Kilwinning, Scotland

John Stevely is the son of James Staveley and Mary LAW of Stevenston, Ayrshire.  John married Martha CREEMON on August 23, 1872 in Stevenston, and in 1891 we find their family in Kilwinning.

1891: Five Roads, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

 John STEVELY  Head   M   Male   42   Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Martha STEVELY  Wife   M   Female   40  Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland  
 Martha STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  18  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Dressmaker
 James STEVELY  Son  U   Male  16  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 John STEVELY  Son  U  Male  14  Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Alexander STEVELY  Son  U  Male  12  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Mary STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  10  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Hugh STEVELY  Son  U  Male  8  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Malcolm STEVELY  Son  U  Male  8  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 David STEVELY  Son  U  Male  6  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Jane STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  4  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Agnes STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  2  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar

 

John's brother David Stevely married Agnes MARTIN in Stevenston, Ayrshire, where they are living between 1871-1881:

1901: 167 Five Roads, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

 David STEVELY  Head   M   Male   55   Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Agnes STEVELY  Wife   M   Female   55  Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland    Coal Miner's Wife
 William STEVELY  Son  U  Male  17  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  
 Sarah STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  3  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland    
 William BONE  Lodger  M  Male  26  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland    Coal Miner

 

David and Agnes' son David, who was born in Stevenston in 1874, is found traveling aboard the S.S. Cameronia to New York in 1936:

    Occupation Race Birthplace Last Permanent Residence
David Stevely  62 Porter Scottish  Stevenston  Bronx, New York
Ann Brown Staveley  61 Housewife Scottish  Kilwinning  Bronx, New York

 

1901: 139 Five Roads, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

 John STEVELY  Head   M   Male   50   Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Martha STEVELY  Wife   M   Female   52  Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner's Wife
 James STEVELY  Son  U   Male  26  ?, Ayrshire, Scotland  ?
 Alexander STEVELY  Son  U  Male  22  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Mary STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  20  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Dynamite Worker
 Hugh STEVELY  Son  U  Male  18  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Malcolm STEVELY  Son  U  Male  18  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Ironmoulder Apprentice
 David STEVELY  Son  U  Male  16  Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland  Ironmoulder Apprentice
 Jane STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  14  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Agnes STEVELY  Daur  U  Female  12  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Wm. STEVELY  Son  U  Male  8  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar
 Samuel STEVELY  Son  U  Male  6  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Scholar

 

John and Martha's son John is living just down the street in 1901:

1901: 149 Five Roads, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

 John STEVELY  Head  M  Male  24  Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner
 Maggie STEVELY  Wife  M  Female  22  Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland  Coal Miner's Wife

 

John and Martha's son Alexander joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers at the age of 23, just one year after the 1901 census was taken. His enlistment date was December 19, 1902.  His record shows that his next of kin was his father John Staveley, of 5 Roads, Kilwinning, Scotland.  His record also gives the particulars as to his marriage.  Alexander married an Ann DOCKERTY in Saltcoats, near Stevenston, on June 28th, 1907.  The marriage was witnessed by a David Steveley and a Mary Steveley, presumably Alexander's siblings.

At the time of enlistment it was noted that Alexander had a small blue scar at the angle of left eye.

Alexander served in the East Indies for almost two years, between February 28, 1904 to January 31, 1906.  The rest of his service was at home, except for a brief tour as a member of the Expeditionary Force to France from August 8, 1914 to December 8, 1914. It was while he was in France, on September 1st, 1914, that Alexander found himself in a spot of trouble:

 

Pte. Stevely, Alexander

Awarded 14 days detention by C.O. for falling out without permission when on active service.

 

While in France, Alexander was wounded.  While in Ypres he received a gunshot wound to his left hand December 3, 1914.  He was transferred to the 1st Scottish General Hospital in Aberdeen, and admitted between December 11, and December 19, 1914, and his wound was determined to be a 'flesh wound'.  His medical recorded noted poor 'hypothermic' circulation on December 14, implying some degree of vascular damage.  Whether Alexander ever completely recovered from this injury is unknown. He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal prior to his discharge on December 18, 1915.

Alexander's younger brother Malcolm enlisted at Kilmarnock with the Coldstream Guards on April 11, 1906.  Malcolm married Annie STEWART at 19 Howard Street, Glasgow, on December 15, 1914.  Witnesses to the marriage were Alex Hannah, and Mary Begley.  His next of kin is listed as his wife Annie, residing at 151 Fergushill Road, Kilwinning, Scotland. 

Prior to the marriage, Malcolm lists two illegimate children in his regimental record.  A John Stewart born October 23, 1910, and James Stewart born October 2, 1912.  Both children were born in Wishaw, a suburb just southeast of Glasgow.  No mother's name is given, and although it seems likely, it has not been confirmed as to whether Annie was the mother. It should be noted that when Malcolm Joined the Coldstream Guards, he did state that he had not been resident in his Father's house for the 3 years prior to enlisting.

Sadly, Malcolm's regimental conduct sheet suggests he was no stranger to trouble during his service.  Some of the offences, and their respected punishments were as follows:

 

Conduct Register

Caterham, Surrey May 1, 1906 - Drunk in the barrack room.  Committing a nuisance in his cell. - Admonished

Caterham, Surrey Jul 1, 1907 - In detention by C.O. for misconduct - 10 days**

Caterham, Surrey Aug 5, 1907 - Offence of Drunkeness (3 prior cases of Drunkeness)

London Oct 20, 1907 - Creating a disturbance in the barrack room about 11:45pm. Making a highly improper remark to a NCO. - 10 Days C.B.

London Oct 21, 1907 - Not complying with an order given by a NCO. - 14 days detention**

Windsor - Jan 22, 1915 - Absent 8 days 16 hours - 72 hrs Detention, forfeit 10 days pay

Windsor - Jun 5, 1915 - Absent 16 days 1 hour 30 mins - 10 days Detention - forfeit 17 days pay**

Windsor - Jun 23, 1915 - Absent without leave - forfeit 10 days pay**

Windsor - Sep 5, 1915 - Absent 9 hours 30 min - 4 Days C.B. - forfeit 1 days pay

Sep 4, 1916 - Awarded 5 days FP No 2 for "misconduct"

Sep 16, 1916 - Committing a nuisance in his billet about 9 30pm and making an improper remark to a NCO. - 5 Days FP No 2

 

The offences marked ** were deemed as "service not allowed to reckon for fixing the rate of pension".

Just as Malcolm seemed to frequently be in trouble, he was also no stranger to the hospital wards either:

 

Medical Record

Placed on Syphilis Register Jan 29, 1908 - London

Jan 2, 1908 - February 12, 1908 (42 days) Treatment for syphilis

Mar 16, 1908 - Mar 25, 1908 (10 days) Treatment for syphilis

Apr 3, 1909 - Examined for transfer to the Army Reserve - Found Fit

Aug 7, 1914 - Aug 18, 1914 (11 days) Septic Burn

 

In addition to these hospitalizations, Malcolm was wounded in Italy while fighting in Soupir.  On September 13, 1914, he received a gunshot wound to his left leg.

On April 26, 1915 he was again transferred to England after spraining his ankle in the field.

On September 7, 1915 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion (from the 2nd Battalion)

On Oct 2, 1918 Malcolm was sent 'to England on "Compassionate Grounds".  As yet, the reason for this is unknown, but he was permitted to be stationed at home (i.e. not overseas) for a period of 3 months beginning October 3rd.

The summary of Malcolm's military service is broken down as follows:

 

Military History Sheet

Home - Apr 11, 1906 - May 29, 1914 - 8 years, 141 days

Expeditionary Force Overseas Aug 30, 1914- Sep 17, 1914 - 19 days*

Home - Sep 18, 1914 - Feb 23, 1915 - 159 days

Expeditionary Force Overseas Feb 24, 1915 - Apr 26, 1915 - 62 days

Home - Apr 27, 1915 - Sep 6, 1915 - 133 days

Expeditionary Force Overseas Sept 7, 1915 - Oct 2, 1918 - 3 years, 26 days

Home - Oct 3, 1918 - Feb 20, 1919 - 141 days

Army Reserves Feb 21, 1919 - Mar 31, 1920 - 1 year, 30 days

 

Malcolm served a total of 13 years, 355 days as a Private in the Army before his retirement. Like his brother Alexander, for his service in WW1, he was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Alexander and Malcolm's brother Hugh also enlisted during WW1, on August 11, 1914 for a period of 3 years. However, Hugh's duration of service was quite short, as he was discharged on September 19, the same year, having only served for 39 days, on the grounds he was "not likely to become an efficient soldier". Digging further into the records, his application for discharge shows "chronic rheumatism unfit for active service".  Hugh's name is spelled STAVELEY or STAVELY throughout his papers, and he states he is married at the time of enlistment, but gives no particulars as to his wife or any children in his record.

 

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