William Stone (bap. 1 Apr 1821 at
St Peter's Church,
Langford Budville), eldest son of
William Stone and Mary Thorne - on the marriage certificate he lists his father as William Stone, Labourer - married
Hannah Westcott (b. 8 Feb 1831), daughter of Thomas Westcott and
Hagar (a.k.a. Ann) Mitchell, at the Church of
St John the Baptist, Wellington, Somerset, on
13 Jul 1850. One of the witnesses was Mary Ann Westcott, Hannah's sister. Hannah was baptised Anna Westcott (due to pronunciation, probably) on 19 Jun 1831, at the The Lower Meeting Independent Formerly Presbyterian, Wellington, Somerset and in 1841, Hannah Westcott (10) was living at Tone Wharf, Wellington Somerset with her parents, Thomas and Ann Westcott.
(Mary Thorne's mother was Eleanor Westcott, so there's a good chance they were 'keeping it in the family', which would be no surprise whatsoever.)
William and Hannah's children include the following nine:
- William Stone b. Apr 1851 in Devon, presumably at Whipples, Holcombe Rogus, bap. 29 Jan 1854 at St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle
- Mary Ann Stone allegedly b. 2 Jan 1854 in Ashbrittle, Somerset, bap. 29 Jan 1854 at St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle
- Walter Stone allegedly b. 11 Jun 1856, bap. 12 Jun 1856 at St Michael's, Stawley. Died 1856 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 242 and buried on 15 Jun 1856
- Charles Stone allegedly b. 2 Feb 1858 (1858 M Quarter in PONTYPOOL Volume 11A Page 131), with his mother's maiden name listed, incorrectly, as WESTGATE. Died, aged 4 Months, 1858 J Quarter in PONTYPOOL Volume 11A Page 93 and was buried on 12 Jun 1858 in Abersychan (presumably at St Thomas)
- Leah Stone allegedly b. 6 Jan 1860, died aged 3 weeks and was also buried on 1 Feb 1860 in Abersychan
- Hannah Maria Stone b. 1861 S Qtr in PONTYPOOL Vol 11A 122
- Thomas Stone b. 12 Aug 1864 in Usworth, Durham
- Edith Ellen Stone b. 1866 D Qtr in CHESTER LE STREET Vol 10A 428
- Isabella Stone b. 1870 S Qtr in CHESTER LE STREET Vol 10A 479
The others at the GRO, the mother's maiden name is listed as WESTCOTT.
The two infant burials in Abersychan were officiated by F Bluett, Incumbant. The Reverend F. Bluett (Francis Bluett) was the incumbent (vicar) of Abersychan in the mid-19th century. Historically, he is best known for his correspondence with the Dean and Chapter of Llandaff in 1854 regarding financial support for the parish, as well as for his official reports to the government detailing the social, moral, and marital conditions of the rapidly expanding industrial population in South Wales. According to Rev. Francis Bluett, vicar of Abersychan, '
Persons are often found here living together as man and wife for years, and supposed to be married'. Bluett cannot be a common surname and what's interesting is that the Bluett family was a prominent English landowning lineage closely associated with the Devon village of
Holcombe Rogus. They held the manor for over 400 years and constructed the grand, Grade I Tudor manor house,
Holcombe Court.
 |
Mid Devon : Whipples Farm, Monday, 13 February, 2012 Whipples Farm on the road heading towards Tracebridge. |
In 1851, William Stone (~28), Agricultural Labourer, from Langford [Budville], Somerset was living at Whipples,
Holcombe Rogus, with wife Anah Stone (sic) (21). With that spelling, I'd put money on someone saying, with the H dropped, '
annah wiv an haitch', meaning Hannah, but that's what was written down.
Whipples Farmhouse, is a historically significant, Grade II listed building located in the rural hamlet of Tracebridge, near Holcombe Rogus and Ashbrittle on the Somerset/Devon border. Living at Whipples also was
Henry Tremlett, a Dairyman, for whom William was presumably working.
In 1861, however, William Stone (40), married, Pitman from Holcombe, Devon was a lodger in the house of Elizabeth Archer (50), widow at Nailers Shops, New Row,
Usworth,
Chester Le Street, Durham. While Hannah Stone (29) from Wellington, Somerset was living at
Garndiffath, Trevethin, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales with son William Stone (10) born in Devon, England and daughter, Mary Ann Stone, born in Ashbrittle.
In 1871, living at Washington New Row, Usworth, Chester Le Street, Durham were William Stones (sic) (under estimated to 43) Miner from Somerset; Hannah Stones (39), William Stones (19) Miner; Anna Maria Stones (9), Thomas Stones (5), Edith Ellen Stones (3) and Isabella Stones (11 m).
In 1881, Hannah Stone (49) widow, mother-in-law, was living in the household of Miles Handy (35) Coal Miner from Wallsend, Northumberland and Mary A Handy (27) from Somerset, with Thomas Stone (16) Coal Miner (putter) born in Usworth, Durham, brother-in-law and Isabella Stone (10) born in Washington, Durham, sister-in-law and William Handy (25) Coal Miner, boarder, also from Wallsend, Northumberland, Miles' brother.
In 1891, Hannah Stone (59), widow, was living on her own means in the household of William Handy (34) Coal Miner at New Rows, Little Usworth, Chester Le Street - her home, but he presumably became head as a man. In the household also were Hannah's daughter, Isabella Brack (20) and her husband John Brack (23) from Byker, Northumberland, Coal miner deputy.
In 1901, Hannah Stone (70), widow, mother-in-law, from Wellington, Somerset, was living in the household of John Robert Brack (34) Coal deputy overman and Isabella Brack (30), and their then five children, at 10, New Rows, Washington, Great and Little Usworth, Chester Le Street, Durham.
Hannah Stone died, aged 78, 1909 J Quarter in CHESTER LE STREET Volume 10A Page 317.
- William Stone married Ann Jackson in Kelloe on 8 Sep 1873
- Mary Ann Stone married Miles Handy in Chester Le Street, in 1872
- Anna Maria Stone married John Hodgson in 1883
- Thomas Stone married Polly Beaty in 1888
- Edith Ellen Stone married William Brabbon Simpson in 1889
- Isabella Stone married John Robert Brack in 1890
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