In 1851 Stephen was a gun percussioner. A gun percussioner received the gun with the gunlocks inletted in place, but without hammers. He then chose and fitted suitable hammers with the correct "throw" so that the hammer nose fell neatly and squarely onto the nipple (Percussion) or striker (Centre fire). He then passed the gun back for engraving. The hammers could not be fitted to the gunlock by the gunlock maker, as he would not know what the "throw" was going to be. The "throw" is the distance from the centre of the pivot of the hammer to the centre of the nipple or striker.
In 1861 he was a blacksmith still living with his mother and his brother Enoch, but by 1871 he had married Maria and had two children.
Maria may have been Maria NEWEY who married a Stephen EDWARDS in 1864, or Mary TAYLOR who possibly married Stephen EDWARDS in Q3 1864.
In 1881 he was living in Aston with Maria and two further children.
By 1891 he was widowed, however in 1899 he married Susannah WEBB nee DUFFIELD, a relative of his neighbour Theophilus BIDDLE at 45 Loveday Street.
However by 1901, Stephen was a widower a second time and living with his young child, Frederick, 20.
In Keyy's 1921 Directory of Birmingham, Stephen is still going strong as a blacksmith and shopkeeper, aged 83. His forge was at 1 1/2 Price Street, and his shop 2 Price Street.
