as a mantle maker. No trace of Ann in the 1901 census. Then in 1911 census she had been a boarder at 29 Gloucester Road in Newbury working as a domestic housemaid.

James and Ann moved away from Newbury after their marriage, they were living in High Wycombe by 1921. They were recorded in the electoral registers at 6 Harlow Road in High Wycombe from 1929 to 1931. In September 1939 when the national register was compiled they were living at 9 Pinions Road in High Wycombe with James now a grocery manager retired.

Ann died in June 1941 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 18 June 1941.

James died on 25 January 1945 at the War Memorial Hospital in High Wycombe while still living at 9 Pinions Road. His ashes were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 5 February 1945. James left a will and probate was granted on 13 April 1945 at Oxford to Frederick John Cozins, grocer, and Frank Alexander Bridge, shipping official. The value of the estate was £352 16s.

Author: G Soper
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