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Hello all, I have hit a huge wall and really need some help. I have posted on a couple of other forums but, so far, have had no success. Anyway, I am looking for a man named William Stevens. He is my Great Grandfather and apart from a few details I know next to nothing about where he came from. Sadly it means an entire branch of my tree ends rather abruptly! I have searched and searched but have never been able to find any evidence of him. There are many (many!) William Stevens out there but I have no proof that he is any of them...


William Stevens was born in about 1885/1886/1887 (this date has been backed up by his marriage certificate and his military records). Using the date on his military records it seems 19th December 1885 could be exact.

His father was called William Stevens (as seen on marriage certificate) and had died before 1915 (again, the marriage certificate states this).

He married Sophie Mary Cogger 11th February 1915 and it was witnessed by Ellen Simpson (unknown person) and Esther Ann Cogger (Sophie's Stepmother). They were married in Medway, Kent. His address at the time was 1 Bartholomew Square, Rochester, and I know this to be the address that they then lived at.

William Stevens was called into military service in 1916 and also discharged in 1916 due to injury. The story in my family has always been that he came back from the war a changed man and eventually drank himself to death. He received a War Badge in 1917.

William and Sophie had six children together. Three of them are now dead and were Frederick (1915 - 2002), Lilian (1916 - 2009) and Phyllis (1922 - 2010). I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention the others as they could still be alive - all three of the other girls were sent away after they were born and only one was ever reunited with my Grandmother (Phyllis).

He died in 1922 before the birth of my Grandmother so she never knew him. She knew her Stepfather, Mark Fisher, as her Dad.

One of the problems is that he was basically erased from my family. There was barely any mention of him every again and my Grandmother didn't know anything.


Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
David.

Hi Tracey,

The address on his marriage certificate was 1 Bartholomew Square, Rochester, Kent.

This also matches the address on his 1916 military records although it has been transcribed completely wrong on those.

Thanks.

Where does his military records say he was born?

Sorry i deleted that, i realised i had read the address after i had posted.... just been ding some provisional searches.

Tracey x

The military records do not give a place of birth. I can tell you his height, his eye colour and even his build, but not his place of birth :-(

Hmmm, how unusual.

I suppose he gave his father's name as his next of kin?



T x

He gave his wife as next of kin. His father was (according to the marriage certificate) dead by that time.

...and what was his military details.... Number, regiment etc.

T x

The records I have are very messy and they have a lot of numbers scrawled on them. I have to admit they're very confusing. They are mostly just his enlistment papers and his discharge papers.

The top states:

Attestation of
No. 8554 Name: William Stevens Corps: RGA

He answers yes to the question of whether he has served before and lists the RGA again. I guess they're really not much use.

Do you have a link to his records on Ancestry?


T x

Don't worry got him.

T x

So on the 11 Dec 1915 he was 28 yrs and 11 months old, and was a Caretaker before enlistment.


T x

Yep, that's him.

Hmmm he's not sure of his age huh?

Have you tried to search for William Stevens's who are caretakers in 1911?



T x

I have looked at quite a few William Stevens on the 1911 census. Unfortunately the cost adds up quickly :-(

David,

Did it give an occupation for William Steven's senior on the marriage cert?


T x

David,

From what i can read, William states he previously served for 6 yrs (?) with the RGA, could this be him in 1911?

No 69 Company, 69TH COMPANY ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY, COLABA, BOMBAY, INDIA
Military details: Bombardier 69 Company R G A

RG14PN34997 RD641 SD22 ED16 SN9999
Reg. District: Sub District:
Address: Royal Garrison Artillery County: Overseas military
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEVENS, William Single ? 25 1886 Bideford Devon


Tracey x

This *could* be the same William with his mother living with his Aunt & Uncle?

1901 RG number: RG13 Piece: 2163 Folio: 25 Page: 2
Reg. District: Bideford Sub District: Northam
Address: 5, Bude Street, Northam, Appledore County: Devonshire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND, William I Head Married M 42 1859 Grocer Shop Keeper & Post Master Woodtown Alwington Devonshire
LAND, Rose A Wife Married F 52 1849 Bideford Devonshire
STEVENS, Bessie H Sister-In-Law Single F 40 1861 General Servant Domestic Bideford Devonshire
STEVENS, Willie S Nephew Single M 18 1883 Grocers Assistant Bideford Devonshire

....and the 1891 census.

1891 RG number: RG12 Piece: 1787 Folio: 98 Page: 1
Reg. District: Bideford Sub District: Northam
Address: 6, Bude Street, Northam, Appledore County: Devonshire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAUD, William John Head Married M 32 1859 Postmaster & Grocer Alwington Devonshire
LAUD, Roseannah E Wife Married F 38 1853 Postmaster & Grocer Bideford Devonshire
STEVENS, Bessie H Sister In Law Single F 28 1863 General Servant Bideford Devonshire
STEVENS, Willie S Nephew M 8 1883 Scholar Bideford Devonshire

......and 1911,

1911 RG14PN13444 RG78PN782 RD286 SD2 ED3 SN34
Reg. District: Bideford Sub District: Northam
Address: Post Office Appledore County: Devonshire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND, William Johm Head Married M 52 1859 Grocer Alwington N Devon
LAND, Rose Anna Wife Married 27 years F 62 1849 Assisting In The Business Bideford N Devon
STEVENS, Bessie Helena Servant Single F 50 1861 General Servant Domestic Bideford N Devon

This could be his family, and Bessie is listed as single throughout. There is always the possibility that William was illegitimate, and he invented his father, giving him the same name (maybe he had to think fast?)

~~~~~~~~~
EDIT:

The marriage of William Land and Rose

Marriages Dec 1883
LAND William John Bideford 5b 933
Laud William John Bideford 5b 933
STEVENS Rose Ann E Bideford 5b 933
STEVENS Rose Anna E Bideford 5b 933

Proving Bessie never married. I do think this is a good match for your William.

Now to find his earlier military records.

Tracey x

Wow, thank you so much for all of this help!

You've definitely intrigued me with these census records, I'd love to believe this is him. If he is originally from Devon it could explain why his mother was absent from his wedding (she isn't a witness anyway).

If we could find more military records that would be perfect!