John Stephen (1771 - 1833)

Born 4 Jul 1771 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Anne (Pasmore) Stephen — married 1 Dec 1795 in London, England

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1833 at age 62 in Cooks River, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John Stephen is Notable.

John Stephen was an Australian judge and lawyer. He was Solicitor-General of St Christopher in the West Indies, Solicitor-General of New South Wales and later a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

John Stephen was born on 4 July 1771 and baptised on 26 September 1771 at St George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey.^[1]

He married Mary Anne Pasmore on 1 December 1795 at St Andrew, Holborn, London.^[2] He and his wife had six sons and three daughters:

• Sidney Stephen
• John Stephen
• George Stephen (died aged 10)
• Alfred Stephen
• Francis Stephen
• Sibella Stephen
• Marianne Stephen
• George Milner Stephen
• Clara Stephen

He arrived in Sydney on the ship Prince Regent in August 1824 with his wife and five children.^[3] On his arrival, he took up the positions of Solicitor-General of New South Wales,^[4] and Commissioner of the Court of Civil Jurisdiction.^[5]

In August 1825, he was appointed a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.^[6]

He died at Clareville, Cook's River, New South Wales, on 21 December 1833.^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ Parish register, St George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, England (available on Ancestry). "Christened in September 1771 ... 26 John son of James & Sibella Stephen born 4th July Black[?]."
2. ↑ Parish register, St Andrew Holborn, London (available on Ancestry). "John Stephen of the Parish of Saint Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex Bachelor [and] Mary Ann Pasmore of the Parish of Saint Andrew Holborn in the same County Spinster were married in this Church by Licence on the first Day of December in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and Ninety Five ..."
3. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 12 Aug 1824, p2, "On Saturday arrived from London, which she left the 28th February last, having called at Bahia, and since been at Van Diemen's Land, the ship Prince Regent, Captain Lamb ... Passengers ... J. Stephen, Esq. Mrs. Stephen, Miss Stephen, Miss M. A. Stephen, Miss C. Stephen, Master Stephen, Master G. Stephen ... all from England."
4. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 12 Aug 1824, p1. "Colonial Secretary's Office, 11th Aug. 1824. HIS MAJESTY has been graciously pleased to appoint John Stephen, Esq. Barrister at Law, to be Solicitor General of the Colony of New South Wales."
5. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 12 Aug 1824, p1. "Colonial Secretary's Office, 11th Aug.1824. THE GOVERNOR has been pleased to appoint John Stephen, Esquire, Barrister at Law, to be Commissioner of the Court of Civil Jurisdiction to be called 'The Court of Requests'."
6. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 18 Aug 1825, p1. "Colonial Secretary's Office, August 17th, 1825, HIS EXCELLENCY, the GOVERNOR, in Pursuance of the Powers, and Authority vested in Him, has been pleased to appoint JOHN STEPHEN, Esquire, Barrister at Law, to be an additional Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, until His MAJESTY'S Pleasure shall be known."
7. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 24 Dec 1833, p3. "DIED. At Clairville, on Saturday last, JOHN STEPHEN, Esq., late Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The funeral of this respected gentleman is intended to be public, and will take place on Thursday next."
8. ↑ The Australian (Sydney), 23 Dec 1833, p2. "DEATH. On Saturday last, at Clareville, Cook's River, JOHN STEPHEN, Esq., late Judge of the Supreme Court, in his 63d year."

• Australian Dictionary of Biography
• R Bedford, Think of Stephen: A family chronicle (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1954)
• Karen Fox, 'Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, originally published 17 February 2015, accessed 4 September 2023.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #142800053