Hi Terri,
Thanks for the reply. I think we may be related! I believe your Stephenson was born in Thwing in July-Sept 1842 and that he had two sisters, Polly and Mary Harriet and a brother, George; also possibly another brother, John? George was my Great Grandfather. They were living in Primrose Cottage, Wold Newton in 1871. In 1881, John and Mary still live there. Stephenson is living with his daughter, registered as Eva Nicolson. Is this Eva Nicolson Collinson, or just Nicolson? If so, why?! He married Isabella Wilson Nicolson in July-Sept 1876, but in 1881 she was in lodgings with the Barr family of Hunmanby. She was born in 1855 in Hunmanby.
John married Mary in April-June 1842. John died Jan-Mch 1898 aged 78; Mary died Jan-Mch 1892 aged 76. Polly was born Jan-Mch 1860 in Wold Newton. George was born 1853 in Thwing. If John is another brother, he was born in Thwing 1855. Mary Harriet was born Jan-Mch 1868 in Wold Newton and died aged 10 in Apr-June 1878.
I did not know that Stephenson and family emigrated to Australia, but it explains why they disappeared from the census records! Two of George's sons, Tom and John, also emigrated to Australia and came back to fight in WW1 with Australian troops.
If you are interested, I can give you details of George's (and my!) family. My Grandfather was Robert Edwin Collinson (Ted) and one of his sons, Robert (Bob) also emigrated along with two sons, Stephen and Paul. They are all still on your side of the world. If you have any more info on John and Mary, or their ancestors, I would be very grateful for it.
Happy Christmas Third Cousin (I think!).
Sue