A brief family history

and description of the various photos

The photos start with Mary Ann STEPHENS (nee HOLDEN). She married James and they had 8 children. All but one were in this picture. I think it was taken soon after the death of James around 1889. The unnamed woman next to James is probably his wife Amelia.

It was their daughter Matilda that married Henry, the son of Richard and Elizabeth SLEMON. These are the subject of my next photo. I think this was taken about 1900 and I just love Richard's beard! I only recently borrowed this photo from an elderly aunt and it already means a great deal to me. Because of a number of factors, not least because it was Sunday and all the shops were shut, I had to take a digital picture of it on my lap. I'm hoping that soon I will be able to borrow it and get it copied properly.

They had 9 children and I have photos of only three. Richard was the eldest son and he moved to Saltash, Cornwall and his son was a good friend of my grandfather. He looks very distinguished but as far as I can find out he was just a foreman in the Royal Ordinance Stores at Ernesettle, Plymouth. Although this photo was taken later than the next one I included it here because he was older than Henry.

3rd son was Henry, my great grandfather. He married Matilda in 1881 and they had 5 children. My grandfather is the one in a dress at the front. This is another borrowed picture, from the same aunt. I only wish my grandfather knew about it and could have told me about the circumstances in which it was taken.

This was taken on the wedding day of Horace to Winnie. They were living in St. Budeaux, Plymouth and the picture was taken there. We looked for the house but lots have been demolished to make way for a road and a residential care home.

This is Annie, Richard and Elizabeth's 5th child, second born daughter. She emigrated to South Africa and then when the Boer War started she moved to Canada.