Jane Stephenson [s.9.5.3]

Jane Stephenson was the third child of Joseph Stephenson & Jane Carter born August 31st 1853 at Low Worsall. On her birth certificate the informant, her mother Jane, was unable to sign but made her mark.

Jane's birth certificate

Jane lived at home at Low Worsall until at least 1861.

In 1871 Jane was working as a domestic servant at the Sandall Rectory for the curate Percival Hartdyke & his family in Kirk Sandall, Yorks.

Jane married William Stainsby on May 30th, 1876 at St Johns parish church, Middlesbrough. Jane (22) gave her residence as Park Villas & William (24) was living at New Linthorpe. At the time of the wedding he was a builder. William was the fifth child of Thomas Stainsby & Mary Lister born at Linthorpe on December 1st, 1851 & christened January 4th, 1852 at West Acklam, Yorks. Witnesses at the wedding were William Twyneham & Elizabeth Goshawk.

Marriage certificate for Jane Stephenson & William Stainsby

In 1881 William & Jane were living at Benson St, Linthorpe & they had 3 children – Thomas (4), Edith (2) & Nellie (9 months). William’s occupation was given as bricklayer.

By 1891 they were living at 67 Newport Rd, Middlesbrough & 4 more children had arrived – Joseph (8), Mary Emily (6), George William (4), John Henry (1). William was a builder & living with them was Jane’s brother George Stephenson (28), a butcher & an assistant Robert Imeson.

In 1901 William & Jane were living at 3 Leechmere Rd, Ryhope, Co Durham & at home were Thomas, a bricklayer’s labourer, Nellie, a finisher at the papermill, Joseph, a bricklayer’s apprentice, Mary Emily, a pupil teacher, George, John & a new arrival Jennie (9). William appears to have been quite successful in the building trade & built many houses in the newly developing district of Grangetown including Leechmere Rd, Royle St & Oxford St, where a number of his children lived.

According to Ward’s directory of Sunderland William was living at 17 Leechmere Rd from 1909 until 1912. The 1911 census shows Jane & William, a house builder, at 17 Leechmere Rd with only son John Henry, a timber merchant’s clerk, & daughter Jennie at home. By 1913 they had moved to 30 Leechmere Rd & lived here until at least 1916.

In their latter years William & Jane lived in the flat above their son Jack at 18 Royle St, Grangetown. The address of their flat was 17 Haddon St.

William died on April 22nd, 1923 at 17 Haddon Rd (Royle St), Grangetown, aged 71, & he was buried on April 25th 1823 at St Aidan’s cemetery, Grangetown. Probate of his estate was granted to sons Thomas, a coke drawer, & John Henry, a commercial clerk. His effects were £1,529.19s

Jane survived William by several years & her latter years were spent living in the flat above her son, Jack in Grangetown. She was bedridden at this time & her grandson Eric Earnshaw remembers that she always had a box of crystallized fruits which she used to offer him.

Jane died on July 14th, 1931 at 17 Haddon Rd (Royle St), Grangetown, aged 77, and was buried July 16th, 1931 alongside her husband. Their son Joseph, who died October 27th, 1910, aged 28, is commemorated on the same headstone.

The children of William Stainsby & Jane Stephenson were:

sb.6.5.1 Thomas Stainsby born November 5th, 1876 at Linthorpe, & christened December 8th, 1876; died January 2nd,1951 at Sunderland General Hospital
sb.6.5.2 Edith Stainsby born July 21st, 1878 at Linthorpe, christened August 14th, 1878 at Linthorpe; died January 27th, 1927 & buried at St Aidan’s, Grangetown, Co. Durham
sb.6.5.3 Nellie Stainsby born June 25th, 1880 at Linthorpe, christened July 15th, 1880 at Linthorpe; died April 16th, 1936 at Grangetown & buried at St Aidan’s, Grangetown.
sb.6.5.4 Joseph Stainsby christened June 25th, 1882 at Linthorpe, died October 27th, 1910
sb.6.5.5 Mary Emily Stainsby born July 22nd, 1884 at Linthorpe, christened August 9th, 1884 at Linthorpe; died August 8th, 1954 at Grangetown, Co Durham
sb.6.5.6 George William Stainsby born January 26th, 1887, christened March 4th, 1887 at Linthorpe, died January 12th, 1951 at Southgate, London
sb.6.5.7 John Henry Stainsby born September 6th, 1889, christened October 4th, 1889 at Linthorpe; died May 9th, 1947 at the General Hospital, Sunderland
sb.6.5.8 Jennie Stainsby born December 21st, 1891 at Linthorpe, christened January 20th, 1892 at Linthorpe

sb.6.5.9 Arthur Stainsby born March 4th, 1896 at Windsor Terr, Grangetown, Co Durham & christened April 16th, 1896 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, Co Durham, died July-September 1896 at Grangetown