STEPHENS still missing!

[stephens]

HI
I have been searching for Thomas Stephens for a year! I only know he exists because i have found marriage certificates for two sons James born circ 1824 and Christopher similar age. James married Elizabeth Willougby and Christopher married Ann Wright. The problem i am having is they only appear once each on the 1841 (1) and 1851 (1) census and on their marriage certificates. They say they were born in Eastnor. I doubt that because there is no sign of a mother or father in that region except a Thomas and ANN? that may fit at all. It s possible Thomas was born somewhere else and moved to eastnor? Please help it is overtaking my life!
julie stephens direct descendent.

[Peter Goodey]

I don't know if I'm missing something here but why not simply check the parish registers of Eastnor for the baptisms you mentioned?

The Mormons have filmed them so it wouldn't seem to be an insuperable problem.

[hughar]

The IGI has entries in batch M155421 for two Thomas Stephens marriages in Eastnor at about the right time - to Margaret Lucy in 1815 and to Ann Bunn in 1818. But the baptisms are not on the IGi, so it's straight to the PR's as Peter already suggested.

[Davran]

There is a Cristopher (sic) Stephens in Leamington Priors in 1861 with wife Ann and daughter Sarah. He is a bath chairman. Born Eastoner (sic)
RG9; Piece: 2222; Folio: 78; Page: 25; GSU roll: 542938.

In 1881 he is widowered and living at 11 Russell St, Leamington
RG11; Piece: 3093; Folio: 20; Page: 32; Line: ; GSU roll: 1341738.

James is in Aston, Warwickshire in 1891 with wife and family
RG12; Piece: 2421; Folio 121; Page 32; GSU roll: 6097531.

By 1901 his wife appears to have died:
RG13; Piece: 2869; Folio: 6; Page: 3.

[stephens]

Hi
I really appreciate your response on this.
I have the information for christopher and for his wife. I also have the information for james and his wife. We have visited eastnor and have not found anything in the parish records for Thomas except as you say, for ann bunn and mary. We are now assuming they are non conformist. Could anyone help on the non conformist investigation? How would i go about approving Ann Bunn and Thomas as christopher and james Parents? Woule a non conformist baptism paper exist for example?
best wishes
julie

[suedent]

Is it possible that they returned to the mother's parish to get baptized? I have recently transcribed some records where families had returned to Cornwall from as far afield as Wales & London for the purpose of having their children baptized.

It was also quite common for the wife to go home to mother to have help with the birth of her children, especially in the case of the first child.

As far as non-conformist records go the information given depends a lot on the person writing in the register. I have seen some that only give the date of baptism & the name of the child, not even the parent's names. At the other extreme I have seen date of birth, date of baptism, the name of the child & it's parents, as an added bonus they gave the name of the mother's parents.

[stephens]

Hi
Once again thank you for your response. I started to think that the mother returned to Eastnor or was living in that area when James and Christopher were born. I have been to Eastnor but found no record of marriage for Thomas and Ann or Thomas and Mary. However they do appear on IgI. I have no evidence that they are the father and mother i am looking for any way. I only know their father was Thomas because on James and Elizabeths marriage certificate they say they were born in Eastnor and that the father is Thomas a gardner. That is why i am searching Eastnor. It is frustrating. How would i go about finding Thomas Stephens ?? he is a needle in a haystack at the moment.
best wishes
julie

[Peter Goodey]

I have been to Eastnor but found no record of marriage for Thomas and Ann or Thomas and Mary. However they do appear on IgI.

Can you expand on that please? The FHL catalogue says that the Eastnor PRs (at least to 1812) are at Hereford Record Office. Are you saying that later PRs are still at the church?

Which marriages exactly are on the IGI but not in the parish registers?

[stephens]

Hi
Thanks again for replying this is perplexing.
We went to Hereford and found nothing to show Thomas and Ann or Mary had James and Christopher. Considering Christopher was a very unusual name we found nothing. There were also no records of births or baptism of these two. We only know Thomas exists because of the marriage certificate that states their father was a gardener and that they say they were born in Eastnor, They repeat this on their census that they were born in Eastnor. We also went to Eastnor and to the st john baptist church and found nothing on James and Christopher. This led us to think that A) they lied or B) they were non conformist.
Does this help. We only know the name Thomas from their sons. Thomas could have married Ann or Mary but we cant link this until we know whether Ann or Mary had a James and a Christopher.
best wishes
julie stephens

[stephens]

Still looking for thomas stephens.

HI
I have been searching for Thomas Stephens for a year and half ! I only know he exists because i have found marriage certificates for two sons James born circ 1824 and Christopher similar age. James married Elizabeth Willougby and Christopher married Ann Wright. The problem i am having is they only appear each on the census and on their marriage certificates. They say they were born in Eastnor. I doubt that because there is no sign of a mother or father in that region except a Thomas and ANN and Thomas and margeret lucy that may fit at all. The problem is i dont know which one? We went to hereford and no record exists of james or christophers birth. I have been researching a Thomas from stoke priors married an ann from eastnor. They had a few sons one of which is james but no sign of christopher on the register. Where might i look again to gain a confirmed match with james and christopher and Thomas?
thanks in advance
julie

[bumblebee]

I see on the 1851 that Christopher gives his place of birth as Ledbury, so I don't know if that makes any difference. His wife Ann is consistant with her birthplace as Clifton.

Bumblebee

1851

Leamington Priors, Warwickshire

Clarendon Square, back of No 7

Ann Stephen 39
Christopher Stephen 29
Sarah A Stephen 1

Piece: 2072; Folio: 548; Page: 2

[ChrisKelly]

I'm not sure what to advise here without understanding better the evidence that you've got. For example, if I've identified the marriages correctly, both sons got married in the district of Warwick. Yes? Therefore I would expect to see on the marriage certificates somewhere in Warwickshire stated as being their place of residence which is unlikely to be Eastnor.

With regard to the censuses have you identified James and Christopher in every census from 1841 (until they've died)? Are you absolutely sure you've got the right couples? I had a quick look through some of the censuses and I noticed that in 1871 James gives his place of birth as Evesham, Worcs. (See RG10; Piece: 3142; Folio: 71; Page: 6). Is Evesham a mistake or might it in fact be Eastnor?? Evesham would actually make more sense as the place of birth because it's nearer to Warwickshire. Just a thought.

[stephens]

Hi
I have identified James direct line to myself.
On james marriage certificate, christopher who he says is his brother signs it. They say they are from eastnor. We searched eastnor and found no james and christoher. They say their father is Thomas. Indeed 4 thomas' marry in eastnor, between 1817 and 1819. I need to match one of these marriages to james and christopher. There is a thomas and ann living in stoke priors in 1841 she is from eastnor and a thomas and ann bunn marry in 1817 in eastnor . This couple have three sons one of which is a james on the 1841 census but no christopher. I will check the 1871 census again because evesham might be a clue for me. However on 1851, 1861 james states eastnor. James is married to elizabeth in 1851. Can anyone else help? Can anyone check stoke priors or evesham for me at all? It is christopher an unusual name that i cannot trace to james before 1851 wedding.
best wishes
julie

[Peter Goodey]

Being "from Eastnor" on a marriage certificate is simply stating the person's current residence. It is not specifying a place of birth.

Others have mentioned Ledbury and Evesham These might be better places to look for baptism records.

[stephens]

Hi
Thanks for your response. I will try ledbury and evesham. I have only been researching two years and i am researching every member both sides and branching out. Thomas stephens however, is a direct line down the fathers. For this reason I would love to find and place him for my father. Could someone also direct me to Irelands ship lists? My ggggg grandmother came over during the famine and i would love to find out where in ireland she actually came from?
thanks you again
julie

[stephens]

Hi
I wondered is anyone had a christopher stephens born 1822c in their family line? It is an unusual name and i might trace ancestors through him. He married Ann wright.
thankyou in advance
julie

[stephens]

Hi all
thankyou for your responses
I am still up against this brickwall!
We went to worcester and hereford now to find thomas and james and christopher ! NOTHING. Please can anyone offer further advice?
best wishes
julie

[bumblebee]

I seem to remember this family from before, on the 1851 census Christopher gives his birthplace as Ledbury.

Class: HO107; Piece: 2072; Folio: 548; Page: 2

Have you checked Ledbury parish records? (Eastnor is not far from Ledbury)

Bumblebee

[MrsA]

Im sure my mum and her dad are looking for the same Thomas Stephens from Eastnor area born c1797, i am trying to get in contact with her now to find out and will let you know when i get a reply.

[MrsA]

'Stephens' PM sent :)

[stephens]

Still looking can anyone help me??
I am now going quite stir crazy!
best wishes
julie