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I have spent a fruitless couple of days on this great uncle of mine so am wondering if some more experienced amongst you can help? He appears in the 1911 census as living with his parents, Edward Stevens and Annie Hacker (who I know are correct) as single. However, a John Stevens also appears in same census as married and living with his father in law Mr Ford and wife Bessie with child Olive in Fonthill Bishop. Then yet another appears to have married in 1908 to Hannah Gertrude Jarvis in Wilton. I just can't see the wood for the trees anymore. I'm almost certain he was alive in 1917 as I have a family wedding photo and he's there. Trouble is, my whole family moved around within this small part of Wilts so how can I tell whether these are three separate men or one and the same and the record keeping has gone a bit awry? Any advice gratefully received?
Regards,
Linda Seymour :-S

If he was living with his parents.......and single.....why are you looking at married men?

The name is so common that there are likely to be any number of men with the name in the County.

This is quite clear

1911 census


Person: STEVENS, John Address: Berwick St Leonard Fonthill Bishop Salisbury

STEVENS, Edward Head Married M 52 1859 Woodman On Estate Wiltshire Hindon VIEW
STEVENS, Annie Wife Married30 years F 47 1864 Wiltshire Berwick St Leonard VIEW
STEVENS, John Son Single M 27 1884 Woodman On Estate Wiltshire East Knoyle VIEW
STEVENS, Frank Son Single M 21 1890 Waggoner On Estate Wiltshire East Knoyle VIEW
STEVENS, Albert Son Single M 14 1897 Labourer Farm Wiltshire Hindon

Presumably this is 'your' John Stevens?
Births Jun 1884
Stevens John Tisbury 5a 225

And this is one of the 'other' John Stevens?

1911 England Census
John Stevens Age in 1911: 27 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1884
Relation to Head: Son-in-law
Gender: Male Birth Place: Hindon, Wiltshire, England
Civil Parish: Berwick St Leonard Chicklade Hindon
County/Island: Wiltshire Country: England
Street Address: High Street, Hindon, Salisbury, Wilts
Marital Status: Married Occupation: General Labourer
Registration District: Tisbury
Registration District Number: 255 Sub-registration District: Hindon ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Household Schedule Number: 87 Piece: 12148
Albert Ford 67
John Stevens 27
Bessie Stevens 34
Olive May Stevens 3
Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 12148; Schedule Number: 87.

You could get the marriage certificate, just to see who the father was:
Marriages Dec 1906
FORD Bessie Tisbury 5a 493
Stevens John Tisbury 5a 493

1891......as I suggested above.....several of the name in the County of approx birth year....there were bound to be, with such a common name

1891 census

County: Wiltshire Last name: Stevens First name(s): john Year of Birth: 1884, plus or minus 2 years Searching within: Households, Institutions, Vessels
Cost:


Household STEVENS, John 1883 8 M Marlborough Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1883 8 M Pewsey Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1882 9 M Wilton Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1884 7 M Tisbury Wiltshire VIEW

The last of these - born HINDON, with father named LEVI, is almost certainly the one who married FORD

And 'your' John isn't even among them..........

1901 census

Household STEVENS, John 1882 19 M Bradford on Avon Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1884 17 M Bradford on Avon Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1885 16 M Tisbury Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John 1884 17 M Marlborough Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
Household STEVENS, John T 1883 18 M Pewsey Wiltshire VIEW VIEW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Person: STEVENS, John Address: 9, Jubilee Buildings, High Street, Hindon

STEVENS, Edward Head Married M 43 1858 General Labourer
Bathampton, Somersetshire VIEW
STEVENS, Annie Wife Married F 36 1865
Berwick St Leonard, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, John Son Single M 16 1885 Carter On Farm
East Knoyle, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Frank Son M 11 1890
East Knoyle, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Louie Daughter F 8 1893
Hindon, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Albert Son M 4 1897
Hindon, Wiltshire

It would appear that 'your' John was actually EDWARD John...............
1891 census

Person: STEVENS, Frank Address: High Street, Hindon

STEVENS, Annie Head Married F 26 1865 Wife Of An Agricultural Labourer
Berwick St Leonard, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Amy Daughter F 9 1882 Scholar
Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Edward J Son M 7 1884 Scholar
East Knoyle, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Francis J Daughter F 4 1887 Scholar
East Knoyle, Wiltshire VIEW
STEVENS, Frank Son M 2 1889
East Knoyle, Wiltshire
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MERE is the correct registration district for East Knoyle

Births Sep 1884 (>99%)
Stevens Edward John Mere 5a 224

Death

Name: STEVENS, Edward J
Registration district: Salisbury
County: Wiltshire
Year of registration: 1965
Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death:81
Volume no: 7C
Page no: 552

Reggie's 1911 (29 Dec 2013 22:18) says Ed & Annie marr 30y; 6 live births, all still living.

Wiltshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1881
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
STEVENS Edward HACKER Anne L Hindon, St John History Centre C43/1/117


http://www.wiltshirebmd.org.uk/cgi/marrind.cgi
[Births in Mere have not been transcribed yet]
Wiltshire Birth indexes for the years:
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
1882 STEVENS Amy L Hindon History Centre HACKER HIN/7/316
1893 STEVENS Louie Hindon History Centre HACKER HIN/8/479
1897 STEVENS Albert L Hindon History Centre HACKER HIN/9/167
1898 STEVENS Alice A Hindon History Centre HACKER HIN/9/229


FreeBMD hits:
1882q2 Stevens Amy Louisa Tisbury 5a 217
1884q3 Stevens Edward John Mere 5a 224
1887q3 STEVENS Frances Jane Mere 5a 215
1889q3 Stevens Frank Mere 5a 213
1893q1 Stevens Louie Tisbury 5a 205
1897q1 Stevens Albert Leonard Tisbury 5a 197
1898q2 STEVENS Alice Agnes Tisbury 5a 197
[I think Alice is the d/o one of the following 2 marrs]

Wiltshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1897
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
STEVENS Henry HACKER Martha Hindon, St John History Centre C43/1/168
STEVENS William HACKER Lucy Hindon, St John History Centre C43/1/165


In 1911, Amy Louise Stevens, pob=Fonthill Gifford, is a 28 y o servant in the Pope h/h in Southampton.
In 1911, Alfred Caddy is a 28 y o dairyman boarding in Totton just W of Southampton.

Wiltshire Marriage indexes for the years: 1911[q2]
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
STEVENS Amy L CADDY Alfred Berwick, St Leonard History Centre C101/1/36

Thank you very much Reggie, patchem & mgnv. I see quite clearly now which John is mine. I am in awe of how much information you've been able to provide. Your help is very much appreciated
Linda :-)

Glad you found your way back........and that the info was helpful