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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cornwall => Topic started by: weemalla on Friday 04 June 21 07:39 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to find details of George Stephen(s) birth, death, Marriage details. What i have is that his daughter Jemima was born in Cornwall Oct 1812, married in 1848 in Stepney, London and emigrated to Australia 1856 and her marriage cert to James Tonkin give father as occupation Tailor. Nothing more is known of George or his wife Ann Howett. All help is appreciated.
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Have you tried searching CornwallOPC
https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/
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Presumably you are looking at the Jemima Stephens baptised in London in 1824 (born 1812) with the parents you mention. That baptism mentions that Ann's parents were Thomas & Elizabeth Howett
Jemimas sister Grace was baptised the same day bn 1816
ADDED
Grace married John Henry Jones in 1844 at Lambeth
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Jemima also had brothers Joseph born 1821 Henry born 1824 also baptised Non conformist. All images on FindMyPast. There is a possible sister Eliza bn c1810 bapt Holborn Lying in hospital
George Stephens
Ann Howett
Marriage Aug 1805
Newington St Mary
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Can someone look at the Census to confirm his occp is retired tailor:
1871
Plymouth, Devon
George Stephens 83 Head born London (1788)
Charlotte Frances Stephens 66 Wife born Hampshire
Jane Bickford 21 Servant
145/2113/78/31
Age may be a little out to have married 1805 but wife is much younger!
Marriage 1831 Romsey, Hampshire to Charlotte Frances Burton (cant confirm he is widowed)
1851 George is a Fund Holder (living in Devon)
1841 in Cornwall with Charlotte and 4 children, all born out of county except for Charlotte age 1
Occp Independant
Cant see them in 1861.
I may be way off but work looking at.
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Mmm...
I think I am seeing retired sailor, but I agree, worth the investigation.
Quite possible an error of transcription within the collection process.
Sue
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I am seeing retired sailor, Is this a miss typo ie Tailor?
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I am seeing retired sailor, Is this a miss typo ie Tailor?
I too, can read it as sailor.
ADD.... the enumerator may have mis-read when writing up the census return . .. or back when his daughter married, the parish scribe may have mis-heard .... but in longhand "sailor" and "tailor" are easily mis transcribed.
JM
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I think it is worth noting that births to the couple (or to one or the other of them) started well before the marriage listed by Weemalla above as 1848.
The eldest on the the shipping list of Jemima's arrival with them, is Anne aged 24 years.
Per Steadfast arriving in Geelong Victoria in 1856.
A son, Samuel is 16 years on arrival and his death in Victoria in 1928, records his parents as James TONKIN and Jemima STEPHENS
Sue
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The marriage in 1848 info came from Ancestry in London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 > Tower Hamlets > Saint Dunstan and All Saints > 1848 has a James Tonkin of full age, widower, blacksmith of Stepney son of Enoch Tonkin, blacksmith married Jemima Stephens of full age, spinster of Stepney daughter of George Stephens, tailor 15th October 1848 at the Parish Church of Stepney
Witnesses - Jane(?) Budding Barber and Ethiel(?) Price”
The question is "was James really a widower or was that an attempt to cover up the births out of wedlock?"
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Here is a snip from the marriage. George's occupation
Yes it can be read as TAILOR, as in its capital letter matches the capital letter of the GROOM but NOT the capital letter of the groom's father's surname.
Yes it can be read as SAILOR as its capital letter matches the capital letter of George's surname and of the capital letter in Smith immediately above
Yes, it can be read as JAILOR as its capital letter matches the capital letter of the given name of the marriage numbered 66(JABEZ, a Biblical name) and it also matches the capital letter of the bride's given name, (Adding, in marriage numbered 64 i.e. in the marriage with George as father of the bride, as in George the focus of this thread).
JM
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1848 .... so during the reign of Queen Victoria when her husband was very much still alive. May I mention that in New South Wales and in many of the British colonies, that a Widow was often simply a female with children to care for, but without a husband to support her. The husband may have died, but he may have quit the marriage and moved to another colony, or he may have been left behind when the female quit the marriage .... or either of them may have been convicted of a criminal offence and been sentenced to transportation beyond the seas.... Is it likely that a Widower was simply a male person with children to support but without a female companion to manage his household, including his children ?
Is is possible that it was not until the death of Queen Victoria's husband (14 December 1861) that the everyday meaning of the words WIDOW and WIDOWER became precise and less open to a gentle open view by clergy?
JM
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The marriage in 1848 info came from Ancestry in London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 > Tower Hamlets > Saint Dunstan and All Saints > 1848 has a James Tonkin of full age, widower, blacksmith of Stepney son of Enoch Tonkin, blacksmith married Jemima Stephens of full age, spinster of Stepney daughter of George Stephens, tailor 15th October 1848 at the Parish Church of Stepney
Witnesses - Jane(?) Budding Barber and Ethiel(?) Price”
The question is "was James really a widower or was that an attempt to cover up the births out of wedlock?"
Well, one cannot be certain without certificates, but here are the births of children possibly of the correct James TONKIN and Jemima STEPHENS.
TONKIN, Enock John mms STEPHENS (John on the ship's passenger list)
GRO Reference 1840 J Quarter
SAINT PANCRAS Volume 01 Page 273
TONKIN, Samuel mms STEPHENS
GRO Reference 1843 M Quarter
SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01 Page 35
An Australian death
John Enoch TONKIN
Born abt 1841
Died 1880
In Victoria Parents James & Jemima STEPHENS
Reg 4300
Sue
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1841 census - Henry Street, St Pancras
James Tonkin 34
Jemima Tonkin 28
James Tonkin 6
Ann Tonkin 4
John Tonkin 1
ALL BORN Middlesex, England
HO107/684 bk 2 f22 p39
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Interestingly, the death notice of James TONKIN in 1865 in Victoria states "late of Oxford Street, London"
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147560959
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CORNWALL and birth indexed at GRO
John TONKIN
Quarter 3, 1840
Volume 9, Page 271
Truro
JM
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Census 1851
At a school called Morden House? in South Street,Greenwich, two boys, John TONKIN aged 10 years and Samuel TONKIN aged 8 year as scholars.
Both born London.
Sue
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It is possible James Tonkins 1st wife (if she existed) was still alive and he wasnt free to marry Jemima until 1848.
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Is this them in 1851 in St George Hanover Square? Not found brs for children Jane and Frederick - can anyone else?
James Tonkin Head Male 45 Dorset
Jamima Tonkin Wife Fem 39 Cornwall
James Tonkin Son Male 15 St Pancras, Middlesex
Jane Tonkin Dau Fem 3 St George, Middlesex
Frederick Tonkin Son Male 2 St George, Middlesex
Mary Ann Payne Serv Fem 16 Mile End, Middlesex
Elizabeth Greenwood Serv Fem 17 Ashby, Berkshire
Caroline Stola Serv Fem 19 Guildford, Surrey
EDIT: I can't access the image at present but wonder if James and Jemima's POBs have been transcribed incorrectly, or if they've been transposed so it was James who was born in Cornwall.
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Possible 1851 entry for daughter Ann Tonkin (shown in rosie99's 1841 listing), at school in Lewisham, Kent.
Ann E Tonkin Scholar Female 14 London, Middlesex
...although neither census entries tie in with Ann Tonkin arriving in Australia in 1856 age 24 yrs, as per sparrett's post. Could the entry on the passenger list be a different Ann altogether? There's Ann Tonkin bp 1832 London NC to John and Isabella, and she's in St Luke's Middlesex in 1841 with these parents.
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I couldnt find births either
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Looking at the 1848 marriage witnesses for clues, there’s a bp for Jane Budding Barber 1831 Stepney (but she’d only be 17-18 yrs old for the 1848 marriage) to Robert and Jane. Also a marriage for Robert Barber to Jane Price 1830 Stepney. In 1841, Robert and Jane Barber are with their children in Stepney. Also with them are members of the Price family, including Ethel Price who’s the second marriage witness. Ethel was born c. 1811 Middlesex. No idea if or how this helps.
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About the girl who arrived in Victoria with Jemima in 1856.
At her death as MILWARD, her parents are named as
James and Jemima
Annie Eliza MILWARD
Born about 1838
Age 81
Death Place Hawthorn, Victoria
Father TONKIN Jas
Mother Jemima STEPHENS
Year1919
Reg 12763
Sue
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Question for weemalla: did James and Jemima have a direct desendant Enoch C Tonkin born 1886 Australia? If so, in 1911, he's in Grampound in Cornwall, a mercantile sailor, nephew to Elisha and/or Sarah Trudgian. It stood out because James Tonkin's father was Enoch and one his sons was John Enoch. Just wonder if this may be some connection back to Cornwall.
Elisha Trudgian (39 yrs) married Sarah Jane Tonkin (22 yrs) on 28.2.1888 in St Buryan, bride's father Enoch Tonkin, witness Enoch Tonkin (source COPC).
Looks like Sarah Jane Tonkin's father was Enoch Tonkin bp 1826 St Levan to Richard and Sarah, so no direct descent through James and Jemima after all, although you do wonder if the name Enoch might tie the family together somehow.
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About the girl who arrived in Victoria with Jemima in 1856.
At her death as MILWARD, her parents are named as
James and Jemima
Annie Eliza MILWARD
Born about 1838
Age 81
Death Place Hawthorn, Victoria
Father TONKIN Jas
Mother Jemima STEPHENS
Year1919
Reg 12763
Sue
Ah, so she was closer to 18 when she arrived in 1856, which would fit the census ages.
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Question for weemalla: did James and Jemima have a direct desendant Enoch C Tonkin born 1886 Australia? If so, in 1911, he's in Grampound in Cornwall, a mercantile sailor, nephew to Elisha and/or Sarah Trudgian. It stood out because James Tonkin's father was Enoch and one his sons was John Enoch. Just wonder if this may be some connection back to Cornwall.
Elisha Trudgian (39 yrs) married Sarah Jane Tonkin (22 yrs) on 28.2.1888 in St Buryan, bride's father Enoch Tonkin, witness Enoch Tonkin (source COPC).
Looks like Sarah Jane Tonkin's father was Enoch Tonkin bp 1826 St Levan to Richard and Sarah, so no direct descent through James and Jemima after all, although you do wonder if the name Enoch might tie the family together somehow.
Just reposting this as it mentions an Enoch ;D
The marriage in 1848 info came from Ancestry in London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 > Tower Hamlets > Saint Dunstan and All Saints > 1848 has a James Tonkin of full age, widower, blacksmith of Stepney son of Enoch Tonkin, blacksmith married Jemima Stephens of full age, spinster of Stepney daughter of George Stephens, tailor 15th October 1848 at the Parish Church of Stepney
Witnesses - Jane(?) Budding Barber and Ethiel(?) Price”
The question is "was James really a widower or was that an attempt to cover up the births out of wedlock?"
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Yep, that's what drew me to Enoch Tonkin in Grampound in 1911. It looks to be a family name and, as mused upon above re the 1851 census, I wonder if James Tonkin was born in Cornwall rather than Jemima.
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Possible 1851 entry for daughter Ann Tonkin (shown in rosie99's 1841 listing), at school in Lewisham, Kent.
Ann E Tonkin Scholar Female 14 London, Middlesex
...although neither census entries tie in with Ann Tonkin arriving in Australia in 1856 age 24 yrs, as per sparrett's post. Could the entry on the passenger list be a different Ann altogether? There's Ann Tonkin bp 1832 London NC to John and Isabella, and she's in St Luke's Middlesex in 1841 with these parents.
About the girl who arrived in Victoria with Jemima in 1856.
At her death as MILWARD, her parents are named as
James and Jemima
Annie Eliza MILWARD
Born about 1838
Age 81
Death Place Hawthorn, Victoria
Father TONKIN Jas
Mother Jemima STEPHENS
Year1919
Reg 12763
Sue
Ann Eliza TONKIN was previously married before the voyage to Australia.
Image on Ancestry Henry Harman SCHRODER , widower to Annie Eliza TONKIN, spinster
October 1855. All Hallows Barking London. The section ‘with consent of” is struck through.
The signature of the second witness is hard to decipher, but it looks a lot like STEPHENS to me.
Sue
ADDING- possibly Maria Susannah STEPHENS ??
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Question for weemalla: did James and Jemima have a direct descendant Enoch C Tonkin born 1886 Australia? My answer is "Not that i know of"
Also If James Tonkin, Husband of Jemima has been married previously i could understand the 7 children born before the marriage in 1848 would have the Tonkin name, but conversely if Jemima had been married earlier then i would not expect the children to have the surname Tonkin. Also the death cert for James has their son Samuel as the informant. Samuel would have been about age 11 when James died and i would have thought he would have know who his birth parents were.
Also when they emigrated to Aust in 1856 would there have been any restrictions on un-married couples with 7 children travelling. Could this be why the married so late?
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Also when they emigrated to Aust in 1856 would there have been any restrictions on un-married couples with 7 children travelling. Could this be why the married so late?
No.
There was no investigation into the status of passengers embarking.
No marriage or birth certificates or other proof of identity. For this reason you could stretch ages a little and fabricate occupations.
The impediment to an earlier marriage had nothing to do with the immigration.
Anyhow, it was 8 years prior to the immigration.
The child Enoch Charles Tonkin born in Victoria in 1885 to Thomas Tonkin and Jane Elizabeth Mullidge has no apparent connection to your branch of the family.
Sue
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The child Enoch Charles Tonkin born in Victoria in 1885 to Thomas Tonkin and Jane Elizabeth Mullidge has no apparent connection to your branch of the family.
Perhaps not in the direct line but Tonkin is a Cornish name and Enoch not that common so there may be a connection further back. Given weemalla is trying to found out more about the Stephens family, and it's the 1851 census that says Jemima was born in Cornwall, it would be interesting to see the image to know exactly what is written for hers and James' POBs.
The transcription for James says Dorset but there's no obvious bp for him there, and only a handful of Tonkins in BMD and census records. If there's a chance James and Jemima's POBs were transposed, or mistranscibed, weemalla may need to look somewhere other than Cornwall for the Stephens family.
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Hi
1851census image for the Tonkin household
There are a few cross outs regarding places of birth for this household.
Note the address of Oxford street ties with the previously mentioned comment in James' Australian death notice.
Sue