Scottish Munros

Herbert and Melia

HERBERT MILTON & AMELIA JANE STEPHENS.

HERBERT was generally referred to as ‘HENRY’ and AMELIA as ‘MELIA’

When they married in May 1887 MELIA was already pregnant and on 15th November of that year their first child, a son, WILLIAM HENRY, (William) was born at KEW LEA, in the Parish of Ashburton.

‘William’ was Herberts Grandfathers name, and also the name of one of his brothers.  WILLIAM HENRY would eventually pass the name to HIS son, who would do likewise.

`Henry’ was, as stated, the name that HERBERT himself went by.

HERBERT was employed as a ‘Labourer’ and ‘Agricultural Labourer’ according to his marriage certificate and his children’s birth & marriage certificates.  In the late 1880’s there was a severe Agricultural Depression due to a number of factors including the cheap price of imports from America and the Colonies, two seasons of very bad drought, a general drift away from the land for better wages in the urban areas, with farmers loath to increase their own rates, and mechanisation greatly reducing the number of labourers required.  It may be as a result of this that HERBERT took the big step of deciding to move his family to MILLOM in CUMBRIA with a view to finding labouring work in the Hodbarrow Iron Mines.  He eventually became a Gardener for a large estate in the Millom area.  Later in life he became the first of the line to enjoy a hobby, but it was a hobby that contributed to the family needs…Growing Vegetables.

 

 

 

AMELIA was well built and always dressed old fashioned.  She was particularly partial to Kippers and Strawberry Jam !!

 

Six years after the 1881 Census, at the age of 18, MELIA married HERBERT MILTON at Ashburton Methodist Church.  The marriage certificate gives her age, incorrectly, as 20.  At the time of her marriage MELIA gives her address as High Grove, Ashburton Parish, and it will be recalled that this is where Herbert had worked .  It is likely that they met when MELIA was in service in that area.



Both Herbert and Amelia retained a strong Devon accent.

The family settled in HAVERIGG close to Millom and it was probably here that increases to the family arrived, being: -

1. Amelia Jane Milton   1893 aprox  (Taking her mothers name, but known as ‘Gin’ ). Gin married William Fugler and had seven children one of whom she named ‘Festubert’ after the First World War battle in France. (This was the battle which the Kings Own Millom Contingent fought on 15th June 1915 at which brother Will was killed.). Another child was named ‘William’ which was her brothers name, her fathers name and her husbands name.

2. Mabel Drucilla Milton (Known as Mabel). Mabel married but had no children.

3. Elizabeth Milton (Known as ‘Liz’) Liz would eventually marry John Crow produce seven children, including two sets of twins, and she would name one of her children ‘Milton Crow’

4. Jessie Stephens Milton (Known as ‘Jess’). She married Thomas Storey  and had four children; one being christened Joan Milton Storey.


For a while the address in Haverigg was MOSS SIDE COTTAGES, but around 1905 they moved to 3 SANDHAM LANE Haverigg, a property that they somehow managed to buy.  As recently as 1997 three of Jess’ children still lived there.

The family attended Haverigg Wesleyan Chapel and both Herbert and Melia attended there until their respective deaths in 1931 and 1935, aged 64 and 68.  Both are buried in St. Lukes Church of England Graveyard alongside the Church and a Headstone is erected to their memory.