John Atlantic Stephenson

[ALTZA53]

Hi David,

Just been going back through Posts and besides noting your impending visit to Newcastle this Spring, you also previously said

"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"

Any further intentions re this? as personally I believe could be very fruitfull searching through HEIC records.

Regards

Ian

PS: Are any of the other UK based family contributors able to do this.

[ALTZA53]

Hi All,

A possible result for family returning from Calcutta to Bristol 1837 onboard the St George. Mrs Stephenson and 4 children and Mr Stephenson.

http://books.google.com/books?id=px0YAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA5-PA22&dq=stephenson+1837+calcutta+shipping&hl=en&ei=8wNdTdG3K5KisAOIlI3kCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ian

[maggie360]

Dear Ian,
Have been thinking about a possible trip to London to the British Museum as I can see it may offer a lot of information. Possibly at Easter and will go with my sister. Nearer the time I will make a list of avenues to explore so please add as many queries as you want and I will have a go. The entry for the Stephenson's return journey looks like the one!
Regards
Maggie

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

Sound's good.

Ian

[maggie360]

I see I typed Museum! Meant Library!
When you look at their online catalogue, I'm assuming you can view these when you are there on request? Has anyone else used the British Library and can pass on any hints?
 Maggie

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

Before you go check their online site for admiitance requirements re ID required. They are very strict in this regard.

Ian

[maggie360]

Thanks Ian, have checked website and will go prepared. Will try advance registration too as it will enable me to ask for articles in advance and hopefully save a lot of waiting around. Catalogue appears online so you should be able to access it too? There also seems to be experts in each reading room so will try and find them and ask their advice.
Maggie

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

I have had this and other Asiatic Journal information for some time as I eluded to in my original post. You might find it helpful in your search at British Library as it summarises some of John Snr's entries in the Asiatic Journal, confirms he came to India as a manufacturing Chemist on behalf of HEIC as well as confirming his standing as a professional chemist by Henry Piddington 'Esq', who had personal knowledge of him as a working chemist. See  pages ,945,946,950 & Section V11.-Concluding Remarks  on pages 953/954 in particular (note not all references to 'Stephenson' in this Article are highlighted by Google)
Ian

http://books.google.com/books?id=jwPgAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA950&dq=ghazeepore+stephenson&hl=en&ei=jENgTbiYFpGosAPxgPHECA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=ghazeepore%20stephenson&f=false

[maggie360]

Dear Ian,
Thank you for the link! I have been reading it and looking up Henry Piddington esq who sounds a fascinating gentleman in his own right, having been accredited with originating the term 'cyclone'! It may indeed give me more to go on at the BL. I had found other detailed articles on Saltpetre manufacture in other Asiatic Journals, but none of them gave the definitive statement that JS was employed by the company before he went out to India. He was obviously thought very highly of and beyond any ulterior motives in his research!
In reviewing all the info so far I noticed that on Catherine Mary's marriage certificate one of the witnesses was a James Bogie. He is quite possibly a friend of the groom but maybe an outside chance he was a family friend of JS and am looking into him, quite a distinctive name...
I have also emailed the Gunpowder Society history group who mentioned an original article they found by JS at the back of an old book. Unfortunately although they know of him and his work has been listed as important, they have no personal details.
Regards,
Maggie