Stephen Allaway 1808-1878

Stephen was researched due to his connection to Mary Ann Cowmeadow and to find out if he might have had any connection to the terrace. No connection has been found so he is included here only as the father of Mary Ann's illigitimate daughter. His story is, however, interesting and, maybe, not as unusual as might be thought. He went from being a respected gentleman, a partner in Cinderford Iron Works, a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of Herefordshire to being a penniless criminal who died in a house of correction. Bankruptcy was not uncommon as evidenced by the lists of bankrupts in the newspapers of the time. Limited companies were very difficult to create before 1855 and, even then, certain obstacles had to be overcome. It wasn't until 1862 that investors could more easily limit their liability. Stephen may just have been a victim of circumstances though it's not clear how he became bankrupt.

Stephen was born in English Bicknor, in or before 1808, and was baptised there on the 31st January of that year. On most census records his recorded age would suggest he was born later but his burial record suggests a birth year of 1805. He had three brothers and two sisters. His father, William, is remembered for his tin plate works in Lydbrook and Lydney and also as a partner in the Cinderford Iron Works.

In 1836, William appointed one of his other sons to the position of Works Manager at the iron works. The other partners wanted Stephen to be the Manager and, after intervention by William Crawshay, Stephen was given the position. This event is what brought him to the area and lead to his liason with Mary Ann. In the 1841 census, Stephen is living at The Grange (1) in Littledean and is described as a 'Manager of Iron Works'. Later, when his father died, Stephen inherited the partnership in the iron works.

Stephen married Helen Kinnaird Dana on the 2nd November 1843. Helen was the daughter of William Pultenay Dana who had once been a Captain in the army but by 1843 had been declared bankrupt. Helen was just seventeen at the time whilst Stephen was 38. It was probably a marriage of convenience. Stephen and Helen had, at least, ten children. In 1851 they were living at The Grange(1) in Littledean with several staff then in 1856 they are living at Pencraig Court in Herefordshire and Stephen also appears to have a lease of Step House Farm nearby. A notice of sale in 1859 of the farm stock and implements mentions the lease is due to expire. They then moved to Courtfield House at Welsh Bicknor. In 1858 Stephen, along with the local rector, paid for the rebuilding of Welsh Bicknor church. At this point Stephen was abviously very wealthy.

1862 must have been a year of change for Stephen as a notice was published announcing the split of the partnership between Stephen and his brothers and another notice announced Stephen was no longer a partner in the Cinderford iron Works. In fact, Henry Crawshay (William Crawshay's son) had bought Stephen out for the sum of £50,000 (around £7.5m today). Yet another notice published shortly afterwards asked for anyone with claims against Stephen to contact a firm of London solicitors.

In 1871, Stephen, his wife and one of their sons are living in much less salubrious accomodation in Woolston, Southampton. What happened in the intervening years to lead to this is unknown.

In 1875, Stephen's brothers became bankrupt with the failure of the tin plate business. This appears to have lead to the loss of £3000 which had been Stephen's wife's marriage settlement and which had been invested in the business.

In January 1877, Stephen was sentenced by a court in Merionethshire to one month hard labour for fraud. He had paid for a hotel with a fraudulant cheque. In April the same year he was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the same offence, this time in London and using the name of George Melville. He appears to have served that sentence but was, again, sentenced to another 12 months for the same offence again in June 1878 this time using the name Edward Jones. He died while serving this sentence and was buried on the 13th November 1878 in Brompton Cemetery.

Maybe by coincidence or maybe by intention, Stephen's wife Helen, who died in 1882, was also buried in the same cemetery, just yards from Stephen. She was buried in a private grave while he was in a common grave. She had been living in Pimilco at the time of her death.

(1) The Grange was a house belonging to the Flaxley Estate. It was demolished in the 1960s.

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