John Atlantic Stephenson

[maggie360]

Sorry but again just can't post any images, in spite of them being under the size limit. So frustrating but will email everyone separately!

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie & Joy,

Thanks very much for wonderful copies relating to JAS,  which will form a valued part of my Stephenson Collection.
Regards
Ian

[jon541]

Hi - I'm a new contributor to your fascinating forum on the family of John Stephenson although I've been in touch with Ian by email for quite some time.  My interest/descent is via the Brumwells but I've been intrigued and entertained by all of your correspondence concerning the various scions of the Stephenson family.  I also have an original copy of JAS's monologue 'Haaks's Men'  (Another of my ancestors was a Hawks Man and was killed in an accident at the foundry in 1831).

I've noticed that you're all keen to push back the Stephenson ancestry a little further and a few weeks ago I pointed out to Ian that there is a William Stephenson/Mary Layton marriage on the IGI at Romaldkirk for 1789 - shortly before John would have been born given his age at death of 54.  Obviously, there are no known connections between the family and Romaldkirk but that Layton name is of interest given how often it was used as a middle name for Stephensons.

Romaldkirk does not have its baptisms included in the formal IGI parish record indexing programme but there are 2 user-submitted entries for a Harriet, born to William and Mary Stevenson [sic] of Romaldkirk, in 1791 and an Elizabeth in 1793.  No John.

So far just speculation but yesterday I was able to pay a visit to Durham Record Office and take a first-hand look at the Romaldkirk registers on microfilm.  I found the entries below including ... a John baptized on 11 April 1790.

4 Oct 1789 - William Stephenson of the parish of Middleton and Mary Layton of this parish were married in this church by Banns by me R. Baines, Minister
{ William Stephenson                     in the presence of us:  { George Layton
{ Mary Layton                                                                 { John [Barnes or Baines]

Note:  Middleton refers to the adjoining (Co. Durham) parish of Middleton-in-Teesdale. Romaldkirk is in the old North Riding of Yorkshire but Durham RO has a copy of their records as the parish is just over 'the border'.

x 11 Apr 1790 - John, of Wm & Mary Stephenson, Romaldkirk   [sic - i.e. omission of 'son' not by me]
x 12 Dec 1791 - Harriet Daughter of William & Mary Stevenson, Romaldkirk
x 22 Dec 1793 - Elizabeth, Daughter of William & Mary Stevenson, Romaldkirk

Given how common the surname Stephenson is, more proof is still needed before it's safe to assume this is the 'right' John.  I searched through Romaldkirk burials up to 1812 and although I found a few Stephensons, there were none with the names above (I also had a quick look at marriages 1826-29 but no sign of John and Elizabeth marrying there).

Doing some further speculative checking on the IGI, I noticed that although Stephenson is a common name, 'Harriet Stephenson' is not a very common combination and assuming the Harriet b. 1791 would most likely have married between the ages of 16 and 26, this throws up only 4 possibles in all of England including a marriage to a Jacob Wilson at Newcastle All Saints on 27 Aug 1810.

I then looked up Jacob on the 1841 census (HO107/846 fo 6/12 pg 17) and there he was in Byker (Newcastle), a Tide Waiter (customs official), married to Harriet ... ditto in 1851 (HO107/2408 fo 34 pg 10) when Harriet gave her place of birth as 'Yorkshire' c. 1791/2 (age 59).   I also looked for baptism records, again on the IGI:

Elizabeth Stephenson Wilson b. 28 Apr 1811 x 1 Dec 1811 Newcastle All Saints
Mary Anne Wilson x 10 Apr 1814 Newcastle All Saints
Mary Anne Wilson x 25 Dec 1816 Heworth (same Mary Anne?)
Harriet Stephenson Wilson x 25 Dec 1816 Heworth
Catherine Kidd Wilson x28 Mar 1819 Newcastle All Saints
Jacob Wilson x28 Mar 1819 Newcastle All Saints
Jane Wilson x 13 Aug 1820 Newcastle All Saints
William Stephenson Wilson x 18 Jun 1823 Newcastle (All Saints?)
John Wilson x 7 Mar 1826 Newcastle (All Saints?)
Thomas Wilson x 2 May 1827 Newcastle All Saints
Edward Wilson x 7 Jul 1830 Newcastle All Saints
 
Anyone else notice that two of the baptisms were in Heworth? 

I hope some of the above is food for thought.  When I get the chance (I'm in Newcastle on paternity leave so I hope in the next few days, childbirth permitting!), I'll check that All Saints marriage for witness names. 

Ian - in any of your records of Stephenson marriages, can you see any links to the Wilson family above?
 
Regards,
Jon

[ALTZA53]

Hi Jon,

Good to see that you have now joined the Forum in your own right and what a way to start. Certainly looks that you are on 'the mark' with the confirmation that they did have a son John born 1790. Assuming this relationship is correct (re our Stephenson's) then we are fortunate as there is a lot of info on the IGI for the Layton's of Romaldkirk. Mary was born 1760 to George Layton & Hannah Watson who married 1759.
Re the witness and Minister surname being Baines/Barnes could it possibly be read as Raine, as Mary's brother William married a Betty Raine 1791.
Your research and thought's on the Wilson's also look right with the identification of Harriet.

Regards
Ian

[jon541]

Fairly sure it was Baines/Barnes.  The minister's name was well-written, the witness's not but I had a good old stare at it on a high magnification.

[maggie360]

Hi John,
You have uncovered a very interesting possibility on the Stephenson front, thank you!
It also links the Layton name very well...
 Ian, I have contacted the BL  'experts ' prior to a visit to see what they can find on JS in the HEIC records but they were not very hopeful and said they found nothing of import. However I have rephrased the question and am waiting a reply! Maybe I contacted the wrong department...
This week I am also going to check in with the research department at the Tyne and Wear museum with regard to chemical manufacturers etc. So will keep you posted.
Regards
Maggie

[ALTZA53]

Hi Maggie,

We are very fortunate to have people 'on the ground', like yourself,Jon, David & Brian, who can carry-out specific research not available on-line. Much appreciated and  especially so when one is on the other side of the World. Perhaps you could ask the Tyne & Wear researchers if they have any detail on the Story/Storey Building also.
Regards
Ian

[dianecon]

hi to everyone an ye aaahl stephenson line ,just thought id say hello.Maggie {the creator of this}how are you? and all you lovely people.too many names to write.just thought id say hi.love the new ,possible ,info.from jon.anyway wish you all a good summer.its raining here in ireland.best of luck to yees,,

[Katjo]

My great grandmother Elizabeth was the sister of JAS.  I have a painting of his which was given to my grandparents as a wedding present in 1896 (it was actually painted in 1895 and is of Cotherstone Mill, Teesdale.  Thought you might be interested!