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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Wigtownshire => Topic started by: R3GaN on Sunday 28 September 25 12:20 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am looking for information on James and Jean/Jane Stephenson/stevenson.
I believe they were both born in Ireland and the census data lists him as a Greenwich pensioner when they were in Wigtown by 1850s etc.
James Stevenson was born around 1788ish and died I think in the 1870s.
His son Edward b 1833 is my ancestor.
I haven’t been able to locate birth death or marriage specifics for either of them. Nor do I know any details about his career, which I assume was in the navy. I think I lack access to navy records from Australia.
Thanks 😊
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They were there 1841;
James Stephenson 60 Pensioner Army
Jean Stephenson 55
Margaret Stephenson 20
Elizabeth Stephenson 10
Edward Stephenson 7
Mary Stephenson 5
William Stephenson 4
Samuel Stephenson 2
Thomas Stephenson 5 mths
JAMES Stevenson
Birth Date 10 Jan. 1841
Baptism Date 18 Jan. 1841
Parents JAMES Stevenson and Jane MILLS
As James appears on 1861 Census if you look for his Death Cert on scotlandspeople it should name his Parents.
The fee is very small to download cert compared to OZ/NZ certs
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This could be a possible death for James Stevenson on scotlands people
1863 Old Luce or Glenluce age 89 years
Rosie
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Looks good Rosie :)
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Looks good Rosie :)
The only drawback is no mother's maiden name showing on index but still worth viewing
Most of the children born Wigtownshire not seeing a death for the mother so far
Rosie
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There is a prison record for James
https://www.scottishindexes.com/prisontranscript.aspx?prisonid=570203302
You might find a mention in the newspapers.
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There is a prison record for James
https://www.scottishindexes.com/prisontranscript.aspx?prisonid=570203302
You might find a mention in the newspapers.
Also Jane Mills /Stevenson 1848 possibility
Rosie
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Dumfries and Galloway Standard 19 Apr 1848; Sherriffs Criminal Court, Stranraer
" Mary McQuiltin, and Jane Mills, Glenluce, for resetting various quantities of woollen yarn warp and waste, stolen from the dye mill at Glen? ( this name is smudged). Found guilty, Sentence, 60 days imprisonment each".
I note that the index on Scottish Indexes has her age as 40 or 48 ( there are 2 entries in the index) and has her as Spinster, Glenluce. This raises the question as to whether they actually married.
William
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Yes William did notice it said she was spinster and born Glenluce so just a possibility it might have been her . As you said maybe there was no marriage
Rosie
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No marriage might explain why it has been difficult to find them.
I have found most of the children and they spent time in Wigtown since having them (though Margaret may have been born elsewhere in 1821).
I just haven’t managed to get past the parents on this line of my tree. The old age he lived to never seemed correct but he must have lived a long life eg fathering children at an old age. The different spellings of the name hasn’t helped either.
It is my understanding they would have been Scottish, and migrated to Ireland for a few generations as the timing would be correct.
He must have joined the navy and moved back to Scotland. I’m not sure if it was a high rank or just a long service that gave him a Greenwich pensioner.
Edward Stephenson and Elizabeth Stephenson migrated to Australia in 1857
Thank you for your help so far :)
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Found the following at National Archives, Kew regarding Jean Stephenson (born 1827) admitted to Greenwich Hospital School.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14940680
hmcc
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He must have joined the navy and moved back to Scotland. I’m not sure if it was a high rank or just a long service that gave him a Greenwich pensioner.
The 1841 census posted about describes him as an Army pensioner. Could he have been a Chelsea pensioner rather than a Greenwich pensioner?
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The 1851 and 1861 census has him as Pensioner - Navy / Sailor.
1851
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59066ed9e9379091b1ef36f4/james-stephenson-1851-wigtownshire-old-luce-1780-?locale=en
1861
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590671efe9379091b1f34323/james-stevenson-1861-wigtownshire-old-luce-1777-?locale=en
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According to the 1841 census Margaret Stephenson /Stevenson was born 1821 Ireland
Which makes me think she might have had a different mother as there is a gap of 10 years before Elizabeth is born 1831 Glenluce .
Rosie
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Jean Stephenson was born 20/9/1827 as stated on Greenwich Hospital School admission, father James and mother Mills also giving siblings as Margaret, Elizabeth, Edward, Mary and William.
William was born in 1836 so Jean possibly not admitted 1836 onwards.
There is a possible death for Jane/Jean Stevenson (51) 1878 Penninghame mmn Mills on SP.
hmcc
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Jean Stephenson was born 20/9/1827 as stated on Greenwich Hospital School admission, father James and mother Mills also giving siblings as Margaret, Elizabeth, Edward, Mary and William.
William was born in 1836 so Jean possibly not admitted 1836 onwards.
There is a possible death for Jane/Jean Stevenson (51) 1878 Penninghame mmn Mills on SP.
hmcc
That death looks promising for Jane /Jean Stevenson other name Donaldson
She can be found with her husband John Donaldson lodging Main Street with 2 of her daughters and Brother Samuel with a Thomas Moore born about 1815 Ireland on the 1851 census her place of birth is giving as Glenluce .
Getting the death certificate will confirm
Rosie