William Henry Stone was the second child of James Stone & Sarah Langstone born Jan-March 1862 at Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcs.
In 1871 the family were living at Hilltop, West Bromwich, Staffs & William had 3 brothers.
In 1881 William was an ordinary seaman on board Her Majesty’s Ship
‘Defence’. On the night of the census (April 3rd) the position
of the ship was Rock Ferry, Higher Bebington, Cheshire.