John Stephenson (1829 – 1914)

 

John Stephenson was born circa 1829 in Hull. His father was recorded as John and a mariner on his second marriage.

 

John married Susannah Salton in 1848 in Sculcoates in Yorkshire. Susannah was born circa 1831 in Hull. In the 1851 census John and Susannah with daughter Harriett aged 5 months were living at 2 Edwards Court in Sculcoates and John was recorded as a coach maker.

 

John and Susannah moved to the Newbury area in circa 1854. In the 1861 census they were living at Kennett Place in Speen with children Harriett aged 10, Sarah aged 8, John aged 6, Thomas aged 3 and Viner Salton aged 2. John was a coach body maker.

 

A few months later Susannah died in January 1862 aged 31 and she was buried at St Mary in Speenhamland on 26 January 1862.

 

No trace of John in the 1871 census. His sons Thomas and James were living with his sister Mary Stephenson in Clerkenwell. Another son John was a boarder at 4 North Street in Clerkenwell.

 

John remarried on 19 May 1872 at St Giles in Cripplegate in the City of London to Eliza Hannah Richards. He was recorded as a coachbuilder. Both were living at 11 Hanover Court. Eliza was born circa 1834 in Moorfields, London.

 

In the 1881 census John and Eliza with daughters Jane Maria aged 8 and Rosa aged 4 and two lodgers were living at 3 Shaw Road in Speen. John was a coach builder. Ten years later in the 1891 census John and Eliza with daughter Rosa were living at 9 West Street in Newbury. John was recorded as a coach builder and Rosa as a dressmaker.

 

John and Eliza with daughter Jane Maria were living at 5 Bolton Street in Newbury in 1901, John was a coach body maker and Jane an upholsterer. Ten years later in 1911 John, Eliza and Jane were living at 5 Goswell Road in Speenhamland with John still a coach body maker and Jane now a dressmaker. The census return noted John was rheumatic and Eliza had failing eyesight.

 

John died in June 1914 aged 85 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 16 June 1914. He was living in Northcroft Lane at the time of his death.

 

Eliza and Jane Maria both continued to live in Newbury. Eliza died 23 October 1921 aged 87 while living at 87 Pembroke Road and was buried at Shaw Cemetery on 28 October 1921. Jane died 8 February 1947 aged 73 while living at 6 St Mary’s Almhouses and was buried at Shaw Cemetery on 13 February 1947. Eliza’s other daughter Rosa Townsend was also buried at Shaw Cemetery on 15 January 1941.

Author: G Soper
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