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Hi Everyone,
I have posted about this family before, years ago, but i am recently back to doing my family tree again and i am still struggling with them. I wondered if anyone can help?
My great grandfather was Joseph Bradshaw born 19th April 1895 in Dilworth Lancashire. I am almost certain that I have his birth certificate because it fits the ages (in relation to his marriage certificate) and also his father's name. Also the area where they were living.
It names his father as James Bradshaw and his mother as Mary Theresa Bradshaw (formerly Stevens).
I thought i had found a marriage for Joseph's parents. July 24th 1888 in Longridge, Lancashire. It notes Mary Theresa Stevenson as age 19, residing in ribchester and father's name Adam Stevenson (deceased, profession- pawnbroker). James is a widower at the time, age 40 and living in dilworth, father's name Thomas bradshaw (deceased, profession- bobbin turner)

I cannot seem to find Mary Theresa Stevenson/Stephenson/Stevens anywhere before she got married. Its driving me insane!
I may have just found an Adam and Elizabeth living in lodgings on the 1871 census but no Mary! Where would she be if she was only 3 years old?
Am i missing something blindingly obvious?!

Marriage: 24 Jul 1888 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire, England
James Bradshaw - 40, Sawyer, Widower, Dilworth, Longridge
Mary Theresa Stevenson - 19, Spinster, Ribchester
Groom's Father: Thomas Bradshaw, (Deceased), Bobbin Turner
Bride's Father: Adam Stevenson, (Deceased), Pawnbroker
Witness: William Walton; Ellen Gregson
Married by Banns by: H. T. Greaves M. A., Curate
Register: Marriages 1838 - 1895, Page 186, Entry 372
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Thanks safc, That's the marriage certificate i have. I just cant seem to find Mary or Adam before she married James.

????

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Bottoms, Dilworth, Preston, Lancashire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
James Bradshaw Head Married Male 44 1847 Wood Sawyer Lancashire, England
Transcription
Mary J Bradshaw Wife Married Female 25 1866 - Preston, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Thomas Bradshaw Son Single Male 20 1871 Bobbin Turner Ribchester, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Edward Bradshaw Son Single Male 18 1873 Bobbin Turner Ribchester, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Arthur Bradshaw Son - Male 15 1876 Weaver Cotton Ribchester, Lancashire, England
James Bradshaw Son - Male 12 1879 Scholar Lancashire, England
Transcription
Mary Ellen Bradshaw Daughter - Female 8 1883 Scholar Lancashire, England
Transcription
George Bradshaw Son - Male 1 1890 - Lancashire, England

Yes that's them living as a family :-)

Some of the older children were from the father's previous marriage.

????

Marriage: 5 Aug 1862 St Anne, Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Adam Stephenson - 21, Pawn Broker Assistant, Bachelor, Moor Lane
Alice Turner - (X), 19, Weaver, Spinster, Moor Lane
Groom's Father: James Stephenson, Pawnbroker
Bride's Father: Richard Turner, Basket Maker
Witness: Alexander Greenep; Ellen Leck
Married by Licence by: A. S. Page
Register: Marriages 1843 - 1883, Page 65, Entry 129
Source: LDS Film 1526409

Ah that looks like that could be them! Wonder why I can't find them on any census records?

This looks like the father's death:

Deaths Mar 1876 (>99%)
Stephenson Adam 32 Preston 8e 450

Perhaps the mother re-married?

Dea x

Thanks Dea and Malyon, that does look like his death. I guess she could have remarried at that age!

could this be adams marriage


Adam Stevenson
mentioned in the record of Adam Stevenson and Mary Cowell
Name
Adam Stevenson
Spouse's Name
Mary Cowell
Event Date
02 Dec 1868
Event Place
Saint John,Preston,Lancashire,England

A sister for Mary:

Marriage: 15 Nov 1884 St Matthew, Preston, Lancashire, England
William Whittam - 22, Minder, Bachelor, Richmond St
Ann Jane Stephenson - 21, Spinster, Cemetery Road
Groom's Father: Thomas Whittam, Stonemason
Bride's Father: Adam Stephenson, deceased, Pawnbroker
Witness: Robert Watson; Phoebe Watson, (X)
Married by Banns by: James Pimblett
Register: Marriages 1884 - 1900, Page 9, Entry 17
Source: LDS Film 1471022

Dea x

this could be mary in 1871 census


Mary Stevenson
England and Wales Census, 1871
Name
Mary Stevenson
Event Type
Census
Event Date
1871
Event Place
Douglas, Conchan, Isle of Man,
Gender
Female
Age
29
Marital Status
Married
Occupation
Keeper Of Fancy Repository
Relationship to Head of Household
Wife
Birth Year (Estimated)
1842
Birthplace
Liverpool, England
Entry Number
11
Affiliate Image Identifier
GBC/1871/5775/0006
Household
Role
Gender
Age
Birthplace
Mary Stevenson
Wife
F
29
Liverpool, England
Thomas Stevenson
Son
M
6
Liverpool, England
Mary Stevenson xxxxx
Daughter
F
4
Liverpool, England
Samuel Barrett
Brother-in-law
M
17
Liverpool, England
John Barrett
Wifes Uncle
M
57
Yarmouth, England
Eliza Kean
Servant
F
18
St Helens, England
Denis Kelley
Visitor
M
26
Sligo, Ireland

Malyon- I think you perhaps need to explain your thinking, I'm not seeing the connection there.
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There is a small snippet in the paper about some robberies- an Adam Stephenson is mentioned- needs a little more looking into:

Preston Herald - Saturday 30 April 1864

....Adam Stephenson deposed: I live in Lancaster Road and am a pawnbroker....
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SO I wondered if this family was connected- also in Lancaster Road (possibly Adam's father?):

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
111 Lancaster Road, North, Preston, Lancashire, England

James Stephenson Head Pawnbroker Male 51 1820 - Lancashire, England
Ellen Stephenson Wife - Female 43 1828 - Lancashire, England
Henry Luer Step-Son - Male 18 1853 - Lancashire, England
Elizabeth Stephenson Daughter - Female 7 1864 - Lancashire, England
James Stephenson Son - Male 5 1866 - Lancashire, England
Mary E Stephenson Daughter - Female 3 1868 - Lancashire, England
Mary A Blackburn Servant - Female 36 1835 - Lancashire, England
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1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
111, Lancaster Road, Preston, Lancashire, England

John Stephenson Head Married Male 34 1847 Pawnbroker Preston, Lancashire,
Alice Stephenson Wife Married Female 32 1849 Pawnbrokers Wife Preston, Lancashire,
Ann Alice Stephenson Daughter Single Female 9 1872 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Charles Stephenson Son Single Male 6 1875 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Thomas Stephenson Son Single Male 1 1880 Scholar Preston, Lancashire,

I wonder if this could be Adam's wife, Alice's death ??

I don't know how far away from Preston this is??

???
Burial: 19 Jan 1881 St Wilfrid, Standish, Lancashire, England
Alice Stephenson -
Age: 37 years
Abode: Prestwich
Buried by: James Steele, Curate
Register: Burials 1878 - 1891, Page 40, Entry 318
Source: LDS Film 1526141

Dea x

That's interesting Austin, where can I read the newspaper article? You are right though, Lancaster road makes sense.

Dea, I wondered about this death too- might explain why I don't see Alice?

First name(s) ALICE
Last name STEPHENSON
Gender Female
Birth year 1845
Age 22
Death quarter 3
Death year 1867
District PRESTON
County Lancashire
Volume 8E Page 281
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Hannah- The article doesn't give anymore information about Adam- he was just giving evidence. I view articles on British Newspaper Archive but I believe Genes and FMP have the same papers online.

This is quite confusing- as I don't see a birth for Mary:

Births:

STEPHENSON, ANNE JANE (Mother's maiden name: TURNER)
GRO Reference: 1863 S Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 455

STEPHENSON, ALICE mmn TURNER
GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 530

STEPHENSON, ALICE mmn TURNER
GRO Reference: 1867 S Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 482
----------------------------------------------

Deaths:

STEPHENSON, ALICE age 22
GRO Reference: 1867 S Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 281

STEPHENSON, ALICE age 0
GRO Reference: 1867 S Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 281

On the marriage 1884 that Dea found for Mary's sister, Ann, the witnesses are Robert and Phoebe Watson.

Phoebe Watson (nee Turner) was Alice's Sister (Ann's Aunt):

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
2, Disreale Street, Preston, Lancashire, England

Richard Turner Head Married Male 52 1809 Basket Maker Lancashire,
Jane Turner Wife Married Female 52 1809 - Lancashire, England
Alice Turner Daughter Unmarried Female 18 1843 Cotton Weaver Lancashire,
Ellen Turner Daughter Unmarried Female 16 1845 Cotton Weaver Lancashire,
Thomas Turner Son - Male 14 1847 Basket Maker Lancashire, England
Phoebe Turner Daughter - Female 9 1852 Scholar Lancashire, England
Margaret Sowerbutts Boarder Unmarried Female 20 1841 Cotton Weaver Preston, Lancashire,
Richard Sowerbutts Boarder Unmarried Male 14 1847 Cotton Weaver Preston, Lancashire,

This is the Aunt in 1881: (Note the Stevenson child- Likely Ann, the daughter of Alice- but no Mary with them)

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
11, Acregate Lane, Preston, Lancashire, England

Robert Watson Head Married Male 27 1854 Cotton Cloth Looker Lancashire, England
Phoebe Watson Wife Married Female 29 1852 Cotton Weaver Lancashire, England
John W Watson Son Single Male 7 1874 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Mary J Watson Daughter Single Female 5 1876 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Ellen Watson Daughter Single Female 4 1877 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Alice A Watson Daughter Single Female 1 1880 Scholar Preston, Lancashire, England
Jane Turner Mother In Law Widow Female 75 1806 Formerly Housekeeper Lancaster, Lancashire,
Alice A Stevenson Niece Single Female 17 1864 Cotton Weaver Preston, Lancashire,

So did Adam have daughter Mary with another woman after Alice's death??

OR, is Mary, the Alice (with mmn Turner) born in 1865? I don't see a death for that daughter.
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There is this Mary in 1871:

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
School Street, Preston, Lancashire, England

Robert Richardson Head - Male 47 1824 - Lancashire, England
Mary Richardson Wife - Female 52 1819 - Lancashire, England
Mary Stephenson Boarder - Female 5 1866 - Lancashire, England