Tom Stone (b. 1 Jan 1862 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), Batchelor, Private Royal Marines, of Morley Place, Plymouth, son of
Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married and
Margaret Knapman (b. 28 Aug 1863 at Mary Rows (Mary Rose?) Cottage,
St Budeaux Devon), Spinster, of
48 Gibbon Street, Plymouth, daughter of Thomas Knapman and Kitty Hern, at The Register Office, Plymouth, presumably at
Plymouth Guildhall (
interior), on
23 Mar 1889. Witnesses to their marriage were Louisa Hoskin and Sarah Hoskin.
There's also a record in the
British Royal Marines Marriage Registers, which lists it as the Register Office, East Stonehouse on
5 Apr 1893. In their haste to legitimise their eldest, maybe they had neglected to ask permission of the CO, so this latter may have been an administrative ratification of the ceremony in 1889, once permission was granted, although there are civil registrations for both dates. The late
Peter Calver at Lost Cousins, potentially provided the explanation for this, "
... soldiers needed the permission of their commanding officer if they wanted the marriage to be recognised (which is why you will sometimes come across a couple who married each other twice)."
On 11 Mar 1880, Tom Stone, then 18, enlisted in the
Royal Marines, giving his date of birth as 11 Dec 1861, which I now know to be incorrect, because his actual birth date of Jan 1st 1862 is written on his baptism record at the church of
St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle on 4 Feb 1862. When he enlisted he was 5' 6¾", with a fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. His record states, "Right little finger amputated through second phalanx." As well as various stints at Plymouth Division, from 1881 (In 1881, Tom Stone (19) Private RMLI was in Devonport, Stoke Damerel) to 1884 Tom was with
HMS Mallard (1875), a
Forester-class composite screw gunboat.
Registry office weddings became legally recognized in England and Wales with the
Marriage Act of 1836, which came into effect on July 1, 1837, after the establishment of the
General Register Office. Until the 20th Century they were a minority choice and church marriages were then quicker and cheaper. That Margaret must have waddled into the venue, a mere five days before their eldest was born was probably the reason for this choice. Tom had been at Plymouth Division from 1 Oct 1888 until 2 Oct 1889, so the marriage wasn't delayed awaiting his return from a voyage or deployment. However, the ratification may have been, because from 3 Oct 1889 until 3 Jan 1893, Tom was assigned to
HMS Himalaya (1854), potentially being away for more than three years (although, obviously (?) he'd had some leave to account for their second son's conception). Himalaya at this time appears to have been operating as a troop ship, possibly in the Mediterranean, but there's
no indication where he may have gone in that time period.
Tom and Margaret had six children in total:
- Archer Henry Stone (Archie), b. 28 Mar 1889 (1889 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 223), bap. 21 May 1889, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Tamerton Foliot. Died, at 18, on 11 Nov 1907, in Gillingham, Kent (1907 D Quarter in MEDWAY Vol 02A Page 393). Commemorated in Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.
- Frederick Thomas Stone, b. 20 Jan 1892 (1892 M Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 297)
- Beatrice May Stone, b. 14 Mar 1894 (1894 J Quarter in PLYMPTON ST MARY Volume 05B Page 189), bap. 27 May 1894 in Hooe, Plymouth
- Bertram Charles Stone, b. 24 Feb 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 273) Died 16 Jun 1899 (1899 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 211)
- Leslie Victor Stone, b. 21 Feb 1901 (1901 J Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 273)
- Rosina Kathleen Stone, b. 14 Apr 1903 (1903 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 238)
In 1891, Margaret Stone (25) and Archer H Stone (2) had been staying with her sister, Lucy Hoskins (23) in Star Lane, Tamerton Foliott.
In 1901 the family were living at
9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse, with Tom Stone (39) listed as a Marine Pensioner. (Tom served in the
Royal Marines for 21 years (+ 2 days), from 11 Mar 1880 until 13 Mar 1901, transferring to the
Royal Fleet Reserve on 3 Jul 1901.) Also listed were Margaret (35), Archie (12), Frederick (9), Beatrice (7) and Leslie (0).
Archer Henry Stone enlisted in the
Royal Marines, at 14, on 11 Nov 1903.
Tom Stone, General Labourer and Marine Pensioner, died, aged 43, at 3 Ashley Place, Plymouth, on 2 May 1905 (1905 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 171), from Pulmonary
Tuberculosis.
On 11 Nov 1907, Archie Stone (18) died at the Royal Naval Hospital (
Medway Maritime Hospital) in
Gillingham, Kent, of a
Tubercle of the lung (
Tuberculosis again) and cardiac failure (1907 D Quarter in MEDWAY Volume 02A Page 393). Initially, it didn't make sense that there was a commemorative stone to Archer Henry Stone in
Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia (albeit as Arthur H. Stone, Bugler, R.M.L.I. - his mates may not have known that Archer really was the given name he was registered and baptised with). However, this would appear to be one of many memorials to shipmates who died elsewhere. A closer look at Archer's Royal Marines record shows that in Feb/Mar 1907 Archie was with
HMS Powerful (1895) that became the flagship of the
Australia Station. He then transferred to
HMS Prometheus (1898) and finally to
HMS Pioneer, at that time a drill ship with the Australian Squadron. Archie's last line with Pioneer says he was '
on passage', which presumably means he was being brought home due to illness.
In 1911, Margaret Stone, widowed and in receipt of
Parochial Relief, was living in East Stonehouse, with Leslie V (10) and Rosina K (7). Frederick had enlisted in the
Royal Navy in 1907 and Beatrice (17) was working as a Servant for Samuel Reed, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, in Devonport.
In 1921, Margaret Erne Stone (57) Widowed; Frederick Thomas Stone (29) Royal Navy (Leading Signalman) and Rosina Kathleen Stone (18) were still living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse. Leslie Victor Stone (20) was with the
Army Tank Corps at Pinehurst Barracks, Farnborough, Hampshire.
Margaret Erne Stone died (Erne - misheard with a dropped H - was in reference to Hern, Margaret's mother's maiden name), on 1 Sep 1921, aged 57 (1921 S Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 324), and probate was granted to son, Frederick Thomas Stone, on 24 Dec 1921.
Leslie Victor Stone (b. 21 Feb 1901 in Devonport), son of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, married Lillian Daniel, in the district of Thorne, South Yorkshire, in 1939. Born Lilian Letts on 15 Jun 1903 and registered in Cardiff, she was the illegitimate daughter of Edith Emily Letts, who was then 16.
In 1911, Lilian Letts was living with her great-grandmother, Julia Ann Founds, although listed as her grandchild, at Swan Court, Cross St, Northam, Devon.
In 1921, Lilian Letts (18) Laundry Maid was living with her grandparents, Alfred and Mary Hannah Letts, in Fore Street, Northam. (Lilian's mother, Edith Emily Letts, married a Frederick George Stone (b. 25 Dec 1873 in Bideford) in 1911. He seems not to be related to the rest of my Stone family.)
Lilian Letts had first married Norman Daniel in Bideford, Devon, in Q2 of 1923 and they had one child, Joan Daniel b. 24 Sep 1923 D Quarter in BIDEFORD Volume 05B Page 656. Norman Daniel died, at 25, in 1930.
In 1939, Leslie Victor Stone, Agricultural Land Worker, Lilian Stone and Joan Daniel were living at 16, Long Grove, Stainforth, North Yorkshire.
Leslie and Lilian had 3 further children: 2 daughters in 1941 and 1943, and a son, Anthony Michael Stone b. 17 Apr 1946, who died, at just 25, in 1971.
Leslie Victor Stone died, at 63, on 5 Jun 1964, in Fishlake, Yorkshire.
Lilian Stone died, in Doncaster, in 1984.
 |
| Resting place of Chief Petty Officer P M Clancy at Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth |
Patrick Michael Clancy (b. 16 Sep 1904), son of Patrick Michael Clancy and Elizabeth Flynn, married
Rosina Kathleen Stone (b. 14 Apr 1903), daughter of
Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, in Plymouth, in 1926.
In 1901, the bridegroom's father, Patrick Michael Clancy (25), Stoker, from
Whitegate, County Cork, was aboard
HMS Renard (1892) (an Alarm-class
torpedo gunboat), in Devonport, while his wife Lizzie Clancy (27) was boarding at 14,
Second Avenue, Devonport along with her two eldest children, Julia Kathleen Clancy (b. 1899) and Mary Elizabeth Clancy (b. 1901). None of the Clancy family turn up anywhere in the records of 1911. Patrick's sister, Mary Elizabeth Clancy died, at 19, in 1920 M Quarter in DEVONPORT Volume 05B Page 441, but there are no further clues to the rest.
In 1921, Patrick Michael Clancy (16) R N Boy was a visitor in the household of Peter Cassidy (47) from Meath, Ireland, Labourer at H M Dockyard, at
88, Pembroke Street, Devonport. (Cassidy's son, Francis Noel Cassidy, also 16, was also an R N Boy and his elder son a Leading Seaman, so he may have been staying with a shipmate's family, if no family of his own was left.)
Patrick Michael Clancy had joined the
Royal Navy on 16 Mar 1920, when he was aged 15, as a Boy 2nd Class, he became an Able Seaman on his 18th birthday, 16 Sep 1922, and a
Leading seaman by the time of his marriage.
Patrick and Rosina had two children:
- Theresa Margaret Clancy b. 28 Aug 1927, in Devonport
- Patrick Michael Clancy b. 1929, in Portsmouth
The entire family seemingly evade the 1939 Register.
With
HMS Renown from 1 Sep 1939, on 10 Mar 1944, Patrick was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and assigned to
HMS Cyclops.
Patrick Michael Clancy was invalided in June 1945 at
Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Southport. Patrick Michael Clancy of
50 Mayles Road, Southsea, died on 18 July 1946, aged 41, at the
Infectious Deseases Hospital Portsmouth (presumably
Priorsdean Infectious Diseases Hospital in Portsmouth, across Milton Road from
St Mary’s Hospital).
Chief Petty Officer Patrick Michael Clancy, Son of Patrick Michael and Elizabeth Clancy; husband of Rosina Kathleen Clancy, of
Paulsgrove, Portsmouth,
is buried in Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery,
Plot M. Row 17. Grave 55.
Then
Patrick Michael Clancy,
son of Mrs. R. K. Clancy, of Milton, Portsmouth, Constable in the
Palestine Police Force, died, on 4 Jun 1947, aged 18. He was buried at
Haifa (Sharon) British Civil Cemetery,
Haifa,
Israel, Plot 4. Grave 6.
Both father and son's gravestones are united by the same inscription:
"IN THE SHELTER OF THY SACRED HEART, DEAR JESUS, MAY HE REST".
In 1951, Rosina K Clancy remarried, in Portsmouth, to a Cyril West.
Rosina Kathleen West died in 1979, aged 76, in her native Plymouth.
In 1951, Theresa Margaret Clancy, daughter of Patrick Michael Clancy and Rosina Kathleen Stone, married Stanley Victor Proudlock (b. 25 Dec 1928), son of Herbert William Proudlock and Dorothy May Shilcock, in Portsmouth.
(Herbert William Proudlock and Dorothy May Shilcock had married, in Portsmouth, in 1922. Herbert William Proudlock's birth was registered in Paddington, London, in 1896. There's no mother's maiden name on the registration, so we must assume that his was an illegitimate birth. It hasn't been possible, without the certificate, to even identify his mother. There's no obvious Miss Proudlock born or living locally, so he may well have been found on said station and have had a penchant for marmalade.
In 1911, H W Proudlock (14) from Paddington, London, turns up in the household of a F W Rackley (38) General Labourer, at Westborough Road, Maidenhead, Bisham Bray, Berkshire, described as a Foster Son, but employed as a Page Boy. Not surprising then that he goes to sea. Herbert William Proudlock (b. 30 Apr 1896) enlisted in the
Royal Navy, aged 15, on 9 Feb 1912. On his naval record, his previous occupation, "House Boy" was later crossed out and expressed as Domestic Servant. On 30 Apr 1914, his 18th birthday, he signed up for a further 12 years and spent the First World War doing short tours on a wide variety of ships. On 29 Apr 1936, Herbert was Pensioned. Then on 1 Apr 1938, was brought back into service again, served through World War II, being finally released on 17 Sep 1945.
Dorothy May Shilcock, meanwhile, was the daughter of Alfred Eli Shilcock and Florence Ada Poat, who married at
St Mary's Church, Portsea, on 6 Nov 1902. Dorothy May Shilcock, born 2 Oct 1901, was baptised on 27 Sep 1908 at
St Bartholomew's Church, Southsea (no longer standing?), along with her sister Rosa Louisa and brother Alfred Eli, who had been born on 10 Aug 1908. In 1911, the family, living at
3 Addison Road Southsea, Portsmouth, consisted Alfred Shilcock (38) Engine Fitter, Florence (31), Dorothy (9), Rosa (7), Doris (5), Alfred (2) and Ernest (0). (Although they listed the boys first.)
Herbert and Dorothy had three sons:
- Frederick William Eli Proudlock b. 5 Nov 1923
- Stanley Victor Proudlock b. 25 Dec 1928
- (Further son born 1934 may be still living)
In 1939, Dorothy M Proudlock was living at
75 Lovett Road, Portsmouth with her three sons, while her husband was at sea. Frederick had become a Shop Assistant at a Pawnbroker. (Frederick died, in Portsmouth, in 1997).
Stanley Victor Proudlock and Theresa Margaret Clancy had twin boys in 1953 and on 14 May 1954, Stanley V Proudlock (25) a Riveter of 87 Eastney Caravan Site, Portsmouth embarked in Southampton on Cunard's
RMS Samaria, bound for Quebec. On 11 Jun 1954, Theresa Proudlock (26) and their two sons followed, also on
RMS Samaria. They later added a daughter.
