No. 796 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
In 1776 John Stephens took the lease for the property from the Earl of Abergavenny for a cottage, garden and 3 parcels of land for the lives of John 38, Catherine his wife 38 and son William aged 2.
John and his wife Catherine had several children baptised at St Peter’s church, John in 1776, Mary in 1779 and James in 1780.
John Stephens died in 1793, he was buried at St Peter’s church Goytre, His wife Catherine remained at Star, she paid the land tax for the property in 1798. (Catherine died in March 1832 also being buried at St Peter’s.)
A new lease from the Earl of Abergavenny was granted in 1820 to Philip Jenkins (but says now deceased) on the lives of John, son of William Jeremiah then aged 9, John Stephens, the son of William Stephens of Goytre, then aged 8.
The tithe of 1821 says William Stephens is in occupation of Star and the owner is the Earl of Abergavenny. On the electoral register dated 1832/4 says William Stephens near the Chapel.
The census of 1841 gives more information, William Stephens is still living at Star, he is 65, a labourer, Mary his wife is also 65, living with them are sons William 30, a labourer, Thomas 20, no occupation given, Elizabeth Lewis 70 and Joanne Ricks 14.
On the 1851 census William is 77, a labourer born in Chepstow, Mary is 74 born in Llangibby, they have a servant, 20 year old Jane George from Trevethin.
The lease for Star changed in 1859 to 51 year old John Ballard, for the lives of himself, his wife Mary also 51 and William Stephens of Pontymoile aged 12.
In 1860 John Ballard voted for Thomas Jenkins to become highways assessor for the parish, a position Thomas Jenkins won.
The census of 1871 says John Ballard is an annuitant aged 66, Mary his wife is also 66, they were both born in Monmouthshire. In September the same year John Ballard died and was buried at Chapel Ed. Mary remained at Star until her death in 1882 aged 77.
The next family to occupy Star is the Stinchcombe family, on the 1891 census William is 37, a farm labourer born in Monkswood, Annie his wife is 30, born in Llantilio. William and Annie were married at Frogmore Street Church Abergavenny on December 29th 1879. In 1894 they sadly lost a month old baby boy, Henry George who was buried in Chapel Ed churchyard.
In 1901 William is 47, he is now a cider maker and market gardener, Annie is 42, their children are William 14, engaged at home, daughter Lilly is 12, at school and Charles who is 10, all the children being born in Goytre.
The Earl of Abergavenny sold most of his properties in the parish in 1920, Star Cottage was up for sale, with the tenant, William Stinchcombe paying 10s rent, land tax 3s 9d, tithe 9s 4d, sitting tenant William purchased Star for £180.
William Stinchcombe remained at Star until his death in 1940, on the 1911 census he is 57, a market gardener, Annie his wife is 51, son Charles is 20, a blacksmith. In 1921 William is still a market gardener, being helped by his wife Annie, Charles is now 30, still a blacksmith, living with them is their grandson Reece Charles Cook aged 16, he is a labourer at the clay pit in Little Mill but out of work at the time of the census.
William and Annie Stinchcombe celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1929, having lived at Star for 47 years, Annie having taken their produce to Pontypool market every Saturday during those years. William had been a lay preacher at Saron Chapel where he was buried when he died in 1940.