Honorary Major Sir Joseph Weston-Stevens
He was born on 25 July 1861. His father was William John Yates Stevens and his mother was Rebecca Hadrill Weston, sister to Sir Joseph Dodge Weston who was Mayor of Bristol four times when she acted as Mayoress for her brother who was not married at that time.
Joseph was educated at Clifton College and was a director of the Patent Nut & Bolt Co. Ltd.; the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Company; London, City, and Midland Bank; and of Girest, Keen, and Nettle. He was chairman of the Taff Vale Railway. He was president of the Anchor Society 1896/7. He was Bristol's High Sherif in 1902 and created a Knight Bachelor on 11 June 1913.
He was a Lieutenant in the Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery on 12 May 1883; Captain, March 1881; and was Honorary Major in June 1898.
He had a son, Joseph Arthur Ronald Weston-Stevens, who was born on 2 August 1892. He also had a daughter, Gwendoline Hannah Weston-Stevens
He was appointed Knight Bachelor on 11 June 1913.
He and his wife owned a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, chassis number 2638, that was rebodied by Hooper of London in 1913 in their "Landaulette" style.
He was a Liberal in the Knowle West 1910 General Election, but lost to Conservative George Gibbs.
He died on 7 February 1917, and his remains were interred in the family vault at Arnos Vale Cemetery. See the page for Joseph Dodge Weston for a picture of the Weston Memorial at Arnos Vale Cemetery.
His widow, Victoria Alice Weston Stevens died on 19 April 1918. The Western Daily Press of 19 September 1918, reported that she left an estate of the value of £21,940 8s. She left her trustees £10,000 for board maintenance and education of deceased officers in his Majesty's Army killed in the great war, capital and interest to be available for such a purpose at any ladies' college or first class school.
He lived at Deerhurst Priory, 7 Downside Road, Clifton and later at Worcester Lodge, Clifton.
Deerhurst Priory
The Times newspaper of 8 February 1917 printed his obituary:
SIR J. WESTON-STEVENS
Sir Joseph Weston-Stevens died yesterday at his residence, Worceste Lodge Bristol, aged 56.
He was chairman of the Taff Vale Railway company, a director of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (Limited), and chairman of the Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Company. He had been Sheriff of Bristol and president of the Bristol Liberal Federation, and chairman of the executive committee of the Western Counties Liberal Federation for 17 years. He retired form the Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery in 1900 with the rank of major, and since the outbreak of the war had taken an active interest in recruiting. He was knighted four years go. Sir Joseph married, in 1888, a daughter of the late Mr. Arthur Keen, of Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds.
Sources and Resources
We would be very grateful for any further information on members of the 1st South Midland Bde RFA/ 240th Bde RFA (TF) from 1908-1919.
Derek Driscoll's original pages
Contemporary Biographies 1890 (PDF, 7.03Mb)
Contemporary Biographies 1890
Contemporary Biographies 1890
Other References
Dod's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage etc. of Great Britain and Ireland - Wikisource
High Sheriff of Bristol - Wikipedia
Hooper (coachbuilder) - Wikipedia
Hooper Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - Coachbuild
Joseph Weston Stevens - Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust
Joseph Weston Stevens - Dave Napier
Bristol West (UK Parliament constituency) - Wikiwand
List of knights bachelor appointed in 1913 - Wikipedia
London Gazette - May 11, 1883
The South Wales Coal Annual for 1908 - GenUK