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Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:36 pm
by heleeeen
My name is Helen and I have been researching my family history for about 2 years. Needless to say I have all the information that is easy to find by now and have just got to those frustrating bits that seem just out of reach. Most of my family originate from ROWLEY REGIS, West Midlands and I am particularly interested in PATRICK, PEARSON, STEVENTON & JARVIS. Specifically at the moment I am trying to find information on WILLIAM "BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON who lived in Oldbury and was hanged in 1828 for stabbing a policemen - does anyone know anything about him or how I can find out about him and family connections - who his wife was, any children ,etc?

cheers, happy to help anyone else where I can,

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:26 pm
by grangers14
Hi Helen,
I hope you enjoy the forum and our company.

I will copy your thread over to the Black Country area. You will get more help there.

Jo :)

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:40 pm
by MarkCDodd
His wife was Sarah Blackham.

groom's name: William Steventon
groom's birth date:
groom's birthplace:
groom's age:
bride's name: Sarah Blackham
bride's birth date:
bride's birthplace:
bride's age:
marriage date: 01 Jul 1816
marriage place: Parish Of Rowley Regis, Stafford Co., England
groom's father's name:
groom's mother's name:
bride's father's name:
bride's mother's name:
groom's race:
groom's marital status: Single
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race:
bride's marital status: Single
bride's previous husband's name:
indexing project (batch) number: M01463-6
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 350491
reference number: BOX 2 P 25

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:48 pm
by MarkCDodd
These are their children

name: Benjamin Steventon
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 18 May 1817
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

name: William Steventon
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 29 Jan 1819
baptism/christening place: Oldbury,Worcester, England

name: Pheobe Steventon
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 11 Nov 1821
baptism/christening place: Oldbury,Worcester, England

name: John Steventon
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 22 Sep 1822
baptism/christening place: Oldbury,Worcester, England

name: Mary Steventon
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 10 Aug 1828
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

name: Hannah Steventon
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 10 Aug 1828
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

The last two were baptised 6 days after he was hung....

Although baptised together I believe Mary was a couple of years older than Hannah.

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:52 pm
by MarkCDodd
Sarah remarried.

groom's name: John Harvey
groom's birth date:
groom's birthplace:
groom's age:
bride's name: Sarah Steventon
bride's birth date:
bride's birthplace:
bride's age:
marriage date: 1829
marriage place: St. Martin, Tipton, Stafford, England
groom's father's name:
groom's mother's name:
bride's father's name:
bride's mother's name:
groom's race:
groom's marital status:
groom's previous wife's name:
bride's race:
bride's marital status:
bride's previous husband's name:
indexing project (batch) number: M16744-2
system origin: England-VR
source film number: 1526189
reference number: 2:3X888DS

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:02 pm
by MarkCDodd
Children from her 2nd marriage.

name: John Harvey
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 26 Mar 1837
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

Thomas abt 1832 Oldbury. Can't find his baptism.

name: Ambrose Harvey (Sometimes called Andrew.)
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 05 Mar 1837
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

name: Sarah Harvey
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 05 Mar 1837
baptism/christening place: St. Martin's, Tipton, Stafford, England

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:13 pm
by MarkCDodd
1841 census transcription details for: Black Heath, Rowley Regis

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107
Piece: 997
Book/Folio: 1/46
Page: 37
Reg. District: Dudley
Sub District: Rowley Regis
Parish: Rowley Regis
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Black Heath, Rowley Regis
County: Staffordshire
Name Relation Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
HARVEY, John M 30 1811
HARVEY, Sarah F 47 1794
HARVEY, John M 12 1829
HARVEY, Thos M 10 1831
HARVEY, Ambrus M 8 1833
HARVEY, Sarah F 6 1835
STEVENTON, Mary F 15 1826

1861 census transcription details for: Powke Lane, Rowley Regis

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG09
Piece: 2038
Folio: 15
Page: 25
Reg. District: Dudley
Sub District: 1 Rowley Regis
Parish: Rowley Regis
Enum. District: 7
Ecclesiastical District: Rowley Regis
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Powke Lane, Rowley Regis
County: Staffordshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
HARVEY, John Head Married M 50 1811 Miner Coal Oldbury, Worcestershire
HARVEY, Sarah Wife Married F 66 1795 Tipton, Staffordshire
HARVEY, Harriet Daughter Unmarried F 7 1854 Scholar Oldbury, Worcestershire

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:20 pm
by MarkCDodd
Ages are a bit weird in 1871. They are actually living with Sarah's daughter Phoebe from her 1st marriage and her husband.

1871 census transcription details for: Halesowen Street, Rowley Regis

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG10
Piece: 2992
Folio: 110
Page: 7
Reg. District: Dudley
Sub District: Rowley Regis
Parish: Rowley Regis
Enum. District: 6
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Halesowen Street, Rowley Regis
County: Staffordshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
LOWE, David Head M 56 1815 Staffordshire
LOWE, Phoebe Wife F 52 1819 Worcestershire
LOWE, Thomas W Son M 15 1856 Staffordshire
LOWE, Phoebe E Daughter F 5 1866 Staffordshire
HARRIS, Joseph Lodger M 36 1835 Staffordshire
HARRIS, Sarah Wife F 26 1845 Staffordshire
HARRIS, David Son M 6 1865 Staffordshire
HARRIS, Elizabeth Daughter F 4 1867 Staffordshire
HARRIS, Joseph Son M 1 1870 Staffordshire
HARVEY, John Lodger M 71 1800 Worcestershire
HARVEY, Sarah Wife F 84 1787 Staffordshire

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:26 pm
by MarkCDodd
John is dead by 1881. Too many John Harvey deaths for me to reliably choose one.

Same with Sarah.

I think this is Sarah's baptism but there are other possibilities....

name: Sarah Blackham
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 04 Jan 1795
baptism/christening place: Tipton, Stafford, England
birth date:
birthplace:
death date:
name note:
race:
father's name: John Blackham
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother's name: Susannah
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
indexing project (batch) number: C39464-2
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 1526134
reference number:

According to Police records, William Steventon was about 32 or 33 when hung which makes him around the same age as Sarah.

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:43 pm
by Rob
There was story about Billy Sugar in The Black Country Bugle.
Maybe someone with a full collection of Annuals could check to see if it's in there?

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:09 pm
by peterd

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 5:39 pm
by peterd

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:14 pm
by Rob
That's interesting Pete.He'd been drinking in "The Whimsey Inn" on The Whimsey Bridge!! :wink:

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 8:39 pm
by peterd
Rob wrote:That's interesting Pete.He'd been drinking in "The Whimsey Inn" on The Whimsey Bridge!! :wink:


actually you want to get some glasses it churchbridge :lol: :lol:

Re: Looking for inspiration...."BILLY SUGAR" STEVENTON

PostPosted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:24 pm
by FarSide
Newspaper article
Birmingham Gazette - Monday 07 April 1828

Thirty Guineas Reward.
Whereas William Steventon, alias commonly called Billy Sugar, stands charged upon the Coroner's Inquest with the WILFUL MURDER OF JOHN HORTON, at Oldbury, in the parish of HalesOwen, in the county Salop, on Monday night the 31st of March last. He is a native of Oldbury, and is by trade a Collier, but has occasionally worked as a Brick-maker and Boat-man, about thirty years of age, five feet ten inches high, rather splay footed, has a crooked nose, large front teeth, hazel eyes, and long neck.
Whoever will apprehend and deliver him to me, shall forthwith receive the reward.
Samuel Marsh.
Constable of Oldbury

another article
states the above and what's on the other sites but goes on to say..
.. Horton has left a pregnant wife and five children. Stevenson has a wife and six children.