John Stephens published by on Fri, 28/09/2012 - 13:52
I am trying to trace the birth of my great grandfather, John Stephens/Stevens. In the 1861 census he was recorded as a nurse child, age 4, born in Weston Super Mare. All subsequent records state he was born in Cheltenham. There were two other children with him, both described as nurse child - Alfred Ball, age 7, illegitimate child of Jane Ball, birth registered in Axbridge BMD and St Emmanuel, WSM Parish register. The other child was Alfred Stockham, age 4 months, born WSM. I have not been able to trace his birth in any records or find him in any other years census.
I can't find any family connection between the boys and their carers, so obviously the carers were doing it for the money. So who would have paid for it and are there any records of these transactions. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Can I ask how you know that the John STEPHENS in Weston-super-Mare in 1861 was your great grandfather?
The Alfred STOCKHAM, born Dec 1860, may be the male child surname STOCKHAM whose birth was registered in Devises, Wiltshire in Jan/Feb/Mar 1861. I see that Alfred BALL is still with the HUNT family in 1871.
There was a system of fostering out children from the Workhouse to live with families but I suspect that these were individually and privately arranged. It might be that the mothers of the children were in service in Weston at the time and needed their children to be looked after.
I don't know for definite that John Stephens from Weston super Mare was my great grandfather, but my great grandfather joined the army after serving as an apprentice coachmaker when living in Walcot, Bath. I have researched every other John in Cheltenham,. Bath and Weston. My thougths are that if he was living with a family then somebody was paying for this. Was his mother still alive in 1861. Is John illegitimate - probably. Do you know if workhouse records are available and if so where. Thanks for your help.
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