John Stephens

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D Wong on 14th March 2016

Marie on 14th March, 2016 wrote of John Stephens: Husband of Eliza Marks, he was Protestant and could read and write. He was transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania, Australia) for stealing two of John Pearce’s cows. Once in Van Diemen’s Land he spent two years and six months in a probation gang. He was described as being 5’9”, aged 34, fresh complexion, large head, brown hair, no whiskers, oval visage, high forehead, brown eyebrows, grey eyes, large nose, large wide mouth and medium chin. He had no distinguishing marks. John Stephens was 34 years old on arrival in VDL. John was married to Eliza Marks, the daughter of Isaac & James Markes/Marks (both dead)in Wicklow. They had 4 children, 2 that had died and Ruth and Jane. Eliza Stephens and her daughters had all been in the Rathdrum Workhouse. Eliza was 37 and she received a passage as a sub-matron on a vessel which was also an orphan ship – the Lismoyne which arrived in Sydney late 1849. Ruth and Jane Stephens arrived in Sydney on the Thomas Arbuthnot on 3 February 1850. Ruth was aged 15 and Jane was 14; both were house servants and members of the Church of England who could read and write. They were placed in the Immigration Depot at Hyde Park Barracks in Macquarie Street, Sydney, and both were hired after 21 days in the barracks by Mr/Mrs M. Bowerman of Macquarie Street, Sydney. Ruth was indentured for 3 years at a wage of £6 a year; Jane, being younger, was indentured for 4 years at the same rate and both received full board and lodgings as part of their employment arrangement. After reuniting in Tasmania John and Eliza had at least another 4 children: Hannah Eliza Stephens born 2 May 1851, Longford Isaac Marks Stephens born June 1853, Longford Mary Stephens born 20 Oct 1855, Longford Leonard Stephens born 20 Jan 1858, Longford 15/1/1852: TOL 7/6/1853: CP John was a storekeeper at Longford. 19/11/1870: John died aged 60 of inflammation of the lungs. Eliza drowned in the Esk River. An inquest was held but there was no further evidence found. 3/1/1882 Launceston Examiner: MISSING from her home, Primrose Hill, Longford, since Thursday night last, Mrs Eliza Stephens; age, 69; height, about 5 feet 4 inches. Wore a print dress with pink stripes, plaid -shawl, and white sun-bonnet. Any Information respecting her will be thankfully received by her son. LEONARD STEPHENS, Longford.