John Atlantic Stephenson

[maggie360]

Thank you for update. Could I email a copy of tree I have put together so far for you to check Ian? Brian and David have very kindly given me their outline trees.
 Now I wonder how best to go about finding marriage certificate for John and Elizabeth?
We know  birth date and initials, from Elizabeth.
 I guess we have to assume they were married in UK but possibly not.
We know where she lived  from her parents' history so maybe start with this?
It is so crucial to going back another generation as his father would be on certificate...

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

John & Elizabeth's marriage has eluded me and yes any breakthrough in this regard would be great. Personally I think the best way of getting any further would be through the East India Company records at British Library re his appointment as Superintendent its Saltpetre Factory Bihar 1829. Unfortunately not something I can do from here in NZ.

[Valda]

Hi


Unfortunately as John and Elizabeth married before the start of civil registration 1st July 1837 very little information would be on the parish register marriage. If his father signed as a witness (though no relationship would be given) or if he married as minor there would be some information. His parish of residency for the three weeks prior to his marriage would also be given.


Regards

Valda

[Buffers]

So it looks like guesswork for John Stephenson's birth at the moment. I'll see if I can have a go at the British Library to research the East India Company records but I don't know how much is possible on-line. It will probably mean a visit.

Meanwhile Brian, I've got egg running down my face. My wife's grandfathers were both in the RN in WW1. The naval pictures she has are not of Albert Peak Stephenson but of the other one - sorry - and she doesn't know anything about his service either. However we are determined on some research. Jenny's mother, Doris Stephenson was born in 1917, the eldest of Albert's 5 children . They are all now deceased except one. He was a late arrival, born 1938, when his parents were in their mid 40's. He lives in Weymouth, the last place that his father Albert served as a coastguard before he retired. The problem is that this is about 200 miles from us and we haven't spoken to him for years. He's also a bit difficult to contact - ex-directory etc. Nevertheless, we have plans afoot to visit Wemouth in December. With a bit of luck, he'll have photos of Albert in uniform, info about his service and who knows, he may have info and photos going back to previous generations - fingers crossed.

David

[Valda]

Hi

Albert Peak Stephenson's RN service at The National Archives

Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services
Stephenson, Albert Peak
Official Number:  J5399
Place of Birth:  Newcastle, Northumberland
Date 21 May 1892
Catalogue reference ADM 188/657 
Series Admiralty: Piece 5001-5500


You can order a copy online from TNA

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7076509&queryType=1&resultcount=1


Regards

Valda

[Buffers]

Thanks for that Valda.

[Buffers]

Hello All,

I think I have traced what may well be the circumstances of the Stephenson family in Heworth, between the move from Staintondale and JS's death. "Heworth Shore" the location given on his death certificate, seemed a bit strange to me - the village of Heworth is over 2 miles from the Tyne so how could it have a "shore". So I dug around and got the following info extracts from a Gateshead history site. The notes are dated 1856.

"Felling is also a village in Heworth township, situated about two miles east-by-south of Newcastle, where there are extensive chemical works and other manufactories. There is a school here belonging to the chemical works, a railway station, and a police station."

"Heworth Shore is, as its name implies, on the banks of the river, two-and a-half miles east-by-south of Gateshead, adjoining Felling to the east. Here are numerous manufactories of various kinds, which afford employment to a considerable number of persons."

The notes also list these manufacturers and the list includes the following:_

"Slue Hell, Felling - Armstrong George, colour manufacturer"

So, reading between the lines, it seems that in JS's time, Heworth was a "township" and covered a lot more ground than the village of Heworth does today, including Felling and reaching right down to the Tyne. The notes also say that the industry there included a chemical works - JS's trade. As can be seen, it is also recorded that one of these industries was George Armstrong, a "colour manufacturer". In view of the fact that JS's employer at Staintondale - Peak Alum Works, mined for a substance that was used in the dying process, it seems highly probable that George Armstrong was his employer during his time in Heworth. The logic is fairly convincing - the Peak Alum Works was going downhill as we know, so JS moved on to work for another manufacturer connected with the dying industry. His occupation on his death certificate - "Operative chemist" reinforces the theory.

What "Slue Hell", the address of George Armstrong's company, means, I have no idea - maybe it should be "something Hall". There are many spelling errors and undecipherable things in the notes - probably due to difficulties in transcribing the original handwriting.

[ALTZA53]

Hi David,

What about Thomas Bramwell & Co Chemical Works Heworth Shore, or William Stephenson/Stevenson Co Jarrow Chemical Works. There were a lot of Chemical Works in the district so it would be risky to assume John Stephenson worked for one particular Works, without any clear proof or reason.

[Buffers]

Yes, you're right Ian. Shouldn't assume anything, but the "colour" reference is a strong indication. The main thing is that JS's death location at Heworth Shore does not conflict with the well-inland geographical location of Heworth village itself because the Heworth township area covered quite a bit of ground and extended down to Tyneside. The family home was no doubt close to the Tyne. This, coupled with his description as "Operative chemist" on his death certificate (which means that he was still working at the time of his death), and the existence of the nearby chemical works (quite a few of them as you point out), provides strong evidence as to why the family moved to the Heworth area.

David