John Atlantic Stephenson

[Buffers]

Hi everybody,

Going away for the weekend  - back late Sunday. So lack of postings regarding all the exciting stuff that's going down doesn't indicate a lack of interest! Ian - put me down for a copy of whatever you have - cost isn't a problem  - I'll send you a direct email when I get back. Maggie - Jenny and I are biting our nails re the journal - not long now eh? I'll contact you too regarding post and cost when we get back.

David

[maggie360]

Hi there, With regard to Henry Layton and Robert Stephenson travelling out to India together, would there be evidence in Passenger Lists of ships going out to India say from 1850 onwards? Have briefly looked at the Ships list site but no luck yet! Robert's company the Vulcan Foundry certainly supplied a lot of engines to India according to their website......
 Do we know if Henry's first three children stayed in this country or did they join the new family in India / New Zealand at some stage? Also when and why did he go to New Zealand?
 I have had a friend cast his eye on the Mason photo and he says he was a high ranking Mason and is going to see if he can find out more.
I have also re read the information on Elizabeth and it is very interesting. What I still find puzzling is she was called Susan on the FIBIS website in the 'Surety and Bond' when they went out to India in 1829. Again another case of different names chosen to be in common use. Regards,  Maggie

[ALTZA53]

Went back through my records and in reviewing Henry's obituaries (one from New Plymouth's 'Taranaki Herald' and the other from the Asburton's 'Ashburton Guardian' ) on the 24-1 1907 & 31-1-1907 respectively, following his death on 23-1-1907 at New Plymouth, these show he was a Past Master of the De Burge Adams Lodge and that at his funeral attended by Masonic Members, four Past Masters acted as pall bearers.

Interestingly they also pointed to his service in the Railways for some 60 years or so, which included a combined 30 years service on the Great North-Eastern in England, Egypt and India before commencing his employment with the Railways in New Zealand in 1874 (including Ashburton, Timaru, Napier, Palmerston North and New Plymouth) and finally retiring in  NewPlymouth in1904 after 30 years Service in NZ.

As to his character he was said to be a general favourite with the railway men and was excellent company. Of a genial nature, his friends were many and sincere.

[ALTZA53]

Maggie,

FIBIS Databases. Yes there is a Susan enterred as Mrs Stephenson  for 1829, with the same Bond sureties as the John Stephenson also mentioned 1829 to reside 3 years to erect machinery. I have never seen any reference to Elizabeth Gordon Stephenson as being called by anything other than Elizabeth. Furthermore Susan it is not a name included in childrens names. If this Susan is in fact the wife of the John mentioned in FIBIS then I would say he is not our John.

Ian

[ALTZA53]

Regarding Indianna I have done a bit more searching as to her marriages to Luke Scott and Hugh Lyall and I think these are as follows (not confirmed with cert's etc):

Luke Scott married Mary Eleanor Robson 22-2-1846 St Hilda's church South Shields, She died 1st Quarter 1853 Newcastle and on 19-6-1853 Luke marr Elizabeth Stephenson same church as 1st marr. Luke died 2nd Qtr 1876 Gateshead (I previously said 1873 but appears more likely 1876 based on her subsequent remarriage but I could be totally wrong on this date).

As previousy mentioned Hugh Lyall's wife died 1874 . Now found Hugh Lyall and Elizabeth Scott married 1876 Gateshead.
Also found the marriage of her daughter Indianna Scott using surname of Lyall marrying 1902 Last Qtr Tynemouth (groom could be William Emery, Charles John Andrews or William Surtees as all listed on same page FreeBMD Index

Correction......... I now have certs and it wasn't Indianna's daughter that married 1902 but Indianna herself (3rd Marriage) to William Emery. Regards Ian 26-10-2010 See new post this date.

[maggie360]

More gaps filled in, thank you. Have posted your copy so should be with you soon! With regard to 'Susan' the employers name  in the journal matches the name on the bond. I really don't know the answer unless a good old fashioned error on the bond? Regards,  Maggie.  Ps do we know any more about Alfred's later life?

[Bryan Bates]

My great great grandfather was a William Layton Stephenson. He was born in England and died in New Zealand in 1926. His father was a Henry Layton Stephenson. Seems very coincidental to this family having the same second names.  Does anyone have more information about Henry's (of this topics subject) off spring to see if it ties in to William Layton Stephenson?

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

I am looking forward to receiving it. Thankyou very much for sending. Let me know how much I owe you.

Yes that Susan if confirming details in the Journal also, does raise some questions.

[ALTZA53]

Hi Cowan,

Sounds like you are related. I will checkout my records tonight. Are you living in NZ also?