ANCESTRAL STANDLEYS

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The earliest mention of a Stanley of more humble origins that I can find locally is in 'The Custome Roll and Rental of Assheton Manor 1422' of a Marget Stanley, a tenant at will of Lord Assheton. She was one of his cottagers who was to pay a rent of 2 shillings per annum, was obliged to shear for four days in harvest and to provide a present to the value of 4 pence towards the Yuletide Festivities at the Hall. There were many widows mentioned in this document and it has been proposed that many of their husbands had met their fate at Agincourt.

Next I have details from the will of Richard Stanley of Godley dated 25 December 1590 stating that his wife Elline and sons Edward, Richard and Robert were to be given oats at Martinmass and that Richard was to share the house with his mother. This Edward seems to have been born circa 1572 and to have married a Jane Joddrell.

There was also a Raphe Standley de Haughton who was buried at Ashton St Michael Parish Church on the 8th August 1600 later to be followed by his wife 'Uxor' (no name given) in 1603.

There was also an, Edward Standleye of Audenshaw born circa 1578 who married Lydia in 1609. They had three known children; Marie baptised 13th May 1611, Robert who died in 1687, and Richard who died in 1670.

In all liklehood Richard of Godley and Raphe de Haughton were related, proximity and naming conventions seem to indicate this and I rather think that Raphe de Haughton could have been the father of Edward of Audenshaw.

We next find Edward Standleye of Audenshaw on a list of parishioners of Ashton St Michael in 1618 stating that he owned two and a half acres of land in Audenshaw. On the 7th February 1622 we find the following entry in the Parish Register of a burial of "A poore wandering women that dyed at Edward Standleys". It seems that the bitterness of that cold February night had put an end to her struggles.

Next we find Robert and Richard Standley of Audenshaw making their marks on "A Solemn Oath and Covenant" to King Charles in 1643. Richard died first leaving everything to his wife Judith. Robert never married and he left everything to his brother Richard's son Edward and his children (Robert, Richard, Edward, Ann and Ralph) when he died in 1687.

I have continued to follow these lines right through to another Edward and Phoebe and a Ralph and Jenny who who were recording burials and baptisms at Dukinfield Old Chapel right through to 1853. I have not proved a link to our direct line, but since the parish registers for Dukinfield Old Chapel are missing between the years 1713 and 1761, I don't think I ever will. I do, however, feel that there is strong circumstantial evidence to indicate that the families mentioned above are our Ancestral Standleys.