Person:Robert Stanford (1)

From the Bartlett Society

Rebecca married secondly, between 21 Aug 1691 (the date of his father's will), and Aug 1692, Robert Stanford (or Standford). Robert died between 15 May 1721, (when he signed a deed) and 7 Mar 1721/2 (when witnesses deposed to the deed after his death.

At one time it was thought that this Robert Stanford married first 22 Jan 1679 in Marshfield, Mary (Howland) Williamson. It is now believed that it is unlikely that the Robert Stanford who married Mary (Howland) Williamson is the same one who married Rebecca. That man was much older than Rebecca. Rebecca's husband may be the Robert Stanford who was elected constable of Swansea 2 June 1685 (Plymouth Colony Records 6:165), however his name is spelled Sanford in Swansea Town Records. It should be noted that Robert and Rebecca sold land in Swansea.

Robert Stanford first appears in Plymouth Colony in Jun 1667. He was of Scituate in 1672 and was still there in Mar 1678/9 when Lydia, wife of Isacke Hanmore, accused him "to be the father of the child lately born of her body." He was ordered to pay support. He was of Marshfield by 6 Jul 1680.

On 30 Aug 1697 Robert Standford and wife Rebecca of Plimouth, yeoman, sold to Hugh Cole of Swanzey land in "Mattapoysett" given to Robert Standford and wife Rebeccah by her brother Benjamin Bartlet Junr.

Robert Stanford and wife Rebecca were of Duxbury 18 Jun 1711 when they sold land there. On 15 May 1721 Robert Stanford of Duxbury, yeoman, transferred his house and lands to his son Robert Standford of Duxbury. On 7 Mar 1721 witnesses swore they saw Robert Standford deceased sign the deed.

There is no Plymouth County Probate record for either Robert Stanford or Caleb Samson.

NOTES: The b. date of Alice comes from BRADFORD DESC p. 8 but no primary source has been found. (PLYMOUTH) ANC LANDMARKS says b. 1680, as does NEHGR 4:47.

Rebecka Stanford m. Plymouth 24 Nov 1713 Jonathan Ames (or Eames) (MD 14:37) and Lydia Stanford m. Duxbury 4 Feb 1713/14 Andrew Alden. If Robert Stanford's first wife Mary Howland was 18 when she m. Timothy Williamson, she would have been 45 when she married Robert Stanford and probably too old to have children. Also the name Rebecca suggests she was named for Rebecca. An extensive search failed to find proof they are Rebecca's daughters. It is possible Lydia is the child he had by Lydia Hanmore, but Lydia (Stanford) Alden's last child was born 21 Oct 1731, strongly suggesting she was too old to have been that child. No other Stanford family appears in this area at this time.

1. ↑ Researcher.

   Ginger Lee (Metcalf) Dingus