Ancestry in the Churchyard - Monday April 30, 2012

I'm not sure how much family history I want to put on here. I may start another blog for that. But here it can't be ignored since this was the reason I came to Addington. This place was the cornerstone of my whole trip.

My Grandmother's family had a connection to Addington through her uncle Mackwood, rector of this church for at least 33 years. Mackwood's parents moved from Devon to Oxford and they were buried here in Addington presumably because of him. He seemed to be a central figure in the family.

Why my Grandmother's grandparents moved to Oxford is anybody's guess. Maybe it was to be closer to Mackwood for support because they not only had their own children to look after but their young grandchildren as well. My Grandmother's parents died young - her father at age 38 in 1885 and her mother at age 35 in 1887. However, we don't know where her grandparents were between 1884 and 1891. In 1881 they lived in Plymouth. Three years later in 1884 it appears they were selling a house in Yealmpton, Devon, and by 1891 they lived on Woodstock Road in Oxford. 

St Mary-the-Virgin church

At the church I tried the door but it wouldn’t open so I went around the corner to the left to my family’s tombstones.

I heard clippers behind me and saw an elderly man clipping grass. He had cycled past me on the way in. He wasn’t a caretaker though; he was tidying the plot of a cousin.

He didn’t know where I could find a key but suggested trying the rectory or another house next to the property.

The rectory, just behind a fence at the end of the yard where my family's crosses are located, was apparently being renovated because a number of workmen were in that yard. They had a radio blaring. Hmm, this wasn’t how I pictured visiting my ancestors’ graves, listening to rock and rap.

My ancestors' four headstones viewed from behind. I had yet to discover that Mackwood Stevens and his wife Christiana are buried in this yard. We don't know where. Either their markers are unreadable or, for some reason, they chose not to have them. Therefore, at least SIX family members are buried here.

My Great-great grandparents

Thomas Jones Stevens & Mary Maddick Stevens (nee Sanders)

Here I am at the tombstones of my great-great grandparents. Thomas Jones Stevens' cross is on the left and I am looking at the one for Mary Maddick Stevens.

(B21) THOMAS JONES STEVENS / BORN JULY 24TH 1824.
ENTERED INTO REST / AUGUST 19TH 1901. / GRANT HIM, O LORD, ETERNAL REST: AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON HIM. (Footstone) T J S
My father was also born on July 24th.

The lettering is difficult to read now. This detail picture with easy-to-read text may have been taken in 1904.

(B19) MARY MADDOCK STEVENS / BORN SEPTEMBER 23RD 1823
ENTERED INTO REST / MARCH 22ND 1904 / MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE / AND I WILL GIVE THEE REST. (Footstone) M M S
We have seen both spellings of her name: Maddick/Maddock.

Two of my Grandmother's brothers

Arthur Vivian Stevens  

(B24) ARTHUR VIVIAN STEVENS / BORN MARCH 31ST. 1881

ENTERED INTO REST / SEPTEMBER 26TH 1904 / REQUIESCAT IN PACE (Footstone) A V S

(B16) NORMAN ARMIDALE STEVENS / BORN AUGUST 4TH 1884
ENTERED INTO REST / JUNE 20TH 1901. / "A BETTER COUNTRY AND A HEAVENLY" / HEB: XI. 16 (Footstone) N A S

This old photo may have been taken in 1904. Crosses were not yet in place for Arthur Vivian, left side with flowers, and Mary Maddock (Maddick), between the two larger crosses. He died in September and she in March of that year.

After a while I left the churchyard and wandered over to the rectory next door, which is to the right out the gate. I learned from the young workmen that the owner woman had just gone out. Children’s toys were in the yard. I decided to leave a couple of photos in their mailbox, not knowing if they’d find them of interest or not. Both photos were of Roy Baker (Great-aunt Kate’s first born) in that yard, rectory in the background. I quickly snuck down to the other end of the house just to see in person that part which was in the photos. I jotted some info on the back of the pictures before putting them in the mailbox.