Mary Stephenson was the first child of Joseph Stephenson & Jane Carter born 1849 at Trafford Hill & christened October 28th, 1849 at St John the Baptist, Egglescliffe.
Mary lived at home at Low Worsall until at least 1861.
In 1868 Mary married John Foord, the marriage being registered at Stockton. John was born c1847 at Settrington, Yorks, the son of Jane & Robert Foord, a farmer.
In 1871 Mary & John were living at Carlton Grange, Carlton (near Stokesley), Yorks & John was an agricultural labourer. They had a 2 year old son Robert.
By 1881 they had moved to Faceby (near Stokesley), Yorks where John was still an agricultural labourer & they now had 6 children – Robert, Jane & Anne who were 9 year old twins, Joseph (6), John William (4), & Sarah Alice (2). Also living with them were 2 ‘servants’ Edward & John Moore who were farm labourers.
By the time of the 1891 census the family had moved again, this time to Stranton, West Hartlepool, but John’s job was the same. All the above children were still at home with the exception of Jane (19) who was visiting grandparents Joseph & Jane Stephenson at Pollards Farm, Cleadon, Co Durham. Mary & John had 3 more children by this time – George (9), Nellie (5) & Laura (3).
In 1901 John & Mary were living at Running Waters, near Shadforth, Co. Durham. John was now a lime merchant & farmer. Children at home were Jane, Joseph, Sarah, George, Nellie, Laura & Fred, aged 9. Living with them was Mary’s widowed father Joseph Stephenson, aged 80, a retired farmer. They had a farm servant, Henry Moore. Living next door was son Robert, (32) who was a limestone quarryman, & his wife Elizabeth with their 2 children Gladys M (1) & Robert W (1 month). Other children found at this time were Ann(i)e, a housemaid to a ship builder in Stranton, & John, an insurance agent in West Hartlepool.
Daughter Anne married West Stapleton Richers, a railway clerk, in April-June 1902 in Co Durham.
Daughter Laura married George Alfred Gilson, a wagonman for the Cooperative store, in Oct-December 1908 in Co Durham.
Daughter Nellie married Featherstone Young Adamson in Oct-December 1909 in Co Durham. In 1911 Nellie & Featherstone, a butcher, were living at Front St, Quarrington Lane, Coxhoe, Co Durham & living with them was Nellie’s uncle George Stephenson [s.9.5.5.] who was an assistant butcher.
Daughter Jane married Thomas Muburn Oliver on July 21st, 1909 at Shadforth, Co Durham. In 1911 they were living at Bourne House, Shadforth where Thomas was a blacksmith. With them were 2 children of Thomas’ previous marriage & they had a 6 month old daughter named Oliver Violet.
John & Mary were still at Running Waters in 1911 & John's occupation was given as farmer. They had 4 children still at home – sons Joseph, George & Fred were working on the farm & daughter Sarah was doing dairy work. They had a domestic servant Isabella Robson (16).
Son John William & his wife Mary Ann (nee Harrison) & their 2 children were living in South Shields in 1911 & John worked as a travelling salesman in sweets.
Daughter Sarah Alice married John Adamson, a farmer, in April-June 1916 in Co Durham. In 1939 they were living at Dene House Farm, Cassop & with them was Sarah’s brother Joseph, a farm labourer.
Son Fred married Mary J Wreford in 1919 & in 1939 they & their family were living at Dean House, Shadforth where Fred was a farmer.
Mary died September 17th, 1924 aged 75 years & was buried at St Cuthberts church, Shadforth, alongside her father Joseph & brother George.
John died January1st, 1927, aged 73 years at Front St, Quarrington, Co Durham & was buried alongside his wife. Probate was granted on February 25th, 1927 to West Stapleton Riches, a railway clerk & son Fred Foord, farmer. His effects were £757.14s. An obituary in Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail of January 6th stated that John had been tenant of Running Waters farm for many years & also the proprietor of lime kilns close to the farm. On retirement he had gone to live with daughter Nellie at Quarrington.
The children of Mary Stephenson & John Foord were:
s.9.5.1.1 Robert Foord born January 1869 at Low Worsall & christened January 18th 1869 at Kirklevington; died April-June 1944 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.2 Jane Foord born April 24th, 1871 at Carlton in Cleveland
s.9.5.1.3 Anne Foord born April 24th, 1871 at Carlton in Cleveland; died Oct-December 1955 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.4 Joseph Foord born April 15th, 1874 at Carlton in Cleveland; died Jan-March 1955 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.5 John William Foord born July 15th, 1876 at Carlton in Cleveland; buried November 14th, 1925 at St Cuthbert, Shadforth
s.9.5.1.6 Sarah Alice Foord born March 17th, 1879 at Carlton in Cleveland; died July-September 1963 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.7 George Foord born March 25th, 1882 at Faceby, Yorks; died July-September 1962 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.8 Nellie Foord born July 28th, 1885 at Faceby, Yorks; died Oct-December 1863 in Co Durham
s.9.5.1.9 Laura Foord born February 8th, 1888 at West Hartlepool; died August 17th, 1953 at Sedgefield County Hospital, Co Durham
s.9.5.1.10 Fred Foord born May 11th, 1891 at West Hartlepool; died May 15th, 1958 at Sedgefield County Hospital, Co Durham