John Stephens (1868 – 1917)

Emma Stephens (1862 – 1914)

John Stephens was born in 1868 in Greenham the son of James and Eliza, nee Preston, Stephens. He was recorded with his parents along with sisters Elizabeth aged 11, Helen aged 10 and Christine aged 8 and brother James aged 6 at Greenham Common in the 1871 census, James was a farm labourer. In the 1881 census John was living with his parents and four siblings in Stroud Green and recorded as a scholar.

John joined the Post Office in 1886 and was appointed as a town postman. In the 1891 census John was recorded as a boarder at 3 South View in Greenham and his occupation was a postman.

Emma Pocock was born in 1862 in Greenham, the daughter of John and Mary, nee Jacobs, Pocock. Emma was living with her parents and six siblings at Greenham Common in the 1871 census, her father John was a woodman. In the 1881 census Emma was recorded living as a servant in Milton Road in Wokingham, her occupation was a general domestic servant. Ten years later in the 1891 census Emma was living in St Johns Road in Newbury with her sister Alice and brother John along with two young nieces. Emma and Alice were both dressmakers and John a grocer’s assistant.

John and Ann married on 17 January 1894 at St John’s in Newbury. They had one daughter Elsie Maude who was born in Newbury in 1899.

In the 1901 census John and Emma with daughter Elsie were living at 4 Pleasant Place in Newbury and John was recorded as a postman.

John was admitted to the Moulsford Lunatic Asylum on 19 September 1907 where he would remain for the rest of his life.

Four years later in the 1911 census Emma and her daughter Elsie along with her father-in-law James Stephens and two Pinniger sisters were recorded at Holmlea in Andover Road in Newbury. The residence was being run as a private boarding house by Emma. John was recorded in the Asylum in the census.

Emma died 29 August 1914 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 September 1914, she was recorded as still living at Holmlea in Andover Road.

John died 27 October 1917 in the Asylum and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 31 October 1917. He left a will and administration of his estate was granted on 16 February 1918 at London to Walter Samuel Pocock (brother of Emma), a gardener. The value of the estate was £406.

John and Emma’s daughter Elsie Maude married Albert Edward Tidbury on 14 December 1929 at St Mary in Speenhamland. She died 29 August 1938 at Watford and District Peace Memorial Hospital.

Emma’s brother Walter Samuel Pocock was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 May 1922 aged 62.

Author: G Soper
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