John Stevens ( born Ash , Kent , c1831), and Jane KNOTT (born Bexleyheath , 10th October 1855, the daughter of William Coombs, labourer,and Marian Coombs , formerly Barker.), John and Jane married in 1851 , at East Wickham , Kent.
John and Jane lived firstly at Bexleyheath, where their first 5 children
were born.
Then we find they are living at 2 Francis St Plumstead,in 1871.
Two of their sons were born at Plumstead. It is thought they lived near
Plumstead Common.
Plumstead Common is an area South of the High St,which was partly open ground, like a park, partly pleasant housing and partly used by the military from Woolwich Barracks for exercising horses and military manouevres. Most of the houses in this part of Plumstead at the turn of the century were occupied by workers from Woolwich Arsenal, or military families.
John's occupation ,we see by the 1881 census,is "R.Arsenal Lab"...which we can take to mean "Labourer at The Royal Arsenal".
John and Jane had many children.These are the known ones, there may be more.At the time of the 1871 census, Henry was still living with his parents, John and Jane, at 2 Francis Street,Plumstead. He was unmarried and his occupation was "Cartridge Maker", probably at The Royal Arsenal.
Henry married Mary,who was born in Birmingham about 1856. Henry and Mary have 4 children (1881 census)...they are James B. aged 9 and Sophia aged 6, both born in Birmingham. Their next 2 children are Mary J.aged 3 and Eliza A aged 1year...both born at Plumstead,Kent.