Benjamin Stephens was
born 14 Feb 1824 and baptized 13 Mar 1824 at All
Saints, in Newland, Gloucester (the Cathedral of the
Forest). He was the youngest son of William Stephens and Sarah
(nee Pearce).
On 25 Jul 1854 Benjamin married Priscilla Townsend at
All Saints, in Newland. Witnesses to the
Wedding were Josiah Stephens and Juliana
Townsend. The officiating minister was George
Ridout, Vicar. Priscilla was the daughter of Richard and Winifred Champion (nee
Rowland) Townsend of Hewelsfield. She
was born on 14 Feb 1824 and baptized on 13 Mar 1824
at All Saints, in Newland.
Benjamin’s occupation as stated in
the census records was
tanner and currier (1851, 1861, 1871), tanner (1881)
or farmer (1891). Benjamin together with his
father, William, and brother, Josiah operated a
Tannery in Clearwell. The Slater’s
Directory for Gloustershire - 1852 contains an
entry under Tanners “STEPHENS Josiah & Benj.,
Clearwell”. Sometime before 1871, Benjamin
acquired the former Probyn Tannery in Monmouth which
was demolished to build a new Tan House where
Benjamin, Priscilla and family resided.
'The Tan House,
Monmouth', by Mary
Bagnall-Oakeley.
Watercolor, Shown
here with kind permission of the Nelson Museum
& Local History Centre, Monmouth.
The building shown is the Probyn Tan House which was demolished in 1868 and a replaced with a new Tan House.
Benjamin was also active in local
government as a member of the Corporation and was a
chairman of the Monmouth Gas and Water Works
Company.
Benjamin and Priscilla had 9 children
of whom four died in childhood. Juliana
Rowland (1856-1856), Josiah Benjamin (1857-1916),
Priscilla (1859), Richard Townsend (1860-1862),
Sarah Juliana (1863-1928), William Ebenezer (1865),
Robert Townsend (1867-1871), Richard George Townsend
(1869-1871) and Esther Maud (1873).
Priscilla died on 24 March 1882 at
the Monnow Street Tan House in Monmouth and was
buried at Clearwell on 28 Mar 1882. Benjamin
died while staying at Fort Paragon in Margate, Kent
on 31 August 1901. He was buried at Clearwell
on 2 September 1901. A red granite memorial
was erected in the Clearwell churchyard for Benjamin
and Priscilla.
References
[1] Percy H The Tanneries In An Industrial History of
Monmouth unpublished
manuscript. Nelson Library and Local History
Centre, Monmouth.
Acknowledgements:
Christie Arno (The Tan House,
Newland)
Nelson Museum & Local History
Centre, Monmouth
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