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 Henry Stevens
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| willoughr |
Posted on 19/12/2010 03:23
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 Member  Posts: 46 Joined: 03/05/2007 |
I have been researching the career of Henry Stevens, who served for some time in the Coastguard at various stations in Ireland. I'm stuck on trying to discover his wife's surname and a date/place for their marriage. Can anyone help? Thanks Roger Stevens, Henry. Boatman. HM Coastguard. Ministère de la Marine life saving medal in silver, first class (France); 25.1.1858. Waterford. Award: On 25 January 1858 La Capricieuse ran aground on the strand at Rineshark Point, Tramore Bay in bad weather. Six fishermen put off in a yawl and took off the crew, though their overloaded boat capsized on the way back to shore. Robert Aitchison, together with coastguards Alfred Stevens, Thomas Ahern, Martin Lynch and Henry Stevens (noted as ‘Stephens’ in some accounts), who were standing by managed to rescue nine men during two trips between the scene and the shore and subsequently received the Ministère de la Marine medal from the Emperor of France. Biographical details: Born in Causand, Cornwall, on 18 April 1821, Henry Stevens joined the Royal Navy as a Boy (2nd class) aboard the brig-sloop HMS Savage on 19 December 1836. Paid off on 29 June 1838, Stevens next joined HMS Rolla on 29 September that year. He would participate with that vessel in its anti-slavery patrols particularly off Sierra Leone and the Gambia. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman on 1 August 1839 and Able Seaman on 1 January 1840, he was paid off on 18 August 1842. Two months later, on 13 October, he joined HMS Caledonia with which vessel he remained until 29 April 1845 when he transferred to the survey vessel HMS Pandora. He was appointed Coxswain of the Pinnace on 3 January 1848 and Captain of the Fore Top on 23 April that year. Paid off on 27 November 1849, Stevens briefly worked in the RN Dockyard as a Seaman Rigger from 17 December until 1 January 1850. Then, on 12 January 1850 (or 26 December 1849 according to his ADM 29 file), Stevens joined HM Coastguard, being posted as a Boatman to the Orlock Hill station. This move was perhaps prompted by Stevens’ marriage, to a Devonport woman, Mary Ann ? (c.1830-aft.1901), sometime prior to this. Together, they would have at least three children: Emma M (c.1852-), Maria (c.1857-), and John (c.1864-). He was subsequently based at Dunmore East from 16 February 1853. With the outbreak of the war with Russia, Stevens was drafted afloat on 11 February 1854 as a Petty Officer (1st class) aboard Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier’s flagship HMS Duke of Wellington. He served in the Baltic campaign, including the bombardment of Sveaborg, for which he received the Baltic campaign medal. He returned to his coastguard duties on 5 May 1856 and transferring as a Commissioned Boatman at Ballymacaw on 17 June 1857. Transferring then to Courtmacsherry on 25 January 1866, he was promoted to Chief Boatman at the same time. Stephens transfered to Portland station on 21 January 1869, remaining there until he finally retired from the service on 21 April 1874. Just before his retirement he had received the scarce wide suspender type LS&GC medal on 11 March that year, some 42 of which were awarded to HM Coastguard. Henry and Mary Ann Stevens now went on to live in Fortune’s Well (1881 census) and then Toronto Road, Portsea (1891 census). Henry Stevens died at home at 99 Toronto Road on 23 May 1897, age 76, from a vascular papilloma on his lip and an oral haemorrhage (TNA ref: ADM 175/19-20, and 70; ADM 29/82; and ADM 188/66) Roger Willoughby
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