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MILFORD-ON-SEA January 11, 1998 Because Milford-on-Sea is listed on some sources as the birth of Peter Stay, the primary ancestor of the Stay's who emigrated to the United States and settled in Utah, the family is interested in the locality where he was born and where he lived during his later life. By referring to "MAP ONE", one notes that Milford-on-Sea and (old) Hordle are adjacent to one another. The 1841 Census indicates that Peter was born in Hordle, while the parish record of Milford-on-Sea indicates he was christened at that church. From the record of the birth of Peters children shows that the two oldest daughters were born in Lytchett Minster in Dorset, then Mary and John born in Hordle. Charles, the fifth child is recorded as being born in Milford-on-Sea, William in Ashley, Rebecca in Milton, Sarah in Barton with the last child Joseph being born in Ashley but christened in Barton Stacey. Milford, Ashley, Milton, Barton, Hordle are all within a two mile contiguous group of villages. At this time, based upon recent information, I am going propose that the family was stationary centered between a triangle of Milford, Ashley and Hordle. During my last visit to this location, I walked that paths connecting these three villages and found what I would call today a contiguous neighborhood. The hamlet of Hordle at the time of Peter's birth was located near the sea (see Hordle History this WEB site), The hamlet of Ashley is situated between old Hordle and the present Hordle. Old Milton was a hamlet situated about 1 mile East of Ashley, with Milford being about one mile South West of Ashley. Barton is interchanged with Milton, Barton Court is located in Milton. Milton The area was settled in 750 A.D. with Milton ("middle farm") being the center of an early parish incorporating Milton, Barton, Ashley, Fernhill, Bashley and Wootton. New Milton was established when the railroad was established in 1897 to serve Milford-on-Sea which became the center of activity due to the station being established there. The Ashley Baptists first built a chapel there in 1817. The Milton church (St. Mary Magdalene) stems back as far as 1270 A.D. The registers begin in 1654 with a list of church wardens and Poor Law overseers from 1712 to 1841. Milford-on Sea Also known simply as Milford, has a very interesting history that may explain some of the Stay history. The church also is very old with parish records dating before 1700. From a document published by Milford-on-Sea Record Society it is noted that a "1796 (on vellum) Sarah Stay, 17, went to Salisbury to learn weaving." The Milford-on-Sea Record Society publication Vol. 1. No. 5. dated November, 1912 records "The Milford Secession from the Church of England, A.D. 1815-16" indicates that over a period of time the congregation in effect became nonconformists or Baptists. The article states that the Church of England "was little, if any, better than it had been for the best part of the 18th century. If any better it was owing to the fact that devout men were beginning to realize the utter stagnation into which the Church had fallen, and perhaps worldliness, good living, and every other excess to which many of the clergy had given themselves, was becoming somewhat less pronounced." The Rev. James Harington Evans, M.A. an ordained minister of the Church of England became the minister of the Milford church about 1811. He was well educated, young, (about 23 years of age) married to Caroline Joyce. In the following year "an event happened which made a difference of considerable kind in the line of Mr. Evans' future conduct." - - - "In the following year their happiness was much increased by the birth of a son, but it proved the source of much sorrow, for the infant after languishing for some time died before the expiration of its first twelve months." This event caused the Reverend much distress and caused he and his wife to be concerned about their lives and the doctrine they were espousing. He was given a book by the Rev. John Hill, he read it "and as he studied it the Spirit of God poured in a flood of light upon his mind and he was led to see the glorious doctrines of Grace for the first time". "An awakening in the parish commenced, which though small in its beginning was the precursor of a large blessing." - - "The Church was crowded with eager listeners and the evening lectures at the vicarage were thronged by those who were earnestly asking what they might do to be saved." The article goes on to describe many converts, especially in the lower class "principally among this class, and their simplicity, life and fervor, were most instructive". "The Bible was brought out and the neighbors assembled and exposition and prayer followed". In harvest time the Bible was carried into the fields with the daily provision of the family and while resting during the heat of noon one would read it aloud to the rest." Reverend Evans labored five years in the Church at Milford, "not less than a hundred souls were converted."- - "The light which broke at Milford was a marvelous light all the more conspicuous because the previous state of the inhabitants had been a state of Moral darkness." As can be expected, the Reverend Evans met opposition to his views. In one residents diary we read "Just as that period began in the religious area the sects of Baptists and Anabaptists waxed rampant down here. The Vicar of Milford, one Mr. Evans, appeared quite mad and he drew half the parish from church to meeting." "In January of 1816, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, with two infant children, quitted Milford." After he left the parish, he with much of his own funds build a small chapel and formed a church and sought out a pastor who might feed and watch over it. It was told that upon one occasion about the time he quitted Milford, the Vicar suddenly appeared in church one Sunday and demanded the pulpit, whereupon Mr. Evans asked who were on the Lord's side, and, with the majority of the people, left the church declaring they would not here the Gospel preached there." With Peter being born in 1779, being married and having two children in Lytchett Minster, his third child Mary being born in Hordle in June of 1809, would have Peter and Sarah being right in the middle of the fray. This may well account for the entire family being baptized into the Independent Church in Christchurch on the 22nd of June 1828. Descendants of the family are to this day still affiliated with this congregation. [BACK] |