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Stephen may well have been baptized in the font on the left as it has a 14th century bowl and probable Saxon stem. Photographs of the village of Hadstock and St Botolph's Church can be viewed in the Photo Gallery > Collections > Places > Hadstock, Essex section of this website and a video clip of Hadstock village and church can be seen in the 'Videos' section of the Gallery. ***************************** Stephen lived and worked in Hadstock all his life, starting out as an agricultural labourer but later becoming a farmer in the Hadstock area, continuing a long family tradition. ***************************** Stephen married Harriet ROWLANDSON in the last quarter of 1840 in the district of Linton, most probably in the village of Hadstock. He was about 25 years old and Harriet, a year older. The Marriage Index states... Name: Stephen Free The couple had two children, George and Charles. ***************************** The following details appeared on the 1841 census as... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** Sadly, Harriet died in 1846 and in 1851, Stephen was living with his parents, some of his siblings and his youngest son by Harriet, Charles. His eldest son, George, was living with his other grandparents... Name: Steven Free ***************************** Stephen's father, Robert, died in 1853 and Stephen may have inherited some land at that point as he was listed in numerous local street directories between 1855 and 1882 as a farmer of Hadstock. ***************************** Stephen married again on 23rd December 1859. This time his bride was 16 year old Mary Ann ASHBY. Stephen was 44. The details which appear on the marriage certificate for Stephen and Mary Ann are as follows... 1859. Marriage solemnized after Banns in the Parish of Hadstock in the County of Essex ***************************** Once again, the Marriage Index states... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** In 1861, Stephen was a farmer of 24 acres, employing 1 man. The census reveals that his mother, who was by now widowed, was also living with the family... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** Stephen and Mary Ann had at least 5 children together, 4 of whom were born before the 1871 census... Name: Stephen Free Note: Robert Free was listed as a visitor but appeared with the family in the next census as Stephen's nephew. ***************************** The 1873 England Return of Owners of Land gives us a clue as to the extent of Stephen's property for that period. If accurate, it appears the size of his landholdings was slowly diminishing... Name of Owner: Free, Stephen ***************************** Stephen was still farming in 1881. The census for that year displays the following information... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** Stephen and Mary Ann's youngest daughter, Alice, was born in 1882, less than a year before Stephen died on 20th March 1883, aged 67. He was buried in the churchyard at Hadstock a few days later. The parish registers recorded the burial details... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** The England & Wales Death Index states... Name: Stephen Free ***************************** The gravestone still stands in Hadstock Churchyard but is difficult to read. What is legible is as follows... ? Pictures of Stephen FREE'S gravestone are displayed in the Photo Gallery > Collections > Graves & Memorials > Hadstock, Essex - St Botolph's Churchyard section of this web site. ***************************** Probate was granted to Stephen's widow and to Charles, his son by Harriet... 1883 ***************************** Stephen's estate was put up for auction a month later. The Chelmsford Chronicle published this advert on Friday 17 August 1883... FREEHOLD ACCOMMODATION LAND AND COTTAGE PROPERTY (With Possession). ______________ Mr. Cheffins THE Valuable Small ACCOMMODATION FARM, comprising a dwelling-house, homestead, productive orchard, and 7a. 0r. 3p. of highly fertile land, situate fronting the road leading to Bartlow; an orchard and one inclosure of Accommodation Land, containing together 3a. 3r. 16p., situate in Siggins-lane. TWO Plots of Superior ARABLE LAND, situate fronting the Bartlow-road; and FIVE COTTAGES situate in the Village, in several occupations of Hills, F. Fordham, Culter, and G. Fordham. Particulars and Condition of Sale may be obtained of Messrs Freeland and Bellingham, Solicitors, Saffron Walden; and of Mr. Cheffins, Saffron Walden.
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