Claude Montagu Morse Stephens (1891-??)

[ajm314159]

Who is Claude's wife Ann? When and where were they married? When and where did they die?

Claude Montagu Morse Stephens was born in Hatcham in 1890. His father Francis Edward Morse Stephens (1864-1936), was a music hall performer and organizer in Australia and England and also a writer (with his sister) of popular novels. Francis used a number of professional names including Francis Stuart, Charles Douglas Stuart, Frank St Clare, and Collis Karsland.  On the 1911 census he used Francis Stuart and reported his wife (Maud) and son Claude Montagu as “Stuart” rather than Morse Stephens.  This family are interesting because of this complicated identity, because they are very mobile, living in successive places, but also they are descended from my fourth great grandfather.

The brick walls:

Claude was apparently married to Ann between 1929 (when living with parents in New Malden) and 1939 (when living with Ann in Chichester). But I have never been able to find a marriage record and hence don't know who Ann is. She was born 27 Feb 1906.

The last information I can find has Claude and Ann living near St Alban's in 1957 (some trouble with a dog license) and afterwards nothing. Such an unusual name but I've never been able to find death records at all.

Any help on marriage, death, I'd be grateful.

[mckha489]

There is this death I cannot find a candidate for

Deaths Sep 1960

MONTAGUE-STEWART    Claude    69    Exeter

Also indexed as Claude Montague STEWART

[ajm314159]

Nice find, very plausible. Trust our Claude to choose a new alias to die with!

[Milliepede]

When did his first wife pass away?

It's possible he never actually married "Ann" but you could take a chance on his death certificate to see if she is mentioned - or might he have left a will? 

[ajm314159]

It's quite possible. Although she is Ann Morse Stephens on all sorts of records, 1939 register, electoral lists, newspaper article 1957.

If that's really his death record, but his name is an alias, it doesn't bode well for Ann being there at all.

[mckha489]

Someone else who appears out of thin air is

Deaths Jun 1972   (>99%)
Montague-Stewart    Xenia    27Fe1919    Crewe    10a   594


Could she be Ann?  Day and Month of birthday fit even though year does not.


In the same grave as Xenia

Deaths Jun 1975   (>99%)
LAWRIE    WILLIAM JOHNSON    16OC1907    CONGLETON/C    35   34

[ajm314159]

Well if “Ann” was born in 1919 she was only 20 on the ’39 register, whereas Claude was almost 50. I find that a Bit Off, though not impossible, of course.  And the birth date is a splendid coincidence.

Two thin-air Montague-Stewarts need explaining, no matter what!

[mckha489]

I was thinking the 1939 was likely correct and the dob on the death the one that was altered. Ie she had shaved some years off for some reason.  Vanity. 

[ajm314159]

Well, well.

In the Nottingham Evening Post, 5 Dec 1957, p 9, I find reported an affair of three unlicensed recently-born Alsatians at Radcliffe-on-Trent, with fines levied on Claude Morse Stephens and Ann Morse Stephens.

In the Crewe Chronicle, 18 May 1972, p 17, I find an obit for Mrs Xenia Montague Stuart.  Spelled with a -u- , which is how “Douglas Stuart” spelled his name. She is a well known breeder of Alsatians, and she is mourned by Mr W J Lawrie among others.

It is quite strong circumstantial evidence.

But of course we don't know if Xenia is her new name or her old name.