It is not yet known precisely when the Stovell family first arrived in Effingham, but it was apparently in the early 1830s.
The earliest known Stovell ancestor of this family was James Stovell who, probably about 1780, married a woman named Susannah. Between 1782 and 1794 they produced seven (known) children: Thomas (I), Samuel, Daniel, Stephen, John, Leah and Mark, all baptised at Abinger [IGI: Batch P013371].
Thomas (I) Stovell was baptised at Abinger on January 28th 1782. On May 1st 1805 he married at Capel to Phillis (née) Ireland [IGI: Batch M071472]. They produced three children at Abinger [IGI: Batch P013371] – Jane, Thomas (II) and Abraham – then two at West Horsley [IGI: Batch C040391] – Ann and James – before leaving Surrey around 1822-27 for London, where they produced at least three more – Phillis, Henry and Joseph.
The 1841 Census finds Thomas (I) in London’s Hammersmith, whilst his son Thomas (II) was in Effingham: