John Sturman (1864 - 1911)

Born 1864 in Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, England

Husband of Phebe Rebecca (Hadley) Sturman — married 10 Jul 1882 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1911 at about age 47 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

John Sturman was born in 1864 at The Hill, Rowley Regis, Staffordshire. ^[1]

He was baptised on 3 February 1868 at St. Giles, Rowley Regis. His parents were named as Edward and Jane Sturman. ^[2]

In the 1871 census John was living with his parents at Cockshead Lane, The Hill. He was aged 7 years. ^[3]

In 1881 John and three of his siblings were living with their maternal grandmother Elizabeth Westwood at the Grocer's Shop, Malt Mill Lane, The Hill. Aged 17, he was a grocer. ^[4]

John Sturman married Phebe Hadley on 10 July 1882 at St. Thomas in Dudley, Worcestershire. Their marriage certificate recorded John was a bachelor aged 18 and a grocer. His father was named as Edward Sturman, a grocer and publican. Phebe was a spinster aged 18 years. Her father was named as Shadrach Hadley,a rivet manufacturer. Their witnesses were William Rogers and Annie Perkins. ^[5]

This couple had six children named Agnes born 1883, Jane born 1884, John born 1886, Thomas Edward born 1887, Herbert born 1893 and Leonard Redvers born 1900.

In the 1891 census John and Phoebe were living at Malt Mill Lane, The Hill. John, aged 27, was a manufacturer's clerk. Phoebe, aged 26, was a grocer. Agnes was aged 8, Jane aged 7, John aged 5 and Thomas aged 3. Also living with them was Edward Sturman, aged 24, John's brother; Elizabeth Westwood, aged 72, his grandmother and Alice Bennett, aged 16, a general domestic servant. Edward was a coal hauler. ^[6]

Son Leonard Redvers Sturman was baptised on 28 October 1900 at St. Paul's Church, Blackheath. The family was then living at Long Lane and John was a clerk. ^[7]

In 1901 the family was still living at Long Lane, Blackheath. John, aged 37, was a hardware manufacturer's agent. Phebe was aged 26. Jane, aged 17, was a school ruler maker. John, aged 15, was a gas fittings maker's striker. Thomas, aged 13, was a GWR [Great Western Railway] parcels errand boy. Herbert was aged 8 and Leonard aged 6 months. ^[8]
Daughter Agnes, aged 18, was working as a domestic servant at the home of Edward Sturman, a publican, and family at Travellers Rest, Long Lane, Hill. ^[9]

In an advertisement for the sale of property by auction published in The Advertiser, a local paper, dated 16 June 1906, Pg 1, was the description of the property occupied by the Sturman family in Long Lane. It read – Lot 1. All those two excellent villas known as “King Edward” and “Coronation” Villas, situate and having a frontage of 11 yards 2 feet to Long Lane, Blackheath, with a depth of 30 yards, and containing in the whole an area of 350 square yards or thereabouts, and now in the occupation of Mr. John Sturman and Mrs. Sturman, and producing the low annual rental of £32 9s. 0d. Each house contains three Bed Rooms, Parlour, Sitting Room, Veranda, and Kitchen. The one occupied by Mr. John Sturman has a capital large Cellar and Store Room; the other a large Pantry, Coalhouse, Pigstye, and Soft Water Cistern to both, with w.c.’s and usual Outbuildings. This property has a Covered-in Paved Cartway Entrance (7ft, 6in. wide), is well built, with large Square Front Windows, is well situated and sited for capital Business Premises. ^[10]

On 24 August 1906 John Sturman, aged 42, a clerk, sailed aboard Celtic from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 2 September 1906. His last permanent address was recorded as Blackheath and his intended destination as Philadelphia, to stay with his cousin Jesse Westwood at 635 Seventh Ave, West Hamstead [probably should read West Hempstead]. ^[11]

On 3 November 1906 Thomas E Sturman, aged 19, a brewers engineer, and friend Alfred Brookes sailed aboard Garmania from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 11 November 1906. Thomas’ last permanent address was recorded as Blackheath and his intended destination as Philadelphia. Both young men intended to stay with John Sturman of 1460 Cherry St, Philadelphia on arrival. Thomas was described as 5 feet, 11½ inches in height, with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. ^[12]

On 18 June 1907 Phoebe Sturman, aged 43, and children Jane, aged 20, a servant, Herbt, aged 11, and Leonard, aged 6, sailed aboard Caronia from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 26 June 1907. They intended to join their husband and father John Sturman of 177 Culver Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey. Phoebe and Jane were both described as being of fair complexion, with brown hair and blue eyes. Phoebe’s height was 5 feet, 8 inches and Jane's 5 feet, 4 inches. There was no description of the children. ^[13]

Lastly son John, aged 21, a striker, and friend William Darby sailed aboard Lusitania from Liverpool on 1 December 1907, arriving in New York on 8 December 1907. John had been living with sister Agnes Moreton of Pound Rd, Oldbury immediately before departure. Both young men gave their intended address on arrival as the home of John Sturman, 125 Armstrong Ave, Jersey City. John was described as 5 feet, 6 inches in height with a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. ^[14]

In the 1910 US census the family was living at 19 Bergen Ave, Jersey City. John, aged 46, was a shipping clerk [best guess]. Phoebe was aged 45. Son James, as recorded, was aged 25, Herbert aged 22, and Leonard aged 9. Also living with them were three boarders named Alfred Brooks aged 26, a diamond cutter; Joseph Jones aged 24, an electrician; and Elizabeth Quinlan, aged 25, a weaver. ^[15]

John Sturman died on 21 February 1911.

John Sterman [sic] was buried on 24 February 1911 at New York Bay Cemetery, New Jersey. The Grace Church burial register recorded John died on 21 February 1911 aged 45 years and his last address as 19 Bergan Ave. ^[16]

And from The County Express dated 11 March 1911, Pg 5 - DEATHS. STURMAN. On February 21st, at his residence, 19, Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, N.J., U.S.A., and formerly of Long Lane, Blackheath, our dear father, John Sturman, passed peacefully away, after a short illness; aged 46 years. Deeply mourned by family. ^[17]

Note John's age at his death differed between the burial register and death notice.

Son Herbert made a visit back to England in 1911. He returned to the US, arriving at New York on 3 November 1911. Immigration records show Herbert's last permanent address and the address he intended to return to was with his mother Mrs P Sturman of 134 Old Bergen Rd, Jersey City. ^[18]

In 1912 Phoebe, aged 48, and son Leonard, aged 10, returned to live in England permanently, arriving at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire on 14 May 1912 aboard Lusitania. ^[19]

Son Herbert made a further trip back to England in December 1912. On his return to the US on 19 January 1913 he stated his nearest relative in the UK was his mother Mrs Sturman of 57 Belgrave Rd, Blackheath. ^[20]

From Yorkshire Telegraph and Star dated 18 June 1919, Pg 6 - ALLEGED HOUSE PROFITEERING. At Hales Owen [sic], William Hampton applied for an ejection order against Phoebe Sturman, a widow. It was stated that applicant sold his own house at Black Heath and purchased two others, one of them occupied Mrs. Sturman, on condition that she gave up the premises and took advantage of alternative accommodation provided. She refused to leave the premises, and in consequence applicant had to live with his son. Applicant admitted that in the sale of his house he made a profit of £50. Mr. E. H. Grove, for the defence, contended that it was a case of house profiteering. The applicant, who knew the housing difficulties in the district when he sold his own house, now wanted to get vacant possession of defendant’s house in order further to profiteer. The Bench decided to adjourn the case for three months. ^[21]

Elizabeth Hadley, the wife of Phoebe's brother Enoch, died on 12 January 1923 at 39 Darby St, Rowley Regis. The informant of her death was Phoebe R Sturman of 26 Long Lane, Blackheath. She was present at the death. ^[22]

Phoebe Rebecca Sturman died on 28 June 1939 at 5 Westfield Rd, Hill & Cakemore, Halesowen, Worcestershire aged 75 years of a cerebral haemorrhage. Her death certificate further recorded Phoebe was the widow of John Sturman, a clerk for a hardware manufacturer. The informant of the death was her son Leonard R. Sturman of the same address. He was present at the death. ^[23]

She was buried at Quinton Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
   GRO Birth Index
   STURMAN, JOHN Mother's maiden name WESTWOOD
   GRO Reference: 1864 M Quarter in STOURBRIDGE Volume 06C Page 195
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYFT-R31 : 22 March 2020)
3. ↑ 1871 census RG10/3020 29 Pg 19
4. ↑ 1881 census RG11/2885 29 Pg 52
5. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ73-B4J : 13 March 2020)
   Marriage Register viewed at a Family History Centre
6. ↑ 1891 census RG12/2301 50 Pg 48
7. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JSFT-GHL : 24 March 2020)
   Baptism Register viewed at a Family History Centre
8. ↑ 1901 census RG13/2752 61 Pg 4
9. ↑ 1901 census RG13/2751 73 Pg 33 - Agnes
10. ↑ Find My Past - Newspapers and periodicals
11. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JF8G-FZR : 20 August 2019), John Sturman, 1906.
12. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JFDT-5WP : 20 August 2019), Thomas E. Sturman, 1906.
13. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXV3-B35 : 20 August 2019), Phoebe Sturman, 1907.
14. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXL2-VPT : 20 August 2019), John Sturman, 1907.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKYV-FNS : accessed 24 March 2020)
16. ↑ Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Episcopal Diocese of Newark Church Records, 1809-1816, 1825-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
    Original data: Church Records. Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Newark, New Jersey.
17. ↑ Find My Past - Newspapers and periodicals
18. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJGY-4MK : 16 August 2019), Herbert Sturman, 1911
19. ↑ Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
    Original data: Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Series BT26, 1,472 pieces.
20. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JNR1-6TT : 16 August 2019), Herbert Sturman, 1913
21. ↑ Find My Past - Newspapers and periodicals
22. ↑ Death certificate of Elizabeth Hadley
23. ↑ Death certificate of Phoebe Rebecca Sturman
    https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
    GRO Death Index
    STURMAN, PHOEBE REBECCA Age at death 75
    GRO Reference: 1939 J Quarter in STOURBRIDGE Volume 06C Page 55