James Henry Stone was the first child of Benjamin Stone & Amelia Hackett born at Lombard St, & christened October 23rd, 1853 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs.
In 1861 James was living with his parents & younger sister Eliza (Martha Elizabeth) at 16 Lombard St, West Bromwich.
In 1871 the family were living at Dudley Rd, West Bromwich & James was now a clerk in rubber manufacture. In addition to his sister Eliza there were now 2 more sisters – Letitia & Miranda. Visiting was Emily E Young, aged 17, whom James was to marry later that year.
James married Emily Ellen Young on July 9th, 1871 at St Thomas, Dudley, Worcs. Emily was born July-September 1853 at Stourbridge, Worcs.
In 1881 James & Emily were living at Park St, Stourbridge, Worcs & James was a general dealer. They had 4 children – Gertrude M A (8), Henry B (5), William H J (3) & May C A (11 months). They had a general servant Mary Pearce aged 16.
A notice in the County Advertiser & Herald for Staffordshire & Worcestershire of August 12th, 1882 stated that the partnership of Benjamin Stone & James Henry Stone trading as B. Stone & Co at Stourbridge, tailors, drapers, furniture & general dealers was dissolved. The business was to be carried on by James alone.
By 1891 the family were living at 100 High St, Stourbridge & James was described as a merchant tailor. Daughters Gertrude Maud Annie & May Charlotte Amelia were still at home, as were sons Henry Benjamin & William Harrold Jesse, both working as shop boys.
James was still a tailor in Stourbridge in 1901 & the family were living at 69 Worcester Rd, Stourbridge. Both daughters were still at home, although Gertrude was to marry Albert Hipkiss later that year. Son William, now a hosier, was also with the family, along with his wife Emily J, aged 24. Son Henry was living in Nottingham at this time. He was boarding at 38 Noel St, Hyson Green & he was working as a tailor, shopkeeper & was described as an employer.
The Worcester Chronicle of April 20th, 1901 reveals that James’s business was in trouble. He was described as James Henry Stone of 100 High St, tailor & mercer, & was now residing at Onslow Cottage, The Heath, Stourbridge. He had unsecured liabilities of £484.12s.6d & estimated net assets of only £250.
The 1911 census shows James as a boarder at 141 Colwick Rd, Nottingham & was described as a self-employed tailors cutter working from home. He was with 80 year old widow Eliza Johnson & her daughter Alice Johnson (40) who was their housekeeper. Also listed with them was Eric Stone (19) described as ‘son of boarder’, who was a tailor’s presser, born at Langley Green, Staffs. [There is a birth registered for Eric Johnson Stone at West Bromwich in July-September 1891. Interestingly in the 1901 census for Brierley Hill, Staffs living at 46 Bull St/Brettell Lane was listed Eliza Johnson, daughter Alice & grandson George Eric Johnson, aged 9, who was born at Langley Green.]
James’ wife Emily was living with son William Harrold & his wife Emily at 4 Caernarvon Grove, Gedling, Notts at the time of the 1911 census. William was a cutter in the tailoring trade & he & Emily had a 4 year old son, Leonard Bennett.
James died, aged 58, in April 1913, his death being registered at Nottingham.
An article in the Nottingham Journal of October 15th, 1914 showed that son Henry Benjamin tailor of Milton St, Nottingham was claiming a balance of £24.18s.11d from Alice Johnson who was trading as Johnson & Co of Nottingham. It was stated that father James had been the managing partner of Johnson & Co who were known as ‘Scotch’ tailors & went round getting orders. Alice had paid some money on account after James’ death in April 1913. The judge found for Henry Benjamin.
The children of James Henry Stone & Emily Ellen Young were:
st.2.4.1.1 Gertrude Maud Annie Stone born August 19th, 1872 at Stourbridge,
Worcs; died May 27th, 1961 at Maloja Nursing Home, Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster
st.2.4.1.2 Henry Benjamin Stone born June 5th, 1875 at Stourbridge, Worcs; died January 22nd 1963 at First Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham
st.2.4.1.3 William Harold Jesse Stone born September 28th, 1877 at Stourbridge,
Worcs; died Jan-March 1965 at Nottingham
st.2.4.1.4 May Charlotte Amelia Stone born April 13th, 1880 at Stourbridge,
Worcs; died Oct-December 1970 at Kidderminster, Worcs