Laurence Stephens (buried 1894)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Stephens
First name: 
Laurence
Other Christian names: 
Johnstone
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
No
Burial number: 
237
Born: 
8/1828
Died: 
11/09/1894
Buried: 
14/09/1894
Occupation: 
Priest; Curate; Vicar;
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SWS
Cemetery row: 
5
Cemetery plot: 
1
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/fleet.tools.fines
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
Laurence Johnstone Stephens for 16 years Vicar of Long Houghton, Northumberland and for 3 years of Ashburnham, Sussex. Died at Worthing Sept. 11th 1891 aged 66 years. "When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" Eliza Jane wife of the Rev. Laurence Johnstone Stephens died at Bournemouth January 8th 1923 aged 93 years.

Life story

Life story

Laurence (aka Lawrence) Johnstone Stephens was born in Credenhall, Hereford, he was baptised on 10th August 1828. His parents were Joseph Stephens, Farmer, and Susannah Stephens.

Laurence graduated from Caius College, Cambridge, BA 1851, and MA in 1855, he was ordained priest in 1853, and over the following 40 years he served as Curate and Vicar in at least six counties, including Worcester, Shropshire, Northumberland, Devon, Hampshire and finally Ashburnham, near Battle, Sussex.

In 1859, aged 31yrs, Laurence married Eliza Jane Pooley, a widow aged 29yrs, nee Rippingall, at All Souls, Marylebone, on 18th January. They had no children. In 1892 Laurence retired and they moved to Worthing, living at Haddon House, Shelley Road, where Laurence died, on 11th September 1894, aged 66yrs.

Probate was granted to Hubert Gough, Solicitor, effects £1716 18s 5d. Value 2021 - £228K.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/08/1828
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Eliza Jane
Spouse one last name: 
Rippingall
Marriage one date: 
18/01/1859
Marriage one address: 
Marylebone, London, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
11/09/1894
Age (at time of death): 
66
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Haddon House, Shelley Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Obituary

Worthing Gazette – 3rd October 1894.

The following paragraph appears in the "In Memoriam” notices in the Chichester Diocesan Gazette: The Rev. Lawrence Johnstone Stephens graduated at Caius College, Cambridge, in 1851, and was ordained in 1852 by the Bishop of Worcester. He held curacies in that diocese and in Lichfield, Durham, Exeter, and Winchester, and was appointed Rector of Whatlington in 1887, and of Ashburnham with Penhurst in 1889. From failing health, he resigned the latter living after holding it for little more than a year, and retired to live at Worthing, where he was much respected and is regretted by a numerous circle of friends.

Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£1,716

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Living at Hatfield, Yorkshire. Edwin Holdsworth, 48yrs, Retired Merchant, wife, Sarah Maria, 37yrs, sister-in-law, Octavia Stephens, 26yrs, brother-in-law, Laurence J. Stephens, 22yrs, Student for the Church, visitor, Eliza Holdsworth, 19yrs, plus 2 domestic servants.

1861 census: 

Living at Alnmouth, Northumberland. Laurence Johnstone Stephens, 32yrs, Curate, MA Cantab.

1871 census: 

Owlesbury Village, Hampshire. Laurence J. Stephens, 41yrs, Vicar of Owlesbury, Eliza J., 41yrs, plus 2 domestic servants.

1881 census: 

Living at The Vicarage, Long Houghton, Northumberland. Laurence J. Stephens, 52yrs, Vicar of Houghton, Eliza Jane, 51yrs, plus 4 domestic servants.

1891 census: 

Living at Vicarage, Ashburnham, Sussex. Laurence J. Stephens, 62yrs, Clerk in Holy Orders, Eliza Jane, 61yrs, visitor, Beatrix de Pledge, 32yrs, visitor, Ella J. White, 25yrs, plus 4 domestic servants.