design free website

Any of Robert's three sons could have continued his line
1. Robert Stansfield (1540 - 1617)

Parents: Robert Stancefeyld of Felkirk

Born: 1540
Flourished: 1556-1604
Died: 1617
Buried 25 Apr 1617 at Felkirk. Probate granted 1 July 1617.
Note: also Robert Stanffeild buried 5 Dec 1626 at Felkirk - possible son or nephew.

Siblings
George
John
Margaret
Meriall
possibly Anne

Marriage: unknown

Children
Possibly Cotton
Possibly Robert died 1626
Sources
- Father's Will.
- Wakefield District Family History Society transcriptions booklet, Bishop's Transcripts 1598-1634 (R77)
- Consistory Court 8 Jun 1604 - 12 Dec 1605 www.hrionline.ac.uk/causepapers.
Note: the Consistory Court case of 1604 involved Anne Gargrave as defendant. Robert was called as a witness and his age was stated as 64, and his occupation as Linen Webster "late of Havercrofte".
- Administration: 1 July 1617, Deanery of Doncaster, Yorkshire Wills 1612-1619 (Appendix 2), Borthwick Institute
Note: effects valued at less than £40. Executors Anne & Robert Grene, Anne apparently being his sister.

2. George Stansfield (aft.1540 - aft.1567)

Parents: Robert Stancefeyld of Felkirk

Born: after 1540
Flourished: 1556-1567
Died: after 1567
Note: George is named in the Will of John Robucke, who married George's mother Alice after the death of his father Robert Stancefeyld of Felkirk c1559.

Siblings
Robert
John
Margaret
Meriall
Anne?
Marriage: unknown

Children
Johan (Joan or Joanne) baptised in the neighbouring parish of Wragby, 30 July 1570, as Johan Stanfilde daughter of George.
There was also a Johanna Stansfield buried at Wragby 30 Aug 1590.
Possibly Cotton
Possibly Robert died 1626

Sources
- Father's Will
- Will of John Robucke
- Yorkshire, Extracted Parish Records

3. John Stansfield (aft.1540 - aft.1559)

Parents: Robert Stancefeyld of Felkirk

Born: after 1540
Flourished: 1556
Died: after 1559

Siblings
Robert
George
Margaret
Meriall
Anne?
Marriage: unknown

Children
Possibly Cotton
Possibly Robert died 1626

Sources
- Father's Will
- Yorkshire, Extracted Parish Records



To date, no further evidence has been found for John son of Robert.
However "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" - old genealogical saying.


Evidence for George son of Robert

After Robert Stancefeyld of Felkirk's death c1559, his widow Alice (George's mother) married a minor local landowner, John Robucke, who was to die just a few years later.

(Below) A couple of partial lines from John Robucke's Will of 1567, beginning with Item to George Stansfeld my wyffe son I bequeath.......quite what he bequeathed is impossible to read, unfortunately. It goes on to say Item I bequeath to every one of [the rest of] my wyffe children what appears to be the sum of 6s 8d.

Mobirise

Conjecture
We know from the order of names in Robert senior's Will that Robert junior was the eldest son, followed by George then John. So the fact that George is listed first, and separately from his siblings, in John Robucke's Will tells us that his brother Robert was not included in this arrangement. (This might suggest that Robert junior was the son of Robert senior's first wife, not Alice.) His brother John, if included, would have been listed after George. But the fact that John is not mentioned, and that Alice's remaining children are not named, might suggest that this phrase "every one of [the rest of] my wyffe children" refers solely to George's sisters. If that is the case, then the bequest of 6s 8d (one third of one pound) to each of them could indicate that there were three daughters, adding further proof of the existence of Anne as the youngest of them.

Mobirise

(Above) Johan Stanfilde the daughter of George baptised at Wragby 30 July 1570. Wragby is an adjoining parish to Felkirk.

Evidence for Robert son of Robert
(Below) Administration record for Robert Stansfeilde 1 July 1617.

Mobirise

Primo Iuly anno domini 1617 mr Winter Decanus vc (vir clarissimus) supra Decanatus de Doncaster certificavit se commisissae administracionem bonorum iurium et creditorum que fuerunt Roberti Stansfeilde ??? nuper de Havercrofte Diocese Eborr defuncti Anna Grene uxori Roberti Grene sorori ??? ??? ??? dicti defuncti forma iurate (salvo iure cuiuscumque) exhibitumque fuit Inventarium infra xl libras Dictaque Robert et alii obligantur.

First July 1617 Mr Winter, Dean, a most illustrious man in authority over/on behalf of [the] Deanery of Doncaster, certified that he had granted administration of the goods, rights and credits which were Robert Stansfeilde’s…..late of Havercrofte [of the] Diocese of York deceased to Anne Grene wife [of] Robert Green sister………of the said deceased sworn in the form of law (saving the right of whosever). An inventory was exhibited [valued] below £40 and the said Robert and others were bound.

Mobirise


Lastly, a treasured find....
Robert Stansfeilde of Havercrofte's 'signature' as a witness on the Consistory Court record of 8 Jun 1604 - 12 Dec 1605, which records him as being a linen webster aged 64.


My thanks to researcher Joanne Backhouse for her collaboration and guidance regarding the Stansfeld family and Calderdale.