I'm looking for help (and/or advice) to get more on these two.
George Steventon married Mary Ann Shaw (but known in all other records only as Ann) on 24 May 1818 in Old Swinford (according to Worcestershire Marriages database on familyhistoryoneline.net)
From the 1841, 51 and 61 censuses, I know that both were born c. 1795/6, apparently in Dudley.
George died 24 April 1869 and Ann on 13 April 1868, both in Rowley Regis (I have their death certificates)
There was a family tradition, still strongly asserted in the 1940s, that an ancestor was Lifesguardsman Shaw who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Clearly the connection would be Ann Shaw, but what the connection is (if there is one) is unknown.
I would like to be able to trace them further back if possible, or just consolidate what I know/believe so far.
In the 1841 census (HO107; Dudley;Worcestershire; ED 34; Page: 10; ) they are living next door to a Joel Steventon and his family. Looking at the ages of George and Joel, I would guess they're brothers. Both called some of their children biblical (?) names (Noah, Gideon, Nimrod, Dorcas, Zillah) and more normal names.
From the census returns I know that George and Ann Steventon had the following children:
- Ephraim (b. c. 1819, d. of typhus fever 5/1/1845 in Derby End, Dudley)
- Sarah (b. c. 1821 and so far untraced later than the 1841 census)
- Elicabeth (b. c. 1824 and so far untraced later than the 1841 census)
- Jemima (b. c. 1831 and so far untraced later than the 1841 census)
- Dorcas (b. c. 1834, married George Longstaff & moved to Barrow-in-Furness mid 1880s, d. 8/10/1889
- Nimrod (b. c. 1836, d. 10/1/1858 in a lift shaft accident at the British Iron Company's Works in Rowley Regis
- Zillah, aka Priscilla, b. 25/11/1838 in Derby End, married Henry Smith 9/6/1856 at Netherton Parish Church, like Dorcas & her family, Priscilla and her family moved to Barrow-in-Furness, but earlier - they were there by the 1871 census. They then moved to Blackpool between 1874 and 1876. She died 28 Apr 1893 (or 1892 if you believe her gravestone over the death certificate!).
Although Priscilla/Zillah (her name is slightly different every time it appears: she was illiterate throughout her life - marrying a Smith must have been good for her, as it meant she wasn't asked how Steventon was spelled - there's every variation of that too!) is my ancestor and link to George and Ann, it would be interesting to fill in the gaps on their other children.
Any and all assistance and referrals to on-line databases welcome. If the only other option is my going to a local records office, which would that be? Dudley & Rowley Regis seem to have moved county several times, at least according to the census returns.