William Stephens and Sarah Pearce

William Stephens was baptized 26 May 1777 at All Saints, in Newland, Gloucester (the Cathedral of the Forest). He was the youngest known son of Thomas Stephens (ca 1728-1795) and Mary (nee Shayle) (ca 1739-1783). He had at least 4 siblings: Mary (ca 1761-1777), Elizabeth (ca 1761), Thomas Shayle (ca 1773), and Annamaria (ca 1773-1776).

On 20 May 1802 William married Sarah Pearce at St Michael and all Angels’ in Mitcheldean, Gloucester. Witnesses to the Wedding were Esther Stephens and Thomas Stephens. The officiating minister was John Harris, Rector. Sarah was the daughter of William and Ureniah Pearce [1]. She was baptized on 18 May 1780 in Mitcheldean. She had at least 4 siblings: Jane (1778-1849), William (1782), Richard (1784) and William (1784).

William and Sarah had eleven children: Mary Shayle (1803-1804), William (1805-1873), Thomas Stephen (1806-1877), Matthew (1808-1885), Sarah Wood (1811-1865), Richard (1813-1814), Esther (1815-1851), Josiah (1818-1876), Ruth (1818-1854), Elizabeth (1821-1901) and Benjamin (1824-1901), of whom two died in infancy.

William’s occupation, as stated on his marriage record, in the census records and on the birth or marriage records of his children, was currier (1802, 1819, 1824, 1842, 1851, 1854, 1861) or tanner and currier (1851). William, together with sons Josiah and Benjamin, operated a Tannery in Clearwell. William and family resided at the Tan House in Clearwell. In 1852, Josiah and Benjamin are recorded as operators of the tannery. The Slater’s Directory for Gloustershire - 1852 contains an entry under Tanners “STEPHENS Josiah & Benj., Clearwell”.

Porch House (left) and Tan House (right), Clearwell. From an old postcard. Print available from Forest Prints. Also appears in Cyril Hart’s The Watts of Lydney 1851-1965.

Sarah was interred in the Box Tomb at Newland on 25 Sep 1847. The officiating minister was G Ridout, Vicar. William was interred in the Box Tomb at Newland on 9 Jan 1865. The officiating minister was S C Morgan, Curate.

Notes:

[1] Name appears variously as Ureniah, Keeziah, Urazna, Urayna or Ursula in transcriptions of children’s birth records.

Acknowledgements:

Christie Arno (The Tan House, Newland)

Nelson Museum & Local History Centre, Monmouth

Gloucestershire Family History Society, Gloucester

Ian Thomas (Forest Prints, Lydney)

Nola Walder

Cathie Bennett

Melville Watts

References:

Cyril Hart Watts of Lydney 1851-1965 Forest of Dean Newspapers, Ltd., Coleford Glos., 1965