John Atlantic Stephenson

[Bryan Bates]

Sorry, slight typo, William Layton Stephenson

[ALTZA53]

Hi Cowan,

Thanks for the update. I don't think there is any doubt about being same family.

Did William (snr) settle in Ashburton with rest of family and do you have a photo off him. I have a photo album of Henry's with a lot of photos of family in NZ but most with no names, so possible I have one of him as well. Where in NZ are you living.

[ALTZA53]

Its amazing what you find sometimes. I have been researching Henry Stephenson for many years now and after recently posting his photo and his railway and masonic details the other day, I happened to goggle and found a reference to him in 'The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Wellington Provincial District) General Government Offices 1897.

This had some inaccuracies such as his birth being in Newcastle, but clarified some facts and gave some new info. (I have expanded as necessary)

Confirmed working on North Eastern Railway England first as a cleaner,fireman &driver but he resigned in 1861 to accept a position of locomotive engine-driver on the Great Southern Indian Railway (Madras Presidency), you will recall my photo of him with the train was in 1864, and for thirteen years he was running the Company's fast service, and otherwise was acting as locomotive forman.

Confirmed that 1st wife Isabella Stephenson (nee Park) died1862 (so would be in India) and left 2 son's and 1 daughter (William, Henry & Elizabeth). In 1867 he married Miss Sheaham (Annie Sheahan married 14-9-1867 Negapatam Madras. Annie was only about 15 being born 1851 Trichinopoly Madras and her father was a William Sheahan Bandmaster 106th Regiment (2nd BN Durham Light Infantry) and her mothers details are unknown but apparently died giving birth) with whom he had 2 daughters ( Mary Charlotte Stephenson born India 1868 &  Beatrice May Ann Stephenson born 22-5-1876 in Ashburton NZ)
The family came to NZ in 1874 arriving at Lyttelton.

It also goes on to describe his Masonic memberships and these are more extensive than said in his obituary and was a high ranking Mason. I have put the link under if you want to read the specific details.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc01Cycl-t1-body-d4-d134-d6.html#n1180

[Bryan Bates]

Good one. I find the Cyclopedia of NZ to be a bit innaccurate at times. I sent you a personal message to make email contact.

[ALTZA53]

Hi Cowan,

I emailed a reply yesterday at 1.55pm. Obviously not rec'd. I will send you my email address now via a personal message through this site.

[brian.1948]

Hi Altza53; I`m Brian Stephenson living in U.K near Newcastle, also ex-resident of Low Fell, Gateshead where `Worley Avenuye` is located. You do have the spelling right by the way. I can tell you that Worley Avenue was a good address at that time, and indeed is again today. It became run down in the 1950`s-70's but is considered to be desirable address again following much refurbishment to the area. It can`t be more than 2 miles from the other known addresses the family lived at in Gateshead following their return from Staintondale in Yorkshire. The banks of the river Tyne, both Newcastle and Gateshead were the centres of much industry in the 1800's, with a lot of chemical production taking place on Gateshead side of the river in particular. Although the addresses around that immediate area were not good addresses they were close to the centres of production. Low fell was a comfortable distance away from the factories but within easy access of them. I was at Beamish yesterday as it happens; wish I had known that you were coming last year; if you intend to come back at any time it would be good to meet up with you.

Brian

[ALTZA53]

Hi Brian,

Appreciate the update. Yes I wish I had known about other Stephenson's in NewCastle last year also, but to be honest we only stopped there one night on the way up to Scotland, to go to St Mary's Durham to see if I could find Elizabeth's grave and see if any reference to John ( no such luck in even finding her grave) and the Stephenson Railway Society Newcastle (but this had closed. It was only while at St Mary's, now a family history centre, that one of the ladies there fortunately saw my Death Cert for Elizabeth and noticed the address at death (Ravensworth Tce) and she referred me to the Beamish Centre.

Brian is there any possibility you could check out the St Mary's Church Heworth to see if John has a grave stone etc
Ian

[Buffers]

Hello Ian and Brian,

I've been reading your stuff regarding John and Elizabeth Stephenson's burials/graves etc. I Googled St Mary's church Heworth and discovered a photographers site where they photograph all the gravestones in various churchyards and post them on their site free. It would seem that they've done St Mary's Heworth. However, I don't seem to be able to get their search engine to work properly. Care to have a go? You can find the site at www.stmaryschurchheworth.com/new_page_mainwindow.htm . It's not very clear whether this site is dedicated to Heworth church or has lots of others that have been photographed too.

David

[brian.1948]

ALTZA53 and Buffers; I`ll have look at that site and see if I can locate anything on it. Funnily enough, I was going to have a look at the churchyard next Thursday when I`m off work; if I come up with anything I will photograph and post it. I found my great uncle Andrew's war grave in Gateshead in less than five minutes, so if my luck holds that will be great. I`m hoping to get another line on John Stephenson by checking out his educational history; I may get a link to that from the Asiatic Society; its possible that he may have mentioned his background in one of the articles they published. Its a long shot, but as he worked on Tyneside he may have qualified there too; I`ll try checking with Newcastle and Durham Universities...unless any of us have done that already?

Brian