Descendants of Sir Thomas de Stanley, Knt. & Matilda de Arderne

Generation No. 1

1. SIR THOMAS¹ STANLEY, KNT. (SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH))^1,2 was born 1392, and died 1463. He married (1) MATILDA DE ARDERNE^3,4 1413, daughter of SIR DE ARDERNE and MARGARET PILKINGTON. She was born 2 July 1396. He married (2) ELIZABETH WALLER Aft. 1423, daughter of BARON DE WALLER.

Notes for SIR THOMAS STANLEY, KNT.:

Sir Thomas was the third son of Sir John de Stanley K.G. and Isabel Latham. He was the founder of the Elford and Pipe (Staffordshire) branch of the Stanley family.

Haselour Hall came into the Stanley family through the marriage of Sir Thomas and Matilda Arderne.

On this marriage to Matilda de Arderne, Sir Thomas became possessed of the estates of Elford, Haselour, Clifton Campville and Pipe Ridware in Staffordshire; Camplen super Wild in Gloucestershire; Sibbertoft in Northamptonshire; and Alford, Nether Alderley and Echells (in the Parish of Northenden) in Cheshire.

More About SIR THOMAS STANLEY, KNT.:

Fact 2: Bet. 1433 - 1438, High Sheriff of Staffordshire⁵

Fact 3: 1438, King's Squire⁵

Fact 4: 1441, Justice of the Peace⁵

Fact 5: Bet. 1453 - 1454, Privy Councillor⁵

Memorial: St. Peter's Church, Elford

Notes for MATILDA DE ARDERNE:

There is some confusion as to her name. In the visitation of Staffordshire she is shown as Maud Arderne, she is shown on inspcriptions in Elford Church as Matilda. During this period in history the name "Maud" was commonly used for the name "Matilda"

In the reign of Henry III William de Arderne held the manor of Elford and his descendants continued to enjoy it till the marriage of Matilda to Thomas, third son of Sir John Stanley of Latham, carried it into that family. By a succession of females it passed, in like manner, to the families of Staunton, Smith, Huddleston and Bowes.

Sole heiress of her father Sir John Arderne

More About MATILDA DE ARDERNE:

Fact: Died before her husband⁶

Memorial: St. Peter's Church, Elford

More About SIR STANLEY and MATILDA DE ARDERNE:

Marriage: 1413

More About SIR STANLEY and ELIZABETH WALLER:

Marriage: Aft. 1423

Children of SIR STANLEY and MATILDA DE ARDERNE are:

2. i. SIR JOHN² STANLEY, b. 1423, Elford, Staffordshire; d. 1474.

ii. ANNE STANLEY, m. SIR JOHN GRESLEY; b. of Drakelow, Derbyshire; d. 1487.

Children of SIR STANLEY and ELIZABETH WALLER are:

iii. ELIZABETH² STANLEY, m. SIR ROBERT SUTTON; b. of Averam, Notts.

3. iv. GEORGE STANLEY, b. Abt. 1450, Lichfield, Staffs.

Generation No. 2

2. SIR JOHN² STANLEY (SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH))⁷ was born 1423 in Elford, Staffordshire, and died 1474. He married (1) CECILIA DE ARDERNE⁸ 1428. He married (2) MATILDA VERNON⁸ Aft. 1447, daughter of SIR RICHARD VERNON. She was born in of The Peake, Derbyshire. He married (3) ANNE HANSACRE⁸ Aft. 1447. He married (4) DULCIA (OR DOROTHY) LEGH Bef. 1476, daughter of EDMUND LEIGH. She was born in of Baguly.

Notes for SIR JOHN STANLEY:

At the age of five years, he had married in 1428 by special dispensation, Cecily de Arderne, a kinswoman of his mother and later had by her, a son.

Sir John succeeded to the estates of Elford and Pipe in 1463 on paying a fine of 26s 8d to the Exchequer at Chester and paying homage and fealty. He purchased the estate of Statfold near Tamworth (his seat, south-west of Elford, is now a farmhouse named 'Oakley'). He was created a Knight Banneret on the field at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. (Source: "The House of Stanley" by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1998).

Founder of the Chantry in Elford Church.

His monumental inscription in Elford Church states the year of his death as 1474 - other sources state 1476

More About SIR JOHN STANLEY:

Burial: St. Peter's Church, Elford

Fact 2: 1446, Member of Parliament⁹

Fact 3: 1460, Sheriff of Staffordshire ⁹

Memorial: St. Peter's Church, Elford

Tomb:: St. Peter's Church, Elford

Notes for CECILIA DE ARDERNE:

Sir John Stanley was five years old when betrothed to Cecilia Arderne. She later gave birth to his first son John Stanley, Esq.,

Cecilia was undoubtedly a member of the de Arderne family of Elford and connected to Matilda de Arderne.

More About CECILIA DE ARDERNE:

Fact 1: 1st wife

Memorial: St. Peter's Church, Elford

More About SIR STANLEY and CECILIA DE ARDERNE:

Fact: 1428, Married by dispensation¹⁰

Marriage: 1428

Notes for MATILDA VERNON:

Some Stanley pedigrees show Matilda as "Isabel Vernon" daughter of Sir Richard Vernon. But the stained glass window to the Stanley family and the pedigree of the Arderne family in the History of Elford Church clearly shows this lady as being Matilda Vernon not Isabel.

More About MATILDA VERNON:

Fact 1: 2nd wife of Sir John Stanley¹¹

Fact 2: Widow of Sir John Vampage¹²

More About SIR STANLEY and MATILDA VERNON:

Marriage: Aft. 1447

Notes for ANNE HANSACRE:

Elford Parish Church history mentions Anne Hansacre as the 3rd wife of Sir John Stanley.

It is not known if there were any issue from this marriage.

More About ANNE HANSACRE:

Fact 1: 3rd wife of Sir John Stanley¹³

Fact 2: Widow of Sir William Norreys, Knight

More About SIR STANLEY and ANNE HANSACRE:

Marriage: Aft. 1447

Notes for DULCIA (OR DOROTHY) LEGH:

Believed to be the forth wife of Sir John Stanley (died 1476) but she is not shown on the Arderne pedigree in the "History of Elford Church".

More About DULCIA (OR DOROTHY) LEGH:

Fact 1: 4th wife¹⁴

More About SIR STANLEY and DULCIA LEGH:

Marriage: Bef. 1476

Child of SIR STANLEY and CECILIA DE ARDERNE is:

4. i. SIR JOHN³ STANLEY, b. Abt. 1447, of Elford, Staffordshire; d. 1508.

Children of SIR STANLEY and MATILDA VERNON are:

5. ii. SIR HUMPHREY³ STANLEY, KNT., b. of the Pype; d. 19 March 1504/05.

iii. ALICE STANLEY.

iv. CATHERINE STANLEY.

v. ISABEL STANLEY, m. SIR HUGH PESKELL, Abt. 1490.

More About SIR PESKELL and ISABEL STANLEY:

Marriage: Abt. 1490

Child of SIR STANLEY and DULCIA LEGH is:

6. vi. ROGER³ STANLEY.

3. GEORGE² STANLEY (SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) was born Abt. 1450 in Lichfield, Staffs. He married ELEANOR DUDLEY, daughter of LORD DUDLEY.

Children of GEORGE STANLEY and ELEANOR DUDLEY are:

i. JOHN³ STANLEY.

Notes for JOHN STANLEY:

Ancestor of the Stanleys of West Bromwich, STaffs. John's abode was West Bromwich Hall.

ii. ELIZABETH STANLEY.

Generation No. 3

4. SIR JOHN³ STANLEY (SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) was born Abt. 1447 in of Elford, Staffordshire, and died 1508. He married ANNE HANFORD, daughter of SIR ROBERT HANFORD.

Notes for SIR JOHN STANLEY:

Sir John held the Manor of Elford from the King (as Earl of Chester) by military service. In October 1485 Henry Tudor is said to have slept at his house (believed to be Haselour Hall) at Elford on his way from Lichfield to Bosworth Field.

"In 1491 Sir John was involved in a law suit with his younger half-brother Sir Humphrey Stanley regarding the division of their late father's estates. Sir William Stanley of Holt, Denbighshire (the younger brother of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby) was appointed in his capacity of Lord Chamberlain to act as arbitrator in the dispute. It was agreed that Sir Humphrey who had been given the manor of Stratfold with land in Tamworth by his father in 1474 should be awarded the additional estates of Pipe and Clifton Campville in Staffordshire with grants of land in Campden in GLS and in NRTH for life."

When Sir John died he was commemorated in a window of St. Wilfred's Church at Northenden, Cheshire (which is destroyed by the Roundheads during the Civil War). He was described in the inscription as the one-time Lord of Pipe, Clifton Campville, and Elford in the County of Staffordshire; of Sibbertoft (near Market Harborough) Northamptonshire; and Camden super Wild, Gloucestershire; and especially of Eschells (in the Parish of Northenden), Alford and Nether Alderley in Cheshire. The estates of Pipe and Clifton Campville, with grants of lands in Camden, Gloucestership and Northamptonshire were awarded to his brother, Sir Humphrey, following a lawsuit in 1491. Sir John sold Alford and Nether Alderley in Cheshire to Sir William Stanley of Holt. As Sir John's only son predeceased him in 1470, he had no male heir and the Manor of Elford passed William Staunton, his daughter Margery's husband. (Source: Peter E. Stanley's book on the Stanleys, 1998)

More About SIR JOHN STANLEY:

Fact: 1 March 1504/05, Marriage settlement between John Stanley of Elford, co. Staff., esq., and William Smyth esq., concerning lands in the Manor of Elford, co. Staff¹⁵

Children of SIR STANLEY and ANNE HANFORD are:

7. i. MARGERY⁴ STANLEY.

ii. ANN STANLEY, m. CHRISTOPHER SAVAGE; b. of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire.

Notes for ANN STANLEY:

Co-heiress of her father, Sir John Stanley. On the death of Ann's uncle, Sir Humphrey Stanley, her husband acquired the Campden estates.

iii. MAUD (ELIZABETH) STANLEY, m. SIR JOHN FERRERS; b. of Tamworth, Staffs.

iv. JOHN STANLEY, d. 1510.

Notes for JOHN STANLEY:

Accidentally killed by a blow from a tennis-ball when a youth.

More About JOHN STANLEY:

Fact 1: Died young

5. SIR HUMPHREY³ STANLEY, KNT. (SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) was born in of the Pype, and died 19 March 1504/05. He married (1) ?¹⁶ Bef. 1481. He married (2) DAME ELLEN LEIGH Aft. 1481, daughter of SIR LEIGH and ?. She was born in of Stone, and died Bef. 1524.

Notes for SIR HUMPHREY STANLEY, KNT.:

Sir Humphrey was knighted on the field at the Battle of Bosworth in 1495, and later present at the Battle of Blackheath.

"In 1491 Sir Humphrey was involved in a law suit with his elder half-brother Sir John Stanley regarding the division of their late father's estates. Sir William Stanley of Holt, Denbighshire (the younger brother of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby) was appointed in his capacity of Lord Chamberlain to act as arbitrator in the dispute. It was agreed that Sir Humphrey who had been given the manor of Stratfold with land in Tamworth by his father in 1474 should be awarded the additional estates of Pipe and Clifton Campville in Staffordshire with grants of land in Campden in GLS and in NRTH for life." (Source: Peter E. Stanley's book on the Stanleys, 1999)

Sir Humphrey was given Statforld by his father in 1476.

Sir Humphrey had a long dispute with the Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral about the conveyance of water through his lands at Pipe, culminating in 1489, when the Bishop, Dean, and Canons of the Cathedral sent a petition to King Henry VII complaiing that the Knight had violently cut off the water supply to the Cathedral Close.

Sir Humphrey was buried at Westminster Abbey under a marble slab in the floor of St. Nicholas's Chapel, where there is a brass plate with his effigy in the habit of a Knight.

More About SIR HUMPHREY STANLEY, KNT.:

Burial: 1505, Westminster Abbey¹⁶

Fact 1: 1494, Sheriff of Stafford ¹⁶

Fact 2: Master Forrester of Needwood, Staffs¹⁶

Fact 3: Was one of the King's Bodyguards.¹⁶

Fact 4: 1478, of Pipe-Hall¹⁷

More About ?:

Fact 1: 1st wife

More About SIR STANLEY and ?:

Marriage: Bef. 1481

Notes for DAME ELLEN LEIGH:

Heiress to her father Sir James Leigh, Knight.

From PRO Kew Ref: C 1/651/51 it appears that Dame Ellen Leigh was previously married to Richard Lee, as she is described as Executrix and late wife of Richard Lee, Esq., v. Edward Sole, of London grocer, Walter Moyle and others. (

More About DAME ELLEN LEIGH:

Fact: 2nd wife¹⁸

Will: 1524, Proved at Stone¹⁸

More About SIR STANLEY and DAME LEIGH:

Marriage: Aft. 1481

Child of SIR STANLEY and ? is:

i. ISABELLA (OR ALICE)⁴ STANLEY, m. THOMAS SWINNERTON.

Children of SIR STANLEY and DAME LEIGH are:

8. ii. SIR JOHN⁴ STANLEY, b. 1481, of Pipe, Staffordshire; d. 1514.

iii. HUMPHREY STANLEY, d. Bet. 1557 - 1561.

Notes for HUMPHREY STANLEY:

The Executer to his will was Thomas Wolverston.

More About HUMPHREY STANLEY:

Fact 1: 1514, Parson of Clifton Campville

Fact 2: Died without male heir.¹⁹

Fact 3: 1535, Parson of Elford

Occupation: Canon of the Cathedral Church of Oxford

Will:: 1561, Proved at Lichfield

iv. GEORGE STANLEY.

More About GEORGE STANLEY:

Fact: Died without male heir.¹⁹

9. v. WILLIAM STANLEY.

10. vi. MAWD STANLEY, d. Abt. 1559.

6. ROGER³ STANLEY (SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) He married JANE CLARKE, son of JOHN CLARKE.

Child of ROGER STANLEY and JANE CLARKE is:

11. i. JOHN⁴ STANLEY.

Generation No. 4

7. MARGERY⁴ STANLEY (SIR JOHN³, SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH))²⁰. She married WILLIAM STAUNTON,ESQ.²⁰.

Notes for MARGERY STANLEY:

Co-heiress of her father, Sir John Stanley. Margery inherited the Manor of Elford.

Notes for WILLIAM STAUNTON,ESQ.:

William acquired Elford on behalf of his wife, Margery Stanley.

Child of MARGERY STANLEY and WILLIAM STAUNTON is:

i. ANNE⁵ STAUNTON, m. SIR WILLIAM SMYTHE, KNT.²¹, Abt. March 1504/05; b. of Elford, Staffordshire; d. 10 January 1525/26, Elford, Staffordshire²².

Notes for ANNE STAUNTON:

One of the heiresses of her father, William Staunton & Margery his wife, daughter of John Stanley.

More About ANNE STAUNTON:

Fact: 1st wife of Sir William Smyth

Tomb:: St. Peter's Church, Elford

More About SIR WILLIAM SMYTHE, KNT.:

Fact: Sheriff of Staffordshire²³

Fact 1: 2nd husband of Isabell Neville

Memorial: in Elford Church

Of: Elford, Staffordshire

Tomb:: St. Peter's Church, Elford

More About SIR SMYTHE and ANNE STAUNTON:

Marriage: Abt. March 1504/05

Marriage settlement: 1 March 1504/05, Between John Stanley of Elford, co. Staff., esq., and William Smyth esq., concerning lands in the Manor of Elford, co. Staff²⁴

8. SIR JOHN⁴ STANLEY (SIR HUMPHREY³, SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) was born 1481 in of Pipe, Staffordshire, and died 1514. He married MARGARET GERARD, daughter of SIR THOMAS GERARD.

Notes for SIR JOHN STANLEY:

Sir John Stanley of Pipe, was said to have had a violent temper and to have been excommunicated for having murdered his neighbour, Sir William Chatwyn of Ingestre, to whom he sent a message luring him and his party, to a desolate spot where, with a band of assassins, he murdered him and his followers. (Another account says that he was excommunicated because he spilt blood inside the Cathedral on some occasion from a blow on the face with his hand or a stub with his dagger on the person with whom he had quarrelled). (Source: "The House of Stanley, by Peter E Stanley, 1998).

According to Walter Chetwynd's "History of Pirehill Hundred" Sir John Stanley was the son of Sir Humphrey Stanley of Pipe and Helen (or Ellen) Leigh, only child and daughter of Sir James Lee, Kt. of Aston. Another account states that Sir John was the son of Sir Humphrey's 1st marriage (wife's name unknown) (Source: "The House of Stanley" by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1999). As Sir John Stanley inherited the Aston lands from the Leigh family, I have gone along with Walter Chetwynd's version. Walter Chetwynd was the 17th century Antiquary,

More About SIR JOHN STANLEY:

Also of: 1552, Grove, Nottinghamshire²⁵

Children of SIR STANLEY and MARGARET GERARD are:

i. ELIZABETH⁵ STANLEY, b. 1503; d. 1530; m. SIR JOHN HERCY, 1527; b. of Grove, Nottinghamshire.

Notes for ELIZABETH STANLEY:

Upon the death of her father the wardship of Elizabeth and her sister Isabella was granted by the King in 1516 to Sir Edward Ferrars.

In 1527 the estates of Pipe and Haselour were granted to Elizabeth on her marriage to Sir John Hercy of Gronet.

More About SIR HERCY and ELIZABETH STANLEY:

Marriage: 1527

ii. ISABELLA STANLEY, b. 1505; d. 1558, Boughton Aluph?; m. WALTER MOYLE, Abt. 1515; b. Abt. 1490, of Buckwell Court, Kent; d. 1558, Boughton Aluph.

Notes for ISABELLA STANLEY:

Upon the death of her father the wardship of Isabella and her sister Elizabeth was granted by the King in 1516 to Sir Edward Ferrars.

Isabella is stated to have been only 35 years older than her grandson, Christopher Heveningham.

Isabella was daughter and ultimately sole heiress of Sir John Stanley of Pipe. Sir John Stanley was the son and heir of another heiress, namely Ellen Leigh, daughter and heiress of Sir James Lee (Leigh) of Aston in Stone, Staffordshire.

Isabel has been confirmed as the wife of Walter Moyle of Eastwell, Kent by various documents at the Public Record Office, Kew:

C 1/518/15,

C 1/527/42. Reference deeds relating to the manors of Clifton Camville, Chilcotly's, Pipe & Stotfold and other messuages and lands. Also mentionsJohn Hercy and Elizabeth, his wife and Walter Moyle and Isabel, his wife v. John Dyson of Lichfield, yeoman.

C 1/541/88. Walter Moyle, esq., v Edward Kerrers, Knight. Misrepresentation of sale of the wardship of Isabel, daughter of John Stanley, esq., to complainent, who married her.

C 1/1001/49-53. John Hercye of Grove, co. Notts, Elizabeth his wife and Walter Moyle, esq., v. James Nowell of Hillcott reference rents at Chebsey.

More About ISABELLA STANLEY:

Fact 1: 1st wife

Fact 2: co-heir of Sir John Stanley of Pipe

Notes for WALTER MOYLE:

The Right worshipful Walter Moyle of Buckwell (i.et Buckwell Court), Kent, who in 1552 joined in a Fine with Sir John Stanley (of Grove co. Nott.,) and Erasmus Heveningham; (see Shaw's Staffordshire 1, 412), grandson of Sir Walter Moyle a Justice of the Common pleas who died in 1480, who was grandson of Thomas Moyle Mayor of Bodmin in 1434. (Source: Notes on Staffordshire Families).

According to Mr A S Dyer's carefully compiled pedigree of the Moyles, (Misc. Gen. et Her, Fifth Series Vo. IV) Walter Moyle had by a wife, name unknown, a son Thomas who lived until 1592. But this wife cannot have been Isabel Stanley because we shall find Mary Moyle (Heveningham) described as Isabel's heiress as early as 1564. Apparently therefore, Isabell must have been a yet earlier wife, the first of three. (Source: Notes on Staffordshire Families).

The Moyles held Buckwell until about 1713.

Boughton Aluph

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Church, manor and a few cottages on a lane that goes nowhere.

In the Domesday Book Boughton Aluph was described as:

Boughton Aluph Boltune: Count Eustace. Church, 2 mills. Boughton Court manor house.

A fireplace in the church porch may have been used by medieval pilgrims.

Buckwell Court

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In the Domesday Book Buckwell is described as:

Buckwell Berchuelle: Wadard from Bishop of Bayeux. Mill. Buckwell Farm

More About WALTER MOYLE:

Burial: 10 December 1558, Boughton Aluph, Kent²⁶

Inherited: Boughton Aluph Manor, Kent²⁶

More About WALTER MOYLE and ISABELLA STANLEY:

Marriage: Abt. 1515

iii. JOHN STANLEY, d. 1528; m. JANE LASCELLES; b. of Thoresby.

Notes for JOHN STANLEY:

The only son and eventual heir to the estate at Statfold.

9. WILLIAM⁴ STANLEY (SIR HUMPHREY³, SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) He married MARGARET COMBERFORD, daughter of THOMAS COMBERFORD and DOROTHY FITZHERBERT.

Child of WILLIAM STANLEY and MARGARET COMBERFORD is:

i. DOROTHY⁵ STANLEY²⁷, b. of Aston Juxta Stone, Staffs.; d. 1587, Stone, Staffs; m. CHRISTOPHER HEVENINGHAM, ESQ.²⁷; b. Abt. 1540, of Aston, Staffs.; d. Bet. 1573 - 1574²⁸.

Notes for DOROTHY STANLEY:

Dorothy was a descendant of the Aldithley, Arderne & Stanley families.

Dorothy Heveningham widow of Stone was included in Bishop Bentham's list of February, 1577-8, "of all such persons, gentlemen and others within the countye of Stafford which come not to the church to heare Divine Service". The Bishop estimates her yearly income from land at £40 and her total income at £433. We also learn that her son was taught by a certain Thomas Whistons and that she had a private chaplain, John Bradbury, and a servant Thomas Lawnder. All these, like herself, were doubtless papists.

In 1581 the Privy Council mention her as one of "the most obstinate and daungerous Recusants" of Staffordshire, against whom tru bills should have been found by the Grand Jury; the jurors it is added are ordered to appear at the next Assizes and purge themselves of their contempt and offence done unto her Majesty failing which they are to be brought before their lordships of the Privy Council in the Star Chamber.

In 1586, poor Dorothy is in the grip of the Law. She states that her yearly income is £30, and offers to pay £10 a year for herself and her servant Katherine Comberford so that she and her land may be discharged of the penal statues present and to come againt Recusancy. Katherine Comberford was evidently a relation, for Dorothy's mother (Margaret, wife of William Stanley) was a daughter of Thomas Comberford of Comberford (near Tamworth).

More About DOROTHY STANLEY:

Burial: June 1587, Stone, Staffs²⁹

Fact 1: An only child³⁰

Fact 2: A Staffordshire Recusant

Of: Aston, Staffordshire

Notes for CHRISTOPHER HEVENINGHAM, ESQ.:

Apparently the only child of Mary Moyle & Erasmus Heveningham. Christopher was of Pipe, co Stafford.

It is stated in the Visitation for Staffordshire taken in 1614 that Erasmus Heveningham had issue by the "da. & heir of . . . . Moyle" a son Christopher, who married Dorothy, "da. of . . . . Stanley," that is to say that Christopher Heveningham married, (if this pedigree be correct) the daughter of his great-grandfather's brother. This is stated (Erdeswick's Staffordshire, p 42) to be "not impossible as to dates," and it appears that Isabella Moyle was but thirty five years older than her grandson. (Source: Notes on Staffordshire Families)

From "Notes on Staffordshire Families" :

He, about Easter 1565, bought, by means of a Final Concord, for 230 marks, from John Stanley and Jane his wife, an estate of about 300 acres at Clifton Camvile; but seeing that Christopher married a Stanley, I expect that this was merely a settlement on marriage. It is impossible to be certain how far he and his wife were concerned a few weeks later together with John and Jane Stanley in a Fine relating to a large property in Thicknes, Apedale and Audley. This also was perhaps merely a settlement. Early in 1570 Christopher and Dorothy sold to Simon Biddull a water-mill with some land and two acres of pool in Curborough and Elmshirst. In the Fine whereby this sale was effected, he is called Christopher Hennyngham, his surname taking that form easily because at that date the hard pronunciation of the letter v had not established itself. Other dealings with lands in Staffordshire are recorded. He is always described as "Armiger," that is "Esquire." Christopher Heveningham was born too late for the find old days of raids and retinues in Staffordshire, but the Law Courts still remained. Accordingly, he filed a Bill in Chancery, the official abstract of which was issued on the 11th of February, 1562.

He complains against Thomas and Humphrey Woolverston, that whereas upon the death of Ellen Stanley widow of Sir Humphrey Standley, Knight, which Ellen died seised of the Manor of Aston, near Stone, Co. Stafford, with lands etc., in Stone, a messuage and cottage and lands hereto belonging in Enston Stoke and Aston within the fee of Walton, co. Stafford and a messuage in Whitston Sykes co. Salop, her estate descended to him the Complainant as son and heir of Marie Heveningham daughter and heir of Isabel Moyle daughter and heir of John Standley, Esq., dau. and heir of the said Ellen, divers evidences relating to the property have come into the hands of Thomas Woolverston the elder and the defendant, Humphrey Woolverston, who refuse to deliver them up.

In June, 1564, Christopher Heveningham again petitions in Chancery, giving rather fuller particulars as to the Stanley family.

To the Right Honorable Sir Nycholas Bakon, Knight, lord Keper of the great seale of England.

In most humble wyse sheweth and complayneth etc., your Orator Christofer Hevenyngham, Esquire, that whereas one Dame Ellen Stanley wydo late wyff of Sir Humfrey Stanley, Knight, being seised of the Manor of Aston in Stone enfeoffed (. . .) to the use of Humfrey Stanley clerke for terme of life, and after his death to use of Gorge Stanley and his heirs male of body, remainder to William Stanley and his heirs male of body, remainder to her own right heirs and whereas the said Humfrey, George and William died without issue male so that after her death one moiety should descend to your said Orator and the other moietie to Dame Elizabeth Hercy as cosin and heir of Dame Ellen, that is to say, Dame Elizabeth as daugher of John Stanley eldest son of the said Dame Ellen, and your Complaynant as son and heir of Marye Heveningham daughter and heir of Isabel Moyle, one other of the daughters of the said John Stanley, eldest son, now certain muniments concerning the premises of right belonging to your said Orator have come into the posession of Thomas Wolverston of (?) Wysord co. Sussex. Esquire and of Humfrey Wolverston of Stotfold in the said County, geneleman, and they detain the deeds by virtue of them refuse your Orator posession of them.

It is evident from the next mentioned Chancery Suit that Christopher Heveningham and Humfrey Wolverston came to an arrangement, but here again there was a hitch, for on the 8th of June, 1567 the following petition as presented in Chancery.

To the Righte Honorable Sir Nicholas Bacon Knyght, lord keper of the greitt seall of Englande sheweth etc., Your dayly Orator Cristofer Hevenyngham Esquyer.

He was letely seised of the moyete of the Manors of Stotfold and Weston in the Counties of Stafford and Chester, and of lands in Podmore in the County of Stafford, and he conveyed the said moyeties by dede and by fine to one Humfrey Wolverston, gent, and his heirs in exchaunge for all such lands etc. as the said Humfrey had of the gift graunt and conveyance of one John Hercye Knyghte and Dame Elizabeth his wyfe. Humfrey undertook to deliver all the deeds evidences charters and writings relating to the same and to have the transaction written engrossed sealed and delivered. These things Humfrey though often required had refused to do.

The Petitioner claims relief, concluding:-

'Any your said Besecher shall dayly praye to god for the preservacon of your good l(ordship) longe to contynewe and endure.'

Thomas Woolverston replies that divers evidences as to the Manor of Aston have come into his hands as executor of Humfrey Stanley, clerk, which evidences are claimed by Sir John Hercy and Dame Elizabeth his wife in her right as cousin and heir of the said Ellen Stanley; also Humfrey Wulverston gent., and Katherine his wife claim some portion of the evidences. He asks that these others may be called to interplead.

As to the other properties he says that Ellen Stanley conveyed the whole to feoffees to the use of her dughter Mawd, who married him, and they had issue, one son Robert, deceased, and a younger son Robert, now living and within age. About thee years since Mawd died.

This answer was taken at Weford co. Stafford 31 march 1562. Humphrey Woolverston's answer is much damaged, and a large part of it torn right away.

He states that Sir John and Dame Elizabeth Hercy conveyed to him and katherine his wife all their moiety of (. . . . . ) Awdley, Stoke, Sandon, Hilderson and Fulforth, and of certain closes and grounds (. . . . ) Brynwick Leaz Redlinges, Oxe close, Nuttingeils, Berry hill, Cornill Close, and Great Railes, and of three messuages in Aston part of the premises in view.

He has no evidences to his knowledge, touching the said Manor.

As to the messuages etc., in Enston, Stoke and Aston, the defendant Woolverston has held them for forty years in right of his wife Mawde.

He mentions that Christopher Heveningham's mother's mother Isabel (Stanley) had married Walter Moyle.

Christopher Heveningham died in 1573-4 and the date of his death was fortunate for his family, seeing that in 1575 Queen Elizabeth made her progress through the Midland Counties, and a few days after she had passed through Staffordshire, John Gifford of Chillington, Brian Fowler of St. Thomas, John Draycote, Erasmus Wolesley, two Erdeswicks and other "notorious papists" were summoned to appear before his Council at Worcester. In almost every case the results were disastrous to those summoned, and Christopher, had he survived, would certainly have been of the number.

Like his father, Christopher Heveningham made no Will; but whether this was the result of policy or carelessness I cannot say. It was obviously inadvisable for Roman Catholics, who were subject to severe financial persecution, to give information such as a Will must supply, to any public authority.

Administration of Christopher "Heningham", of the parish of Stone, Esquire, was granted at Lichfield in 1577 to James Yremonger. No inventory is attached to the document. This Administrator would be, I suppose, the grandfather of Humphrey Ironmonger of Wolverhampton one of the loyalists who assisted in the escape of Charles the Second after the battle of Worcester. (Source: Notes of Staffordshire Families, Wm. Salt Library, Stafford).

In 1585, a letter from the Privy Council to the Commissioners of Recusancy at Elmenwych (27.4.1585) orderd the confiscation of recusants' armour, including "Dorothee Heningham of Stone, wydowe" 23/7/1592 confirmed as disscussed.

Other References:

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Public Records Office reference No: C3/91/2 (piece) - Heveningham v. Wolverstone, Stafford & Salop. AD 1558 - 1579.

More About CHRISTOPHER HEVENINGHAM, ESQ.:

Fact: Apparently an only child

Of: Aston, Staffordshire

Will: No will - died intestate

Marriage Notes for DOROTHY STANLEY and CHRISTOPHER HEVENINGHAM:

According to "The Antiquitees of Staffordshire " there is evidence that Christopher and Dorothy were, at least, so near in blood, as to be married by dispensation from Rome.

10. MAWD⁴ STANLEY (SIR HUMPHREY³, SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) died Abt. 1559³¹. She married THOMAS WOLVERSTON.

Child of MAWD STANLEY and THOMAS WOLVERSTON is:

i. ROBERT⁵ WOLVERSTON.

More About ROBERT WOLVERSTON:

Fact 2: Deceased by 1567

11. JOHN⁴ STANLEY (ROGER³, SIR JOHN², SIR THOMAS¹, SIR JOHN^A DE STANLEIGH, K.G., WILLIAM^B, JOHN^C, WILLIAM^D, WALTER^E, WILLIAM^F, ADAM^G, LIULF^H (LYDULPH)) He married MARGARET MOWBRAY 1535.

More About JOHN STANLEY and MARGARET MOWBRAY:

Marriage: 1535

Children of JOHN STANLEY and MARGARET MOWBRAY are:

i. SIR EDWARD⁵ STANLEY, d. 1577, Slain in Ireland.

Notes for SIR EDWARD STANLEY:

Sir Edward was created a Knight while serving in the Netherlands. He was slain in Ireland in 1577.

ii. THOMAS STANLEY.

Endnotes

1. Arderne.FTW, Date of Import: 4 Feb 1999.

2. Visitation of Staffordshire - 1614 &1663.

3. Tablet/Inscription in Elford Church/Visitation of Staffordshire - 1614 &1663.

4. Arderne.FTW, Date of Import: 4 Feb 1999.

5. "The House of Stanley", by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1998..

6. The Elford Pedigree by Richardson.

7. Visitation of Staffordshire - 1614 &1663.

8. Elford Parish Church History.

9. "The House of Stanley", by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1998..

10. The History of Cheshire.

11. Foster's Lancashire Pedigrees.

12. The History of Cheshire.

13. Elford Parish Church History.

14. Stnaley Pedigree.

15. Marriage settlement ref. MS 3878/52 (Birmingham City Archives).

16. "The House of Stanley", by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1998..

17. "History & Antiquities of the Church & City of Lichfield", Rev. T. Harwood, 1806.

18. "The House of Stanley", by Peter Edmund Stanley, 1998..

19. Chancery Proceedings Bundle 85 No.3. 12/7/1572.

20. Visitation of Staffordshire - 1614 &1663.

21. Memorial in St. Peter's Church, Elford.

22. M.I. at Elford Church.

23. Stebbing Shaw's Staffordshire Vol. 1.

24. Marriage settlement ref. MS 3878/52 (Birmingham City Archives).

25. Shaw's Staffordshire 1, 412.

26. Norman Moyle (1999) Norm@prodigy.net.

27. Visitation of Staffordshire - 1583, 1614 &1663.

28. Walter Chetwynd's History of Staffordshire - Pirehill Hundred.

29. Staffordshire Burial Index.

30. Stanley pedigree in Lord Hatherton's MS.

31. Chancery Proceedings Bundle 91 No.2. 1562.