Stephen Harper Reed
- Born: 2 Jan 1883, Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England 376
- Marriage (1): Agnes Midcalfe in Apr 1905 in Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England 376
- Died: 23 May 1916, Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England at age 33 376
Noted events in his life were:
• source. Kerry Gamble (nee Botten)
• Marriage. Married Agnes Midcalfe 1905 in Barrow-In Furness
Stephen Harper's Birth Registration - Vol 8e Page 870. Stephen Harper REED Marriage Registration - Vol 8e Page 1698. [Stephen married either Clara HARTSHORN or Agnes MIDCALFE. Agnes MIDCALF was the sister of Sarah who may have married Stephen's brother William Henry in1902]. It is believed that Stephen Harper REED played for Barrow Rugby Football Club in the 1908 / 9 season after signing from Leeds. He may have died in a cycling accident shortly after World War 1.
• connection. 376 Mark Owens' links to me through Robert are as follows:
Mark Owens (1958)
His fathjer was Robert Owens (1932)
His father was Robert Owens (1902) who married Agnes Reed (1906)
Her father was Stephen Reed (1883)
His father was William Reed (1852) who married Eliza Harper (1859)
His father was Nicholas Reed (1818) & he also had James Reed (1850) who married Elizabeth Boskano (1852)
Her father was Thomas Boskano who married Susannah Polkinghorne (1817)
Her father was William Polkinghorne (1785)
His father was William Polkinghorne (1759)
His father was Stephen Polkinghorne (1723)
His father was Stephen Polkinghorne (1689)
His father was Alexander Polkinghorne (1664) & he also had William Polkinghorne (1687)
He had Jane Polkinghorne (1716) who married William Jory (1710)
They had William Jory (1734)
He had Edward Jory (1763) who married Jane Landeryou (1763)
Her father was Peter Landeryou (1738)
His father was John Landeryou (1706) & he also had Blanch Landeryou (1741)
She had Robert Landeryou (1768)
He had John Landeryou (1803)
He had Sarah Landeryou (1826) who married Thomas Bray (1821)
They had Arthur Augustus Bray (1869)
He had Albert Alan Bray (1896)
He had Robert Alfred Bray (1920)
He had Robert Arthur (1947) who married me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)
• notes. 376 Mark Owens notes:
Stephen's father, William Reed, came from generations of tin miners around East Cornwall, England. Cornwall was the major producer of tin worldwide until the late 1800s and the mines were a major source of employment. In the mid to late 1800s there was a major exodus from Cornwall as ( cheaper) sources of tin were found in Australia, Canada and South Africa and the Cornish Tin mining industry was in decline. Mining skills were in demand in those countries but also in other parts of the UK ( for iron ore needed to produce steel ).
The records show that they ( the Reeds) toried other jobs from time to time ( butcher, baker , journeyman), presumably as an alternative to the tough life of mining and the decline in job opportunities but the majority of census records list them as tin miners. In 1871 William, aged 18, is listed in the census records as living as a servant in Sithney, Cornwall in a flour mill.
By 1877 William has moved to the north west of England where he marries Eliza Harper in Dalton in Furness . She was also born in Cornwal and her father is a miner who has moved to the North West of England. It's not clear if William followed Eliza ( their birth places in Cornwall are 35 miles.apart) or met her in Dalton ( more likely) where he's been recruited to work in the mines . What is clear is that they marry in February 1877 and the fiirst child, Alfred, is christened in May of the same year !
The 1881 census shows William's occupation as iron ore miner with 3 children. He lives in North Row , in the Roose District of Barrow where many of the other residents are also miners. This area of north west England is growing rapidly due to the discovery of iron ore and coal in the area. Barrow in Furness changes from a small fishing port to become a major steel producing centre in the early 1900s and later a major ship building town.
William and Eliza have 12 children over a 22 year period. SHR is the fourth . The 1901 census shows them as living at 37 North Row. William and Eliza plus 9 of their children living in a 2 bed terrace house ! Stephen is aged 18 and is a shipyard labourer .
I found that In October 1902, Sarah Midcalf ( older sister of Agnes) had married William H Reed ( an older brother of SHR ) .He is an Iron Ore miner , later working in a quarry, and they live in Ulverston.
In June 1905 , SHR (age 22) marries Agnes Midcalf (20) in Barrow in Furness. I have a copy of the marriage certificate.
Curiously, their residence at the time of the marriage of SHR and Agnes is documented as 68 Sutherland Street (for both). In the 1901 census this is where Agnes ( aged 16, occupation jute weaver) lives with her parents, her sister Catherine and Husband /brother in law, James Johnston, and their 2 children plus a boarder. Total 8 adults (aged 16+) and 3 children in a 3 bedroom terrace house.
In February 1906 the first child is born to SHR and Agnes. She is also named Agnes , she is my paternal grandmother.
In the 1911 census there are 3 more daughters - Amelia (Milly) , Alice and Doris. They are all living now at 60 Sutherland Street a two bed terrace house. Living in the same house (again) are Catherine and James Johnston and their expanded family , a total of 4 adults and 10 children in a two bed terrace house.
Two more daughters are born - Henrietta (Hetty) and Catherine.
The records show SHR died on May 23 1916, he was aged 33. It was a Tuesday. I have not found any official record of cause of death. The story from my family matches yours - it was a cycling accident. Coming down a hill , the name of which I can not recall. There may be a newspaper article that could explain more but I have not researched that yet.
What is known is that SHR left a wife and 6 children , the oldest of which ( my grandmother Agnes) was only 10 years old. She had to take responsibility to care for her siblings while their mother tried to find work to pay the bills. Maybe relatives helped out ? My grandmother did not talk about this part of her life to me but I know from other relatives that life was tough for all of them. Her mother did not re marry although another sister did come along much later ( Hilda) - that is another story !
Stephen married Agnes Midcalfe in Apr 1905 in Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England.376 (Agnes Midcalfe was born on 8 Feb 1885 in Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England and died on 20 Dec 1960 in Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire, Cumbria England 376.)
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