Pauline Priano has submitted the following;

Charles Ernest Stiles was one of 14 children of whom only 7 survived to adulthood.

His parents James Jonathan Smiles and Emily Miller were born in 1835 and 1836 respectively in the county of Sussex where they married at Battle, Sussex in 1856.

They left their native Sussex and migrated north to Sunderland, historically in County Durham where their daughter Emily Mary was born January 23rd 1858 at 44, Addison Street as was Jane, July 25th 1859. Sadly Emily Mary died in 1860 and the Stiles family moved to 42, Bramwell Street birthplace of Louise who was born August 27th but tragically the infant Louise died October 28th 1860. In 1861 James Jonathan Stiles was supporting his family as Master of the Board of Trade Navigation School, Sunderland. Living with them was James Jonathan’s brother, customs officer Thomas B. Stiles and they employed a house servant, 17 year old Matilda Robinson.

Before moving from Bramwell Street Emily gave birth to a further 3 daughters. Clara, January 22nd 1862, Amy Hannah, December 14th 1863 and Florence, January 2nd 1865. By the following year James Jonathan had transferred his family to 76, Lawrence Street, birthplace of their first son James William Stiles January 5th 1866 but tragedy befell them once again when he died in infancy in 1866. Their daughter Emily Elizabeth was born May 19th 1867 before they moved from Lawrence Street to 4, Amberley Street birthplace of Mary Ann, March 8th 1869 and Ada Miller Stiles, July 26th 1871, she too died in infancy within a few months. James Jonathan was employed as a teacher of navigation and with the exception of Emily (3) and Mary Ann (2) their elder daughters were scholars.

Charles Ernest Stiles was born at 4, Amberley Street, Sunderland, March 8th 1873, his brother George James, December 27th 1874, his twin siblings Ethel Victoria and Albert Edward, June 15th 1881. By 1881, Amy Hannah (17) was a shop assistant, their eldest daughter Jane, affectionately known as Jennie, who had qualified as a teacher went to Shanghai, China and was married at Shanghai Cathedral December 6th 1886 to Captain Cuthbert Hodgson. Jennie Hodgson nee Stiles died in 1891 at the age of 27. Sadly her death was preceded by that of her sister Ethel Victoria, September 25th 1884 and Florence Jones nee Stiles wife of Albert Edward Jones, in 1890.

In 1891 the Stiles family was living at High Street, Sunderland. Clara Stiles had left the family home in 1886 when she married Thomas Southern. Amy Hannah (22) and May Ann (18) were listed in the census as shopkeepers, Emily (20) as a dressmaker, Charles Ernest as an apprentice engineer, George a butcher and Alfred a scholar who ten years later was an apprentice marine engine fitter.

James Jonathan had left the teaching profession and in 1901 aged 66 was  a brewer’s traveller.  Only Albert and his sisters Emily Elizabeth and Mary Ann were still living at home. Charles Ernest had married in 1898 to Rose Hannah Detchon, a local girl born January 11th 1875 she was the daughter of Thomas Rudd Detchon and Emma Bates. Their son Charles Ernest Jnr was born November 25th 1898.

James Jonathan Stiles died at Sunderland July 31st 1906 and was laid to rest within Sunderland Cemetery.

In 1911 Charles Ernest Stiles was at sea, a member of the crew aboard the S.S. General Havelock (Sunderland) which was at anchor in London Dock on the eve of the 1911 census. His wife and son and a niece Rose Emma Stoker were living in 5 rooms at Hastings Street, Sunderland.

Charles Ernest’s mother died May 28th 1912 and laid to rest in the family plot within Sunderland Cemetery.

As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a war with Germany which was declared August 4th 1914 within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality. After a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country. 

Charles Ernest Stiles was serving with the Mercantile Marine and in 1917 was Chief Engineer aboard the S.S. Bestwood a steel-hulled collier built at Sunderland in 1913 by S. P. Austin & Sons Ltd., machinery by Northeast Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Sunderland. The S.S. Bestwood was en-route from Cardiff to the naval base at Milford Haven when it collided with the S.S. Leander and sank 12 miles southwest of the South Bishop lighthouse with the loss of all its crew of 16, July 29th 1917.

Chief Engineer Charles Ernest Stiles has no known grave and is not included on the  C.W.G.C. records as a casualty of war but is included on a local memorial at Hendon. His widow Rose Hannah resident at 70, Hastings Street, received his personal effects in the sum of £478 7 shillings 7 pence, September 12th 1917.

Their son Charles Ernest Stiles Jnr enlisted in the Army but the war ended before he became eligible to serve overseas. He was discharged in January 1919 at Newcastle upon Tyne. 

In 1921 Rose Hannah (46) and Charles Ernest Jnr (22) a qualified engine fitter previously employed by the North Eastern Marine were still living at the same address. To assist in the running of the household Rose Hannah had taken in two boarders, railway ticket collector Thomas Jardine (44) and clerk Bertha Charlton (21), both employed by the North Eastern Railway.

By 1939 she had moved to 1, Capulet Terrace, Sunderland. Living with her was her daughter in law Ada Green Stiles and boarder Thomas Jardine. Charles Ernest Stiles Jnr was living at 7, Hambledon Road, Middlesbrough, the home of the Cunningham family, working as a vacuum cleaner salesman. William Cunningham was the sales area manager.

Rose Hannah Stiles nee Detchon died at The General Hospital, Ryhope, County Durham, January 7th 1956. Her effects in the sum of £1490 0 shillings 3 pence were assigned to her son shopkeeper Charles Ernest and his wife Ada Green Stiles, February 6th 1956. She is at rest within Sunderland Cemetery.

Charles Ernest Stiles Jnr., died October 16th 1960 at Sunderland historically in County Durham until 1974. His widow Ada Green Stiles nee Hodgson, died February 28th 1988 at Simonised, South Shields, Tyne & Wear since 1974.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Charles Ernest Stiles is remembered at Hendon on H123.02,  at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 10 page 210 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.