Stephen Stainsby [sb.6.3.4]
We are grateful to Fiona Hobson, great, great granddaughter of Stephen Stainsby for information & photo on this page
Stephen Stainsby was the fourth child of Thomas Stainsby & Mary Ann Henderson (nee Corner) born June 15th, 1875 at Linthorpe, & christened July 1st, 1875 at St Hilda's, Middlesbrough.
At the time of the 1881 census Stephen, his 2 sisters, 1 brother & his mother Mary were living at Lumley St, Middlesbrough. Mary was described as the wife of John Carter , although their marriage did not take place until 1883. Also living there was John Henderson (Mary's son from her first marriage to William Henderson) & half-sister Hannah Carter.
The school registers book for Appleby primary school show that Stephen & his older sister Annie Stainsby were admitted in October 1886. Their address was given as Bongate, Appleby. His father Thomas was known to have lived in Appleby around this time.
In 1891 Stephen was living at home with his mother & step-father John, & Stephen was a butcher. His sisters & brother were also still at home, as was John Henderson. Another 4 Carter children had arrived – Joseph (9), Robert (6), Alice M (5) & Violet (3). They were all living at 22 Albert Mews, Middlesbrough .
Stephen married Eliza Samantha Oxbro on November 19th, 1896 at the Parish Church, Leicester. Eliza was born May 19th, 1877 at Stanton under Bardon, Leicestershire, the daughter of Cecelia Willett & James Oxbro, a blacksmith.
Stephen & Eliza & baby
In 1901 Stephen & Eliza were living at 16 West Gascate St, Leicester formerly St Margaret Leicester with children Stephen L (3) & Edgar L (2). Stephen was a milk seller.
By 1911 the family had moved to 60 Selborne St, Attercliffe, Sheffield & Stephen was now described as ‘hawking groceries'. There were now 6 children at home – Stephen Lawrence who was helping his father in the business, Edgar Lewis, Evelyn Mary (9), Cecilia Rose (7), Doris Lilian (6) & Edna May (8 months). All were born at Leicester apart from Edna who was born in Sheffield. It was noted on the census that Stephen & Samantha had had 8 children, only 6 of whom were living.
Stephen’s change in occupation may have been precipitated by an injunction brought against him & a fellow milk seller in 1907 who had both been dismissed from the Farmers & Cleveland Dairy Co Ltd. On their dismissal they were under agreement not to solicit custom for milk selling for 2 years. Both men ignored this agreement & were found to have been supplying customers to the cost of their former employers. Both men admitted their misdemeanours and were ordered to pay moneys to the company & had an injunction placed on them for 2 years.
Eliza & Stephen continued to live in Sheffield where Stephen became a greengrocer & fruiterer.
Stephen died in 1933 in Sheffield, aged 57 & was buried on May 25th, 1933 at Tinsley Park Cemetery, Sheffield.
At the time of the 1939 register Eliza was living at 33 Ouse Rd, Sheffield & with her was son John H, a bacon shop assistant.
Eliza died in 1952 in West Yorkshire, aged 75 & was buried November 26th, 1952 at Tinsley Park Cemetery, Sheffield.
Both sons Stephen & Edgar served in the army in WW1. Stephen enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regiment with the Durham Light Infantry on February 24th, 1915. He gave his home address at the time as 60 Selbourne St, Sheffield. He was 18 years 10 months & 5ft 4 and a half inches tall at the time of enlistment. Stephen served in France & on April 14th 1918 he was ordered to proceed to an advanced pill box where he sustained a severe wound to his left hand, caused by a bullet entering his palm & passing out of the back of his hand. On May 14th, 1918 his injury was reported as ‘injured, self inflicted without negligence’! Stephen was discharged on October 21st, 1918 with 10% disability. His father’s name at this time was given as Stephen Laurence Stainsby of 174 Stanniforth Rd, Attercliffe, Sheffield. Stephen was awarded the Victory Medal & the British War Medal & he was to marry Beatrice Skinner in 1921.
Son Edgar enlisted at Sheffield on January 12th, 1917 in the 3rd Unit of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He was 5ft 7 and three quarter inches tall & gave his address as 60 Selborne St, Sheffield & his occupation was hawking. He served as a private in France from March to August 1918 & was awarded the British War Medal & the Victory Medal. On demobilization in February 1919 he joined the army reserve. Edgar married Edith Ratcliffe in 1921.
The children of Stephen Stainsby & Eliza Samantha Oxbro were:
sb.6.3.4.1 Stephen Laurence Stainsby born April-June 1897 at Leicester; died July-September 1922 at Sheffield
sb.6.3.4.2 Edgar Lewis Stainsby born Jan-March 1899 at Leicester; died 1983 at Newbury, Berks
sb.6.3.4.3 Evelyn Mary Stainsby born August 17th, 1901 at Leicester, died September 25th, 1989 at Chesterfield, Derbyshire
sb.6.3.4.4 Cecilia Rose Stainsby born July 14th, 1903 at Leicester, died April 5th, 1987 at Belper, Derbyshire
sb.6.3.4.5 Doris Lilian Stainsby born Oct-December 1904 at Leicester, died 1986 in Worcestershire
sb.6.3.4.6 Joseph Henry Stainsby born at 3 Wilson St. & christened February 7th, 1906 at St Hilda’s, Leicester; died February-March 1906 at Leicester
sb.6.3.4.7 Maud Stainsby born April-June 1909 at Sheffield; died July-September 1909 at Sheffield
sb.6.3.4.8 Edna May Stainsby born July-September 1910 at Sheffield
sb.6.3.4.9 John Thomas William Henry Stainsby born October 6th, 1911 at Sheffield; died Oct-December 1989 at Sheffield South