| 25 February 2017 | ||
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STEVENSON family tree STEVENSON family summary STEVENSON ancestor chart |
Dr Geoffrey Mann geoff.mann@btinternet.com home page |
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| 0 Jean Stevenson | 1. Roderick W STEVENSON 1901-1957 |
2 Frederick STEVENSON |
| spouse's records | m Nellie Deborah SHORT 1933 |
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| Roderick was born in 1901 in West Ham, both his mother and father were teachers, and he
attended Raines Foundation School where his uncle, William MARTIN, was head teacher. After leaving
school, he was apprenticed as an engineer. His only brother Ronald contracted rheumatic
fever and was later invalided at home after an assault. Roderick spent time looking after him
but then emigrated to Canada aged 22. Roderick came back briefly
after four years before returning to Canada. He crossed the border into Chicago but there lost his right hand
in a factory accident. He returned home in 1928. Roderick married Nellie SHORT in 1933 and their only daughter was born a year later. Life was difficult in the depression especially for a man with one hand and they moved to Shoeburyness where he worked at fairgrounds on the sea-front. He became a full-time senior air raid warden during the war and worked at the army artillery ranges in Shoeburyness afterward. During this time, the family lived at 33 Ulster Avenue but had just sold it, when he contracted lung cancer and bronchitis and died in 1957. His widow moved to the new house in the next road, 58 Waterford Rd where she married Edward HAYNS about 1960 and remained there until her death in 1993; her second husband died five years previously. Roderick was a short man with a dark complexion like that of his daughter and his mother, turning very dark brown in the sun. Both his parents were Scottish and it has been suggested that this feature may have originated from one of the Spanish Armada sailors shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, similar to the so-called ‘black irish’. He was a good teller of tales and recited monologues in local concerts. He had a great time in Canada until he lost his hand (judging from his photographs which sadly were all destroyed by his wife’s second husband). War-time was also a good time (despite rows between his wife and mother, both of whom he loved) as he was able to hold down a responsible post. After the war, an inheritance from his parents allowed him to run a car and television when few could afford such luxuries He was very independent, keeping his garden well and resisting offers of help from those with two hands, though his last years were clouded with poor health. |
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| photos of R W Stevenson, click for larger image | ||||||
| age Date RS NS |
EVENT |
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9Oct1901 Nov1906 4 1906 5 18Sep1911 10 1912 11 22Dec1915 14 5Oct1917 16 Jan1922 21 27Jul1923 22 17Jun1926 25 15Jul1927 26 27Aug1927 26 ? 1928 27 28Dec1928 27 25Dec1933 32 24 2Nov1934 33 25 c1936 35 27 c1938 37 29 1939 38 30 1945 44 36 26Mar1955 54 46 1Oct1957 55 48 1960 51 28Nov1988 79 23Jan1993 84 |
born at 6 Park Rd, West Ham with parents at 112 Browning Rd, West Ham (from father's will) awarded bronze medal for perfect attendance at school (Kensington Ave, Manor Park) started at Raines Foundation School (uncle MARTIN was head teacher) won first form school prize left school, apprenticed as engineer at Hunt's Ltd, Millwall brother Ronald discharged from Army with rheumatic fever brother Ronald discharged from Merchant Navy injured sailed to Canada from Liverpool on SS Megantic brother Ronald died returned from Canada, arrived Liverpool on SS Minnedosa left Southampton for Canada on Empress of Scotland lost his right hand in an accident arrived Liverpool from Canada on Duchess of Atholl married Nellie SHORT at Manor Park Methodist Church from 112 Browning Rd dau Jean born at 275 Halley Rd, Manor Park moved to Pentland Avenue Shoeburyness, Essex rented new house at 33 Ulster Avenue, Shoeburyness full time air raid warden during war began work at the army artillery ranges, Shoeburyness dau Jean married at Shoeburyness died at Rochford Hospital from bronchitis and heart failure Nellie marrried Edward HAYNS Edward HAYNS died Nellie died |
PRINCIPAL RECORDS
b=born m=married d=died
C=Christened B=Buried
BIRTH
certificate
Roderick William STEVENSON boy b 9Oct1901 at 6 Park Rd, West Ham
father: Frederick William STEVENSON, schoolmaster; mother: Leah Dingwall STEVENSON, formerly JUSTICE
r 18Nov1901 by father F W STEVENSON of 6 Park Rd, West Ham at Plaistow, West Ham
MARRIAGE
certificate:
m 25Dec1933 at Manor Park Methodist Church, Romford Rd, West Ham, ESS
Roderick William STEVENSON bch 32, commercial traveller of 112 Browning Rd
Nellie Deborah SHORT spr 25, machinist of 49 Durham Rd, Manor Park
fathers: Frederick William STEVENSON, schoolmaster (retired); Thomas Short, oil shop manager
witness: Thomas William SHORT; Ivy E SHORT
DESCENDANTS
certificates:
Jean Helen Leah STEVENSON girl b 2Nov1934 at 275 Halley Roadfather: Roderick William STEVENSON, commercial traveller; mother: Nellie Deborah STEVENSON, formerly SHORT
r 14Nov1934 by father R W STEVENSON of 275 Halley Rd, Manor Park at West Ham
DEATH
certificate
Roderick William STEVENSON male age 55 of 21 Ulster Avenue, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea, storekeeper (Ministry of Supply)d 1Oct1957 at Rochford General Hospital of heart failure & chronic bronchitis
r 3Oct1957 at Rochford, ESS, by N D STEVENSON widow of deceased, of 21 Ulster Avenue, Shoeburyness ESS,
[NOTE: 33 Ulster Ave was sold while he was in hospital, but he never lived at 21]
Edward Leonard HAYNS male b 12May1907 at Bromley by Bow, college lecturer (retired) of 58 Waterford Rd, Shoeburyness, ESS
d 28Nov1988 at 58 Waterford Rd, Shoeburyness of heart disease
r 29Nov1988 at Southend-on-Sea ESS, by Nellie Deborah HAYNS widow of deceased, of 58 Waterford Rd, Shoeburyness ESS,
Nellie Deborah HAYNS female b 21Dec1908 at Stepney, dressmaker (retired) of 58 Waterford Rd, Shoeburyness, ESS
d 23Jan1993 at Runwell Hospital of broncho-pneumonia
r 26Jan1993 at Chelmsford ESS, by Jean MANN daughter, of Bay Trees, Burnhams Rd, Bookham SRY,
Census
1911 East Ham, ESS, 112 Browning Rd, Manor Park
Fredk Wm STEVENSON he mar 48 1863 schoolteacher, London County Council; Old Aberdeen Scotland
Leah Stevenson wi mar 39 1872 St George East, London
Ronald G STEVENSON so 13 1898 schoolboy West Ham ESS
Roderick W STEVENSON so 11 1900 schoolboy West Ham ESS
Daisy CHUCK se sin 19 1892
general servant domestic Barking ESS
1921 census 112 Browning Rd, Manor Park, E12
Frederick Stevenson he 54/4 mar Aberdeen Schoolmaster LCC Hay Currie School, Bromley
Leah Stevenson wi 49/4 mar Shadwell Schoolmistress LCC Marlborough Rd Old Kent Rd
Ronald Stevenson so 23/8 mar West Ham Electrical Engineer unemployed
[last]P&OSN Co RADks [Royal Albert Docks?]
Roderick Stevenson so 19/8 sin West Ham Engineer (marine) unemplyed Messrs
[last]Hunt &Co Millwall
1939 register 33 Ulster Ave. Shoeburyness
Roderick W Stevenson 9Oct1901 speciality salesman ARP warden
Nellie D Stevenson 21Dec1908 unpd dom duties
----record closed----
SCHOOL RECORDS
bronze medal
inscribed: East Ham Education Authority. Presented to R.Stevenson for perfect attendance 1906Raines School admission register 1906-1932
ref:Met arch Acc1811/8/7 2556 Roderick W STEVENSON admitted 18Sep1911 b 9Oct1901 feepayingprevious school Kensington Ave Manor Park; form I on entry
parent Frederick W schoolmaster, 112 Browning Rd, E.Ham
promoted form III 1913
last attendance 22Dec1915 engr apprentice at Hunt's Ltd, Millwall
Raines School prize lists for boys 1881-1948
ref:Acc1811/8/58/1-37 1911/12 school prize, form I, Stevenson ii (ii=second STEVENSON, ie RW)Ship’s Passenger Lists
S.S. Megantic, White Star Line, dep. Liverpool for Quebec 27Jul1923
All crossed through in blue NOB [not on board?]:
R. Stevenson, 112 Browning Rd, East Ham, age 21 occupation [unreadable - fil?]
Last permanent residence: England
Intended future residence: Canada
No other entry has been found between 1923 and the following 1927 return from Canada in Ship’s passenger indexes.
Clearly he went to Canada at some time, and until other evidence is found, it will be assumed that he did in fact sail on the Megantic
despite the crossed through record.
S.S. Minnedosa, Canadian Pacific Line, arr. Liverpool15Jul1927
Roderick Wm Stevenson, 42 Browning Rd, East Ham, age 25, Merchant, tourist 3rd class, embarked Montreal
Last permanent residence: Canada
Intended future residence: other part of British Empire [ie not UK or Ireland]
Roderick Stevenson, 112 Browning Rd, East Ham, age 25, Merchant, tourist 3rd class
Last permanent residence: other British Empire [ie not UK or Ireland]
Intended future residence: Canada
S.S. Duchess of Atholl, Canadian Pacific Line, arr. Liverpool from St John, NB 20Dec1928
Roderick Stevenson, 112 Browning Rd, East Ham, age 27, Merchant, tourist 3rd class
Last permanent residence: Canada
Intended future residence: other part of British Empire [ie not UK or Ireland]
Records of brother Ronald
Birth and Death Certificates
b 28Oct1897 Ronald George boy at 6 Park Rd, Portway, West Hamr 8Dec1897 at Plaistow, West Ham by F W STEVENSON, father of 6 Park Rd, Portway, West Ham
father:Frederick William STEVENSON Assistant Schoolmaster; mother: Leah Dingwall STEVENSON formerly JUSTICE
Ronald George STEVENSON male 28yrs of no occupation, formerly an Electrical Engineer
d 17Jun1926 at 112 Browning Rd of (1) Hemiplegia (Cerebral haemorrhage) 5½ years (2)Heart No P.M [post mortem]
r 18Jun1926 by F.W.Stevenson Father, 112 Browning Rd, Manor Park, present at death
Army Discharge Certificate
[--] my commentsRonald George STEVENSON no.321383
b West Ham 28Oct97 Age on enlistment: 19y 5m enlisted for DoW [duration of War]
Service from 11/5/17; joined at Grove Pk [Sittingbourne Kent] attested pte 11/5/17
Height: 6 ft; Eyes: hazel; Hair: dark brown; Trade: electrical fitter; Address 112 Browning Rd East Ham
Discharged Pte [private] 5/10/17 No longer physically fit for War Service due to exposure and rheumatic fever and aggravated by active service conditions, light work when fit.
Character: good, he is sober reliable and intelligent and performed his duties satisfactorily.
148 days service in home country towards pension. Awarded pension 27/6 4 weeks then 13/9 a week to be reviewed in 44 weeks
Maritime Records
Identity Certificate 113872 Ronald George Stevenson Electrician, b 28/10/1897 Aberdeen Scotland
[on reverse] Cap Polonio 123529 4.20 8.21 (probably dates of employment by P&O)
The Cap Polonio was a German luxury passenger liner built in the early days of the war, used briefly by the german navy , and seized by Britain after but it was not a success, slow and liable to breakdown. Cunard sailed it to S. Africa Then P&O acquired it. Western morning News 5May1920: Cap Polonio embarked yesterday with about 1000 troops for passage to India after extensive refit and steam trials at Devonport
4May1920 left Plymouth fro Bombay; 8Jun1920 left Bombay; 9Jul1920 arrived Southampton calling at various ports including Marseille This was not a successful trip and the steamer was taken out of service and laid up at Liverpool before eventually being sold back to the Hamburg line.
From family knowledge, Ronald was attacked in Marseille and left with a broken skull. This must have taken place on this voyage. It is not clear whether Ronald returned home with the ship or was left at Marseille for treatment returning later. No record of his later arrival in UK as a passenger has been found.
Arrival Ronald Stevenson age 23, [b1896] is recorded arriving New York 1919 as a passenger on the Canadian steamship Bermudian from Kingston Jamaica. (FindMyPast USA arrivals) No proof this is Ronald, but it seems probably as the next record places Ronald in New York that year. No other Stevenson on this voyage
Arrival Ronald G Stevenson Electrician arrived Liverpool 20July1919 from New York, 1st class passenger on SS Belgic, American Line, as a Distressed British Seaman (with ten others) (FindMyPast US passenger arrivals} British ships were required by law to provide passage home for British seamen stranded in a foreign country for whatever reason. Perhaps this applied to Canadian ships also. The Belgic was a passenger ship used at this time for bringing US soldiers home from the war, so perhaps returning to UK with a light passenger list.