Arthur James Stevens (1867 – 1893)

Annie Jane Stevens (1857 – 1926)

Arthur James Stevens was born in 1867 in Laverstock in Hampshire, the son of Robert and Elizabeth, nee Winkworth, Stevens. In the 1871 census Arthur was living with his mother and brothers William aged 10 and Thomas aged 7 and sister Anne aged 1 in Laverstock. His father Robert had died just before the census was taken. Ten years later in 1881 Arthur was recorded with his mother and siblings living in Swan Street in Kingsclere, Elizabeth was a dressmaker and Arthur a scholar.

Annie Jane Harris was born in 1857 in Leckhampstead, the daughter of James and Priscilla, nee Dopson, Harris. She was baptized on 1 November 1857 at Leckhampstead. In the 1861 census Annie was living with her parents and brothers George aged 2 and Henry aged 8 months in a beer house in Leckhampstead. Her father James was recorded as a carrier and a publican. The Harris family were living at 1 Staples Yard in Newbury in the 1881 census with Annie recorded with her parents and five siblings, her father was a hay dealer while Annie was a scholar. Ten years later in the 1881 census Annie was recorded with her parents and five siblings at 3 Compton Buildings in Newbury and she was a cook while her father Jams was a fly driver and her sister Henrietta a general servant.

Arthur married Annie on 17 October 1888 in Newbury.

In the 1891 census Arthur and Annie were living at 9 Cheap Street in Newbury, Arthur was recorded as a hairdresser.

Arthur died on 12 July 1893 aged 26 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 17 July 1893. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 13 July 1893 as below.

STEVENS – July 12, at Cheap Street, Newbury, Arthur James Stevens, the beloved husband of Annie Jane Stevens, and youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth Stevens, aged 26. 

Annie continued living at 9 Cheap Street for many years. In the 1901 census she was recorded with her niece Elizabeth Moore aged 11 and Annie was a greengrocer shopkeeper. Ten years later in 1911 Annie was still a greengrocer shopkeeper and also in the house was her nephew James Moore aged 15 who was a porter. Annie was recorded at 9 Cheap Street living alone in 1921 and she was recorded as a trade tobacco and fruiterer shopkeeper.

In the electoral registers Annie was still recorded at 9 Cheap Street in 1922 but from 1923 to 1926 she was recorded at 2 Kimber’s Almhouses, off Cheap Street.

Annie died in December 1926 aged 69 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 10 December 1926. Her address was recorded as 214 Newtown Road, the location of Newbury Workhouse.

Author: G Soper
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