James Stidston & Anne Knight Family

 Eliza Stidston was born in 1808 in Farnham, Yorkshire, England, into a large and complex family.  

Eliza was baptized on June 3, 1808, and later settled in Surrey, where much of her adult life took place. She married William Moorton in 1828 and together they had several children, including Walter James, Catharine, Ellen, Henry, Frederick, and Minnie. Tragically, Eliza experienced the loss of young children—her daughter Ellen died in infancy in 1836, and Catharine passed away in 1851.

After William Moorton, Elizabeth married Henry Poppleton in 1849. Her life is well-documented through census records showing her residences in Farnham throughout the 1850s to the 1870s. She outlived many family members, including her father in 1851 and multiple half-siblings in the 1870s. Eliza died in June 1879 in Surrey at the age of 71 and was buried on June 3, 1879, in Farnham. Her life story, marked by resilience, multiple family roles, and significant personal losses, reflects the lived experiences of many women in Victorian England navigating complex family dynamics and societal expectations.

 Richard Frederick Stidston was born in January 1839 in Farnham, Surrey, England, where he lived most of his life until his death on February 10, 1880. Baptized in late 1838, Richard remained closely tied to Surrey throughout his life. He married Sarah Pullinger in July 1861 in Farnham, and together they had several children, including Frederick Richard, Mary Elizabeth, William James, and Ellen Sarah, though sadly Ellen died young in 1873. Richard’s residences throughout the 1860s and 1870s were primarily in Farnham and surrounding areas such as Guildford and Surrey in general. He experienced significant family losses late in life, including the deaths of his wife in 1875 and several half-siblings. Richard’s probate was granted shortly after his death in 1880, reflecting his established presence in the Surrey community. 

 Ann Stidston was born in 1810 in Kingston, Devon, England, into a large and well-documented family.  Ann married Philip Loye on September 4, 1833, in Kingston near Ivybridge. They lived primarily in Devon, with records placing them in Plymstock and later in Plymouth and Compton Gifford. She had at least two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth Collier, born in the mid-1840s.  Throughout her life, Ann remained closely connected to her family, witnessing the births and deaths of many siblings. She experienced personal loss with the deaths of her father in 1851 and her mother in 1866. Widowed later in life, Ann is recorded in the 1881 census as the head of her household in Plymouth St. Andrew, living as an annuitant. She passed away on April 15, 1887, in Plymouth at the age of 77. Probate for her estate was granted on June 27, 1887. Ann’s life spanned a time of significant change in 19th-century England, and her steady presence in Devon reflects the strong familial and regional ties of the Stidston family. 

 Mary Jane Stidston was born on February 3, 1816, in Kingston, Devon, England  On July 1841, she married William Adams in Kingsbridge, Devon, and together they settled in Plymouth, where they raised a large family.  Mary Jane and William had at least seven children.  Census records across the decades show the family living in various parts of Plymouth, including the St Andrew parish. Mary Jane remained a central figure in her household, listed as the head in later records following her husband's likely passing.  Throughout her life, Mary Jane witnessed the deaths of several close family members.  Despite these losses, she lived a long life, passing away on August 4, 1896, in Plymouth at the age of 80. Her estate was probated in London in 1900. Mary Jane's life reflects the continuity and deep roots of the Stidston family in Devon, as well as her role as a matriarch within her own family. 

 James Henry Stidston was born in 1821 in Kingston, Devon, England. James remained closely tied to Devon throughout his life. By 1841, he was living in Kingston, and in January 1853, he married in Plympton St Mary. James and his wife had several children.  

The family resided in Kingston, with James listed as the head of the household in the 1861 and 1871 censuses. A brief record of residence also places him in Bristol in 1869.

James died on December 12, 1874, in Kingston at the age of 53 and was buried there on December 18. His estate went to probate in Exeter in March 1875. His life reflects a deep connection to his birthplace, a commitment to family, and the experience of both personal joy and sorrow during the Victorian era in rural England.

 Samuel Stidston was born in 1825 in Kingston, Devon, England, and lived most of his life in the Devon area, passing away in Plymouth on July 28, 1897. Throughout his life, Samuel experienced several family milestones and changes. He married twice, first in July 1849 and later in July 1867, fathering multiple children, including Conway Stidston Broadbent, Samuel Stidston (a reverend), Kate Conway Stidston, and others. Samuel’s occupations evolved over the years, including roles as a grocer and draper, reflecting a life rooted in local commerce. His residences varied across Devon, including Ringmore, Plymouth, Devonport, Compton Gifford, and later in Hornsey, Middlesex. Samuel endured the loss of many close family members late in his life, including his wife Catherine Munford Conway and several siblings. He was buried in Plymouth’s Sherwell Independent Congregational churchyard, and probate was granted in London in August 1897. Samuel’s life shows a pattern of family dedication and professional adaptability within the context of 19th-century Devon society.