Dinah Stubbs (1823 - 1895)

Born 1823 in North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Died 27 Nov 1895 at about age 72 in Tetney, Lincolnshire, England

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Biography

Dinah Stubbs was born in North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England.

Birth and Early Years

Dinah or Diana Stubbs was born in the parish of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England;^[1] most likely in 1823.^[2] Her parents were William Stubbs and Dinah Dawson.^[2] Dinah was baptised at North Somercotes, as recorded in the parish register (her name was initially spelled "Diana", but the entry was amended to "Dinah"):^[2]

No. 216, 29 May 1823, Dinah, daughter of William, a farmer, and Diana(sic), of North Somercotes, by J Wood, Curate

She was sixth or seventh of the eleven children of William and Dinah Stubbs. She had a twin sister, Martha, who was baptised the same day.^[3] It is not known whether Dinah or Martha was the elder twin.

St Mary's Church, North Somercotes

Dinah was part of large extended families residing in North Somercotes on both her paternal and maternal sides, with three grandparents (and a fourth step-grandparent) still living for the first few years of her life.

The Stubbs' were a well-established farming family in the parishes of North and South Somercotes. While Dinah's family was not wealthy, she would likely have had a more comfortable upbringing then many children in the parish.

Her maternal grandfather, Vincent Dawson, was a grocer in North Somercotes.^[4] This would later be Dinah's occupation as well. He died in 1827,^[4] when Dinah was aged four, but his son, James Dawson (Dinah's uncle), was also a grocer,^[5] (probably taking over the business from his father) so Dinah grew up having family members as shop-keepers.

In 1841, Dinah was recorded in the census living with her father, William (aged 55-59), a farmer, and mother Dinah (aged 45-49). Dinah herself was recorded as being aged 17, although she must actually have (just) been 18 years old, based on her date of baptism and the date of the census.^[6]

Also recorded in the family were elder brother Edwin (aged 20) and younger siblings Susanna (aged 15) and James (aged 12). Also in the household were her aunt, Mary Stubbs (aged 50-54), a pauper; two women whose relationship to the Stubbs' is unknown, Elizabeth Drake and Mary Wright (both aged 40-44); and Robert Martin (aged 30-34), an agricultural labourer.^[6]

Birth and Death of Son Edward

In 1842, aged 18, Dinah fell pregnant. Her son, Edward, was born in late 1842 or early 1843, probably in North Somercotes where he was baptised on 30 January 1843.^[7] Dinah was unmarried and the father of her son is unknown.^[7]

Shortly thereafter, Dinah and baby Edward moved to Tetney, probably to live with Mary Wright (who had been recorded with the Stubbs family in the 1841 census). In September 1843, her son Edward died aged 8 months and was buried at Tetney.^[8]

Life in Tetney

It seems that Dinah remained living in Tetney after the death of her son, where she was recorded in the 1851 census as a visitor in the household of Tetney-born Mary Wright (aged 52), a cottager. Her name was spelt "Diana" and she was 27 years old. No occupation is given for her. Mary and Dinah/Diana were the only two in the household.^[1]

Ten years later, Dinah was aged 37, still living with Mary Wright in Tetney. Her occupation was "assistant", which probably indicates she was a shop assistant.^[9]

The 1871 census was the first to record Dinah as a grocer in Tetney, aged 46(sic). She was still living with Mary Wright.^[10]

By 1881, the household, still in Tetney, had expanded to four. Mary Wright's widowed sister, Ann Lamming (aged 80) was the head; Mary herself was aged 82; Dinah (aged 46), a grocer by occupation, was recorded as a visitor; and Frances Bradley (aged 16) was a servant.^[11]

The final census that records Dinah Stubbs took place in 1891. She was living on her own in Tetney (Mary Wright having died in 1882) and still worked as a grocer. Her age was recorded as 64, although she was actually 67 by then.^[12]

Death and Memorial

Dinah died on 27 November 1895^[13] and was buried 30 November in St Peter and St Paul's Churchyard in Tetney.^[14]

Dinah/Diana Stubbs headstone in St Peter and St Paul churchyard in Tetney. Photo taken 28 December 2021. The stone was found broken in two and face down. The two pieces were stood upright and held together so this photo could be taken.

The inscription on her headstone reads:

Sacred

to the memory of

DIANA STUBBS

who departed this life

November 27^th 1895

aged 72 years

JESU MERCY

At the time of her death, Dinah's effects were valued at £1417 0s 7d. Probate of her will was granted at London on 24 December 1895 to the executors Rev. John Wild (clerk) and Richard Hay (farmer).^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGNG-SMX : 9 November 2019), Diana Stubbs in household of Mary Wright, Tetney, Lincolnshire, England; citing Tetney, Lincolnshire, England, p. 2, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRX-PB9S : 17 January 2020), Diana Stubbs, 29 May 1823; citing Baptism, 29 May 1823, North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England, Lincolnshire Record Office, Lincoln; FHL microfilm .
3. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NG55-XH5 : 19 September 2020), Martha Stubbs, 1823.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Lincoln Consistory Court, Original wills B - L, 1827, ref 1827/79, will of Vincent DAWSON of North Somercotes, proved 4 July 1827; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : accessed 20 November 2021) DGS no. 8074210, image 174-176 of 652 (can be viewed at Family History Centres and Affiliate Libraries); Lincolnshire Archives.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7HQ-8MN : 3 March 2021), James Dawson, North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ1L-49B : 24 May 2019), Dinah Stubbs in household of William Stubbs, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPRX-V95V : 18 January 2020), Edward Stubbs, 30 Jan 1843; citing Baptism, 30 Jan 1843, North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, England, Lincolnshire Record Office, Lincoln; FHL microfilm .
8. ↑ "England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL1K-HB2Q : 4 February 2020), Edward Stubbs, 1843.
9. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7H4-Z62 : 3 March 2021), Dinah Stubby in household of Mary Weight, Tetney, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
10. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB8N-R1S : 19 February 2021), Dinah Stubbs in entry for Mary Wright, 1871.
11. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27V-1DM8 : 12 December 2017), Dinah Stubbs in household of Ann Lamming, Tetney, Lincolnshire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 3, Piece/Folio 3266/93, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,959.
12. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WT5Y-H6Z : 1 March 2021), Dinah Stubbs, Tetney, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lincolnshire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XD8-6WZM : 27 August 2019), Diana Stubbs, 24 Dec 1895; citing Probate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .
14. ↑ "National Burial Index For England & Wales," entry for Dinah Stubbs buried 30 November 1895, Tetney; database, Findmypast (https://www.findmypast.com : accessed 29 December 2021), transcript (subscription); Lincolnshire Family History Society.

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Jo Fitz-Henry, Andy, Tash and Adam who made two visits to the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul in Tetney in December 2021 to find, piece together, and photograph Dinah's headstone.