Lesley Shiner
Stories
John
Ward
My great great grandfather John Ward was born around 1839 in Longford, Ireland, to John and Sarah Ward. At some point before 1861, he arrived in Liverpool, England, and is found boarding with the Roach family on the 1861 census, at York Square, Great Crosby. He is recorded as an agricultural labourer.
John served as a steward aboard steamships for several years; the first record I have found for him is a crew list for the City of Paris steamship which he joined on 28 November 1866; the crew list states that he was previously on the ship City of London. When the City of Paris came back into port at Liverpool on 19 January 1967, John was discharged (this was common practice, they would either sign back on for the next voyage, or join another ship).
Whilst home between voyages, John married Catherine Roach (daughter of the family he was lodging with) at St Peter and St Paul’s Catholic Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, on Sunday 7 August 1870. His profession was recorded on the marriage entry as ‘Mariner’ and he returned to sea the very next day for a month’s voyage. The marriage certificate gives his age as 29, and Catherine’s as 24, giving us an approximate birth year of 1841 for John and 1846 for Catherine.
On the 1871 census, John was at home with Catherine, and his 14yr old nephew John Ward, and recorded as a ship steward.
John and Catherine had four children – James Alexander born in 1872, John Joseph in 1875, Sarah Ann in 1877, and George Augustus in 1880. Despite much searching, no baptism records have been found for any of the children.
He was away for the 1881 census, and Catherine was staying with her parents.
The record for the ship Catalonia for 18 April 1883 shows that John was expected to join the ship but for some reason failed to do so. No more crew lists relating to him have been found. Catherine is recorded as a widow on the 1891 census, therefore John died somewhere between April 1883 and 1891. Deaths in Liverpool have been checked without success (there are several John Wards but none are our John), and records on deaths at sea have also been checked without success. No burial records have been found for him either.
What happened to John? We will keep searching!
A list of John's ships - click to magnify
Elizabeth
Mitchell
Elizabeth was born in April 1852 in Exeter, Devon, to Richard and Mary Ann Mitchell (nee Satterley). She was baptised on 3 June 1852 at St Sidwell’s Church, Exeter, her parents recorded as Richard and Mary Ann, and Richard’s occupation as ‘plumber’ of John Street, New Town. The present St Sidwell's is a 1950's replacement for the much modified Saxon church which was destroyed in the May 1942 bombing raid.
On the 1861 census, her father Richard was recorded as a plumber and gasfitter, unmarried and lodging with another family. No entries on the census have been found for Mary Ann and Elizabeth, nor can any further baptisms of children for this couple.
Elizabeth was recorded as a housemaid on the 1871 census, living at Inglewood, Belgrave Road, Tormoham, Torquay, working for Richard Richards, a retired merchant.
Elizabeth married Henry Miller on 18 May 1872 at Ashprington Parish Church, when she was 20 years old. They had four children; William Henry was born in January 1873 in Ashprington; Mildred Alice in April 1875 in Littlehempston; Elizabeth Ellen (known as Ellen) in January 1877 in Newton Abbot; and Florence May on 10 August 1879 in Littlehempston.
By 1880, Henry had deserted Elizabeth and was living in Croydon, Surrey with his new ‘wife’ Sarah Crowdy (no marriage record found but they recorded themselves as husband and wife on the census). Henry and Sarah had 5 children together – Charles (1881), Mildred Alice (the 2nd !) (1883), Frederick William (1889), Albert Edwin (1892) and Florence Emily (1894).
In 1881, 26yr old Elizabeth was living in Newton Abbot Workhouse with her daughters Mildred, Ellen and Florence. Her son William Henry was living with his paternal grandfather John Miller in Littlehempston.
Her son Charles Harry was born on 20 December 1887 in Newton Abbot Workhouse, Devon, father unknown.
On the 1891 census, Elizabeth was still in the workhouse, with her daughter Florence and son Charles. Her daughter Ellen was living in Littlehempston with her paternal grandfather John Miller, brother William boarding next door.
In 1894, the workhouse was involved in a huge scandal. Elizabeth was mentioned in the proceedings, and on 21 April 1894 it stated that she lived at No 5 Court, Wolborough, Newton Abbot (this is close to the workhouse), and working at the workhouse as a wardwoman.
Elizabeth married George Stephens in Newton Abbot, Devon, in July 1894 when she was 39 years old.
On Saturday 8 September 1894, her daughter Florence was mentioned in the East & South Devon Advertiser. Florence was apprenticed to a lady called Mrs Crocker of Hennock.
On Saturday 17 November 1894, Florence was again mentioned in the East & South Devon Advertiser.
There is no baby recorded in the GRO indexes for a Miller in 1894/5.
Florence seems to have had a hard life, as she was mentioned in the paper again on Saturday 8 December 1894, after being assaulted by an old woman.
In Oct 1900, Elizabeth's daughter Mildred Alice married Frank Nicholls in Newton Abbot. They had 5 children – Mildred Ellen (1901), Frederick Charles (1902), William Frank (1904), Bessie Alice (1907) and Stanley George (1910).
On the 1901 census, Elizabeth was still at No 5 Court, Wolborough, living with George and Charles.
In April 1902, her son William Henry married Kate Lavers in Totnes, Devon. Their son Cyril Henry Miller was born in 1904.
In April 1904, her daughter Ellen married Thomas Henry Stephens (whether he was related to Elizabeth’s husband George is yet unknown). They had two daughters – Hilda May (1905) and Olive Ellen (1909).
Her youngest son, Charles, married Thurza Melina Osborne on 13 November 1909 in Taunton, Somerset. Thurza was from Chard (near Taunton) but had been working at the Dorchester Hotel, Dorchester, as a cook. Charles drove ladies from Newton Abbot to the hotel, and there he met Thurza. They settled in Taunton and had three children – Henry Charles (known as Harry) (1910-1974), Albert Victor (1912-1993) and Melina Elizabeth (1919-1999).
They were still at No 5 Court on the 1911 census, George recorded as an Engine Fitter in the Iron Foundry, and Elizabeth recorded as a Certificated Midwife. All her children (apart from Charles in Taunton) were living nearby – William, Mildred and Ellen with their families, and Florence with her aunt Elizabeth Miller.
Her husband George passed away in December 1921 in Newton Abbot, Devon, at the age of 77. They had been married 27 years.
There are two possible entries of death in Newton Abbot for an Elizabeth Stephens – one in Sep 1921 and one in Mar 1928. I am currently awaiting death certificates to see which one is our Elizabeth.
John
Burgis
Coming soon!