Gertrude Stephenson was the second child of William George Stephenson & Margaret Jean Gaudie born Jan-March 1871 at North Shields, Northumberland.
At the time of the 1871 census Gertrude, her older brother George sister & parents were living at Frank Place, Preston, North Shields where her father was a railway accountant. With the family was Gertrude’s widowed grandmother Margaret Gaudie.
By 1881 the family had moved to 64 Holgate Rd, York & Gertrude now had 2 younger sisters & an older brother.
Gertrude married Ernest Russell on August 7th, 1895 at St Paul’s, York. Witnesses at the wedding were Gertrude’s father William George & Ernest’s father, George Russell. Gertrude, aged 24, gave her address as 24 St Paul’s Square & Ernest, aged 31, was of Ivy Hurst, Malton. Ernest was born July 21st 1964 & christened August 18th, 1864 at Norton, Malton, N. Yorks, the son of Rachel & George Russell, a miller, brewer & maltster. Gertrude’s sister Ethel married Ernest’s brother Arthur Llewellyn Russell in a double wedding at St Paul’s, York! The brides wore ivory white satin trimmed with Brussels lace. The bridesmaids –Gertrude’s sisters, Bertha & Muriel & Arthur’s sisters, Edith & Maud Russell – wore white silk & were presented with gold bangles & rings & bouquets of yellow marguerites by the groom.
In 1901 Gertrude & Ernest were living at Broughton Rd, Malton where Ernest was a secretary to the Brewery Company. They had a daughter Marjory (4) & a son Philip (2). They also had a nurse & a general domestic servant.
By 1911 Gertrude & Ernest had moved to The Brae, Mount Crescent, Malton & Ernest was now described as a secretary to a company involved with flour milling, brewing, malting, & wine & spirits. In addition to Marjory & Philip, they now had a 7 year old daughter, Esther. They had a cook & domestic house maid to look after the 9-roomed house.
Daughter Marjory married Captain Edward Hugh Ohm Keates, M.C. of the Nigerian Political & Administrative Service on July 19th, 1923 at St Michael’s, Malton.
In 1926 son Philip married Elsie Victoria May Woodhouse, daughter of Dr Woodhouse of Danes Dyke House, Flamborough. While serving as an officer in the KYOLI, Philip was wounded in the arm at Champagne, France in 1918 while leading his men over the top. Following WW1 Philip attended Worcester College, Oxford where he passed with honours in History. During his time there he was an outstanding hockey player & prominent athlete. After joining the civil service he was promoted to the Colonial Service as district officer in Biharamulo, Tanganyika, British East Africa, where sadly Philip died suddenly in 1935. (Hull daily Mail, October 2nd, 1935)
Daughter Esther, who served as captain of the Malton Girl Guides for a number of years, married Captain Arthur John Place on April 3rd, 1929 at St Michael’s, Malton.
Gertrude died on November 3rd, 1936, aged 64, at The Brae, Malton, N. Yorks, after being in failing health for some time. She was a member of the Malton District Nursing Association. The Leeds Mercury of November 4th, 1936 stated that Gertrude was the authoress of a children’s book, ‘The Manor School’ & that on the occasion of King George’s jubilee she wrote a poem in commemoration which was accepted by the late King.
The 1939 register shows widowed Ernest still living at The Brae, Malton & with him was daughter Esther Place, described as housekeeper. Also with him was grandson Martin Keates aged 15, daughter-in-law Elsie V M Russell (nee Woodhouse) aged 42 the widow of son Philip & her daughter Diana Margaret Russell, aged 5. There was also a 25 year old nursemaid, Kathleen F Cranshaw.
Ernest, director of the Russells & Wrangham brewers & millers Malton, died August 29th, 1942, aged 78, at The Brae, Malton, aged 78, & was buried on September 1st, 1942 at St Michael’s, Malton, N. Yorks. Probate of his estate was granted to father-in-law George Gaudie Stephenson, retired bank manager, & Hugh Watson Pearson, solicitor & his effects were £3,857.11s.8d.
The children of Gertrude Stephenson & Ernest Russell were:
s.4.1.1.2.1 Marjory Jean Rachael Russell born January 21st, 1897 at Malton, N. Yorks; died December 3rd, 1984 at Upton Grange, Prestbury Rd, Upton, Macclesfield
s.4.1.1.2.2 Philip George Russell born born June 19th, 1898 at Broughton Rd & christened July 15th, 1898 at St Michael’s, Malton, N. Yorks; died September 30th, 1935 in Biharamulo, Tanganyika, East Africa
s.4.1.1.2.3 Esther Millicent Russell born September 14th, 1903 at Malton, Yorks