James Henry Stone [st.4.2]

James Henry Stone was the second child of Benjamin Stone & Catherine Baker born December 3rd, 1829 at Birmingham & christened December 26th, 1829 at St Phillips, Birmingham.

In 1841 James was living at home at Lupin St, Duddeston, Aston, Birmingham with his parents, 2 sisters & brother.

James was still living at home at Lupin St in 1851 & he was now a clerk in the glass works like his father.

James married Elizabeth Benton on December 14th, 1853 at Aston Juxta, Birmingham. Elizabeth was born July 13th, 1827 & christened August 12th, 1827 at Summer Lane formerly New Hall St New Jerusalem, Birmingham, Warks, the daughter of Lucy Fawdry & George Benton, a brass tube maker.

In 1861 James & Elizabeth were living at Hall Rd, Handsworth, Staffs & James was described as a metal tube maker & brass founder. They had 3 children – Clara L (6), Ada C (3) & Edith R (1). They also had a 19 year old servant Ann Crump.

James & Elizabeth were still at Handsworth in 1871, at Claremont Terrace, Hall Rd. James was now a brass founder employing 47 men, 21 boys & 4 women. It appears that James had taken over the running of the business from his father-in-law George Benton as George is described as a retired brass founder in the 1871 census. Children at home were Clara, Ada, Edith, Margaret E (9), Frank C (7) & Herbert (6). They also had a general servant Margaret Pickering (25).

Left: James Henry Stone 1880 Right: Cavendish House 1880

Photos taken by Sir John Benjamin Stone, James' brother. Illustrations obtained from Digital Handsworth from a collection of images held by Birmingham City Council -http://www.search.digitalhandsworth.org.uk

By 1881 James & Elizabeth were living at Cavendish House, 16 Grosvenor Rd, Handsworth & James was now a Justice of the Peace as well as a brass founder. With them were children Clara, Margaret, Frank & Herbert, both brass founders. They had a cook Elizabeth Griffith & a housemaid, Jenny Hewson.

In 1883 son Frank travelled to Australia where sadly he died 2 years later.

Daughter Ada Catherine married Herbert Paul Bill in April-June 1881 at West Bromwich.

Elizabeth died on December 11th, 1885, aged 59 & was buried at St Mary’s Church, Handsworth.

Daughter Margaret Emma married Charles Noble Milner, a brass founder, in July-September 1886 at West Bromwich.

James was instrumental in the opening of Victoria Park in Handsworth on June 20th, 1888 & was also involved with the opening of Handsworth Library.

In 1891 widowed James was still living at Cavendish House with his daughter Clara & son Herbert, a brass founder. James was described as a J.P. & a brass founder. They had 2 servants.

Son Herbert married Mary Alice Hardman in Bury, Lancs in 1892. They were to have 4 children, 3 of whom were still living with their father in Church Stretton, Shropshire at the time of the 1911 census

James was still at Cavendish House in 1901 & continued to be a magistrate & brass founder. Daughter Clara was still living at home & they had a cook & a house maid.

James died on December 16th, 1908 at the Dene, Bracebridge Rd, Sutton Coldfield, Warks, aged 79, & was buried on Saturday, December 19th 1908 alongside his wife & daughter Edith Rebecca & son Frank Campbell at St Mary’s Church, Handsworth. According to James’ brother, John Benjamin Stone, James’s grandson, the Reverend S. Bill conducted the service & the bearers included ‘our boys’, the Wainwrights & Smiths. Probate was granted on January 26th, 1909 to son-in-law Herbert Paul Bill, bank manager & Harold Walter Buncher, a stamper & piercer. James’ effects were £26,652.7s.9d. In his will James left all his household effects to oldest daughter Clara Lucy, along with his Jubilee medal & his late mother's wedding ring & illuminated address presented to him as governor of Birmingham Blue Coat School. He also left to daughter Ada Catherine another illuminated address from Handsworth Public Library Committee. To his son Herbert James left a silver trowel given to him by the Aston School Board. The net residue of his estate was divided between his children still living, Clara, Ada, Margaret & Herbert.

Daughter Clara Lucy was still unmarried at the time of the 1911 census when she was living on private means at Garth Hay, Belwell Lane, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Warks.

Daughter Ada & her husband Herbert & 4 of their 5 children were also living at Sutton Coldfield in 1911 where Herbert was a bank manager.

In 1911 daughter Margaret Emma & husband Charles were living at Handsworth & Charles was still a brass founder. They had 2 children, Gladys & Charles, but only Charles was with them at the time of the census.

Son Herbert was living on a yacht lying in Yealm, Moss Mayo, Plympton, Devon at the time of the 1939 register. He was described as a director of the company Benton & Stone.

Daughter Clara was living at Melcombe Lodge, Peachfield Rd, Malvern in 1939 & described an independent. With her was a friend Agnes Bowen & a cook.
Daughter Ada was widowed by 1939 & living with her son Herbert Reginald who was incapacitated in Lichfield, Staffs.

The children of James Henry Stone & Elizabeth Benton were:

st.4.2.1 Clara Lucy Stone born January 29th, 1855 at Birmingham & christened March 5th, 1855 at St Phillips, Birmingham; died April 20th, 1944 at Melcombe Lodge, Peachfield Rd, Malvern Wells, Worcs
st.4.2.2 Ernest Benton Stone born June 6th, 1856 at Birmingham & christened September 7th, 1856 at St Phillips, Birmingham, died Jan-March 1857 at Birmingham
st.4.2.3 Ada Catherine Stone born December 23rd, 1857 at Birmingham & christened March 1st, 1858 at St Phillips, Birmingham; died February 22nd, 1947 at Kingsfield, Rosemary Hill Rd, Streetly, Staffs
st.4.2.4 Edith Rebecca Stone born November 6th, 1859 at Birmingham & christened January 30th, 1860 at St Phillips, Birmingham, died March 15th, 1875 at Handsworth, Birmingham
st.4.2.5 Margaret Emma Stone born July 3rd, 1861 at Handsworth & christened September 9th, 1861 at St Phillips, Birmingham; died October 17th, 1928 at 133 Handsworth Wood Rd, Handsworth
st.4.2.6 Frank Campbell Stone born May 18th, 1863 at Handsworth & christened July 13th, 1863 at St Phillips, Birmingham, died August 5th, 1885 at Warwick, Queensland, Australia
st.4.2.7 Herbert Stone born march 2nd,1865 at Hall Rd, Handsworth, Staffs & christened November 13th, 1865 at St Philip's, Birmingham; died March 17th, 1949 at Membland Gardens, Newton Ferrers, Plymouth