John Stainsby was the first child of Thomas Stainsby & Mary Lister born at Linthorpe & christened June 28th, 1840 at West Acklam, Yorks.
In 1851 John was at home with his parents, brothers & sisters at Linthorpe, Yorks.
At the time of the 1861 census John was lodging with Robert Bell & family at Gummergate, Marton in Cleveland & was a stonemason.
John married Ann Alice Dixon on March 25th, 1865 at the Parish Church of Marton, Yorks. Witnesses at the wedding were Thomas Stainsby & Elizabeth Dixon. Ann was born November 6th & christened December 13th, 1840 at Hurworth-on-Tees, Durham, the daughter of Alice & William Dixon, a weaver.
John & Ann (Stawsly in Ancestry.co.uk index) were living at Linthorpe in 1871 & John was described as a bricklayer. There was a 6 year old cousin with them, George Kirk. This was the son of Hannah Maria Lister [li.9] & her first husband, George Kirk, deceased. Hannah had also died in 1870.
In 1877 John was successful in tendering for the building of a new workhouse in Middlesbrough. His tender was recommended by the Building Committee as he was regarded as a ‘thoroughly substantial man who would carry out the work satisfactorily’ (Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 24 March 1877). However, by 1880 John’s business was declared bankrupt (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, February 21 1880).
In 1881 John & Ann were living at 31 St. Pauls Rd, Linthorpe & John was now a surveyor. Living with them was Sidney Smith (25), the curate of St Paul's, Middlesbrough.
In 1891 they were living at ‘Broken Scar’, Darlington where John was clerk of building works. It appears that Ann & John had no family of their own, however with them were 2 nieces Mary Emily Graham (18) & Mary E Mills (13) – niece Mary Graham was the daughter of John’s sister Elizabeth Stainsby who had married Charles Graham, & niece Mary Mills was the daughter of Ann’s sister Margaret Dixon who had married William Mills.
In 1901 John & Ann were living at Great Burdon, Darlington & John was an inspector of works for the Water Board. Still living with them was niece Mary Mills & niece Mary Graham, now married to John Black who now had 2 daughters – Alice M E (1) & Emily C (4 months).
John & Ann were still at Great Burdon in 1911 & John was described as a retired builder. Still living with them were nieces Mary Ellen Mills & Mary Emily Black with her 2 daughters – Alice Mary Elizabeth (11) & Emily Clara (10). It was noted on the census that Ann & John had had 1 child who had died.
John died in 1911, aged 71, & was buried on June 23rd, 1911 at St Andrew’s, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington.
Ann died in 1917, aged 76, & was buried on March 12th, 1917 at St Andrew’s, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington.
sb.6.1.1 Ann Stainsby born April-June 1867 at Stockton