Born at Leeds on the 21st of April 1827, the son of Veterinary Surgeon John Constant of the 5th Dragoon Guards, and his wife, Margaret Ann, nee Smith.
His parents were married at St. Pancras Church in London on the 26th of February 1824, and twelve children altogether were born into the family.
Two other sons besides Stephen Price became Veterinary Surgeons:
Francis Friend Smith, who qualified in December of 1857, entered the Indian Army, and died at Lahore on the 14th of June 1880 — a memorial to him is on the wall near the north entrance to the Afghan Memorial Church (St. John the Evangelist).
Arthur Edward, who qualified in May of 1861 and afterwards practised at Clapham, London, where he died on the 21st of November of 1893.
Stephen Constant's father was born at Margate, Kent, on the 18th of July 1789 and became Assistant Veterinary Surgeon to the Hussar Depot at Canterbury in August 1813. Appointed Veterinary Surgeon of the 13th Light Dragoons on the 3rd of March 1814 and was present with that regiment at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
He also served with the 3rd Light Dragoons from the 5th of February 1824 before transferring to the 5th Dragoon Guards on the 30th of March 1828, where he remained until being placed on half-pay on the 29th of December of 1843. He received 12/- per day pension because of his long service, his successor in the post only receiving 8/- as his daily rate.
From 1857-59 he was a member of the Council of the R.C.V.S.
After his retirement he lived at No 10 Quarry Terrace, Hastings, Sussex, but returned to Margate, and which was where he died, on the 18th of July of 1870. His wife, Mary Anne, died at Ramsgate on the 20th of April 1872. Father and son served a total of 50 years as Veterinary Surgeons with the 5th Dragoon Guards.
Qualified at Edinburgh on the 27th of April 1846.
1851 Census
Sheffield Barracks, Nether Hallam.
Stephen Constant, 23, unmarried, Veterinary Surgeon, 1st Royal Dragoons, born Leeds.
Veterinary Surgeon in the 17th Lancers: 15th of October 1852.
Veterinary Surgeon in the 5th Dragoon Guards: 19th of January 1855.
1861 Census
HQ 5th Dragoon Guards, Preston Barracks, Brighton
S.P. Constant, Veterinary Surgeon, unmarried, aged 33, Gentleman Veterinary Surgeon Army, born Leeds.
Veterinary Surgeon (1st Class), 5th Dragoon Guards: 26th of November 1861.
Retired, and on to half-pay: 16th of December 1876.
Veterinary Surgeon Constant served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps and the Turkish Medal.)
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.
1881 Census
8, Vicarage Road, St Brannocks, Ilfracombe.
Stephen Constant, aged 53, Army Retired Veterinary Surgeon, born Leeds.
Emily Constant, 38, born Ireland.
Charlotte, 15; Bertha, 9; Florence, 7; Georgiana, 3; Harriett, 2.
Other than Bertha (born Leeds) all the other girls were born in Ireland.
Death registered
Emily Constant [wife], 39, September Quarter 1881, Barnstable.
1891 Census
66, St Brannocks, Ilfracombe.
Stephen Constant single, 63, Retired Army Veterinary, born Leeds.
1891 Census
Ladies School, Bideford, Devon.
Georgiana Constant, 14, boarder, pupil, born Dublin.
Harriett Constant, 12, border, pupil, born Dublin.
Seven other pupils are also shown.
1901 Census
1, The Terrace, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.
Stephen P Constant, 73, single, retired Army Surgeon, born Leeds.
40, Marme Terrace, Aberysthwyth.
G Evelyn Constant, 23, visitor, Governess, born Ireland.
Harriett E.C. Constant, 22, visitor, Governess, born Ireland.
Stephen Constant died at Cotswold House, Upton-upon-Severn, near Great Malvern, on the 29th of October 1906, aged 79 years. In his will he left £14,160/17/10d.
Stephen Price Constant, 79, Upton, December Quarter 1906.
Extract from the Malvern Gazette, 2nd November 1906.
"Crimean Veteran Dead
The death occurred in Malvern on Monday last of Major Stephen Price Constant, a Crimean veteran who fought in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Major Constant, who was 79 years of age, had been a resident for some time at Cotswold House, with his son and daughter, and led a very secluded life. His funeral took place yesterday morning (November 1st.) at Malvern Cemetery, and was of a purely private character."
The records of the Town Cemetery at Malvern show that he was buried there on the 1st of November 1906 in Grave No. 4969A, Plot 8A. A gravestone was recorded as being originally erected over it, but was removed when the grave was re-used in December 1951 and replaced with the present kerb.
It is not clear if the grave-plot was originally purchased, or if, after a set lapse of time, the ownership reverted to the local authority. There is no known family connection with the second person interred in the grave.
Georgiana Evelyn Constant [daughter] to Harry Wadams, March Quarter 1907, Upton.
1911 Census
84, Pine Road, Cricklewood.
Harriett Emily Constance Constant [daughter], 32, visitor, single, Independent Means, born Dublin.
1911 Census
The Bungalow, Redditch Road, Alvechurch.
Harry Wadams, 30.
Georgiana Evelyn Wadams [daughter], 30, born Ireland.
Eilleen Constance, 3, and Margaret Evelyn, 2 months, both born Alvechurch .
Marriage registered
Harriett E.C. Constant [daughter] to Thomas E Goodall, September Quarter 1916, Epsom.
Additional marriage and death registrations, and Census information for 1851, 1861, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911, kindly provided by Chris Poole.