Person:Staveley Staunton (1)

Staveley Staunton was baptised on 19th June 1674 at Woburn in Bedfordshire, son of Elizabeth Staunton, formerly Alston, and her husband Staveley Staunton esquire, owner of Birchmoor Farm at Woburn (where they lived) and other land, notably Stagsden Farm at Stagsden and Hardwick Farm at Shefford, all in Bedfordshire. Staveley's unusual first name was his paternal grandmother's maiden name; she was Mary Staveley and she owned West Langton Hall in Leicestershire. Staveley's mother Elizabeth Alston was also from a wealthy family; her father was Sir Thomas Alston of Odell Castle in Bedfordshire. Young Staveley was the eldest of three children, having a younger brother named Francis in 1675 and a sister named Elizabeth in 1677.

Staveley's father died in 1678, aged just 26, when young Staveley was only four years old. Under the terms of Staveley senior's will, Staveley was to be placed under the guardianship of his grandmother, Mary Staveley, who by this time had married again and was Mrs Mary Pheasant. Staveley's younger two siblings were to be placed under the guardianship of their mother unless she remarried, which she did in 1679. She married Montague Pickering at Campton, which is the parish church which covered Shefford where the family owned Hardwick Farm, suggesting she may have gone to live there for a time after her first husband's death. Staveley's two younger siblings therefore also came under the care of their grandmother Mary Pheasant. She brought them to live at West Langton Hall with her. Back in Bedfordshire Staveley's mother and stepfather returned to Woburn where they had a son named Edward in 1681, who was Staveley's half brother. Staveley's mother has yet to be traced after 1681.

Staveley's grandmother Mary Pheasant wrote her will in August 1688. She left all her land to Staveley and his heirs, and made provisions for her two grandsons Staveley and Francis to exchange some of the farms bequeathed to them by their father, and also appointed her friend William Massey of Harborough as guardian for all three of her grandchildren. She also stipulated that if Staveley died without heirs her estate was to pass to Francis and his heirs, and if he had no heirs then the estate was to pass to Elizabeth. Mary Pheasant was buried at Church Langton (the parish church which covered West Langton Hall) in January 1689.

Staveley was married on 29th August 1690 at Hungarton, about eleven miles north of West Langton, to Ann Harvey. He was only sixteen years old when they married.

Staveley wrote his will on 10th January 1691, when he was described as being weak in body. He left Ann his "moneys Jewells plate rents household goods goods and chattells" except for his Latin school books which he left to his servant John Jefferyes.

Staveley was buried at Church Langton just seven days after writing his will. His widow Ann proved his will in July 1691. Ann's proving of the will was challenged by William Massey on behalf of Staveley's sister Elizabeth (who despite being only thirteen years old had married Gilbert Pickering in February 1691). The challenge was unsuccessful and Ann's proving of the will stood. Ultimately, Staveley's sister Elizabeth seems to have inherited the estates at both West Langton and Birchmoor, which passed to her son, suggesting that neither Staveley nor his brother Francis had any children (or at least none who survived).

1. ↑ Emmison, F. G. (Frederick George). Woburn Parish Register Transcript, 1558-1812. (Bedford: Bedfordshire Family History Society, 1952).

   ch. 19 Jun 1674: Staveley son of Staveley Staunton esquire

2.   Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858
   PROB11; Piece 405, 10 Jan 1690/1.

   In the name of God Amen I Stavely Staunton of West Langton in the County of Leicester Esq[ui]r[e] being weake in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praised bee God doe make and ordaine this my Last Will and Testam[en]t in manner and forme following And First I commit my Soule into the hands of Allmighty God and my body to the earth to bee decently buryed at the discretion of my Executrix herein hereafter named And as concerning such Personall Estate as it hath pleased God to bestowe upon mee I give and bequeath as followeth And First I give and bequeath unto Peregrine Phillips of Loseby in the said County of Leicester Clerke the summe of fifty pounds to bee paid unto him by my Exeuctrix herein hereafter named within the space of twelve months next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto John Jefferyes Gent[leman] my Servant the summe of fifty pounds as a token of my love to bee paid unto him by my Executrix hereafter named within the space of twelve months next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto the said John Jefferyes my servant all my Latin Schoole bookes to be delivered him immediately after my decease Item I doe give and bequeath unto Anne Staunton my deare and loveing wife and to her heires for ever all and singular my moneys Jewells plate rents household goods goods and chattells whatsoever and wheresoever the same shall or may bee found whether in my owne possession or in the possession of any other person or persons in trust for me except the Legacyes and bequests herein before by mee given and bequeathed Item I doe make and ordaine the said Anne Staunton my deare and loveing wife sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and doe give unto her all my goods and chattells whatsoever except before excepted shee paying all and every my Legacyes and funerall expences in Witnesse whereof to this my Last Will and Testament I have hereunto put my hand and seale this tenth day of January In the second yeare of the Raigne of William and Mary King and Queene over England & Annoq Domini One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety. Stavely Staunton. Signed sealed declared and Published as the last Will and Testament of mee the said Stavely Staunton In the presence of us Ann Barnard, Abigall Richards Tho[mas] Woodcock
   
   [Probate given in Latin: proved at London 7 Jul 1691 by Ann Staunton the widow]
   [A second probate document in PROB11 piece 407 is in Latin and appears to relate to a challenge to the above probate on 17 Jul 1691 by Elizabeth Pickering als. Stanton, sister of the deceased. The challenge also mentions William Massey.]

3. ↑ Langton, Leicestershire, England. Parish Registers (Leicestershire Record Office / findmypast.co.uk)
   DE1699/2.

   1690 / January 17 [i.e. 17 Jan 1690/1] Stavely Stanton of West Langton was buryed