Events
Date of Birth: about 1368.
Place of Birth: unknown.
William is stated to be aged 30 and more in his father’s inquistion post mortem.
Date of Death: 2 February 1427/8.
Place of Death: unknown.
The date is given in William’s inquisition post mortem.
Relationships
Father: William de Stanley.
This relationship is attested in the Ryland Charters.
Mother: unclear.
Spouse: Margery de Hooton.
This relationship is recorded in the Ryland Charters.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Sir William Stanley (died 1419) married Blanche Savage.
Edmund Stanley
John Stanley
Peter Stanley
Rowland Stanley
Joan Stanley married (1) Robert de Parys; married (2) Gwilym ap Griffith in 1413; married (3) John Pykemere of Caernarfon.
Evidence
from Ormerod (vol. 2, p. 411-12)
[Sir William de Stanley] settled at Hooton in consequence of the marriage with the heiress of Hooton before-mentioned, and by [Recog. Rolls was in Ireland, under arrest, May 15, 1399, when Vivian de ffoxwyst and John de Litherland, were commissioned to lead 60 archers to Ireland, in his place. He afterwards went to Ireland on the new king’s service in April, 1 Hen. IV. in the train of Sir John de Stanley, knt., receiving letters of protection on his departure; and did homage to that sovereign in Sept. 1401.
In 3 Hen. IV. May 23, this Sir William de Stanley and Sir John de Pull, or Poole, knt., agreed by Indenture, with Sir Henry de Percy, knt., then Lieutenant and Justice of North Wales, to serve the said Henry “sur la meer” with 24 lances and 48 archers for 14 days after their muster to be made at Chester on the 26 May following, each of the said knights to receive 2s. a day, each lance 12d., and each archer 6d.; half the amount for the whole time to be paid in hand, and the other half on the day of must, the master mariners to receive the same as when taken for the king’s service, to pay their third of the gains of the war to the said Henry, and to deliver to him any person “ou chiefteyn riall,” taken by them during the war, and to be rewarded for the same. Being afterwards concerned in the Percy rebellion, Sir William de Stanley received the king’s pardon Nov. 3, 5 Hen. IV. By] Inq. p. m. 6 Hen. VI [he] is stated to have held in demesne as of fee, the manor of Hoton, by law of England, as in right of his wife, Margery, daughter and heir of William de Hoton and Katherine his wife, [as in fee tail,] from the baron of Shipbrook, [as of his manor of Shipbrook,] val. per ann. xx [pounds, not] marks. He held also the manors of [Great and Little] Storeton, and the forestership of Wirral, (which is named though disafforested) and lands in Poulton-Lancelyn, Upton, Brumbrough, and Hoton. [Ob. die lune in festo Purifac’cois beate Virginis ultimo.[ William de Stanley [grand] son and heir, [viz. fil’ Willi’ fil’ p’d’cor Willi’ de Stanley militis & Marg’ie, & etatis 23 annor’.]
from the Ryland Charters:
RYCH/1673
Hooton
10 Jan 1376
Agreement between William de Hoton and William de Stanlegh the elder relating to the marriage of William, son of the latter, and Margery, daughter of the former.
RYCH/1799
Stanley
14 Jan 1376
Grant by William de Stanlegh the elder, to William, his son, and Margery, daughter of William de Hoton.
RYCH/1390
Childer Thornton
21 Mar 1397
Surrender by Hugh Drake to William de Stanley the younger, and Margery, his wife.
RYCH/1346
Betchton
26 Mar 1397
Indenture of lease by William de Stanley the younger to Hugh Drake of land in Childerthorneton [Childer Thornton].
RYCH/1794
Shotwick, Rough
29 Sep 1398
Lease by Richard de Prestlond to William de Stanley.
RYCH/1308
Wirral, and Shotwick
18 Mar 1399
Receipt by William de Stanley the younger from Richard de Besselowe, receiver of Clone, of two silver marks.
RYCH/1795
Shotwick, Rough
9 Mar 1400
Grant by William de Stanley to Richard Prestlond.
RYCH/1353
Bebington
7 Nov 1402
Lease by Johanna, widow of John de Warrewyk the younger, to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1347
Betchton
7 Feb 1403
Grant by William de Stanley, knight, to William, his son, and Blanche, his wife, of land in 'le fflaskes' in the hundred of Macclesfield, in Chorleton [Chorlton], and in le Meoles [Great Meols and Little Meols] in the hundred of Wyrhall.
RYCH/1416
Storeton
7 Feb 1403
Grant of powers of attorney from William, son of William de Stanley, knight, and Blanche, his wife, to James Fare to receive seisin from William de Stanley, knight, of the manor of Stanley, Staffordshire, and lands in 'le fflaskes', Chorleton [Chorlton] and Meles [Meols], Cheshire.
RYCH/1801
Stanley
8 Feb 1403
Grant by William de Stanley, knight, to William, his son, and Blanche, his wife.
RYCH/1721
Oxford
3 Jun [?1403]
Writ of Henry [?IV] to the sheriff of Oxford, to deliver to William Stanley, the elder, knight, William Herryson Hobson of Hoton [Hooton], Cheshire, 'nativum et fugitivum suum', along with his chattels and 'tota sequela sua', who fled from his land 'post coronacionem domini H[enrici] Regis, filii Regis Johannis'. Dated 3 June 'anno r. n. quarto', i.e. 1403?
RYCH/1321
Mollington
22 Nov 1403
Indenture of lease by Emmota Launcelyn, widow of John Toro[n]t, to William de Stanley, knight, William de Venables of Troghford, and John, son of Robert de Bruyn of Bacford, of land in Molynton Torot [Great Mollington, alias Mollington Tarrant or Torold].
RYCH/1429
Stanley
10 May 1404
Deed of exchange between William de Stanley, knight, and Robert, son of Robert de Baumvylle of lands in Haseldene in Becheton [Haseldene in Hassall, Sandbach parish] and Moreton in Wyrehale [Moreton cum Lingham] for lands in Storeton.
RYCH/1396
Bebington
6 Oct 1404
Grant of powers of attorney from John Hoppes, chaplain, to William de Thorneton, chaplain, and John Launcelyn, lord of Pulton, to deliver seisin to William de Stanley, knight, of lands in Pulton Launcelyn [Poulton Lancelyn, or Poulton cum Spital], le Spytell, and Netherbebynton [Nether or Lower Bebington].
RYCH/1297
Bebington and Poulton Lancelyn
14 Sep 1405
Grant by John Hoppes, chaplain, to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1753
Poulton Lancelyn
26 Dec 1406
Deed of exchange from John, son of William Launcelyn, to William de Stanley, knight, and Margery, his wife.
RYCH/1754
Poulton Lancelyn
26 Dec 1406
Deed of exchange from William de Stanley, knight, and Margery, his wife, daughter of William de Hoton, to John, son of William Launcelyn.
RYCH/1582
Bebington
19 Sep 1408
Grant by Mr John de Bakford, clerk, and John Spencer, vicar of Bakford [Backford], to William, son of Robert de Neuton, and Alicia, his wife, with remainder to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1417
Storeton
12 May 1410
Quitclaim by Alice, widow of Thomas de Clotton, daughter and heir of William de Laken the younger, son and heir of Ellen de Laken', a daughter of Philip de Baumvill, knight, to William de Stanley, knight, of lands, etc., in Great Storton and Little Storton [Storeton].
RYCH/1826
Storeton
12 May 1410
Grant by Alicia, widow of Thomas de Clotton, daughter and heiress of William de Laken the younger, son and heir of Ellen de Laken, one of the daughters of Philip de Baumvill, to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1827
Storeton
4 Oct 1410
Grant in exchange by William de Stanley, knight, to Thomas de Bolde and Agnes, his wife, daughter of Thomas de Lasselles, of lands in Lower Bebynton [Lower Bebington] for lands in Storton [Storeton].
RYCH/1828
Storeton
4 Oct 1410
Grant in exchange by Thomas de Bolde and Agnes, his wife, to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1358
Upton in Wirral
17 Nov 1411
Grant by Peter de fforneby, son of Hugh de fforneby, to William de Stanley, knight of lands in Upton in Wyrehale and Salghale [Saughall].
RYCH/1443
Storeton
3 Nov 1411
Grant by William de Stanley, knight, to Gilbert Clegge, esq., and William del Croftes, chaplain, of the manors of Great Storeton and Little Storeton, and lands, etc., in the bailiwick of the forest of Wyrehall [Wirral], etc.
RYCH/1444
Storeton
4 Nov 1411
Grant of powers of attorney from William de Stanley, knight, to Thomas Wylde to deliver seisin of Wyrehall [Wirral], etc.
RYCH/1604
Bromborough
11 Feb 1412
Grant by Hugh, son of Richard de Brumburgh, to William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1837
Thingwall
13 Jan 1415
Grant by William Wilbraham of Thyngwall [Thingwall] to William de Stanley, knight, and Edmund, his son, of lands, etc., in Cheshire.
RYCH/1838
Thingwall
14 Jan 1415
Grant of powers of attorney from William Wilbraham of Thyngwall [Thingwall] to John Dogynton to deliver seisin to William de Stanley, knight, and Edmund, his son.
RYCH/1707
London
20 May 1416
Receipt of John Broker, citizen of London, from William de Stanley, knight.
RYCH/1418
Storeton
6 May 1423
Lease by William Porter, knight, to William Stanley the elder, knight, of Hoton [Hooton], of the manor of Shotewyk [Shotwick].
RYCH/1674
Hooton
Writ to the Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster relating to the pardon of William de Stanley of Hoton [Hooton] in Wyrall, Cheshire, knight.
Dating: dated 23 June 1 Henry: probably Henry VI, i.e. 1423.
from the Recognizance Rolls of Chester (DKPR v. 36, 37)
1396, Sept 15
William de Stanley, junior, John de Bebynton, of Chester, Hugh de Dutton, of Chester, and Thomas de Sherdley, of Chester, to Adam de Kyngeslegh, and Thomas de Wilbram, chaplain, recognizance for 20 marks.
1397, Oct. 11
William de Stanley, junior, grant to, of an annuity of 100s. for life, the King having retained him in his service for life.
1398, July 15
William son of William de Stanley, grant to, by the King, of an annuity of 20 marks, in recompense of the loss of the office of bailiff of the forest of Wirrall, of which William his father was seized by prescription, and of which he was disseised, without right, by the de-afforesting of the said forest.
1399-1400
William de Stanley, conservator of the peace in the hundred of Wirrall.
1399-1400, Feb 21
William de Stanley, senior, licence, by Henry Prince of Wales, to Nicholas Fare, Henry Coly, of Wyrehale, and John de Gerston, to act as the attornies of the said William, about to depart for Ireland in the train of John de Stanley, Kt., on the King’s service.
1400, April 5
William de Stanley, senior, protection to, on his departure.
1401, Sept 22
William de Stanley, Kt., letters of Henry Prince of Wales to the escheators and bailiffs of his fees within the county of Chester, that he had received the homage of the said William.
1402.
William de Stanley and John de Pull, Kts., indenture of service in war.
1402, Dec. 7
William de Stanley, Kt., John de Legh del Bothes, and John de Whitemore to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance for the issues of two messuages and seven acres of land in Crouton, which were of William Gerard, of Cruewode, deceased, who held of the Prince in capite by knight’s service, should the said lands be adjudged to the Prince.
1402. William de Stanley, safe conduct to certain Scots, prisoners of.
1403, Oct. 11
William de Stanley, Kt., John de Pull, Kt., John de Whitemore, and James de Pull, commissioners of array in the hundred of Wyrehale.
1407, Sept. 7
William de Stanley, Kt., to Alice daughter of William de Laken, recognizance in 40l. to observe the covenants of an agreement made between the said William and Alice touching certain lands of the said Alice in Great and Little Storton, leased to the said William de Stanley and his heirs for 39 years.
1408, Dec. 5
William de Stanley, Kt., John Fox, of Seynesbury, and William del Meoles to Henry Prince of Wales, recognizance in 40l. as sureties for Richard de Keyesley.
1409, April 25
William de Stanley, and William his son, Thomas de Bolde, John Hope, of Chester, John del Meoles, Thomas de Waley, and William del Croft, parson of the church of Hanley, to Philip de Egerton, senior, recognizance for 80l.
1410, July 24
William de Stanley, Kt., commission of, by Henry Prince of Wales, to seize all provisions, &c., passing through the hundred of Wirrall, for the purpose of being sold to the rebels.
1412, May 5
William de Stanley, Kt., warrant of Henry Prince of Wales,to John Brounwynd, parker of the park of Shotwick, for delivery to the said William of one doe.
1415, April 11.
William de Stanley, Kt., John de Whitemore, William son of Wiliam de Stanley, Kt., Hamo de Mascy, of Podynton, John son of Richard de Bromley, John Launcelyn, and Christopher del Hogh, to the King, recognizance in 100l. that the said William de Stanley, Kt., and William, Edmund, and John his sons, and John de Whitemore, keep the peace towards Thomas Sparkes, of Chester
1416, April 5
William de Stanley, Kt., senior, Hamo de Mascy, of Podynton, John Lytherlond, and James de Pulle, commission of, to collect a subsidy in the hundred of Wirrall, part of a subsidy of 3,000 marks granted to the King by the county of Chester.
1416, April 8
William de Stanley, Kt., senior, William de Brereton, Kt., Thomas le Grosvenor, Kt., John Savage, Kt., David Rogerstone del Malpas, Thomas Bryd, of Duddon, Richard de Bulkyley, of Bykerton, and Henry Byrd, of Burwardesley, commission of, to arrest David son of William del Malpas, of Hampton, John his brother, William de Wyglond, of Aggeton, and Thomas del Forde, of Egge, disturbers of the peace.
1417, Sept. 14
John de Stanley, Kt., and William de Stanley, Kt., to William Troutbeck, recognizance for 100 marks.
1418, June 21.
William de Stanley, senior, Kt., John son of Henry de Bebynton, Christopher del Hogh, Roger del Huls, John de Tildesley, of Berneston, and John Glayve, to Hugh de Ardene, recognizance for 80l.
1419, May 10
William de Stanley, Kt., senior, and Richard le Whitley, to the King, recognizance in 100l. that John son of Henry de Bebynton, Robert son of John Hope, David le Chaloner, of Chester, and John Howell, servant of Robert Hope, keep the peace towards John de Overton, of Chester, and Henry de Denbeigh.
1419, May 10
William de Stanley, Kt., senior, William de Venables, of Kinderton, and John son of John Donne, counter recognizances to the above.
1420-1, Jan. 16
William de Stanley, Kt., John de Whitmore, and John Hope, of Chester, to John de Heley, recognizance for 10l.
1421, May 30
William de Stanley, Kt., John Smyth, of Storton, Hugh Sharpe, of Storton, William Dyconsone, of Hoton, Geoffrey Justice, of Storton, and John de Hole, of Storton, to William Troutbek, armiger, recognizance for 10l.
1422, April 6
William de Stanley, Kt., John Hope, of Chester, Robert Rachedale, of Hoton, and William Dyconsone, to William Troutbek, armiger, recognizance for 9l.6s.8d.
1426, July 10
William de Stanley, Kt., license to, to grant to John de Stanley his son, and his heirs, the manors of Great and Little-Stourton, and 30 messuages, 12 tofts, 600 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 12 acres of wood, 300 acres of moor, and 300 acres of pasture in Great and Little Stourton, together with the bailiwick, of the forest of Wyrehale; and to the same John that he might re-enfeoff the said William of the same for life.
1426 or 1427
William de Stanley, Kt., and John Hope, of Chester, armiger, commission to inquire touching wards, reliefs, escheats, and natives pertaining to the manor of Shotwick on the showing of William Porter, Kt., who held the said manor for life, of the grant of Hen. 5 that certain wards, &c. pertaining to the manor were witheld.
1428, June 27
William de Stanley, Kt., writ “diem clausit extremum” on the death of.
from the Calendar of Patent Rolls:
1399, February 21. Heywood.
Commission to Hugh Burnell, Ralph de Radclif and William de Stanley to arrest Henry Wyrehale, apostate Cistercian monk of Basyngwerk abbey, and deliver him to his abbot or the abbot’s attorney herein for punishment according to the rule of his order.
1399, December 31. Westminster.
Protection with clause volumus for one year, for Gilbert de Halsale of the county of Lancaster, knight, going on the king's service to Ireland in the company of the king's knight John de Stanley, lieutenant of Ireland, on the safe-custody of those parts. By bill of p.s.
The like for the following : — By bill of p.s.
William de Stanley the elder of the county of Chester, esquire.
1401, April 5. Westminster
Protection with clause volumus, for one year, for William de Stanley, Westminster, knight, staying on the king's service in the company of the king's knight John de Stanley, lieutenant of Ireland, on the safe custody of that land.
By bill of p.s.
1403, August 15. Newark
Grant for life to the king's knight John de Stanley of all lands, rents and possessions late of John de Pull, 'chivaler,' John de Pull his son, William de Stanley, 'chivaler, Henry Bryne, John Glayne, Richard Mawery, Thomas Hoggekynson and Richard de Moreton in the town of Moreton in Wyrall, co. Chester, not exceeding the value of 121, yearly, forfeited to the king because they were in the company of Henry de Percy, son of the earl of Northumberland, who rose in insurrection. By K.
1405, June 11. Ripon.
Protection with clause volumus for John de Myles, going on the king’s service to the Isle of Man to take the castle and Isle into the king’s hand and to stay on the safe-custody of the same in the company of the king’s knight William de Stanley [Foedera] By bill of p.s.
The like for the following:--
…
William de Stanley, esquire.
…
William de Stanley, knight.
1413, October 24. Westminster.
Protection with clause volumus, for one year, for John Lyme alias John Folvyle alias John Jonetbatemanson, staying on the king’s service in the company of the king’s knight John de Stanley, lieutenant of Ireland, on the safe-keeping of that land. By bill of p.s.
The like to the following:
William de Stanley, knight.
William de Stanley son of William de Stanley, knight (militis)
By bill of p.s.
1414, October 20. Westminster.
Inspeximus and confirmation to the provosts, burgesses and commons of the town of Athirde of a charter under the seal used in Ireland, given by the hand of the king’s knight John de Stanley, lieutenant of Ireland, and Athirde, 1 January, 1 Henry V, granting…
Witnesses: … William de Stanley, knight…
1419, July 12. Westminster.
Whereas by an inquisition taken before John Grevell, late escheator in the county of Gloucester and the march of Wales adjacent, it was found that Gilbert Talbot, ‘chivaler,’ deceased, was seised in his demesne as of fee of the manor of Payneswyke, co. Gloucester, held of the king in chief, and long before his death, viz. on 1 June, 2 Henry V, by the name of Gilbert, lord Talbot, knight, granted it to Richard Talbot, clerk, his brother, William Stanley the elder, knight, John Hanmere, James Holte and Walter Wodeborn and their heirs and assigns, and they were seised of it and continued their estate in it during his life, without licence, and the manor has been taken into the king’s hands on that account; the king, for 40l. paid in the hanaper, pardons the trespasses in this.
1423, June 21. Westminster.
William de Stanley of Hoton in Wyrall, co. Chester, knight, for not appearing before the said Richard Norton and his fellows to answer touching (1) a plea of debt of 9l. 17s. 10d. broght by Peter Thornlay, and (2) a plea of debt of 8l. 11s. 10d. brought against him, in the name of William de Stanlee of the county of Chester, knight, by John Broker, citizen and skinner of London. London.
References
Carr, A.D. “Gwilym ap Gruffydd and the Rise of the Penrhyn Estate” in The Welsh History Review vol. 15, no. 1, 1990.
Jones, Michael K. “Sir William Stanley of Holt: Politics and Family Allegiance in the Late-Fifteenth Century” in The Welsh History Reivew vol.14, no. 1. 1988.
The Rylands Charters indexed at https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/29f0299f-5da1-342a-97a8-be3f70529866
Taylor, Henry. “On some early Deeds relating to the familes of Hoton of Hooton, and Stanley of Storeton and Hooton” in Journal of the Chester Archaeological and Historical Society vol. VI part II (1899).