Thomas Sadler Stevenson

Thomas was the third son of James Stevenson and his wife Millicent nee Sadler. The RMLI records give his date of birth as 12 June 1863 although his birth was registered in 1864 (J/A/S Basford) and he was baptised on 24 July 1864. His parents were born in Ruddington and were married in 1858 (A/M/J Basford). They had at least eight children all of whom were born in Ruddington and baptised in the parish church of St Peter: John birth registered 1859 (J/F/M Basford) bap. 13 March 1859, Bertha Ruth b. 1860 (A/M/J Basford) bap. 8 July 1860, Joseph b. 1862 (J/A/S Basford) bap. 1862, Thomas Sadler probably b. 12 June 1864 bap. 24 July 1864, William b. 1866 (O/N/D Basford) bap. 7 October 1866, Elizabeth Mary birth registered 1869 (J/F/M Basford) bap. 28 February 1869, Ann b. 1871 (A/M/J Basford) bap. 21 May 1871 and Ernest James b. 1873 (J/A/S Basford) bap. 3 August 1873. In 1871 James (39) an agricultural labourer, and Millicent (43) a sempstress, were living on Wilford Road, Ruddington, with their seven children, John (12), Bertha (10), Joseph (8), Thomas (6), William (4), Elizabeth (2) and Ann (1 month). By 1881 James was a farm bailiff and living at Stoup Hill Farm, Calverton Lane, Woodborough. On the night of the census only James and four of his children - Bertha (20) a dressmaker, William (14) a domestic servant, Elizabeth (12) and Ann (10) - were at home. His wife and son, Ernest (7), were listed as visitors in the household of George Beecroft, a farmer, and his wife Sarah at Grange Farm Ruddington, while their son Thomas was a footman lodging with John Upton, a butler, and his wife Elizabeth at the farm. Bertha Ruth married Francis Wootton on 28 September 1886 at Woodborough St Swithun. They had two daughters, Maude Ellen b. 18 April 1888 and Mabel Annie b. 31 July 1890, and lived in Bunny, Nottinghamshire. Bertha died in 1894 (J/F/M Basford) aged 33. James and Millicent were still living at Stoup Hill Farm in 1891; James was now described as a farmer. Only three of their children - Joseph (28) and Ernest (17), who were both working on the farm, and Ann (20) a dressmaker - were in the home on the night of the census. It is likely that Thomas had already enlisted in the RMLI. Millicent Stevenson died two years later in 1893 (J/A/S Basford). Ernest James, died in 1900 (J/F/M Basford) aged 26. Ernest had twice served in the Militia, first in the Army Service Corps, discharge by purchase, and secondly 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters. In 1901 James was living at Stoup Hill Farm with his married daughter Ann (30), her husband Walter Stocks (32), whom she had married in 1895 (J/F/M Basford), and their son Ernest (4). Also in the home on the night of the census was his granddaughter, Mabel Annie Wootton (10). James (74) had retired as a farmer by 1911 but still living at the farm in Woodborough with his daughter Ann and her husband who was now managing the farm. Ann and Walter had two children, Ernest (14) and Kathleen (5). Mabel Wootton (20) was still living with them; she married Samuel G Patching, a farmer, in 1915. James Stevenson died in 1911 (A/M/J Basford). Ann and Walter continued to manage the farm - Thomas had named his sister as his next of kin and they were still living at the farm when he died in 1917.