Death GRO 1st qtr 1900
Steel, James 73 Steyning 2b 238
=====
Query
STEEL JAMES 1826 — 1844 British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
-----
A portrait believed to be that of James Steel (1826-1900), the father of the Hove photographer, Henry Steel. James Steel, was born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1826 (probably when his father was stationed there as a soldier). James Steel married his second wife Maria Chatfield (born c1821, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex) in 1852. [James Steel's first wife had died from Typhus Fever in 1851]. James Steel worked as an agricultural labourer in the Sussex districts of Keymer and Hurstpierpoint during the 1850s and 1860s. During this time his wife Maria gave birth to a number of children - Henry (born 1854), Ann (born 1856), Mary (born 1857, George (born 1861) and James Steel junior (born 1866). In the late 1870s, James Steel senior and his family moved to Hove, where James found work as a "coal porter". James Steel senior died in Hove in 1900, aged 73.
During their marriage Maria Chatfield and James Steel produced at least 5 children - Henry Steel (baptised in the Sussex village of Keymer on 4th June, 1854), Ann Steel (born 1856, Keymer), Mary Steel (born 1857, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex), George Steel (born 1861, Hurstpierpoint) and James Steel (born 1866, Burgess Hill). When the 1861 census was taken, James Steel, described on the census return as a 35 year old "Labourer", was living in Hurstpierpoint with his wife Maria and three of their children - Henry (7), Ann (5) and Mary (3) - plus fifteen year old William Chatfield (born c1845, Cuckfield), described on the census return as James Steel's stepson. Presumably, William Chatfield was the illegitimate son of Maria Chatfield. [At the time of the 1851 census, five year old William Chatfield was living in Cuckfield with his grandparents, William and Martha Chatfield].
When the 1871 census was taken, James Steel and his family were living at St John's Common, Keymer, but his eldest son, Henry Steel (born 1854, Keymer) was residing in Hove, Sussex. The 1871 census records seventeen year old Henry Steel as a "Baker" employed by John W. Wells, a confectioner of 40 Western Road, Hove.
-----
1861 Census [Incorrect spelling of STEEL]
Piece: RG9/583 Place: Hurstpierpoint -Sussex Enumeration District: 1
Civil Parish: Hurstpierpoint Ecclesiastical Parish: -
Folio: 10 Page: 13 Schedule: 65
Address: -
Surname Forename Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born
STEELE James Head M M 35 Lab Overseas - British - Corfu
STEELE Maria Wife M F 40 Lab's Wife Sussex - Hurstpierpoint
STEELE Henry Son - M 7 Sussex - Keymer
STEELE Ann Dau - F 5 Sussex - Keymer
STEELE Mary Dau - F 3 Sussex - Hurstpierpoint
CHATFIELD William Stpson U M 15 Sussex - Cuckfield
-----
England and Wales Census, 1871
Name: James Steel
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Birthplace: Corfu
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: Cuckfield
Sub-District: Hurstpierpoint
Parish: Keymer, Sussex
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self James Steel M 45 Corfu
Wife Maria Steel F 50 Hurstpierpoint, Sussex
Dau Ann Steel F 15 Keymer, Sussex
Son George Steel M 9 Hurstpierpoint, Sussex
Son James Steel M 4 Keymer, Sussex
-----
1891 Census
Piece: RG12/793 Place: Cuckfield -Sussex Enumeration District: 1
Civil Parish: Hurstpierpoint Ecclesiastical Parish: Hurstpierpoint
Folio: 10 Page: 13 Schedule: 71
Address: 17 Manor Cottages
Surname, Forename Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born
STEEL, James Head S M 73 General Labourer Sussex - Hurstpierpoint
STEEL, Edward Nephew S M 24 Bricklayer's Labourer Sussex - Hurstpierpoint
