Apple and Newton

I don't get "he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind". Does it refer to that Newton himself was confused by the question about when the notion of gravitation came into his mind? So he was in the same situation as ours?


Context:
Among these manuscripts is William Stukeley's 1752 manuscript, Life of Newton. Stukeley was an archaeologist, freemason, learned gentleman and Newton’s biographer.

The page where he recounts the apple incident is here and you can look at the entire diary here.

The way Stukeley tells it is as follows:

After dinner, the weather being warm, we went into the garden and drank tea under the shade of some apple trees; only he and myself. Amidst other discourse, he told me, he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind. Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself; occasioned by the fall of an apple, as he sat in a contemplative mood. Why should it not go sideways or upwards? But constantly to the earth’s centre? Assuredly, the reason is, that the earth draws it…