Annie Stephens (1864 – 1905)

Ann Dell was born in 1864 in Newbury the daughter of Henry and Jane, nee Gibbs, Dell. She was recorded with her parents together with brother William aged 19 and sister Esther aged 4 living at 39 Jack Street in Newbury in the 1871 census. Henry was record as a master shoemaker, William a chemist’s porter and Ann a scholar.

Annie entered the Newbury Girls British School on 31 August 1874, her previous school was recorded as Mrs Browns. The family were by then living at Simmonds Yard. Annie left the school after a short stay on 6 November 1874. Annie’s sister Esther also attended the school from 25 August 1874 until 29 September 1874, she also had previously been at Mrs Browns school.

Seven years later in the 1881 census Annie was living as a servant in Speenhamland with her occupation being a general servant.

Ann married James Stephens in Newbury in 1887. James was born 6 November 1864 in Newbury.

In the 1891 census James and Ann were living in West Woodhay with daughter Edith Jane aged 1, James was recorded as a gardener domestic. Ten years later in the 1901 census James and Annie were still living in West Woodhay but now in Malt House Cottage with daughters Edith aged 11 and Ethel aged 10. James was recorded as a gardener domestic.

Annie died in April 1905 aged 41 and she was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 April 1905. She was living at 3 Harrisons Buildings in Stroud Green at the time of her death.

James remarried in Newbury in 1908 to Alice Matilda Bailey. In the 1911 census James and Alice together with his daughters Edith now aged 21 and Ethel aged 20 were living in Markbank Cottage in Donnington. James was still a gardener domestic, Edith a dressmaker and Ethel an assistant manager in a laundry.

James and Alice moved to Reading although both were buried at St Mary the Virgin in Shaw Cum Donnington on 11 February 1950 and 13 January 1947 respectively.

Author: G Soper
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