[2] The family came originally from the South of England, but a branch of it was settled for many years in County Cavan, Ireland, where they held considerable landed property.
His father migrated to England, after being ordained, and remained, until his death in 1864, in charge of the Westmoreland parish.
[2] Thomas Stephens was born at Levens, Westmorland in 1830, received his education at Marlborough College, proceeding thence to Oxford in 1850.
While occupying this position, Stephens had a large and important share in the organisation of the system of primary education, and was the first to introduce a standard of instruction for the schools, and a scheme of classification for teachers.
[2] In the years 1861–62, he was an active member of the Northern Board of Works, under whose direction the principal lines of road through the then little known North-Eastern and North-Western districts were planned and commenced.