John Stephens (abt. 1826 - 1890)

Descendants

Died 1890 at about age 64 in Peshawar, Bengal Presidency, India [uncertain]

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Biography

There is little direct evidence available about John except through records about his children and partners. Nevertheless a death and burial record has been discovered that fits with the information about children and partners.

The children of his first relationship, with Andrea Catherine Unknown, were a daughter Amelia (Stephens) Hildreth born in 1859 and married in 1881, a daughter Johanna Adelaide Stephens born 1860 and a son John Edwin Stephens born 1862 and married 1883.

Amelia was born in 1859 and it is likely that John was born at least 17 years before that. Therefore John would have been born before 1842.

At the time of his daughter Catherine's marriage and at the time of his death he was employed in the legal profession as a pleader. At the time of Catherine's death, some years later, he was recorded as a barrister (deceased). Some Europeans were considered to be superior or 'in society' if they were the officers of the regiments or barristers, clergymen or some merchants. ^[1]

His second relationship was with Catherine O'Donoghue and, as the first child of that relationship, Victor Valentine Stephens, was born in 1864 that relationship probably began in 1863. ^[2]

We also know that his second partner Catherine O'Donoghue died a widow on 11 Sep 1896 aged 56. Thus John would have died before 1896 and Catherine was born in 1840 which is consistent with the birth date of 1826 and death date 1890 for John. ^[3]

From information currently available it is possible that Andrea Catherine Unknown and Catherine O'Donoghue were the same person. It is possible that she evolved over time from calling herself Andrea/Andrew (feminine and masculine forms of the same forename) to Catherine.

Birth

1826. ^[4]

Baptism of Daughter Amelia

04 Jun 1859. Gujranwali, Punjab, Pakistan. Amelia's mother's name recorded as Andrew. ^[5]

Baptism of Daughter Johanna

22 Oct 1860. Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Johanna's mother's name recorded as Catherine Andrew. ^[6]

Baptism of Son John

4 Oct 1862. India. John's mother's name recorded as Andrea Catherine. ^[7]

Baptism of Son Victor

18 Sep 1864 Jalandhar, Madhya Pradesh, India. Victor's mother's name recorded as Catharine. ^[8]

Baptism of Daughter Catharine

25 Dec 1867 Jalandhar, Punjab, India. Catharine's mother's name recorded as Catharine. ^[9]

Marriage of Daughter Amelia

1 Nov 1881. Ambala, Haryana, India. Amelia's father's profession recorded as pleader. ^[10]

Death

22 Dec 1890 23 Dec 1890 Peshawar, Bengal Presidency, India aged 64 and occupation recorded as pleader. ^[4]

Burial

23 Dec 1890 Peshawar, Bengal Presidency, India. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ FIBIS. Journal of the Families in British India Society - Issue 33 - Spring 2015, Page 5. From Soldier to Newspaperman: The Varied Experiences of Joachim Hayward Stocqueler in Bombay and Calcutta from 1819 to 1843. "Stocqueler claimed that it was the superiority of those Europeans considered to be in `society' - the officers of the regiments and certain civilians such as barristers, clergymen and some merchants who were augmented when the great East Indiamen were in port en route for China - that first turned his attention to journalism."
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. Name: Victor Valentine Stephens; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 14 Feb 1864; Birth Place: chr Jullander Bengal India; Baptism Date: 18 Sep 1864; Baptism Age: 0; Baptism Place: Jullander, Bengal, India; Father: John Stephens; Mother: Catharine; Reference ID: v 109 p 290; FHL Film Number: 499015.
3. ↑ Burial record supplied by Gail Hildreth at Ancestry.com and copy held in the archives of Christopher Mayes. Burial Location: Jullunder, Bengal, India; Died: 11 Sep 1896; Name: Catherine Stephens; Age: 56; Condition: Widow; When buried: 12 Sep 1896; Cause of Death: Cancer; Buried by: RC Chaplain.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "India Deaths and Burials, 1719-1948," database, FamilySearch 11 February 2018, John Stephens, 23 Dec 1890; citing Peshawar, Bengal, India; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 510,894. Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B75035-7; System Origin: India-EASy; GS Film number: 510894; Reference ID: 510894; Name: John Stephens; Gender: Male; Burial Date: 23 Dec 1890; Burial Place: Peshawar, Bengal, India; Death Date: 22 Dec 1890; Age: 64; Birth Date: 1826; Occupation: Pleader; Race: White; Marital Status: Unknown.
5. ↑ "India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947," database, FamilySearch 10 February 2018, Amelia Mary Stephens, 04 Jun 1859; citing GOOJRANWALEE, BENGAL, INDIA, reference v 95 p 337; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 498,998. Name: Amelia Mary Stephens; Gender: Female; Christening Date: 04 Jun 1859; Christening Place: GOOJRANWALEE, BENGAL, INDIA; Birth Date: 09 May 1859; Father's Name: John Stephens; Mother's Name: Andrew.
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. India, Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. Name: Johanna Adelaide Stephens; Gender: Female; Birth Date: 20 Jul 1860; Baptism Date: 22 Oct 1860; Baptism Age: 0; Baptism Place: Lahore, Bengal, India; Father: John Stephens; Mother: Catherine Andrew; Reference ID: v 98 p 457; FHL Film Number: 499001. Ancestry Record 9899 #1940944
7. ↑ "India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947," database, [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGQK-6G4 FamilySearch 10 February 2018, John Edwin Stephens, 04 Oct 1862; citing India, reference v 102; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 499,007. Name: John Edwin Stephens; Gender: Male; Christening Date: 04 Oct 1862; Christening Place: India; Birth Date: 08 Sep 1862; Birthplace: Home Anarkalee, Bengal, India; Father's Name: John Stephens; Mother's Name: Andrea Catherine.
8. ↑ "India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947," database, FamilySearch 10 February 2018, Catharine in entry for Victor Valentine Stephens, 18 Sep 1864; citing Jullander, Bengal, India, reference v 109 p 290; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 499,015. Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C49325-5; System Origin: India-EASy; GS Film number: 499015; Reference ID: v 109 p 290; Name: Victor Valentine Stephens; Gender: Male Christening Date: 18 Sep 1864; Christening Place: Jullander, Bengal, India; Birth Date: 14 Feb 1864; Birthplace: chr Jullander Bengal India; Father's Name: John Stephens; Mother's Name: Catharine.
9. ↑ "India Births and Baptisms, 1786-1947," database, FamilySearch 10 February 2018, Catharine in entry for Catharine Susanne Stephens, 25 Dec 1867; citing Jullunder, Bengal, India, reference ; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 499,028. Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C75021-1; System Origin: India-EASy; GS Film number: 499028. Name: Catharine Susanne Stephens; Gender: Female; Christening Date: 25 Dec 1867; Christening Place: Jullunder, Bengal, India; Birth Date: 01 Aug 1867; Birthplace: Jullunder, Bengal, India; Father's Name: John Stephens; Mother's Name: Catharine.
10. ↑ Marriage Certificate for Amelia (Amy) Stephens and Lance Corporal George Albert Farquhar. Date: 1 Nov 1881 Place: Umballa Command: 1st Bn Leinster Regt Church: Catholic Church of Rome GROOM Name: George Farquhar Age: 26 Condition: Bachelor Rank: Lce Corporal Residence: Umballa Father's name: George Farquhar BRIDE Name: Amy Stephens Age: 22 Condition: Spinster Residence: Umballa Father's name: John Stephens Profession: Pleader.

    Amelia (Amy) Stephens Marriage Certificate