"Sally and Samuel had four children during the years 1820 through 1827. In 1828, Samuel was killed while moving his brother, Nicholas, to Wolcott Township, New York. The load of goods overturned, and Samuel died at the early age of 32. Sally had four young children to raise on her own; John age 8, Lewis age 6, Harriet age 4, and James Jay, not yet 2 years of age.
On November 8, 1828 Sally appeared in Surrogate’s Court (file #049) and renounced right to the administration of estate and requested that William "a brother of the deceased be appointed." She signed with her mark. There was an inventory of estate and a Bond of Administration posted by William and Isaac Stansell and Richard Jones.
In 1839, in Surrogate’s Court file no. 01666, petitions for guardianship for John Nelson Stansell, age 18, Lewis Stansell, age 16, Harriet Louise, age 14; and James J. Stansell, age 12, were filed. Harwood Bannister was appointed guardian and George and William Stansell agreed to appointment. (I am making the assumption that Sally must have died at about this time.)
The children of Sally and Samuel Stansell follow;
1. John Nelson Stansell August 24, 1820. John Nelson was born in Arcadia, New York. He married Susan Kincaid about 1850. John enlisted in the Michigan 10th Cavalry in 1863, during the Civil War. He mustered out of the Cavalry on November 21, 1865. He died in 1884. John and Susan had six children.
2. Lewis Stansell 1822
3. Harriet Louise Stansell 1824
4. James Jay Stansell was born on February 15, 1827"
