Stevens Family
Riverton, New Zealand.
Descendants of Richard Stevens and John Lidiard.
John Lidiard and Kiaraki had one daughter, Ann "Nancy" Lidiard, born 04 July 1837. Ann married James Lee, was widowed, and then married Edward Stevens, the son of settler Richard Stevens. While Ann was pregnant with her first child, Edwards Stevens died, and their son Edward John Stevens was born 08 July 1857(1) at Jacob's River. In 1859, Ann, now aged 22, married her third husband William Thomas and although they remained together until her death at the age of 63 in 1900, Edward was to be Ann's only child. Thus, the descendants of John Lidiard in New Zealand can all be traced back to the name Stevens, through his only grandchild, Edward John.
For two generations before him only one child had been born but when Edward J Stevens married Mary Ann Eveleigh on 11 February 1885, that trend ended and they had fourteen children, one of whom died in infancy. Edward died 21 April 1947, aged 89. Today the Stevens family tree stretches far and wide across the globe but remains anchored in Riverton, Southland, New Zealand. Below is the original Stevens Family.
Descendants of Richard Stevens and John Lidiard.
John Lidiard and Kiaraki had one daughter, Ann "Nancy" Lidiard, born 04 July 1837. Ann married James Lee, was widowed, and then married Edward Stevens, the son of settler Richard Stevens. While Ann was pregnant with her first child, Edwards Stevens died, and their son Edward John Stevens was born 08 July 1857(1) at Jacob's River. In 1859, Ann, now aged 22, married her third husband William Thomas and although they remained together until her death at the age of 63 in 1900, Edward was to be Ann's only child. Thus, the descendants of John Lidiard in New Zealand can all be traced back to the name Stevens, through his only grandchild, Edward John.
For two generations before him only one child had been born but when Edward J Stevens married Mary Ann Eveleigh on 11 February 1885, that trend ended and they had fourteen children, one of whom died in infancy. Edward died 21 April 1947, aged 89. Today the Stevens family tree stretches far and wide across the globe but remains anchored in Riverton, Southland, New Zealand. Below is the original Stevens Family.
Seated is Edward John Stevens and his wife "Annie" Eveleigh with their thirteen children:
Back Row L-R: Albert, Mary, Edward, Ronald, John, Henry
Middle Row L-R: Nina, Edith, Victor, George, Teenie
Front Row L-R: Leslie, Thomas
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Children of Edward John Stevens & Mary Ann Eveleigh
1: Edward Richard James Stevens, born 10 March 1886. 2: John Stevens, born 02 November 1887, Riverton. 3: Mary Stevens, born 15 February 1889, Riverton. 4: Annie Nina Stevens, born 09 October 1890, Westwood. 5: Ronald Lydiard Stevens, born 12 May 1892, The Narrows. 6: Christina Matilda Stevens, born 18 March 1894, The Narrows. 7: Henry Kear Stevens, born 15 January 1896, The Narrows. 8: Albert Stevens, born 04 September 1897, Wild Bush. 9: Leslie Stevens, born 24 June 1899, Westwood. 10: Thomas Stevens, born 14 November, 1900, The Narrows. 11: George Huru Stevens, born 31 December 1901, Wild Bush. 12: Victor Densham Stevens, born 24 June, 1905. 13: Edith Markai Stevens, born 10 August, 1908, Wild Bush. |
Mary Ann Eveleigh
Mary Ann Eveleigh was the daughter of James Eveleigh and Matilda Anne Warren. Her parents were married on 23 December at Christ Church, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Both had been born in London, Matilda had emigrated to Australia with her family and James had arrived with the hope of striking it lucky in the goldfields. By 1866, when Mary Ann was born, the family was living in Riverton, New Zealand. Edward John Stevens and Mary Ann were married at her parents house in Riverton.
Mary Ann Eveleigh was the daughter of James Eveleigh and Matilda Anne Warren. Her parents were married on 23 December at Christ Church, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Both had been born in London, Matilda had emigrated to Australia with her family and James had arrived with the hope of striking it lucky in the goldfields. By 1866, when Mary Ann was born, the family was living in Riverton, New Zealand. Edward John Stevens and Mary Ann were married at her parents house in Riverton.
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Many thanks to the descendants of John Lidiard and Edward J Stevens who have contributed to this page.
Thank you to Louise in Auckland for the photographs and to Pam in Australia, descendant of George Stevens, for the details of Edward and Mary Ann's children. If you are a descendant of the Stevens family and would like to contribute any further information or images on your branch of the family tree, let us know via the contact form. Left: In front of Longwood, the home of Edward John Stevens (seated centre), at the couple's 60th wedding anniversary February 11 1945. Pictured are Edward, Mary Ann, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. |
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Stevens Family Reunion, 1983
Above, the grandchildren of Edward John Stevens and Mary Ann Eveleigh
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The extended Stevens family
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Stevens Family Reunion 2014
Following the last Stevens Family Reunion in Riverton, New Zealand, family member Lesley Catterall was asked to put together a book containing photos, memoirs, and stories from the Stevens family history. All thirteen family members of EJ Stevens family are represented in the book along with a family tree for each branch. Hekeia Revisited: Stevens Family History 1853 - 2015 contains 282 pages of which 103 include colour photographs. The book has sold out and there are no copies currently available for sale. However, some libraries do have it, including Riverton Library and Te Hikoi. Notes
(1) A reader, has kindly submitted some information regarding the birth and baptism of Edward Stevens, discovered while working with the Ruapuke Registers, Rakiura Museum. According to the registers, baptism #131 for Eward (sic) John Stevens records that he was baptised on 27 January 1858, and born on 8 July 1856. Rev. Wohlers baptised 4 children that day. However, other records show his year of birth as 1857, including Wallace Early Settlers’ Museum, the headstone on his family grave at Riverton, and Edward himself, in an entry in the Electoral Roll for Wallace County. The other 3 children baptised were: Baptism #130 - Robert William Brown Stevens (son of George Stevens and Mary Stevens, nee Ford), born on 13 Sep 1856. Baptism #132 - Mathilde Jane Wilson aka Willsson, born on 18 March 1857. Baptism #133 - Lucy Mary McKay, aged 6 months. |
Longwood, the home of Edward J Stevens
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The Stevens Family headstone, Riverton, New Zealand. Photo kindly supplied by Lesley Catterall.
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