I like what has been done with some Sheffield Cemeteries on this site .. but all my Stephensons were at Doncaster ... have any of the Donnie Cemeteries be put on line?

Although it would take some more work .. to get it straight in my mind .. I believe I possibly go back to a William Stephenson (married a Susannah Laurance... Laurence ..Lawrance / not sure on spelling), coachmaker of Doncaster, who died at 50 yrs old Aug 1806. Again, I believe he had sons Robert, William, John. This Robert had a son Robert (who may have moved to Sheffield area) William Jr married an Alice Carter at Cantley Parish (Doncaster) 1811 and had sons Henry (born Doncaster 1812) and William 1814 ... this William married a Mary Scott at Cottingham East Yorkshire and came to Canada in 1854. To many Williams .. I KNOW! I am decended from the one that went to Canada.

Does any one happen to have any Doncaster Cemetery Records .. I am not sure how many there are at Doncaster. I am looking for the surname Stephenson. William / John / Henry / George / Thomas / Robert are all names in that family .. Doncaster late 1700's .. early 1800's. Some deaths I do have are George  1807  .. Robert 1820, age 39  .. William 1825, age 18.. John Jan 1785 .. William Aug 1806, 50 yrs old Coachmaker ... William , coachmaker died: June 1820 (wife Alice Carter ... believe she died 1819)

Hi Ken.

I don't have any Doncaster burial transcriptions have you checked their webpage.

http://www.doncasterfhs.co.uk/

Kind Regards
Angela

Hello Ken. Do you live in Canada?

I live in the 'Donny' area and am a member of the FHS there. I traced the burial of my own brother who died aged 11 days and was buried at Cantley cemetery.  Did you manage to trace your burials? Please let me know.

Heather

P.S. Ken. There ARE too many Williams which makes it very confusing who is who. I understand as I had an uncle William, his dad (my grandad) was William, and HIS dad (gt. grandad) was William! Unless I have their details in front of me, I get them easily mixed-up!

Heather :-/

Hi Heather,

Sorry to hijack this post Ken but, I'd like to ask Heather's advice on researching my ASPINALL line in Doncaster. I have my 3x great grandfather John ASPINALL son of John & Ann (nee DODSON) born abt. 1806 being one of their 5 sons but, I'm trying to ascertain Baptisms/Marriages/Burials in or around Bentley/Askern (I think!).
ASPINALL appears to be a Lancashire (wash out my mouth) surname so I'm trying to  establish how they came to be in Yorkshire and, in particular in Doncaster.
Can you suggest where to look please?
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. My own ancestors moved from Yorkshire, then to Wigan for the coal mines, then to Doncaster, Yorkshire again for the coal mines. However this last move from Wigan was in the 1920's, long after your ancestors. I am amazed at the great number of people I speak to here whose ancestor's also moved from the mines in Wigan. Probably my ancestor's and their's knew each other!

Here in the Doncaster area, there were quite a few coal mines but I don't know how many mines there were during the period you mention.

Heather

My ASPINALL line was descended from John ASPINALL (who I'm trying to find out about), he was a publican in Doncaster (Dusty Miller) and he and his wife had 5 sons all going into various trades. One of their sons also John born abt. 1806 (trying to find his birth in Doncaster) was a hairdresser and came to Sheffield. He married Sarah Hatfield in 1826 in Rotherham, they're my 3 x great grandparents.
Are there any FHS groups in Doncaster similar to this where I can research families who lived in Doncaster?
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. John Aspinall the publican - does Dusty Miller mean, as I think, he worked in a flour mill? Or does publican mean he ran a pub (see I'm not that clever)? If he ran a pub, what was it called and where was it?

Heather

HaHa! The pub was called the "Dusty Miller" in Doncaster in the early 1800's
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. What was the address of the Dusty Miller, do you know? Was it actually in Doncaster town centre, or one of the nearby villages?

Heather

I believe he was landlord of the Dusty Miller around 1827 (doing it from memory, not recommended!) which I believe was located in Marshgate.
I believe that John ASPINALL had settlement in Arksey just after his marriage to Ann DODSON who did have settlement. I would like to find their burials if possible.
Regards,
Marlene

I know where Marshgate is - very close to the town centre.  I have just googled 'Dusty Miller Inn Marshgate Doncaster'. I selected the 5th choice 'The National Archives/Access to Archives' which took me to the NA homepage, with the heading Sheffield Archives. There's lots to go through though! I haven't checked so don't know if there is anything of interest.

Heather

Hi
If its any help there was Hanleys Flour Mill in that area of Donny, I think the
"Dusty Miller" pub was nearby
Francis

Thanks Francis, that could be where the name of the pub came from. Maybe in those days (early 1800's) the pub would be little more than a terraced house with ale being served through the front window, who knows.

Marlene

Marlene. I suppose you have already looked on the free bmd website. There are 35 Aspinall deaths for the Doncaster area from 1837 to 1900! Anyway, are any of the following 'yours':
[/b]June 1839  John  22 57

[b]Dec 1847  Ann  22 58
Mary Ann  22 58

June 1867  Ann 84 yrs  9c 319

June 1890  Mary Ann  57 yrs  9c 471

Heather

I suspect that the John Aspinall could be my 4x great grandfather because I think he was born abt.1780. He married Ann DODSON/DODGSON who died in 1867 in Doncaster.
John & Ann Aspinall had children George born 1801, Mary born 1802 died 1803, John born 1804, James born 1806, William born 1808 and Godfrey born 1810.
The children were all born in Doncaster but, I don't know where the parents John & Ann were born.
Regards,
Marlene
P.S. Just had another look at my info. John ASPINALL died in Doncaster 30.04.1839
His wife Ann ASPINALL died 21.04.1867 So I'm looking for their burial places please.
Incidentally, John & Ann Aspinall were married in Arksey 14.04.1800

Marlene. The death dates will help. Thanks.  

Heather  :)

Marlene. I have contacted Rosehill but they do not have records as far back as 1839 and 1867. However they believe that the Father at Arksey church may have them. Ring 01302 875266 if you want to ask him. Remember though that I am only suggesting Arksey as a starter, due to the fact that John and Ann Aspinall married there. Let me know how you get on, please!!

Heather

Thanks very much for going to so much trouble, I'll give them a call.

Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. Have you contacted the Father at Arksey yet? I'm dying to know if you have, and how you got on. Arksey isn't far from me.

Heather

Up-date, I've found out from another Aspinall researcher that John Aspinall is interred in St.George's Parish Church (after all that!).
"Aspinall John publican 3rd.May 1839 aged 61 (Marshgate died 30 April)."
My quest is now to found out where John Aspinall was from originally as Aspinall doesn't appear to be a Yorkshire name.

Many thanks for all your help as I know nothing of Doncaster area.


Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. Is he interred inside St Georges Parish Church itself, or in the grounds? Also. what about Ann?

Heather :-/

Hi Heather,
St.George's Parish Church Graveyard (apparently).
His wife Ann Aspinall is in Hyde Park cemetery.
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. I will try to find out where St George's graveyard is, if you would like me to. I know where Hyde Park cemetery is. I will check at the fhs for the whereabouts of the MI's.

With regard to their son John born 1806 in the Doncaster Area, what is it about his birth that you want to trace?

St George's is now known as Doncaster Minster, for some reason or other.

Heather :-/

Hi Heather,
It's the John Aspinall senior who died in 1839 the one in St.George's Graveyard (the publican of the Dusty Miller) I'm trying to find out about, I'm trying to establish where he  came from to be in Doncaster, I'm unable to find his parents.
He was born about 1778 but, I don't know where.
His son, my 3x great grandfather born 1806 was in Shefield working as a Hairdresser when his crimes (stealing clothing) resulted in him being transported to Australia in 1834 and I have managed to find out about his life there from his descendants in Oz.
My goal now is to find John Aspinall's (born 1778) parentage.

Regards,
Marlene

I have not checked back for a while .. I see my area here has realy taken off ... but alas it is not about Stephenson .. LOL ... but that is alright.
My Henry Stephenson ... a farmer of Branton in Cantley parish died Dec 22 1882 ... and I believe the burial records for Cantley confirm this. He married a Mary Ann Hill at Doncaster in 1840. I have a marriage entry for his parents of a William Stevenson (Stephenson) and an Alice Carter who married at Cantley in 1811. My search for Henry in the old census's finds him at Doncaster in 1841 ... Hatfield in 1851 ... and then at Branton in Cantley 1861 .. through too 1881. In 1861, I find him working as a farm hand for his Uncle William Carter ... this same Uncle having passed away by the 1871 census ... so Henry now has his farm. Henry had 3 (possibly 4) daughters and one son ... Thomas ... but alas I believe son Thomas died at the South Yorkshire Asylum in 1913 ... so that would have ended that line of Stephensons.
I live near London in Ontario Canada

Hi Ken,
Sorry about hijacking your initial post, I really must apologise.
I hope that someone with Doncaster connections  can assist you in your search

Regards,
Marlene

Ken. I have just read your message. I live close to all the villages you mention so will see if I can find the MI's. I am due to go to the local fhs for myself and Marlene but can't say exactly when. I will let you know when I have anything.

Bye for now, Heather. ;)

Quoted from Heather Webb Ken. I have just read your message. I live close to all the villages you mention so will see if I can find the MI's. I am due to go to the local fhs for myself and Marlene but can't say exactly when. I will let you know when I have anything. Bye for now, Heather. ;)

Isn't she lovely!
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. I am going to make the effort and go to the fhs this coming week to look for some MI's . I have found that sometimes they provide much information. My own side of the family didn't have many headstones due to the cost, but my husband's did.

Thorne has more than one graveyard/cemetery. We were looking for any of my hubby's ancestors at the time but he was strangely 'drawn' to one particular old graveyard. As I methodically checked the stones, he just marched to one particular area. He found 3 stones for his ancestors, all providing lots of information, but one in particular stood out. The top of it had a ship's wheel engraved and said the following:-  

'In loving rememberance of George Webster, Shipwright, who died Jan 1st 1861 aged 28 years, interred at Grimsby. Also of Ann, his beloved wife, latterly the wife of John Shircliff of Thorne, who died Nov 7th 1890 aged 62 years...also of the above named John Shircliff who died Oct 5th 1896 aged 69 years'.

So from this inscription, we found that George had been buried at Grimsby (approx 50 miles away) although he was mentioned on this stone at Thorne (where he was born); his widow's date of death, and the name, and date of death, of her second husband!

This was really helpful, as you can imagine!  However, when we sent for George's death certificate it said that the cause of death, on New Year's Day, was as a result of falling into the dry dock at Grimsby! Poor man, we presumed that he must have been out celebrating the night before on New Year's Eve! On checking through old newspapers at Grimsby library, we found that he had in fact fallen into the dry dock whilst at work there a few weeks before. He had landed on his head and had blead to death over a period of weeks! The newspaper report was very detailed, and we both felt extremely guilty for thinking that he must have been drunk!

I hope I don't get into bother for this long message!

Bye for now. Heather :)

Marlene. I have just been checking your messages. You said on the 12 January (reply 26) that your goal was to find John Aspinall snr's parentage. Do you have a copy of the certificate for his marriage to Ann Dodson/Dodgson on the 14/4/1800? This would show their own father's names.

Heather

KEN. I have just drawn a rough tree to help me with all the Williams! I am going to the 'Donny' fhs this week so will let you know if I find anything.

Heather

Quoted from Heather Webb Marlene. I have just been checking your messages. You said on the 12 January (reply 26) that your goal was to find John Aspinall snr's parentage. Do you have a copy of the certificate for his marriage to Ann Dodson/Dodgson on the 14/4/1800? This would show their own father's names. Heather

Hi Heather,
No, it's on my ever growing "to do" list! I have found 2 descendants of John & Ann (nee Dodson) ASPINALL, one in U.S.A. and the other in Australia (descended from my 3x  great grandfather John junior Aspinall who was transported there in 1834).
All 3 of us are trying to determine the parentage of John Aspinall who livd in Doncaster at the Dusty Miller pub. I suspect that the surname is more Lancashire than Yorkshire but, I cannot find where John came from before he married Ann Dodson. I have information about Ann so it's John Aspinall who's the mystery. From information I have from these other researchers John Aspinall was born abt.1780 and died in Doncaster 1839. Their children George, Mary,John,James,William & Godfrey were all Baptised in Bentley, Doncaster.
I suppose it's a case of where to go from here but, as you suggest, the marriage entry could provide clues do you think?
Regards,
Marlene

Marlene. I have just returned from the fhs. It's so engrossing, I didn't realize what time it was!  I have checked burials, marriages and information on local pubs. Luckily, the archives are in the same building as the fhs, so I had a look there aswell. I will have to make a return visit though to check baptisms. Whenever I saw the name Aspinall, I wrote down the info -maybe some of it does not relate to your family, so you will have to decide what is relevant.

With regard to John Aspinall snr's burial, I looked on the microfilm/fiche for April and May 1839, but it was sadly unreadable, possibly due to age. I will look again when I go back.

In the burial records for Hyde Park cemetery I found that Ann Aspinall died on the 19/4/1867 and was buried on 21/4/1867 in grave I479. She was 84 years old, lived at Marshgate, Doncaster, and was the widow of John Aspinall, a Fellow Chandler (?). I have a plan of the cemetery.

In total there are 8 entries for burials at Hyde Park under the name Aspinall so I have that info if you want it. Incidentally, I note you said someone went to Oz, well one entry mentions an Alfred Aspinall. He died on the 8 July 1923 in Melbourne, Australia aged 64 years, but is mentioned here.

It was difficult finding John's marriage to Ann Dodgson, but whilst looking I found these:-

George ASPINALL to Elizabeth SHILLITO 23/11/1826 at Doncaster.
Godfrey ASPINALL to Mary A OXLEY 9/Sep/1828 at Doncaster.
James ASPINALL to Elizabeth GREAVES 22/10/1827 at Doncaster.
John ASPINALL to Elizabeth GREAVES 1/10/1827 at Doncaster.

Yes, I had to check the last two entries a couple of times, but that is how they appear.

At the archives, the entry only said that John Aspinall was publican at the Dusty Miller, Marshgate, Doncaster in 1827, so I didn't learn any more. When I asked for suggestions, a lady there said I could check the surname index for Doncaster. I found 7 different entries which are quite interesting. Let me know if you want them :)

I'm sure the marriage certificate for John ASPINALL(?) and Ann DODGSON will show the names and occupations of their respective father's. Have you not sent for it?

I couldn't find if anyone else is buried with Ann in I479. I can check with Rosehill Crematorium again to see if they have this information.

Bye for now. I will check with you again later this evening.

Heather :)

Just jumping in again ... I was told by other people that in Cantley cemetery there is no stone for Henry Stephenson ... but burial records confirm that he is buried there. Henry had 4 daughters ... Alice / Elizabeth / Eleanor / Harriet ... and a son Thomas (that I believe died at the South Yorkshire Asylum in 1913) Alice married an Alfred Toothill / Elizabeth a Charles Lee and Eleanor an Isaac Lake.
In an old letter (1985) that a distant conection sent me I have this info .... " I visited Cantley Churchyard .... Grama (Alice Toothill) & Elizabeth Lee were buried there. The old grave stones of the Hills & Stephensons have been removed for easier mowing of the grass. The only one remaining is a tomb-like type, for William Carter. Its close to the Church Wall & Vestry door."
My Henry Stephenson married a Mary Ann Hill at Doncaster 1840 ... my same connection also told me the Hill family had been at Cantley Mill

Hi Heather,
That's a lot of information to take in there, you have been busy! I can see from the Aspinall marriages which you found in Doncaster that they are the children of John & Ann Aspinall.
I'll print off the post and peruse it later when I can look at it alongside my (paper!) information. I've not yet compiled an actual tree as I'm still collating information and I'm a bit belt & braces when it comes to accepting what I read.
I'll be back!
Regards,
Marlene

KEN. Your'e not jumping in, you started the topic! Anyway, I have made one visit to the fhs today and am going again in a few days time. There is lots of info there which sadly (for you) isn't on the internet.

Cantley itself isn't far from me, but I think the actual cemetery is at Rosehill alongside the crematorium. I discovered a few years ago that my brother's twin was buried there after he died at the ripe old age of 11 days! He isn't in a grave of his own, or with family, but with other babies who died around the same time.

I will post you a reply with whatever info I can find.

Bye for now. Heather 8)

Going back in time, from Henry ... all my Stephensons seem to be found in the St George records at Doncaster ... back as far as a William Stephenson, Coachmaker who died Doncaster 1806, 50 yrs old (wife Susannah Laurence . lawrance) he had sons Robert (wife: Ann Moody) died Doncaster Jan 21 1820 age: 39 / William (wife Alice Carter) died Doncaster June 29 1820, age: 37 / and John (wife Jane Hague) bapted Doncaster  Aug 15 1784 ... not sure when died. Along with daughters Ann / Nancy / Elizabeth / Mary Ann / Harriott ... plus another John, who died as a child in Jan 1785
For my John and wife Jane ... I have an address from the census ... as Factory Lane Doncaster

Marlene. I will let you have the other info when you are ready.  ;D

My history is all in note books and I have quite a few certificates. One of my (many) New Year's resolutions is to draw up a tree to make it easier to follow, and to put the certs in sleeves. Don't hold your breath though!

I will check later. ;)

Heather

You can actually see Cantley Church (and the grave stones around it in the church-yard) quite nicely on Google Earth ... just go to Bessacarr ... east of Doncaster ... find Cantley Ln ... and moving away from Doncaster ... before you get to the round-about at School Ln ... about 2 main streets back ... you will see Church Ln .. go to the right ... up to next corner ... Walla ... Cantley Church.
I have never been there ... but hay ... I have Google Earth

Ken. The cemetery and crematorium are called Rosehill nr Cantley. My sons attended secondary school on Cantley Lane until last year, so I have passed many times. I did look on google just in case there was another, but I recognised the route. I am going to the fhs again later this week so will keep you posted.

My route to the school took me through Blaxton, Branton, Cantley and Bessacarr. I live close to Hatfield, so these are all the places you mentioned in your earlier posts.

I learned today that the graves from St Georges were moved when a bypass was built in Doncaster. I don't know where they were moved to though. I have already looked at some burial records for 1839 there today, but they were too old and faded to read from the microfiche (or maybe they didn't copy easily).

Bye for now. Heather :)

MARLENE and KEN

I have been in touch with the fhs again this morning. The information on the microfiche for St Georges couldn't be read (not by me anyway). I now know that the original documents are in the archives so when I go later this week, I will have a look. :)

MARLENE

When you decide to send the for marriage certificate of John Aspinall and Ann Dodgson, please let me know as I have some information that may help you. ;)

Heather

A search for my Henry Stephenson in the old census records (spelled Stephenson .. or Stevenson) ... finds Henry and wife Mary at Doncaster in 1841 (he was down as a cow keeper) ... in 1851 ... it took me a while to find him, but he shows up at Hatfield / Reg District: Thorne / Sub reg. Dist.: Epworth (with wife Mary Ann .. son Thomas .. dau's Alice..Elizbth .. Harriet .. and sister in-law Elizabeth Hill) ... and then he is found at Branton from 1861 onward untill he died in 82.
Henry's will ... leaves all his property to the dau's ... and Thomas is briefly mentioned ... a further search for Thomas (after 1882) I believe possibly finds him in the South Yorkshire Asylum ... where same Thomas died in 1913. I believe the house Henry had at Branton was taken over by his dau. Alice Toothill ( I have it that she died Jan 1921 at Branton) ... after his death.
There is a small death notice for Henry in Doncaster Gazette 29 Dec 1882 issue.

KEN. I'm just curious, but what adresses did they live at during the censuses? I may know the streets (if they are still there), or the farms.

Do you just want to know burial information? Also, as they moved around, are you sure where they are buried?

Without going back to read all your messages, you mention St Georges, and Cantley cemetery. There is (or was ) a St Georges Graveyard in Doncaster town centre. This was moved when a bypass was made quite a few years ago (don't know where they were moved to, yet). Also St Georges has been renamed Doncaster Minster (I think to give the town different status and to get more money from the government). The cemetery at Cantley is a different one.  Which graveyard/cemetery are they in?

Heather

Well I believe Henry is buried in the churchyard at Cantley Church, on Church Ln ... but if you jump back to his father ... a William died Doncaster 1820 and possible grandfather also William died Doncaster 1806 ... I would think they (all the William's) are in a Doncaster Cemetery..... but which one I do not know ... this earlier generation all show up as baptised St George Doncaster ... Henry's father would be the William Bapt St George's 18 Aug 1782 ... died June 29 1820 age 37.
Interesting what you say about the records for St George, Doncaster .. I believe history also records that there was a major Church fire (1853?) in which some records were damaged.
As to what this crazy genealogist is trying to do ... I am looking for anything that would aid my search further ... about my Stephensons at Doncaster 1780 - 1840's. So finding them in cemetery records in the time period would help .. possibly. As we are just talking of a common working family, I doubt if there was ever a stone put up.

Heather .. as far as the St George's records are concerned I would be interested in any record of Stephenson - Stevenson. But I have searched old records enough my self ...  to know that this may well be to big of a job ... exspecialy with records that are hard to read ... and not indexed. So possibly I am into, to big of a search here ... but I do THANKYOU ... very much for the looking that you did do for me. Again... it was interesting about how you found the old St George records almost impossible to read.

As far as any addresses I might have .... This old family of Stephensons were all coachmakers ... the furthest back William may have had his own Coachmaking shop ... he left a will, when he died in 1806 (which I have) and he left this same buisness to his son Wm .. and also mentions younger son John. Old records give me the streets of Factory Lane / High Fishergate / Nag's Head Yard: St Sepulchre Gate ... all Doncaster. I believe this is the old heart of Doncaster ... around the presentday railway lines.

Ken. What was the address of the coachmaking business? I know St Sepulchre Gate, but now there are two parts called St Sepulchre Gate East, and West. There is a pub called the Nag's Head, but I'm not sure where Factory Lane was, or is.

When the family lived in the surrounding villages, do you know the road/street names? I can't access the censuses on my computer as I have recently cancelled my subscription to ancestry.

Also, it was the microfiche of the St George's records that were unreadable (to me). The original books are in the archives next door to the fhs so I will check them later this week (provided they weren't destroyed in the fire).

Heather :)

Ken. Have just looked on google maps for Factory Lane and High Fishergate. I must have walked past them a few times when I used to work in town. Factory Lane isn't far from the railway station, and High Fishergate is near to the market and not far from the Fish Market! They say you learn something every day! You know more about the place than I do :B

Did the coachmaker make railway coaches? Your'e not related to Stephenson who made/designed The Rocket are you? Mind you, I don't know which part of the country he was from.

Heather :)

George Stephenson of "Rocket" Railway fame ... and his Son Robert (railway & bridge builder) were from the village of Wylam ... near Newcastle. Robert is buried in West Minister at London ... and I believe father George at Chesterfield just down fron Sheffield.
Am I related ... good question ... there was some feeling in my Stephenson family here in Ontario Canada ... that we were related ... one reative here in Ontario, even wrote up a family history ... conecting my Stephensons in with famous George ... BUT!!!!! I think she was wrong ... at least I have found no proveable proof for this claim.
Plus my Stephensons were making horse drawn coaches no doubt ... they would pre-date the Railway revolution ... but it is all very interesting.
P.S.     I sent you a P.M.

Ken. Just showing my ignorance again! I didn't realise that the dates were prior to the railways, oops!

Just checked the 1881 census  ;) and found that the only address given for Henry was Branton. How inconsiderate they were! Never mind. The more I read, the more intrigued I become, even if it's not my own family!

Heather

I read the pm. Thanks.

I have Henry Stephenson's will from 1882 ... got through the mail ... way back in time (when I first stated into this all consuming Genealogy thing) sent to me: Jan 11 1985: West Yorkshire Archive Service. Registry of Deeds, Newstead Road, Wakefield.
A very beutifuly writen will ... all in long hand writing. Henry seems to have had 3 small parcels of land ... discribed in the will as "situate at the four lane ends in Branton ..... same now used as a Primitive Methodist Chapel" There is more discription of this property ... and who was living at the time in at least 2 other cottages or buildings ... he left the 3 small lots to each of 3 daughters ... Alice / Eleanor / Elizabeth. But in the one census he is said to be a farmer of 8 acres.
Also one of the census  reports, gave his address as 10 Doncaster Road ... but as that was back in the 1800's ... don't know if that compares with present day addresses.

Ken. Doncaster Road is still there in Branton. There is a farm in Branton close to the side of the M18 motorway which I think has an old mill. The other side of the flyover is Cantley - the farm would have been there before the M18 so maybe it's address is actually Cantley.

With regard to Henry's will, didn't he leave any land to his son Thomas who later died in the S Y Asylum? I wonder if he had problems with his health from birth.

Do you have any birth/marriage/death certificates?

Anyway, am going to the archives in about an hour so will let you know if I find anything. After looking on http://www.freebmd.org.uk you will see that there are many Stephenson deaths in Doncaster. If you can access this, check to see which ones may be 'yours' and let me know.

Heather  :)

Have just checked the 1881 census  ;) and seen that Thomas was a farm labourer, and may have been about 72 when he died.

I think my Stephensons were mainly at Docaster 1780 - 1820 or so ... where as free BMD is all post 1837. But with that said ... Henry's will gives 3 daughter ... Alice / Elizth / Eleanor ... but when I find them at Hatfield in 1851 census .. there is a 4th one given .... Harriet ... in the BMD ... it gives a Harriet Stephenson died Jun 1891 ... or Harriet Stephenson died Doncaster Mar 1847 ... or Harriet Stephenson died Sept 1865 .... as she shows up at Branton Cantley paish ... working as a domestic in 1861 ... but not mentioned in fathers will in 1882 .... I would think the Sept 1865 ntry could well be her

KEN. I have been to the archives and found 4 burials. All were at St Georges Parish graveyard. In the 1960's the graveyard was dug up to make way for the road known as Church Way. The bodies were then all buried together at Cantley cemetery in one job lot!

I didn't see the actual burial records, but the transcripts that were used for the microfiches.  Here goes:-

22 Jan 1785  John, son of William Stephenson - blacksmith

16 Aug 1806  William? Stevenson - coachmaker - decline - 50yrs

31 Jan 1820  Robert Stevenson - coachmaker - 39yrs

5 Dec 1825  William Stephenson - painter - 18yrs

The burial for John in 1785 did not show his age. The one for William in 1806 does show the question mark next to his christian name, and 'decline' was the cause of death. Only the 1806 death shows the cause.

I didn't find the other burials as they may have been at Cantley. Their records are at Rosehill Cemetery/Crematorium so I will have to check with them direct.

I looked in the general surname index cards and found this reference, which may be your family;

STEVENSON John, coachsmith of Doncaster   wife and 3 children
Relief granted Dec 1829  PLD/2/2
Wife applies for additional relief to add to her husband's low-wage,
granted Jan 1830  PLD/2/2
Continued relief granted Jul 1830  PLD/2/2

Hope this is ok. I will let you know about the Cantley burials.

Heather :)

MARLENE. I have found details of 6 baptisms at Arksey! Let me know when you are ready.

Heather  :)

THANK-YOU very much ... you are telling me somethings I did not know ... that is the advantage someone in the actual area has ... over me ... a whole ocean away. I know that the St George Chuch had lost ground for the road way ... but did not know that gaves were moved. So thanks a lot ... for that info ... that tells me quite a lot.
And the info on John Stevenson (likely Stephenson) ... I think he was most likely a brother in my same bunch of Stephensons ... I aready know from hunting him up in census ... he was on Factory Ln  I believe the other John died 1785 ... was an earlier brother who died as a child ... so hence they used the name again for a later son that was born.
The Wm that died in 1806 ... had a will ... which I have
A search like this ... takes one back to the time period ... 1780 ... to early 1800's ... and starts one thinking ... what was Doncaster like in those early days. What was it like to be a blacksmith - coachmaker ... having possibly married 10 yrs before ... and maybe already lost 3 - 4 children ... with 2-3 having lived ... and maybe your wife dead from a sickness ... and very little money to keep going!!??

Ken. Have you ever sent for any death certificates from Doncaster?

Heather  :)

No ... the only actual cert. I have is for My William's .. that came to Canada ... son .. a Robert Stephenson ... bapt Cottingham Jan  1845. But I have not got down to busness and sent for any cert's fron Doncaster. My One William .. who married Alice Carter at Cantley in 1811 ... on Ancestry the whole Cantley Records are searchable there ... and it tells me who the witnesses were etc ... so there is quite a bit of info. there ... but again have not sent for official cert.

KEN. I rang Rosehill, Cantley to ask about the other deaths. The dates we are looking for are before Cantley was used, so they advised me to check the Hyde Park records (which I believe is the oldest cemetery in Donny). Guess where they are kept? Yes, at the archives where I have been today!!!Not to worry though, I am going again next week.

Can you tell me the family's address on the 1851 census? Also do the sums work for the age of Harriet on that census and her age at death?

Heather :)

Back in 1993 ... I had a record searcher do some looking for me. At that time ... she said she was at the 'Doncaster record office' ... not sure which place this was ... but this lady found ...... under Bonds & Allegations 1811 " Allegation: 19 Jan 1811 On which day appeared personally William Stephenson of Doncaster in the diocese of York, Coachmaker & made oath that he is 27 years old & upwards & a Bachelor & intendeth to marry Alice Carter of Bramton (Branton?) in the parish of Cantley in the diocese of York aged 22 years & upwards & Spinster in the parish church of Cantley in which said parish the said William Stephenson further made oath that she the said Alice Carter hath had her usual abode for the space of four weeks last past. Signed Willm Stevenson, Sworn before Thomas Wetherhead, Surrogate.
Bond: ' Know all men by these present that we William Stephenson of Doncaster in the county of York, Coachmaker & John Taylor of the said parish Joiner are bound by the sum of $200 19 Jan 1811. William Stephenson & Alice Cater are now licenced to marry. Signed Willm Stevenson & John Taylor Sworn by Thomas Wetherhead.' (Record seems to spell Stephenson both ways ... PH & V)
.... I put $, as I do not have the UK lb sign on my key board here in Canada

As to finding address's for my Stephensons in the 1851 census. When I go back to what I think that history is .... I'm back to a William Stephenson, Coachmaker (St Sepulchre, Doncaster) who had sons Robert ... Willim ... John. But of these 4 ... only John, would be alive at the time of the 1851 census. William Sr died at Doncaster in 1806 ... and both (sons) Robert and William died at Doncaster in 1820.
From a search I had done in 1993 ... I was told that records do show ..... ' William Stephenson of St Sepulchre, Doncaster paid a Water Rate in 1797 ... and Mr Stephenson of St Sepulchre: Water Rate 1789' .... I would think this is likely the same William Sr that died at 50 in 1806. His will from 1806 gives his coachmaking business to son William ... along with giving ... "support of my son and daughter John and Harriott" executors of same will were William Morley of Doncaster Timbermerchant and John Scott of Doncaster painter.

Ken. Yes, I saw the reference to payment of water rates at the Archives yesterday. I only saw them in the indexes and didn't have time to look at the actual record itself.

It's all very interesting, isn't it?

Heather

Another very interesting family event ... that I wish I knew more about ..... ' My Stephensons left Hull Eng late Sept 1854 ... landed at N.Y on Nov 12 ... and made their way to the Hamilton area in Ontario Canada ... at this time, they had 5 kids ... another 3 (I believe) were born Hamilton and they all came to Strathroy Ontario in about 1862 ... the father (William) was now killied working for the Great Western Railway in 1866.
In 1886 one of their sons born in Ontario ... an Edward Stephenson died at 30 yrs old at Strathroy Ont ... with his death notice saying he had taken a trip back to Eng ... some time before death .. and had his passage booked to go again ... and possibly marry a girl, that he most have met on that first trip.
A search of the old Strath. newspapers ... found mention of an Edward Stevenson going back to the old country in July of 1882.
Edward would have had family on his Mothers side (Scott) in and around Hull in E Yorks ... plus his Uncle Henry Stephenson & cousins at Branton in Cantley Parish .. near Donny.

Ken.How difficult it must have been for William's widow and children to carry on their lives in a foreign country, without any other family around! Did they stay in the area after his death?  And poor Edward's fiance in England waiting for him to return for their wedding. How did he die? How very sad.  

It seems strange how you refer to 'Donny'. I thought only us locals knew it as that!

Heather

  Well because I have the actual boat record at N.Y ... I know that the ship was called the 'Ross' a load of coal and 27 passengers ... my Mary Stephenson (Stevenson) and five children (her husband William must have come over earlier) and 3 Scott relatives plus a Wm Withernwick and Elizabeth Withernwick (I believe Mary Stephenson and the Elizth, were sisters) ... all this is to say, they were not all alone .. they brought relatives with them. I also know it took 7 weeks to come ... a long time on that old atlantic for all of October.
I have the Death notice for Edward in 1886 ... it is entitled 'Sad Death'... he died of pneumonia ... and had worked as a miller in a Strathroy grain mill ... he was single and lived with his Mother (Mary) and younger sister and brother-inlaw (Herb and Maggie Scott.... they were 1st cousins that married). And yes they all stayed in the area ... as Mary (the mother) was my ggg grandmother ... and I live in the area ... some 120 years+ later.
I have been on different family history internet sites in UK ... and see that Doncaster is called Donny by locals ... so I have done same   ;DLOL

Ken. Iv'e not forgotten you and keep checking your messages.Your family history is very interesting and thorough! You have certainly done some research.

I am going to look for the other burials in the register for Hyde Park later this week, when I return to the Archives.

Heather  :)

Well .. the funny thing about my Stephenson's ... is - they seem to be a family of labours (coachmakers) that were in the town of Doncaster 1780 to just the very early 1800s ... except for the posibility of the John who was a coachsmith ... any Stephenson - Stevenson found right at Doncaster in the later census that you can search ... I believe, is not my Stephensons ... but of coarse Henry was a farmer at Branton (the only one that does not seem to have been in the coachmaking and related trades) And even the William that married Susannah Laurence in 1779 ... I am not sure where he was from ... he may well have moved to Doncaster for enployment.

Back in 1985 .. I had the Doncaster phone book ... showing Stephenson ... photo-copied - and wrote at random .. too different Stephensons. But I found basicaly the same story ... any present day ( yes I know that was 25 years ago) Stephenson's at Doncaster only took their history back to possibly late 1800's at Doncaster ... with their relation moving there for employment. OH WELL ... I will keep trying!

Here is a short (hopfully SHORT  :-/) rundown of my search.
25 or so moons ago ... I gathered up what I could find here in Ontario ... I knew my Stephenson history pretty good, back to my gg grandfather .. an Alfred John Stephenson, a farmer near Strathroy here in Ontario, Canada .. who had come from England as a child. So ... talking to older relatives , plus teaming up with another self-made genealogist in the family... searching microfilm .. newspaper reports ... census on micro film etc ... etc. I found that my Alfreds parents were a William and Mary Stephenson ... with a stone for them in Strathroy cemetery ... but alas no dates on the old stone ... so off to search the cemetery records ... knowing the grave lot # etc ... gave me ' Mary Stephenson buried Apr 1897.
Further searching, told me that Strathroy newspapers were on Micro film back to 1870 ... upon which I found that my small town of Strathroy had two papers up untill the 1920's ... so off to search 1897.  Each paper had quite a large death report for my Mary (even though you would say ... she was just a commoner ... or no great importance ... except to me!!)
One paper stated ... "Mrs Stephenson was born at Cottingham Yorkshire England 78 years and 8 months ago and was one of a family of sixteen. She married Wm Stephenson at Doncaster in 1837"   while other paper gave ...." Deceased was born at Cottingham, Yorkshire England, Aug 31 1819, dau of Wm Scott. In 1837 she married Wm Stephenson of Doncaster Yorkshire England." (the difference ... that small words, like OF or AT, can make .. ;D) They came to Hamilton in 1854, and after eight years removed to Strathroy"
  My searching here in Ontario ... also found an earlier attempt at family history ... stating that my Wm had left a brother in Eng.   Quote "Henry Stephenson died Dec 22 1882 .. buried at Cantley Church, Branton England." ( no mention of where this was in Eng?)
  Now I jumped the pond ( by means of my mail box) ... and went looking for a marriage of Wm and Mary ... Doncaster or Hull area in 1837 ... but nothing!!!!
Then at Cottingham in Feb 1838 ... found  "William Stevenson, age 23, bachelor, Wheelwright, residence at time of marriage Sutton near Hull (father William Stevenson, Coachmaker & Mary Scott .. 21"... etc. A search of the Cottingham Parish records also found children Wm Edwin / Elizabeth / Robert S / Mary Ellen / Alfred J..... all baptised to them ... and as I already knew all those names ... I knew I had them.
Next a search of the census ... found them at Cottingham in 1841 and at Stoneferry, Sutton (just E of Cottingham) in 1851 .... "William Stephenson age: 35 ... Wheelwright .. born: Doncaster Yorks. Now a jump to Doncaster ... found  " Henry 1st son of William and Alice Stevenson bapt May 22 1813 /   William son of Wm and Alice Stephenson bapt Sept 1814 .... Now a look for Henry in the census ... found " Cantley Parish 1861 ... "William Carter .. head .. Unmarried .. age 62 Farmer / Henry Stephenson ..nephew age 48 born: Doncaster. Now to try and find the parents ... found me ... " Cantley Parish Jan 21 1811 William Stevenson married Alice Carter" other info, tells me this Wm was from Doncaster and Alice of Cantley. ** plus Bonds and Allegations 1811 ... same marriage, states William Stephenson .. Coachmaker made oath he was 27 years old & upwards.
  Maybe ... someone can tell me ... does my gen. search hold water ... in other words I'm I on the right track ...  I have spelled Stephenson .. or Stevenson ... as I found it in the records

Ken. I can't answer that last one for you. I sometimes wonder if I am on the right track with my own research as my family names are quite common. I just try to make sure that each generation follows onto the next without leaving any gaps. I personally like to have actual copies of certificates, as confirmation. Many of my ancestors were from Wigan, and also Ireland. I would like to see baptism, marriage and death records in parish registers and although Wigan isn't a million miles away, it is far enough! I have been there on a few occasions but I spend most of my time finding out where the information is. Then it's another trip back to check it. It seems to take up a full day which includes only about 1 1/2 hours researching, with the rest of the time being spent on driving and getting lost etc!

I don't mind checking the local information for you as it's not far for me, and it's very rewarding finding and looking at the old registers. I do get side-tracked though as I find other families' history also interesting - maybe I should wear blinkers!

I also have some newspaper reports for my ancestors which are interesting.

You have spent more time than me as I have only been doing genealogy for about 18 months, so maybe you are the expert! :)

Keep checking!

Heather ;D

Yes ... Wigan .. I also have a Nicholls family of Bridlington ... some of them moved to Wigan Lancs .. and to Ontario Canada. In my line an Edward Nicholls married an Ann Scott at Hamilton Ont ... then moved to Strathroy. Edwards brother Thomas followed ... and moved from Wigan to Strathroy.

I don't want to disagree with some-one in the area  ;D 'but' I think you will find that the cemetery at St George's (moved or not) is older that Hyde Park ... I am seeing 1856 or so ... for the stating date for Hyde Park ... where as St George ... original Church and cemetery ... are the oldest at Doncaster ... the church burned mid 1800's(1853?) ... but I am thinking that the cemetery might have gone back to the 1500's??

Ken. I checked the St Georges Graveyard records but couldn't find everyone. I couldn't check for the ones that may be at Cantley as those records are kept at Rosehill Cemetery/Crematorium (at Cantley). On then checking with Rosehill, they said that Cantley wasn't old enough so suggested I look at the Hyde Park records, which are. Hyde Park records are kept at the Archives, so I have to go back there.

Is this ok? St Georges may probably be the oldest graveyard, but I couldn't find George for 1807,  Alice for 1819 or William for 1820. They are the ones I will look for at Hyde Park. I think!

Heather  :)

This is getting to be like a run-around game   :) ... and it is not even your family!! I hope you find something of interest in all this ... for your self too.
But that would be William in 1806 ... and his son William in 1820 (& his wife Alice in 1819) ..... but if you found any Stephensons in that time period ... it would be interesting to know. If you did find anything ... I would owe you big time.

Ken. You wouldn't owe me anything! I like to help when I can. Anyway, when I get further back with my ancestors I know that some of them went to America. Maybe you could then help me! But that is a long way off yet as I haven't even found out everything about my grandparents!

I will check the Hyde Park records, hopefully in a couple of days, and let you know.

Heather  ;D

I also email back and forth with a lady that just lives about two streets from the old Cantley Church ... and she told me that she was at the Church and seen foot prints around the yard ... and believed someone had taken a photo to put on the Church site .... http://www.stwilfridscantley.co.uk ... and it is a good pic!

Ken. Yes the picture of the church in the snow is very good.

I didn't manage to do a return visit to the archives this week. I did have a booking for Friday, but realised a few days before that the date was the 6 February - my son's birthday! I hope to go again next week, providing the snow isn't too bad. Mind you, I don't think the snow in this country is as deep as your's in Canada!


Heather  :)

WELL .. we are having a much needed break ... 5 degrees C and sunny ... said to go to 7 - 10 degrees by Wed. For those who still think in F (like me) ... 10 is 50. I can hardly wait! Goodbye 70 percent of the snow ... hello FLOODING :B

I e-mailed the Doncaster St George Church .. now called Doncaster Minister .. and was told that they do not have Cemetery records ... they are at .. "Borough Archives Dept. in Balby"

Ken. Yes I know they are (see message 60). The Doncaster Archives are at Balby. I had hoped to go again last week, but I have been side-tracked with trying to trace my relatives WWI records. Don't worry though, when I go again, your family are on my 'to do' list. I have some books to return, so it won't be long before I do go.

How's the snow?

Heather  :)

AHH Yes W.W.1. I have sixteen letters that a Walter H Stephenson . of Strathroy area in Ontario Canada sent home to his family here in Ont ... all dated 1816 - 17 ... France , Belium. He wasn't killed ... and returned home and married ... but I am told he could not have children because of the war ... I have his enlisting papers ... which are on line for Canadians who joined up.

Another kind lady, who just lives around the corner from Cantley Church (Bessacarr) .. did some searching for me in the Church cemtery yard there ... and she found the brother (Henry) of my ancestor that came to Canada. The tomb stone reads 'MARY ANN the beloved wife of HENRY STEPHENSON of BRANTON who died Nov 18th 1871, aged 58 years ... HARRIET, daughter of the above, who died July 14th 1865, Aged 18 years ... ALSO THE ABOVE . HENRY STEPHENSON died Dec 22 1882 Aged 70 Years'
She was kind enough to sent a good photo to me by E-mail.

Ken. You are very lucky that your ancestors had gravestones. So far in my own research, none of my family had them.  I now find that if I walk through a graveyard, I cannot help but be drawn to some of them and have to read the inscription. Some can provide you with a lot of information.

Heather

Yes .. I agree .. that stone does solve one thing for me. For the longest time I could find my Henry Stephenson in the 1841 census, at Doncaster ... and from 1861 untill 1881 he is a farmer at Branton, Cantley Parish .. but I could not find him in 1851. Untill that is I got to use Ancestry .. which alowed me to search the names (but not specific to only one parish) and I found him at Hatfield ... Henry Stephenson / wife Mary Ann / son Thomas dau's Alice, Eleanor and Elizabeth ... but here was listed a dau Harriet .. which was a new one to me ... I figured she must have died young .... and the stone confirms it. PLUS, there is just something about seeing the names and dates on a stone!!

A kind lady on rootschat ... with access to the Cantley burial register .. found for me ' Henry Stephenson buried 26 Dec 1882 Branton age 70 / Mary Ann buried 22 Nov 1871 Branton age 58 / Herriet buried 16 July 1865 Branton age 18 / William Stephenson buried 27 June 1820 age 37 Doncaster.
The William listed here was one on my list, that I was trying to find at St Georges in Doncaster ... I believe he is Henry's father. So possibly Cantley is his last resting place ... not Doncaster.

I have made a good contact on RootsChat ... where a person with a lot of Doncaster records ... has found over 100 Stephenson - Stevenson burials in 3 separate Doncaster grave yards ... St George / Christ Church and Hyde Park. Now I just have to short it through ... they will not all be the same family of course ... and it covers a time period from 1500's untill 1900's. So thanks for the help I got on here ... and if I can plug another site ... thanks RootsChat