Born in 1818 in St Philip’s parish (or Swansea, South Wales (71C)), the son of John Stephens I and the father of John Henry, George and Jane Stephens (PPR, 61C, 71C).
| 1838 | 15 Jul. Browns Row, the son of John Stephens, a potter, he married Matilda Morris of Browns Row, the daughter of Samuel Morris, a cordwainer (JBPR). |
| 1841 | Labourer, Henry Row, St Philip’s parish (20), living with his wife Matilda (20) and children (41C). |
| 1851 | 2 Prospect Place, St Philip’s parish (32), living with his wife Matilda (32) born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and children (51C). |
| 1854 | 6 Aug. Easton Road, St Philip’s parish (PPR). |
| 1860 | 18 Aug. ‘John Stephens was charged with violently assaulting his daughter Matilda Stephens, aged 13, at his residence near Baptist Mills. The child who was tall for her age, and appeared of a very weak intellect, stated that the prisoner had beaten her last evening with a tar rope, in consequence of her having slopped some beer, for which he had sent her to a public house in the neighbourhood. The back of the complainant was here shown to the magistrates, and bore signs of very severe treatment, being covered with wheals as from a knotted rope. The prisoner stated that he was in the employ of Messrs White and Co., at their pottery, Baptist Mills; he had had great trouble with complainant, who sometimes stayed out very late, especially when sent an errand, and last night having sent her for a pint of beer, she kept him waiting twenty minutes for it; when she returned he found she had wasted some part of it, and in a moment of passion he beat her with greater severity than he otherwise should. Inspector Webb informed the magistrates that the neighbours had been shocked at the cruelty the prisoner had practised on his child, and procured the interference of a constable. The magistrates appeared to act leniently in the case, only for the sake of his wife and family, and having severely reprimanded him, they said he would be bound over to keep the peace for six months, entering his own recognizances for £20, and one surety of £10’ (Bristol Mercury). |
| 1861 | Prospect Place, St Philip’s parish (42), living with his wife Matilda (42) and children (61C). |
| 1871 | Potter placer, 7 Prospect Place, St Philip’s parish (53), living with his wife Matilda (53) and children (71C). |
| 1878 | 1 Sep. Noted as a potter when his daughter Ellen (19) a tailoress of Clarence Place married Joseph Bolton Lowe (HTPR). |
| 1881 | 7 Prospect Place, St Philip’s parish (62), living with his wife Matilda (62) (81C). |
| 1891 | Potter’s kilnman (retired), 29 Bedford Street, St Philip’s parish (72), living with his wife Matilda (72) (91C). |
| Children: Emma, born c1839 in Bristol (51C), John H., born c1840 in Bristol (51C), William, born c1843 in St Philip’s parish (61C), Jane, born c1846 in Bristol (51C), Matilda, born c1849 in St Philip’s parish (61C), Thomas, born c1851 in St Philip’s parish (61C), George, born c1853 in St Philip’s parish (61C), Edwin (aged 3 wks), bapt 6 Aug 1854 (61C), Joseph, born c1857 in St Philip’s parish (61C), Ellen, born c1860 in St Philip’s parish (61C), Clara, born c1861 in St Philip’s parish (61C) |