Frederick and Sophia (Annie) Stock

Ye Olde Blue Bell, a Sam Smith's pub in Hull
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian S - geograph.org.uk/p/2423268

In 1871, Frederick Stock (43) Steamer Fireman, Ann Stock (44), Charles Stock (14) Baker's Apprentice and William Henry Stock (12) Errand Boy, were living at 5 Blue Bell Yard, Sculcoates (one assumes the yard of the Old Blue Bell, alongside Trinity Market Hull). Originally from Stettin, Germany, now Szczecin, Poland (Why Stettin became Szczecin), there is where we may find birth or marriage records. Clearly, they had arrived in England some time between 1858 and 1871, but early in that range, probably, as it was later said that William did not know German. 

In 1881, Annie Stock, claiming to be 39, actually 54, Washerwoman with boarder (i.e. supporting herself by taking in washing and letting rooms) from Germany was living at 4, Emma's Place, Kingston upon Hull, with daughter-in-law, Annie Stock (25) Servant from Louth, Lincolnshire (the former Ann Paddison, wife of Charles Stocks - their husbands both being mariners were probably not in the household as they were at sea); Robert Wilson (26) Cartman, Visitor and Henry Wilson (25) Butcher, Boarder - these lads were also both from Louth, Lincolnshire. 

(Its my belief that Robert and Henry are brothers, as both birth registrations give their mother's maiden name as SCRIMSHAW, but I've not yet identified their parents. It would also be interesting to see if they are related to the Joseph Wilson who married Annie Paddion's aunt, Margaret Mary Borrell, in Louth.)

Frederick Stocks, Ship's Fireman, died, aged 57, on 19 Feb 1887 at 2 Alicia Court, Alicia Street (Alicia Street was lost in 1938, one of many streets lost during the neatly titled ‘Kingston upon Hull (Reform Street) Clearance Area Act, 1938’) from Morbus Cordis (Aortic) - heart disease - with W H Stocks, Son, in attendance.

Annie Stocks, widow of Frederick Stocks, a Merchant Seaman, of 7 Florence Terrace, Walcott Street, died on 21 Apr 1897 at the Hull Workhouse Analby Road (later Western General Hospital), from Senile Atrophy. Her death was registered by Annie Stocks, Daughter-in-law 'in attendance' of 7 Myrtle Terrace, Wellsted Street, Hull. A note in the right-hand margin says, For Annie Stocks read 'Sophia Stocks otherwise Annie Stocks'. This information was from a declaration given on 26 Apr 1897 by Annie Stocks and William Henry Stocks. We may conclude that Sophia was her given name and she was known as Annie.