Brock Family History

Stubbs family · 6 generations back

Christopher Stubbs

1786 – 1875
✓ Validated against records · 2026-07-08

Christopher Stubbs was baptised at Alvingham, in the Lincolnshire Marsh near Louth, on 8 October 1786 — a son of William Stubbs, the village carpenter and wheelwright, and Frances Addison of Saltfleetby. In June 1814 he married Mary Waters of Ludford Magna, and the young couple began farming at North Cockerington, where their children were baptised through the 1810s, twenties and thirties; by the later 1830s they had moved the few miles to Alvingham.

There Christopher rose well beyond his father's trade. By 1851 he was a farmer of 200 acres, and by 1861 of 204, with three men and a boy in his employ — a substantial farmer among the principal men of his parish, and, from at least 1832, a name the county sale-notices could point buyers to.

In the spring of 1863 he sold up at Alvingham. The auctioneer John Willson cried the sale on the premises: fifty-two sheep, thirty-eight beasts, seven horses — the cart mare Smiler, the black horses Prince and Tinker, the grey mare Beauty, the brown mare Metal — and six store pigs. Christopher and Mary moved inland to West Ashby, near Horncastle, where he lived out his life a retired farmer while his sons took on the land.

He died at West Ashby on 23 July 1875, aged eighty-eight, and his will was proved at the Principal Registry in London that September. The estate did not pass quietly: a decade later it was still before the courts, in a Chancery suit of Stubbs against Stubbs, the executor a William Stubbs — most likely his son. His daughter Eliza had long since left the Marsh — she married George Brock, a miller, and carried the family's line into the Brocks of Hull.

Composed from validated records · 2026-07-08
Baptism
October 8th 1786, Alvingham, Lincolnshire
Marriage
June 2nd 1814 to Mary Walters in Alvingham
Death
June 25th 1875 aged 88 years, in West Ashby
Parents
William Stubbs and Frances Addison
Siblings
Mary Stubbs baptised February 2nd 1783, Alvingham William Stubbs baptised October 24ff 1784, Alvingham Christopher Stubs baptised October 1786, Alvingham Elleanor Stubs baptised September 28th 1789, Alvinham
Children
Mary Stubbs baptised April 17th 1815, St. Mary, Nth Cockerington John Stubbs baptised November 30ff 1817, St. Mary, Nth Cockerington Christopher Stubbs baptised August 22nd 1819, Nth Cockerington Helen Stubbs baptised March 4th 1821, Nth Cockerington William Stubbs baptised February 2nd 1823, Nth Cockerington Elizabeth Stubbs baptised September 1824, Nth Cockerington Jane Stubbs baptised July 23rd 1826, Nth Cockerington Charles Stubbs born 1830 North Cockerington Eliza Stubbs born 1831 North Cockerington Henry Stubbs baptised September 6th 1832, Nth Cockerington David Stubbs baptised July 27th 1834, Nth Cockerington Joseph Stubbs baptised May 20 1839, Alvingham
1814
At the marriage Christopher was of the parish of Cockerington St Mary with the consent of the proper parties
1817-1838
Living in North Cockerington
1841c
Living in Alvingham, (indexed as Hibbs) Christopher Stubbs, 1791, born Lincolnshire Mary Stubbs, 1796, born Lincolnshire Mary Stubbs, born 1816, Lincolnshire Christopher Stubbs, 1821, born Lincolnshire John Stubbs, born 1821, Lincolnshire Elizabeth Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Ellena Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Jane Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire William Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Charles Stubbs, born 1829, Lincolnshire Eliza Stubbs born 1831, Lincolnshire Occupation: Farmer
1851c
Living in Alvingham, Lincolnshire Christopher Stubbs, Head, born 1787, Alvingham Mary Stubbs. Wife, born 1794, Ludford, Lincolnshire Christopher Stubbs, Son, born 1821, Cockerington Eleanor Stubbs, Daughter, born 1823, Cockerington William Stubbs, Son, born 1825, Cockerington Jane Stubbs, Daughter, born 1828, Cockerington Charles Stubbs, Son, born 1830 Cockerington Eliza Stubbs Daughter, born 1832, Cockerington Henry Stubbs, Son, born 1834, Cockerington Joseph Stubbs, Son, born 1840, Alvingham Address: Alvingham Occupation: Farmer of 200 acres Sons employed on the farm
1861c
Living in Alvingham Christopher Stubbs, Head, born 1787 Alvingham Mary Stubbs, Wife, born 1794, Ludford William Stubbs, Son, born 1825, Cockerington Eleanor Stubbs, Daughter, born 1826, Cockerington Jane Stubbs, Daughter, born 1834, Cockerington Henry Stubbs, Son, born 1839, Cockerington Joseph Stubbs, Son, born 1841, Alvingham William Storr, Servant, born 1841 Alvingham, Carter Eliza Borman , Servant, born 1846, Grainthorpe, House Servant Occupation: Farmer of 204 acres, 3 men and 1 boy employed All children listed unmarried
1861-1871
Moves to West Ashby, Horncastle
1871c
Living in West Ashby Christopher Stubbs, head, born 1785, Alvingham, Retired Farmer Mary Stubbs, Wife, born 1793, Ludford Joseph Stubbs, Son, born 1839, Alvingham Charles Stubbs, Son, born 1830, Cockerington, Farmer's Son Henry Stubbs, Son, born 1836, Cockerington, Farmer's Son Sarah Lessing, Servant, born 1853, Domestic Servant Occupation of Joseph: Farmer of 133 acres, 2 men employed
1875
Death of Christopher aged 88 years
1878
Mary dies aged 85 years. Joseph dies aged 35 years Sons continue farming
1881c
Living in West Ashby Christopher Stubbs, Head, born 1821, Nth. Cockerington Henry Stubbs, Brother, born 1838, Nth. Cockerington, Farm Servant Indoors Sarah Borman niece, bornl 847 Grainthorpe, Housekeeper Elizabeth Norris, Servant, born 1861, General Servant, Domestic John Lowdel, Servant, born 1862, Tetford, Farm Servant Indoor Christopher Stubbs: Farmer of 156 acres, employing 2
1889
Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire lists under Farmers Christopher Stubbs, West Ashby
In your grandmother’s words · from her notebook

Family

Parents

WSFatherWilliam Stubbsb. 1752FAMotherFrances Addisonb. 1751

The children of William & Frances

· · Christopher Stubbs b. 1786this page ·

Marriage

MWSpouseMary Waters/Walters1794–1878

Children

ESChild · the line continuesEliza Stubbsmain line1831–1907

Historical context

The Lincolnshire Marsh

The Stubbs farmed the Middle Marsh — the belt of rich, low, reclaimed grazing and arable that runs behind the sea-bank between Louth and the Humber, through Alvingham, North and South Cockerington, and their neighbours. It was some of the most productive land in the county: heavy, well-watered ground that fattened bullocks and sheep, worked by farmers who held a few hundred acres and employed the labourers of the villages around them.

A farm of 200 acres put a man among the principal people of his parish — not gentry, but a substantial farmer who voted, was named in the county papers, and whose stock was known at the local markets. When such a farmer gave up or died, his live and dead stock were sold in a single day's auction on the premises, cried by a professional auctioneer and advertised beast by beast and horse by horse in the Stamford Mercury — which is why, a century and a half on, we can still read the names of Christopher Stubbs's horses.

Composed for this site from published local history — the family’s world, not one of Mum’s records.

Life

Confirmed — anchored to a recordEstimated — inferred
1786

Baptised — Alvingham

8 October 1786 at Alvingham

Christopher Stubs — christening 8 Oct 1786 — Alvingham, Lincolnshire — father Wm. Stubs, mother Frances.— Christening, 1786 — Alvingham
Confirmed in index record Evidence
Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:
  • Christening, 1786 — Alvingham — England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (FamilySearch, ark 1:1:JWH7-ZQJ) — christening of Christopher Stubs, 8 October 1786, Alvingham, Lincolnshire; father Wm. Stubs, mother Frances. Index confirmed 8 July 2026; the register image is not on FamilySearch — a round-two read at the Alvingham register (Lincolnshire Archives). index entry — original not yet seen
1814

Married Mary Waters — Alvingham

1814

Christopher Stubbs — single — married Mary Waters or Wautars — single — 2 June 1814, Alvingham.— Marriage to Mary Waters, 1814 — Alvingham
Confirmed in index record Evidence
Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:
  • Marriage to Mary Waters, 1814 — Alvingham — England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990 (FamilySearch, ark 1:1:QP7H-NDDM) — marriage of Christopher Stubbs, single, to Mary Waters or Wautars, single, 2 June 1814, Alvingham. Index confirmed 8 July 2026. The register leaf Mum read (Christopher "of the parish of Cockerington St Mary … with the consent of the proper parties") is the round-two read that settles the maiden name — Waters, Walters or Wautars. index entry — original not yet seen
1814

Married Mary Waters/Walters

2 June 1814 at Alvingham

June 2nd 1814 to Mary Walters in Alvingham— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1817

In 1817

1817

Living in North Cockerington— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1841

Census · 1841

1841

Living in Alvingham, (indexed as Hibbs) Christopher Stubbs, 1791, born Lincolnshire Mary Stubbs, 1796, born Lincolnshire Mary Stubbs, born 1816, Lincolnshire Christopher Stubbs, 1821, born Lincolnshire John Stubbs, born 1821, Lincolnshire Elizabeth Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Ellena Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Jane Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire William Stubbs, born 1826, Lincolnshire Charles Stubbs, born 1829, Lincolnshire Eliza Stubbs born 1831, Lincolnshire Occupation: Farmer

— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1851

Census · 1851

1851

Christopher Stubbs — head — married — 64 — "Farmer of 200 Acres" — born Alvingham; Mary — wife — 57 — Farmer's Wife — born Ludford; with their unmarried children Christopher (30), Eleanor (28), William (26), Jane (23), Charles (21), Eliza (19) and Henry (17), all born Cockerington and working the farm or at home, and Joseph (11, scholar), born Alvingham.

— 1851 census — a farmer of 200 acres, Alvingham
Read at the image record Evidence
Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:
  • 1851 census — a farmer of 200 acres, Alvingham — 1851 Census of England — The National Archives HO 107/2112, folio 170, page 4; enumeration district 1, Alvingham, registration district Louth, sub-district Binbrook; household schedule 12. Read from the original enumeration page at full resolution (Ancestry image), 8 July 2026. read at the image
1861

Census · 1861

1861

Living in Alvingham Christopher Stubbs, Head, born 1787 Alvingham Mary Stubbs, Wife, born 1794, Ludford William Stubbs, Son, born 1825, Cockerington Eleanor Stubbs, Daughter, born 1826, Cockerington Jane Stubbs, Daughter, born 1834, Cockerington Henry Stubbs, Son, born 1839, Cockerington Joseph Stubbs, Son, born 1841, Alvingham William Storr, Servant, born 1841 Alvingham, Carter Eliza Borman , Servant, born 1846, Grainthorpe, House Servant Occupation: Farmer of 204 acres, 3 men and 1 boy employed All children listed unmarried

— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1861

In 1861

1861

Moves to West Ashby, Horncastle— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1863

The dispersal sale — selling up at Alvingham

1863 at Alvingham

ALVINGHAM, near LOUTH. To be SOLD by AUCTION, By JOHN WILLSON, Upon the premises of Mr. CHRISTOPHER STUBBS, of Alvingham aforesaid, on Monday the 27th

April, 1863, 52 SHEEP, 38 BEASTS, 7 HORSES, and 6 PIGS: viz.—Sheep: 50 ewes with pairs and single lambs, 2 rams. Beasts: 2 milch cows in full profit, cow in calf, 7 drape cows, 12 two-year-old steers, 10 steers and heifers, 6 reared calves. Horses: black cart mare, 5 years old (Smiler); black horse, 7 years old (Prince); black horse, 7 years old (Tinker); aged grey mare (Beauty), aged brown mare (Metal), three-year-old blood pony, yearling cart filly. Pigs: 6 store pigs. Sale to begin at Twelve for One o'clock.

— The dispersal sale, 1863 — Alvingham
Read at the image record Evidence
Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:
  • The dispersal sale, 1863 — Alvingham — The Lincoln, Rutland, and Stamford Mercury (Stamford Mercury), 24 April 1863, page 7. Read at the image (findmypast, issue BL/0000237/18630424, article 041), 8 July 2026 — confirming verbatim the transcript Janet Brock made from the same notice. read at the image
1871

Census · 1871

1871

Living in West Ashby Christopher Stubbs, head, born 1785, Alvingham, Retired Farmer Mary Stubbs, Wife, born 1793, Ludford Joseph Stubbs, Son, born 1839, Alvingham Charles Stubbs, Son, born 1830, Cockerington, Farmer's Son Henry Stubbs, Son, born 1836, Cockerington, Farmer's Son Sarah Lessing, Servant, born 1853, Domestic Servant Occupation of Joseph: Farmer of 133 acres, 2 men employed

— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1875

In 1875

1875

Death of Christopher aged 88 years— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1875

Died at West Ashby, aged 88

23 July 1875

Christopher Stubbs — died 23 July 1875, Lincolnshire — probate 4 September 1875, Principal Registry.— Death and probate, 1875
Confirmed in index record Evidence
Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:
  • Death and probate, 1875 — England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (Ancestry, collection 1904, record 4924083) — Christopher Stubbs, died 23 July 1875, Lincolnshire; probate 4 September 1875 at the Principal Registry, London. Index confirmed 8 July 2026. This corrects the family note of "25 June" (his burial was 25 July, at West Ashby); the sworn estate value and the executor are on the calendar image — a round-two read. index entry — original not yet seen
1878

In 1878

1878

Mary dies aged 85 years. Joseph dies aged 35 years Sons continue farming— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1881

Census · 1881

1881

Living in West Ashby Christopher Stubbs, Head, born 1821, Nth. Cockerington Henry Stubbs, Brother, born 1838, Nth. Cockerington, Farm Servant Indoors Sarah Borman niece, bornl 847 Grainthorpe, Housekeeper Elizabeth Norris, Servant, born 1861, General Servant, Domestic John Lowdel, Servant, born 1862, Tetford, Farm Servant Indoor Christopher Stubbs: Farmer of 156 acres, employing 2

— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1885

The estate in Chancery — Stubbs v Stubbs

1885

“… in the matter of the Estate of Christopher Stubbs deceased and in an Action Stubbs against Stubbs (1884 S. 207) the creditors of Christopher Stubbs, late of West Ashby in the County of Lincoln, Farmer, who died in or about the month of

July 1875 … the defendant William Stubbs the executor of the deceased …”

— The estate in Chancery — Stubbs v Stubbs, 1885
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
  • The estate in Chancery — Stubbs v Stubbs, 1885 — Lincolnshire Chronicle, 11 August 1885 — a Chancery Division creditors' notice in the estate of Christopher Stubbs, late of West Ashby, farmer, transcribed by Janet Brock. Not yet re-read at the image (round two); the deeper source is the Chancery cause papers, Stubbs against Stubbs, 1884 S. 207. from Mum’s research
1889

In 1889

1889

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire lists under Farmers Christopher Stubbs, West Ashby— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.

Our research

Christopher Stubbs — the farm, the estate, the Chancery suit

Research · Alvingham & West Ashby, Lincolnshire

His christening (1786), marriage (1814) and death/probate (1875) are confirmed in the indexes; the 1851 census — the 200-acre farm — and the 1863 dispersal sale are read at the image, the sale confirming Janet Brock's transcript verbatim, down to the horses' names. Still to do (round two): the probate-calendar image, for the sworn estate value and the executor; the Chancery cause papers — Stubbs against Stubbs, 1884 S. 207 (The National Archives, J-series) — for what the family fell out over; the 1859 report of his land purchase at South Cockerington (Janet's £5,000 figure is unverified — not in findmypast's Lincolnshire Chronicle run — try the British Newspaper Archive direct); the 1832 sale-notices that use him as a local reference ("Mr. Christopher Stubbs, of North Cockerington, who will show the estate") and the 1930 & 1939 'Alvingham in 1842' retrospectives that count him among the village's farmers — all found as findmypast search snippets this pass, to be read at the image before quoting; and the Alvingham register leaf for the 1786 baptism and 1814 marriage, to settle Mary's maiden name.