Genealogy Chat

There's an interesting entry in a churchwardens accounts book in the parish of Berrow, Somerset 1852:

'August 13th Paid towards the fare of Sarah Stivens/Stevens (?) and 5 children to New York £6.0.0.'

It begs so many questions, in particular why would the churchwardens make such a generous donation?

After a little research I feel fairly certain that she was the wife of Edwin Stevens, born about 1811.

An Edwin Stevens appears on the New York passenger lists prior to 1850 but without an ancestry subscription I can’t look further.

Edwin seems to feature on the Rozell family tree on Ancestry, so somebody may wish to make contact, just to share this finding with the tree owner.

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It has nothing to do with my own family but here's my research so far....

In the 1851 census there is a married woman called Sarah Stevens, born in Berrow and living at Greens Road Berrow. She is a 42 year old domestic labourer.

Her nine children, all born in Berrow, are as follows.

Mary 18
Caroline 17
William 12
Charles 11
Eliza 9
Joseph 7
John 5
Edmund 3
Simon 10 months

No husband is shown but the age of the youngest suggests the husband was around in July 1850 at least.

If this is the same lady who travelled to New York in 1852 then the five youngest would be all under 10 and the four she left behind would have been 12 and upwards, and on this census these four are already employed as servants.

The age of the oldest suggests Sarah married some time before 1833 and sure enough a Sarah Dunn married Edwin Stevens in Berrow 17th March 1832.

She appears on the 1841 census married to Edwin Stevens, 30, an agricultural labourer, with children

This looks like the family in 1860, New York State:


1860 United States Federal Census about Edwin Stephens
Name: Edwin Stephens
Age in 1860: 52
Birth Year: abt 1808
Birthplace: England
Home in 1860: Williamson, Wayne, New York
Gender: Male
Post Office: Williamson
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Edwin Stephens 52
Sarah Stephens 54
John Stephens 14
Edmund Stephens 12
Simon Stephens 10
George Stephens 6

All born England except George born New York.

Good stuff Margee. So now we know this was definitely an emigration. I wonder if we can find out when and why Edwin went over on his own. Does the census give his occupation?

Edwin became Edward here:


1870 United States Federal Census about Edward Stephens
Name: Edward Stephens
Age in 1870: 63
Birth Year: abt 1807
Birthplace: England
Home in 1870: Ontario, Wayne, New York
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Ontario
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Edward Stephens 63
Sarah Stephens 62
Simon Stephens 18
Joseph Stephens 25
George Stephens 16

Can't quite make out occupation in 1860. Something? *all sayer or layer? In 1870 he's a farmer.

As an aside, Paul, did you ever find any more info about that mysterious Tilton relative that we have in common? You know, the one who was last seen in a boat heading west. I've never been able to find any more.

No Margee. In fact I've kept an eye out for new Canadian records but never found out anything more about William or Catherine.

I seem to remember hearing something similar ( possibly on WDYTYA ? ) about funds being raised to send poor families abroad as, although expensive, it was still cheaper than keeping them in the Workhouse or on Parish Relief long term.

Sue

Anybody with an Ancestry subscription out there able to look up the record for Edwin Stevens on the New York Passenger Lists?

I looked yesterday, Paul, and I've just had another search but I can't find any of them on passenger lists, even using wild cards.

Don't know if this could possibly be them in 1880? But a son John, only 20 and born in England?


1880 United States Federal Census about Edwin Stephens
Name: Edwin Stephens
Age: 75
Birth Year: abt 1805
Birthplace: England
Home in 1880: Furnaceville, Wayne, New York
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sarah Stephens
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Butcher
Household Members:
Name Age
Edwin Stephens 75
Sarah Stephens 77
John Stephens 20

There's this as a slight possibility. For country of origin, the record says Ireland at the top of the list of passengers, and implies that that applies to all of them - so probably not him - but you never know - that may not be accurate.
No occupation or other detail given.
The date of voyage would fit with young Simon's age in 1851.


Boston, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1954 about Edward Stephens
Name: Edward Stephens
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1809
Age: 40
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Ship Name: Jane H Glidden
Arrival Date: 27 Nov 1849
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts

My worry here is that if Simon was 10 months old at the time of the 1851 census who fathered him in July 1850 if Edwin had departed in November 1849?

Looks like John Stevens/Stephens DOB was wrong in 1880 census posted above by Margee. so presumably he's the same John shown in 1851 and 1860 census posted above by Paul and Margee. Immigration year varies wildly:

1900 United States Federal Census about John Stevens
Name: John Stevens
Age: 56
Birth Date: Apr 1844
Birthplace: England
Home in 1900: Ontario, Wayne, New York
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1853
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Agnes Stevens
Marriage Year: 1888
Years Married: 12
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Stevens 56
Agnes Stevens 43
Eva Stevens 16
Maud Stevens 12
Clara Stevens 8
Adelbert Stevens 6



1920 United States Federal Census about John Stevens
Name: John Stevens
Age: 72
Birth Year: abt 1848
Birthplace: England
Home in 1920: Ontario, Wayne, New York
Street: Ridge Road
House Number: Farm
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1859
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Agnes A Stevens
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Naturalization Status: Naturalized
Occupation: Mason
Industry: Stone And Brick
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
John Stevens 72
Agnes A Stevens 62
Clara Nash 24 - daughter
Freda M Nash 4 - grand-daughter
[4 8/12]
Theda M Nash 4 - grand-daughter
[4 8/12]

Re Simon, if he was 10 months old in March 1851, he was born c.May 1850, therefore conceived c.August 1849.

Births Jun 1850 (>99%)
Stevens Simon Axbridge 10 330

Thanks ArgyllGran. you can see why I failed my Maths 'O' level! :-(

1860 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCQ8-KN6
Household ID: 509 , GS Film Number: 803876 , Digital Folder Number: 004237103 , Image Number: 00365
1870 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M823-GXC [with image link]
1880 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZND-17J
Affiliate Film Number: 0944
Sheet Number and Letter: 279D
Image Number: 00262

New York, State Census, 1855 - Wayne Co is missing


Magnify 4 clicks, then save image
https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu876unit#page/n363/mode/1up
https://archive.org/stream/10thcensus0944unit#page/n260/mode/1up
[The ages are transcribed accurately, so clearly John can't be a natural son - maybe he's adopted?]

It wasn't unusual for the man, or maybe an adult son, to emigrate first, check things out, get a job, line up accommodation, etc, & then send for the rest of the family.