Robert Alexander Stevenson

(c. 1853-1908)

Robert Alexander Stevenson was thought to have died unmarried but it has been revealed that he was, indeed, married and had children. Here is what has been found so far.

Robert Alexander Stevenson was born about 1853 in Ireland, presumably in Belfast. He died on the 1st of August 1908 in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool and was buried 06 August 1908 at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool. He married Louise Mingaud on the 14th April 1873 in Liverpool. She was born about 1853 and died in the first quarter of 1874 in Haslingden. Robert then met Jane Waters, a widow with children. She was born in Liverpool and died in 1929.

Robert died from pneumonia and shock due to injuries sustained to left forearm, left leg and left side received by accidentally falling into a building. His occupation at the time was a window cleaner so he probably fell through a window whilst doing his job. I would have expected him to have fallen out of a window though!

His residence was given as 16 Mount View Rathbone Street, Liverpool which is the street where his brother William was living. Perhaps Robert was living with his brother at this time.

Census 1: 1871, 80 Wood Street. Liverpool - occupation Horse Keeper

Census 2: 1881, 80 Wood Street, Liverpool - Car Driver

Census 3: 1891, 4 Embledon Terrace, Toxteth, Liverpool - Coachman, Groom

When he married in 1873 his occupation was Horse Dealer. In 1884 he was living at Back Sandon Street, Liverpool.

In 1891, it proved difficult to find Robert on the census. He was actually listed at the bottom of a family group with Jane Perry as the head. She had several children listed and Robert is actually down as Alexander Stevenson and a boarder. Jane Perry was married, and her name was Jane Waters, before she met Robert.

In 1901, I have not yet found Robert but Jane is at 6 Mount Vernon View, Toxteth, Liverpool.

*Speculation *

I have tried to find Robert in 1901 using everything I can imagine. Obviously there is still something I haven't tried! However, I came across one listed in Walton-on-the-hill, Liverpool as a boarder with a George Liddell. This Robert Stevenson is given as 39 and born in Scotland and is a detective with Liverpool police.

So why do I think this could be him?

There are family connections to Liddell's and it is known that some went to England. It is entirely possible that Robert was staying with distant relatives. As for the age and place of birth, censuses are notorious for inaccuracies for one reason and another. The head would give the information and perhaps made a few errors.

OK - so this goes against everything I believe in - making the facts fit! But there was a huge old prison at Walton-on-the-hill and Robert's brother, Thomas, was a prison warden. 

Hope you can see where my line of thinking is going with this - I do have strange ways of looking at things sometimes - but they often pay off.

Child of Robert Stevenson and Louise Mingaud is:

Hermione Alexander Stevenson, born 31 October 1873, Liverpool. She married Alfred Ernest Mills in 1892 in Wolverhampton and had several children.

Children of Robert Stevenson and Jane Waters or Perry are:

Robert Alexander Stevenson, born 1887 at Liverpool. He married Mabel Steele and they had at least one son and a daughter. They moved to New York, USA.

Mary Ann Frances Stevenson or Perry, born 1890, Liverpool. She married Conrad Simonis in 1914 at Southampton, England. They moved to New York, USA and had family.

Albert George Stevenson, born 1892, Liverpool and died 29 November 1940, 34 Spofforth Road, Liverpool, Killed in Blitz. He was married with several children. He is listed in the Commonwealth War Graves site as civilian war dead. In 1901 he was residing at 6 Mount Vernon View, Toxteth, Liverpool.

Arthur Stevenson, born 1895, Liverpool, died USA. He married Frances Barlow about 1920. They had a daughter who was perhaps, born in England.

The above information was sent from a descendant of Robert and Jane, Marny Janson. If it had not been for her finding my web messages, we would not know just how much the legal documents were misleading. It is hoped that I might now find more information by using the above.