Grant-Iowa County WI Archives Biographies.....And The Stephens Family, William Stephens 1807 - 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com December 31, 2006, 2:41 am Author: William Stephens From the Manuscript and Journals of William Stephens, Cornwall 1807-Wisconsin 1893, anonymously donated to the Karmann Library, Univ. Of Wisconsin, Platteville, now held in the Southwest Wisconsin Room, basement, as of July 2003. [However, in Sept. 2006, we were unable to locate the manuscript at this source.] “Manuscript, or an account written for the purpose of recording family and other occurrences and designed to benefit others who in subsequent years may be desirous to profit by the wisdom or folly, good or evil, that may appear herein recorded, written by William Stephens at Liskey in the Parish of Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, 25th june 1853.” “Ue mento mori Ue duce tutus eris.” “According to the best accounts I have received of my Father [John Stephens, mother Jenifer Jenkins Stephens] to whom I have many times put questions relative to his progenitors [ancestors], his family were natives of the parish of Roche, in this county [Cornwall] and my paternal grandfather [Thomas Stephens, his wife, Jane Martyn Stephens] once lived in a village called “Belovely” situated at the northeast part of a barren called “Gossmoor,” and that, when young, he left that place and went to the parish of Cransock, where he lived at a place called “True” [was this Truro?] where my father was born.” “My paternal grandmother’s maiden name was Martyn to whom five children were born. Only three of them attained the age of 21 years, two daughters having been seized with the small pox, died when about 17 years old, and were both buried on the same day at the said parish of Cransock. My grandfather [Thomas] who was by trade, a builder, also died when my father was about four years old, leaving him who was the youngest child with the other children to the care of his widow [Jane] and her brother who was then a farmer of Cransock, and when about twelve years old he went into service with William Demble, who then resided at Ellenglaze in the parish of Cubert, from thence to the parish of Saint Erme and subsequently to Perranzabuloe and hired himself to Mr. Michael Jenkin, then residing at Higher Reen.” “Subsequently to this, his brother, Thomas came into Perranzabuloe and married, where he lived at a village called Nanparrow until about 1814, when he died from a collection of blood having formed in his stomach. He was buried 22 July 1814 [the end of the War of 1812, between Britain and the US], leaving a widow and several children. ‘Bridges’ [Bridget?], his only sister then living, was never married but lived in service with a U. Donathorne and others, for many years and eventually died at Tywarnhayee in this parish about the year 1820. [She] was buried 20th March, 1826?” “My Father, after living some years with Mr. Michael Jenkin, married Jenifer, his only child. Of my maternal grandfather’s family, I can only say that at the time of my father’s marriage, he had no near relatives, but was a native of some parish in the vicinity of Helstone, in this county.” “On my father’s marriage, he continued to live with his wife’s parents at Reen until they went from Reen to Gollce, where he and my mother accompanied them, and my Father rented one half of Engillis but continued to live at Golla for several years and had four children at the time he left. He removed from Golla to Bolenna with his father-in-law and ‘streamed’ or washed the alluvial soil in the moors of Bolenna during the winter for “Tru” which paid him well for his labor, and he frequently worked in the barn by candlelight, before his children were able to assist him. During the time he lived at Bolenna, he had six other children born, of whom I was the youngest. My Grandfather having given up Golla estate, took Bolenna Mills, and carried on the business of a miller for some years, and then gave up that calling, and took Pencrennow, which he continued to farm as long as he lived. Two or three of my elder brothers lived with him at his death, which took place in 1809, buried 30 April 1809.” “My father and the family removed from Bolenna to Pencrennow, at which time I was about two years old. My paternal grandmother [Jane Martyn Stephens] came from Cransock to Bolenna to reside with my father and after living there for some years removed to Pencrennow, at which she became bedridden and blind, but lived for some years in that state, and died about the year 1812, buried 18 January, 1812. My maternal grandmother had died at Penncrennow some years previously to her husband.” “Names of my brothers and sisters: Thomas John Mary Michael James Catherine John (died at 2 years) Elizabeth Jane and William, myself” “My father was remarkably industrious and of a sober temperament of mind, with but a small degree of enterprise, yet, by industry and economy, he, in addition to providing for his large family, laid by a sufficient sum to enable him to give something to each of his children at their marriage and was always ready to assist his neighbors when affliction or misfortune rendered it necessary. He was not given to any particular extravagancies in his youth. [He] was sober and respected, yet lived without much serious thoughts of eternity until he was about 30 years old, when he joined the Wesleyan Methodist society. [He] was soon afterwards appointed a class leader which office he sustained for upwards of fifty years, and was both an acceptable and useful prayer and class leader until the afflicting hand of his divine Master rendered him incapable, which was about two years before his death.” “My mother was a kind-hearted, benevolent and affectionate woman, but was not united with any Christian Church. She was afflicted with an asthmatic complaint for upwards of twenty years previous to her decease, which was brought on by walking through a grass field to milk, in a dewy morning, and remaining with damp hose on through the day. She was never after free from cough, especially in the mornings. She also suffered from the Rheumatic, but her last illness was produced by taking cold from too much exposure in the month of February 1819. Her illness only continued about four days when death ended her earthly sufferings, and I trust, opened the way to eternal happiness.” “The impressions then made on my mind have never been fully erased. I may say with the Poetess, Oh, Yes, “I can remember when I first observed her sunken eye And her pale hollow cheek; and then I told my brother she would die! And the next morn they did not speak But led me to her silent bed: And then I saw her icy cheek Alas! My Mother then was dead Oh then I thought how she was kind, My own belov’d and gentle mother! And calling all I knew to mind, I thought there ne’er was such another. “The foregoing were very indicative of my feelings on that memorable occasion, and as I was the youngest child, I believe I was the “Benjamin” of my mother, and on the evening of the funeral I was not a little surprised to hear the Undertaker say “Well children, it is very melancholy for you, but the worst is not yet come.” This coming from a person in whom I had the greatest confidence as to the truthfulness of his sayings. I was at a loss to account for such an expression, but before a month’s experience had been added to my small stock, all my surprise was removed and I found the old gentleman’s saying quite unraveled, for if my elder brethren and sisters did me any wrong, I felt my loss immediately and have, on many such occasions, retired to mourn the loss of my mother. My mother was 55 years old at the time of her decease, and my father continued to live at Pencrennow and my sisters took the management of the house until their marriage, after which he hired a housekeeper as long as he continued to farm the estate.” “My brother Thomas married a Miss Elizabeth Trebilcock, daughter of Mr. Nicholas Trebilcock of Landruwna or Hendrawna in this parish and went to reside with his wife’s parents at his marriage. [He] farmed a tenement, which was then in his father-in-law’s occupation, who was by trade a blacksmith, but his wife lived only a short time after the birth of her first child (a daughter), and the child only lived about twelve months, so that my brother lost both wife and child in this short space.” “He however, continued to live with his wife’s parents for several years; but on an engagement being formally between him and Miss Mary Bice of Penwartha, he removed to Pencrennow and lived with his father until his marriage with Miss Bice, when he went to Bolenna Mills to reside and carried on the business of a miller for about two years. But the harvest after he took the mills proving remarkably wet (the grain was very inferior), and my brother being unacquainted with the business, suffered considerable loss, and was necessitated to relinquish this undertaking with not only a loss to himself but my father also.” “My brother [Thomas] then removed to Nanslone and lived in a house belonging to his father-in-law, and sometimes worked with him on the farm, but some years previous to his death worked at the various mines in the neighborhood, and died of the effects of inflammation about the 6th of January 1830 or 1831 [1833] leaving a widow and six children who continued to live in the same house for several years. Mr. L. Bice brought John, the eldest son to the trade of a joiner. The others were employed at the mines and with their grandfather on the farm…” “[In] the year of 1842…his widow [Mary Bice Stephens] and all the family emigrated to the United States of America, and the widow, with Henry, the third son [of Thomas] died soon after they had settled there at Platteville in the state of Wisconsin. Not very long after, John, the eldest son [of Thomas] was drowned while bathing in a mill pond at a place known by the name of Vinyard’s Saw Mill, about two miles northwest of Platteville. He was to have been married shortly had not this unfortunate accident taken him out of time, to Jane, a daughter to my brother Michael Stephens, and the poor girl was left in an unfortunate and pitiable situation to mourn the loss. [She later married cousin J.J.!]” “Sally, the youngest child [of Thomas] was married at Mineral Point in the United States of America to Joseph Murrish, son of the late William Murrish of this parish. Her husband having been seized with the cholera soon after the birth of her first child, the fright so affected her as to cause her death in about two days, and the child died about two weeks after its mother. William, the fourth son [of Thomas] is now married to Elizabeth, the third daughter of my brother John, and has left her at Platteville and is gone (a second time) to California with his brothers and many of the family.” “My brother, James married Mary Murrish, of Locks, daughter of Martin and Sarah Murrish, and for sometime after his marriage, lived at Reen and worked on my father’s farm at Pencrennow and then removed to Bolenna where he continued to reside for many years. But a large portion of the land he occupied having been destroyed by the mines, he removed to the parish of St. Allen and rented a farm of a Mr. John Brown, but this farm which was called Ventoneajues being poor land, he did not realize his expectations and abandoned it in the year 1840, and emigrated to the United States of America with two of his sons, leaving his wife and five other children at home.” “[They] followed him to the United States in the spring of 1842, with the exception of the eldest daughter, who had for years been subject to fits, and who died during the interval. My brother having gone into the state of Wisconsin, settled at Platteville in Grant County. Here for some time, he cultivated the soil, but eventually worked at mining and being successful, bought some property at Platteville where he continued to reside until April 1852, when he [James] with his two youngest sons [and] with several others of the family, went by overland route to California, where they all safely arrived in the month of August following, and where I believe he [James] is now living [in 1853.]” “Thomas, his eldest son, married a widow woman called Elizabeth Naukivel [or Nankivel, maiden name Letcher] against the consent of his friends. This woman having three sons by her former husband, caused some unpleasant dissentions between them. However, she with her family went to America to him in 1842 and I believe is now at the Lake Superior copper mines.” “Elizabeth, that is my brother James’ daughter, his first daughter, died young. James [J.J.], the next son, accompanied his father to America and in [1840] married a daughter of my brother Michael called Jane, by whom he has had five children and after living at Platteville until 1852, went to California with his father and others [J.J. and his father James eventually returned to Wisconsin.]” “Mary, his [James] second daughter married with William Nichols, son of John and Jane Nichols of Perrancoomb in this parish, who with the other members of the family, removed to the United States in 1842, where they are now living near Platteville. Jane, the third daughter [of James], was married to William, son of William and Jane Richards of Cocks, who also went to America and lived at Platteville until 1852…” “He left that place for California by way of New York, with some other of my friends, who after experiencing great suffering on the Pacific for want of provisions and water, touched at a Port called San Blas in Mexico, where they were detained for six weeks before the Captain could make arrangements to re- victual his ship. Having arrived in California eight months after they left Platteville with the ship fever and chills, and not knowing where to find their relatives, they, through the kindness of an acquaintance got to a portion of their friends at Grass Valley, where William Richards died of fever two weeks after their arrival, and Jane, his wife, died at Platteville in May 1852 leaving two orphans, a boy and a girl.” “John, the third son [of James] married in America to an orphan girl called Ginnor, daughter of John Ennor of Goshen and soon after his marriage, went to California, where he is at present [in 1853]. Sally, the youngest child [of James and Mary Murrish Stephens] married an American called Warner Moore and is living about 7 miles west of Platteville.” “My brother John married Catherine, the daughter of Richard and Honor Repper (?Grandma L.’s father?), who then resided at Perranesell and on his marriage came to Pencrennow to live, where he continued about 10 years. [He] then removed to Gear which estate together with the extensive rabbit warren adjoining the same, he purchased of a Mr. Paynter who had mortgaged it to a Mr. Warren of Truro. But after living on this property for about five years, my brother having joined a Mr. James Oxenham of Newlyan, a cattle dealer, they bought a large lot of cattle together and sold them on credit to various farmers in the west of Cornwall. Mr. Oxenham having collected nearly all the credits and not paying for the cattle as agreed, an action was brought against my brother to recover the amount. [He], finding he could not get anything from his partner, sold off and removed all property from the farm and left for the United States of America in 1841, leaving a Mr. Williams of St. Agnes to whom the estate was mortgaged to take the same.” “His family, with my brother Michael went to him in the spring of 1842, and himself and family are now in that country. My brother Michael married Mary, the daughter of William and Ann Cowlin of Ventonjinups, and went to reside at Nancemeaan where he lived from the time of his marriage until he left for the United States of America in 1842 and his family then consisting of seven children, went with him. Mary, my eldest sister, was not married until she had attained the age of about __. 4 years after their marriage, and she now resides with me.” “Jane was married when young to James Nichols, a miner, who then lived at Reen, where they continued to live until 1848, when they and their family went with me to America…James Nichols died [there] in the spring of 1857…My sister with William and Richard, her sons, returned to England in 1852, leaving James, who had gone to America before them, behind, he having migrated to California.” “Catherine was married to Thomas Trebilcock, son of William Trebilcock (who had married my sister Mary). He was a miner and worked at East Wheat Rose Lead Mine as timber man for many years, but eventually died underground in a small mine near Carelant, about a mile southwest of Mitchele in the spring of 1853.Elizabeth was married to James Stephens of St. Agnes by whom she had four children. She died of a decline about the year of 1839.” “Having thus briefly stated the marriages and other occurrences of my brethren and sisters, I come more particularly to my own history, as far as I have ascertained from my parents and others. I was born at Bolenna in the parish of Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, on or about the 14th day of February 1807, and from thence was taken by my parents to Pencrennow when about two years old. I have no recollection of any other place as a residence, but from the earliest moments of my remembrance, I was living at Pencrennow. I have a distinct recollection of attending an infant school at Reen, and another at Bolingey, and I was for some time, sent to the village of Lambourn and from thence to a Mr. John Jacka’s to school near Bolingey where I was taught to write and also taught the simple rules of arithmetic, but left this school at about 11 years old and was then employed on my father’s farm.” “I had from infancy, an inclination to learn to write a good hand, and was also to a certain extent, fond of arithmetic, but was unfavorably situated, for neither my father nor brothers were capable of giving me much instructions, yet I continued to make some efforts to learn during my leisure hours…My brother Thomas having given me a present of a small colt, I raised it on my father’s farm and the common adjoining the same.” “Having sold that when it was about 4 years old, I bought another, and my brother John united with me in buying another horse we took whims to draw, which led me into keeping our accounts, and my father being Maywarden, desired me enter his accounts into the parish books. Soon after my brother’s marriage, he was appointed overseer, and he also looked to me to have his account entered into the parish books.” “When about 22 years old, I united with several others o get a new Pitchard Sieve by monthly subscriptions of this company. I was appointed agent, which exercised the limited capability I had then acquired for account keeping, and about this time, I united in some mining speculations in one of which I was appointed purser. I became acquainted with a Mr. Joseph Vivian who had a good education and was a good writer and accountant, and as I had from time to time, business to do with him, I learned several things by him relative to the keeping of mining and other accounts, and balancing the same.” “But like too many others, [I] lived carelessly, relative to spiritual things, yet occasionally in my more sedate moments was not without serious impressions, and I may say even from infancy, the spirit of God strove with me…At this time, my father had given up his farm to my brother John, with whom I lived, and given me my portion from the stock and furniture. But [he] was desirous for me to live on with my brother until I was settled in life; but with all due respect to my father’s judgement in this matter, I thought it was wrong, and I think he afterwards thought so too.” “However, I continued to live with him until he purchased Gear and removed to that estate, soon after which I married Thomasine, the second daughter of William and Dorothy Kernick of Locks in this parish. Our marriage took place in the parish church of Perranzabuloe on the 21st day of June, 1838, and we took up our residence at Pencrennow, and my father lived with us until his death, which took place on the 21st of June 1842. He had many for many months previous to his decease, been afflicted with paralysis and was evidently fast coming to ‘The house appointed for all living’, yet when he was taken away, I felt myself bereft of my best earthly friend, and was, as it were, deprived of my councilor and guide. His death was improved in Bolingey Chapel soon after, by a sermon from Revelations 14th and 13th.” “For years previous to his decease he had looked to me to care for and watch over him, and when called off from home on business, which was often the case, as I then had to attend to the whole of the parish business, I generally found him anxiously awaiting my return, and he would then with all the childlike simplicity imaginable, enter into detail of my business and the success or disappointment of my various engagements…” “And now I found on my return, a vacant seat instead of an aged and venerable parent anxiously looking for me, and all my brethren in America, I felt remarkably lonely and sorrowful from time to time, but having to attend to business was rather an antidote to my mind, that dejection of spirit which might otherwise have been of much longer duration.” “My father who was nearly 84 years old at the time of his decease, more than 50 of which he had been a consistent member of the Wesleyan Methodist conexion was greatly lamented by his neighbors as well as his family, and I trust now reaps the blessed reward of the righteous.” “…I had now been married about 10 years and we had seven children born, of whom four were living, the others having been buried in infancy, and most of my relatives being removed to America, I began to think seriously of emigrating to that country. I was more inclined to think of this on account of the protective measure of the British Parliament being abandoned and what was then called ‘Sir Robert’ Peel’s Tariff’ substituted from which it seemed quite evident that farming produce would sell low, and I therefore thought America to be the best place for the future benefit of my growing family. A Mr. Joseph Williams of Cransock having offered me forty pounds good will and to take my crops in a valuation, I accepted the offer, commenced my preparatory arrangements, and after having sold my cattle, we left England on the 6th of April, 1848, on board the ‘Roslin Castle’, Captain W. Tadler [Sadler]…” Additional Comments: There are many more pages to this biography, including his aborted journey to the California Gold Rush in the 1850's, but they were not copied by this researcher, since her family line ended here. 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