Hi Ian,
Good to see that this thread is still alive and kicking even though new info on the Stephensons is becoming harder to come by.
Can I put forward a suggestion for a black sheep in the family which you can either back up or shoot down from your own information...?
As you have previously detailled here, your Henry Layton Stephenson had a son registered with the same name, born at Castle Eden in 1859.
I think the young burglar referred to below is he, albeit going by the name of Henry Leonard rather than Henry Layton. But as we know, Leonard is also a family name (in fact going back to my earlier suggestion that John Stephenson d.1844 was the son of William Stephenson and Mary nee Layton of Middleton-in-Teasdale/Romaldkirk, William Stephenson of Middleton-in-Teesdale had a brother called Leonard which may explain the provenance):
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/victorian-mugshots-reveal-nineteenth-century-interest-in-criminal-anthropology-7892823.html?action=gallery&ino=2
A detailled account of Henry's misdemeanours can be read here:
HOUSEBREAKING AT NEWCASTLE - TWO BOYS APPREHENDED
At the Newcastle Police Court on Monday, before Mr. Ald. Nicholl and Mr. Ald. Wilson, Richard Clement Fisher (18) and Henry Leonard Stephenson (12), were charged with housebreaking and theft. Chief Constable Nicholls said the boys were charged with breaking into the house of Mr. Green, in Lawton Street, and stealing various articles therefrom. During the last month or six weeks 8 or 10 unoccupied houses had been broken into and their contents ransacked and things taken away. He had every reason to believe that he should be able to prove satisfactorily to the Bench that the majority, if not all of theses houses had [been] broken into and entered by the prisoners. He was not then prepared to go into the numerous cases and proposed to offer only evidence sufficient to justify him in asking for a remand.—John Thomas Green: We left for Tynemouth on the 18th of last month, and returned a fortnight to day. I found that the house had been broken into by the pantry window, through a zinc pane, and that the bolt of the kitchen door had been drawn, and access gained to the house. I found all the window shades down; they were spread on the floor, as if to deaden the sound of feet. I missed a violin case - the violin was left, a thermometer, and boy's cash-box. [Violin case produced and identified.] Witness thought the thermometer produced was his, but there were many others like it, and it had no mark by which he could identify it.—Detective Anderson deposed: During the last three weeks I have been making inquiries with reference to the housebreaking at the west end of the town. On Friday afternoon, I saw the two prisoners standing in Summerhill Street. I went up to Fisher and asked his name. About half an hour afterwards, I took Fisher to his mother's house in Summerhill Street, and in the presence of his mother mother told him that I was a detective officer, and that I suspected that he had broken into a number of houses and stolen various articles. I asked him If he had any keys. He replied "Yes, I have a small bunch of keys in my pocket." I asked his mother if he had a box, and she said he had not. I said I suspected that he had a box, and she left the room and returned with a small wooden box. As she came along the passage I heard something fall as if from the box ; and on going to the passage in company with the prisoner and his mother, I found a bunch of keys. I went into a back room and found the violin case. About 7 o'clock on Friday night I went to Elswick East Terrace, where Stephenson resides with his grandmother. I told him I suspected him of breaking into several houses In company with Fisher. He said he had not done so. I searched the house, but did not find anything. I went back some time after and found the thermometer produced hanging in the parlour. I took Stephenson to the Laurel Street Police Station, and he then said in reference to the thermometer, "Oh! it was got along with the violin case". The prisoner was remanded for a week. [Morpeth Herald - Saturday 12 October 1872]
Most of the circumstantial details fit - Henry would have been 13 not 12 but his birthplace is given as Castle Eden and he is said to be living with his grandmother at Elswick East Terrace. Elizabeth Gordon Stephenson was living at Elswick East Terrace in 1861 and her address in 1871 is given as Judson Place but this is often listed as being part of Elswick East Terrace.
I must say that he doesn't look like a bad lad in his photo. Do you have any photos of Henry junior which would confirm/dispute that this is he? He would have served his jail term one year before the family moved to NZ.
Regards,
Jon
