John James STEVENS & family

[Avondale16]

John James Stevens
Buried 08/03/1821 – aged 31 – named recorded as John Stevens (James omitted)
Indicates birth prior to 09/03/1790
Living at 4 Kingsmead Street, Bath

Son - Thomas Stevens buried also 08/03/1821 – aged 6
Indicates birth prior to 09/03/1814
Living at 4 Kingsmead Street, Bath
Baptised 12/02/1815 at the Chapel of St Mary, Walcot
Father given as John James Stevens – occupation Watchmaker
Mother given as Mary
Baptism record shows living at Kingsmead Street (no house number)

Son - John James Stevens baptised also 12/02/1815 at the Chapel of St Mary, Walcot
Birth stated as 17/03/1813
Father given as John James Stevens – occupation Watchmaker
Mother given as Mary
Living at Kingsmead Street (no house number)

Son - Joseph Stevens baptised 21/07/1816 at the Chapel of St Mary, Walcot
Father given as John James Stevens – occupation Watchmaker
Mother given as Mary
Living at Kingsmead Street (no house number)

I have a lot of information on his youngest son, Joseph (my 2nd great grandfather). He left Bath & went to work in London as a bootmaker. I have his first marriage certificate on which his father is not named & also his second marriage certificate where his father is given as John James Stevens (watchmaker).

Family history says that John James snr died in a fire (possibly house or shop fire) but I have not been able to prove this. If this is correct it begs the question did his son Thomas die in the same fire.

Family history also says that John James jnr went abroad (possibly Australia) & was never heard of again - was he transported?

Family history (from Joseph's obit written by his son) also says that both his parents died when he was still a boy.

Things I would like to find:-

evidence that John James snr was in trade in Bath
evidence of why John James snr & son Thomas were buried on the same day
the marriage of John James snr to Mary ??
the baptism record for John James snr (I have found a few possibilities in London)
the burial record for Mary
evidence of John James jnr leaving the UK

Does anyone have any information regarding this family they can share with me?

Keith Stevens

[Geoff]

Hi Keith,

There are 5 John STEVENS recorded as passengers on ships coming to Australia.

1849 John STEVENS on the ship Thetis to Port Phillip (Victoria) [ Reel 2144, [4/4816] Page 204

1853 John STEVENS on the ship Java, aged 26 yrs, Sydney or Newcastle, with Family.[Reel 2136, [4/4790]; Reel 2465, [4/4933]

1865 John STEVENS  to Sydney aged 48 yrs on the ship Hornet, [Reel 2139, [4/4798]; Reel 2483, [4/4989]

1878 John STEVENS aged 21 on ship Tyburnia to Sydney [Reels 2141, 2489]

1856 John STEVENS aged 25 on the ship Maitland, to Sydney or Newcastle [Reel 2138, [4/4793]; Reel 2474, [4/4962]

After looking at these I have very grave doubts that any of these, bar the 1st John to Victoria, could be yours as their ages and travel years do not go anywhere near your stated birth year.

Regards
Geoff

[Avondale16]

Thanks Geoff - a shame that there are known with his middle name

[Avondale16]

The baptism records for the sons of John James & Mary Stevens have a 'note' against each entry.

John James junior & Thomas were baptised on the same day in 1815 & Joseph was baptised in 1816 - against each entry is a 'note' referring to the other entry (i.e see page no 123 in the register)

Would anyone now why such a connecting note would be added?

Keith

[LinksterMJ]

Hi, have been researching John Stevens of Bothwell, Tasmania who is a descendant of mine. Hoping to identify his father and mother - any insights / confirmation would be greatly appreciated.

This webpage you should find most helpful:

http://steelsfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-tevens.html?m=1

Regards, Marcus Johnson

[Eyesee]

Researching James John STEVENS who arrived in New Zealand prior to 1848, possibly via Australia. Sometimes had a third christian name of Hopkins.

His death was registered in NZ under the name James STEPHENS in 1860 which has his age as 42. He was buried as James Hopkins STEVENS. Information on death certificates is not always true and the family may not have known exactly how old he was. At that time in NZ death certificates had very minimal info on them anyway.

Descendants are very adamant that he was from Bath, and some had researched in the area with not a lot of luck.

Could this James be the John James born 1815.

With the name Hopkins being given to some of his children as second names this is probably a family name from somewhere.

Ian C