Stephen

Stephen (Steve) Bland 
(June 1866 - 21 April 1890) 

Stephen Bland was born in the parish of St George in the East, Stepney, East London, in June 1866. He was the son of John Richard Bland and his wife Mary Jane Bland nee Curtis (c1841 - 2nd quarter 1867), and was probably named after his mother's brother, Stephen Curtis.

John and Mary had four sons. Fred and Steve were born in St George's in the East, Stepney, while Alf and Charlie were both born nearby, in Bethnal Green. The children of John and Mary were:

• Frederick William Bland (4th quarter 1860? - 1st quarter 1872)
• Alfred (Alf) Bland (June 1863 - 1956) Died aged 94.
• Charles (Charlie) Robert Bland (17 August 1864 - 13 February 1931)
• Stephen (Steve) Bland (June 1866 -  21 April 1890) 

Mary Jane Bland nee Curtis,
with her four sons, Frederick (seated at the back),
Alfred (seated at the front), Charles (standing),
and baby Stephen c1867.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of S Houston)

While Steve was a baby his nurse accidentally dropped him. This caused severe hip damage which crippled him. Steven later learned how to get around using crutches. 

Tragedy struck in the 2nd quarter of 1867 when Steve's mother, Mary, unexpectedly died from a heart attack while attending a wedding. Steve was around one year of age at the time.

Steve not only lost his mother when very young, but he also lost his mother's parents. First, his maternal grandfather, Charles Curtis died on 21 December 1867 when he was a year old, and then his maternal mother, Esther Curtis died in January 1869. 

In 1869, about two years after Mary's death, John married again. The 1871 England Census (dated 2 April) records Steve living with his father John, and his second wife, Emma (surname unknown, but possibly, Jones). Siblings were listed as Frederick (10), Alfred (8), and Charles (6).

More tragedy befell the Bland family when Frederick passed away in the 1st quarter of 1872, aged 10 years. Shortly after, Steve's step-mother, Emma, also passed away. The cause of their deaths are unknown at this stage.

John married his much younger third wife, Anne (Annie) Maria Horne, in 1873. The following year, John and Annie decided to move to New Zealand. They became government assisted passengers on the ship Rooparell which sailed from from London on 23 February 1874. The ship's passenger list recorded their names amongst the 367 immigrants on board: John Bland (33), a machine sawyer, Ann (22), and children, Alfred (10), Charles (9), and Stephen (7). After a voyage of 95 days, the ship docked in Auckland on 30 May 1874. 

On arriving in their new country, the Bland family went to live at the Immigration Barracks which were located in Howe Street, Central Auckland. While there, John would have found a job and then resettled his family in a new home (address unknown at present).

Stephen's step-siblings were:

• Annie Maria Pettett (25 July 1875 - 25 December 1958)   
• Robert (Bob) William Bland (28 August 1877 - 7 September 1918)
• Edward (Ted) Bland (19 March 1879 - 1965) 
• Susannah (Susie/Sue) Margaret Tonson (27 June 1880 - 5 January 1972)  
• John (Jack) Richard Bland II (29 March 1882 - 28 February 1966)  
• Sarah Bland (August 1883 - 17 July 1884) 

Steve's step-siblings, Annie II and Robert (Bob) were born in Auckland. Shortly after Bob was born, the family moved to Northland.

It is unknown how much schooling Steve had, but because of his disability, he likely he had very little. If he did go to school, he would have attended the Native School, Hokianga. Family records state that the Bland children were the only European students apart from the headmaster's own children. The headmaster would have rowed across the harbour from Rawene each day to conduct lessons. Apparently, he was often drunk on arrival!**

The Native School, Hokianga where the Bland children
attended school in the late 1880s and early 1890s
Unknown date and photographer.
(Photo courtesy of C Murphy)

Daughters of John Bland II outside the school-room in Hokianga
where the Bland children went to school in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
(Photo courtesy of L Lydiard)

Sarah Bland, Steve's youngest step-sister, passed away on 17 July 1884 in Auckland, just shy of her first birthday. She died of congestion of the lungs and apnoea.

Steve's step mother, Annie Bland, with her children.
Left back to front: Bob, Ted & John II.
Right back to front: Annie II & Susie.
Photo taken 1884, probably just after John and
Annie's youngest daughter, Sarah, died.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of C Murphy)

It appears that Steve was mobile enough to move away from home and tried to live independently. The 1890 Electoral Roll states that Steve lived in Dargaville and worked as a waiter. It is unclear how he managed to do the job with his disability and with the symptoms of tuberculosis.

It appears that Steve's health deteriorated considerably at the beginning of 1890 and his situation became dire. The minutes of the Hobson County Council monthly meeting of February 1890 were printed in the New Zealand Herald. In them it was recorded, "Stephen Bland was reported to be destitute. The clerk was instructed to provide clothing." During the meeting, a charitable aid payment of two pounds ten shillings was processed for him.

It appears Steve was given lodging with Mr John Bridger Smith, a bushman, however, became seriously ill. The minutes of the Hobson County Council meeting in March 1890 reports that Mr Smith was receiving just ten shillings a week to house Steve, which he considered insufficient. At the same meeting, a payment of two pounds was processed for charitable aid for Steve.

Steve (23) died on 21 April 1890 at his residence. John B Smith was present when Steve died, and he later registered Steve's death. Steve's death is registered as being caused by phlthisis pulmonalis (tuberculosis). He is buried at the Mount Wesley Cemetery, in Dargarville.


Sources:

• Family held records (courtesy of K J Bland)
• **Recollections of LL and Mavis Nevill (daughters of John Richard Bland II) 28 May 2016
• Papers Past
• Photographs: S Houston, C Murphy, L Lydiard