Person:John Stanley (17)

Origins

The Stanley Families of America does not name his place of origin, but suggests he was from Kent County. The book does also not name his wife, and makes a strong case that she probably died prior to the voyage across the Atlantic, which also likely included two brothers of John, Thomas and Timothy.

That he and his brothers were likely of Kent County, England is suggested by who else was on their ship. An undated deposition by the wife of one of the brothers, taken many years later in CT mentions other passengers being Mr. Willard, Mr. Pantry, Mr. Crayfoot and Samuel Greenhill. Simon Willard, one of the founders of Groton, Mass., and a distinguished soldier in the wars against the Indians, was of Horsmonden in the county of Kent. Greenhill was of Staplehurst in the same county. Berry, in his "Kent Genealogies," records the residence of a Stanley family at the period in the immediate vicinity. The Stanley Families in America includes a "tree" of Stanleys from this area, all sharing similar names, John, Timothy and Thomas.

Of the three brothers, John Stanley was probably a widower, since no mention was made of his wife or the mother of his children, whose ages were about ten, six and four years respectively. It is barely possible that he had a second wife, Elizabeth Stanley, who married William Smith in Hartford in 1644, but as no mention is made of her in the court order respecting John Stanley's estate or children, the supposition seems improbable and the author goes on to say that Elizabeth was likely a younger sister of the brothers. Timothy Stanley, probably the second in age, had a wife and infant child; and Thomas Stanley, the youngest, a wife but no children.

The Stanley siblings had arrived in Boston some nine months previous, in May, 1634; at least Timothy Stanley certainly and the others in all probability, for there is no reason to doubt that they all came together. There is on file among the Colonial papers at Hartford, a deposition from the wife of Timothy, who after his death married Andrew Bacon, which sheds some light on that subject:

"Elisabeth Bacon aged about seaventy one yeares testifyeth that I come over ffrom old Engelande in a ship with Samuell Greenehill and his wife in the yeare one Thousand sixe Hundred and Thirty and ffoure, and wee arrived in New Englande some time in Maye 34: I allso doe well remember that goodwife Greenehill and myselfe did usually account that her son Thomas Greenehill and my son Timothy Stanly was of the same age and they did boath suck when they were one ship boarde. And furder I do testifye that my son Timothy was borne in January was a twelve month before we came oute of England, w'ch was in Janewary one Thousande sixe hundred thirty and two. And also I do well remmber that Samuel Greenhill was reputed by those that were well aquatined with him in the ship a man of considerable estate ad was accordingly entertayned in the ship with Mr. Willard, and Mr. Pantry, and Mr. DCrayfoote and others of good account. Also, the age of my son Timothy is sett down in a Booke of my husband Stanley's which may be seen if need be, with the age of ye rest of mh children, and furder saith nott." From Private Controversies, II. 8.

The above is without date or signature, in the handwriting of her son, Caleb Stanley.

Mrs. Bacon does not give the name of the vessel in which they came. Winthrop's Journal, under the date of May 14, 1634, says, "The week the Court was (May 14-16), there came in six ships, with store of passengers and cattle." And ten days later he adds, "These ships by reason of their short passage had store of provisions left, which they put off at east rates, viz., biscuit at 20 s. the hundred, beefo at L6 per the hogshead, etc." Evidently the Stanleys came in one of these ships, after a short and prosperous voyage, which must have been very grateful to the young wife of Timothy, who had a nursing babe to care for.

Life in New England

Unfortunately, John Stanley did not get to experience life in New England; he died on the voyage over, leaving 3 orphans.

Legacy

The very early court of Massachusetts Bay Colony took on the case of John Stanley's three orphans and his estate of goods and money amounting to one hundred sixteen pounds. Only two of the three survived: the son John went to one of the deceased's brothers, and the daughter Ruth, to the other, to care for them until they reached adulthood.

"Att a Court, holden att Newe Towne, March 3, 1634. Whereas John Stanley dyed intestate, in the way to Newe England, & lefte three children undisposed of, the youngest whereof is since disceased, haveing also left an estate of cxvj, in goods & chattells, &c., it is therefore ordered, with the consent of Thomas Stanley, brother to the said John, disceased, that hee shall have forthwith the some of lviij of the sd estate putt into his hands; in consideration whereof, the said Thomas Stanley shall educate & bring upp John Stanley, sonne of John Stanley disceased, finding him meate, drinke & app'ell, till he shall accomplishe the age of xxi yeares, & att the end of the said tearme shall give unto the said John Stanely the some of fifty pounds.

"Also, it is further ordered, with the consent of Tymothy Stanley, another brother of the aroesd John Stanley, disceased, that the other lviij of the aforesaid estate shalbe put into the hands of the said Tymothy Stanley, in consideration whereof the said Tymothy shall educate & bring upp Rueth Stanley, daughter of the aforesd John Stanely, disceased, findeing her meate, drinke, and app'll, till shee shall attaine the age of one and twenty eyars; & att the end of the said tearme, or att the day of her marriage, with Tymothy Stanleye's consent, shall give unto the sd Ruth STanely the some of thierty pounds; provided if eyther of the said children shall dye before the expiration of the said tearmes, then the p'ty whoe kept the said child shall stand to the order of the Court for paeing soe much to the survyeving childe as the Court shall appoynct."

The date of the above order, according to our present mode of reckoning, is March 3, 1635....

Children-- at least those who made it across the Atlantic-- include:

1. John, b. 1624, m. Sarah Scott and Sarah Stoddard
2. Ruth, b. 1629, m. Isaac More.
3. A child who died shortly after his or her father in 1634.

Sources

1. Israel P. Warren, D.D., compiler, The Stanley Families Of America As Descended From John, Timothy, And Thomas Stanley Of Hartford, CT, 1636 Portland, ME: Thurston & Co. (1887)
2. Massachusetts Colonial Records, Volume I, p. 134 [as quoted in source above]
3. Winthrop's Journal [as quoted in source #1]

1.   Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford.

   John Stanley, brother of Thomas and Timothy, "died in the way to New England,” prob. in April or May, 1634, leaving three children, the youngest of whom d. before March 3, 1634-5; when Thomas Stanley agreed to bring up the son, John, and provide for him, and Timothy took the daughter, Ruth; John, adopted son of Thomas, b. Jan., 1624; m. (1) Dec. 5, 1645, Sarah can. of Thomas Scott, of Hartford; she d. June 26, 1661. He settled in Farmington; m. (2) April 20, 1663, Sarah dau. of John Fletcher, of Milford. He was deputy, 1659-1696, and fought in the Indian War, 1676; d. Dec. 19, 1706.

2.   Roberts, Gary Boyd. Ancestors of American Presidents. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009)
   p. 461.

   John Stanley and Elizabeth Uridge, ancestors of Gerald Ford through son John.

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} John Stanley, in Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (Boston, Massachusetts: NEHGS, 1999-2011)
   VI:455-456.

   ORIGIN: Tenterden, Kent.
   MIGRATION: 1634 [MBDR 1:134].
   BIRTH: Baptized Tenterden, Kent, 2 October 1598, son of Robert Stanley [TAG 80:219].
   DEATH: Died at sea in 1634 [MBCR 1:134-35].