Lord of Stanlegh.
Events
Date of Birth: Probably about 1250.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The estimated date is given by Irvine.
Date of Death: Probably about 1322.
Place of Death: unknown.
The estimated date is given by Irvine.
Relationships
Father: Walter de Stanley.
This relationship is given by the Complete Peerage (12/1:247).
Mother: unknown.
Spouse: Joan, daughter of Philip de Baumville. Married 27 September 1282 at Astbury, Cheshire, at a banquet given by William’s uncle, Master John de Stanley, rector of Astbury.
This relationship is given by the Complete Peerage (12/1:247). It is supported by a pedigree recorded in 1361 contained within Chester Plea Roll No. 67. 35 E.3. m. 98, recording a suit of quo warranto to show William’s grandson William de Stanley’s claim to the hereditary forestership of Wirral (Wrottesley p. 149). It is also supported by an inquisition taken after the death of Joan’s father (CIPM vol. 2, no. 512).
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
John de Stanley possibly married Mabel, daughter of Sir James Hausket.
Adam de Stanley.
Evidence
On William’s marriage:
Philip de Baumvill alias de Baunvile.
Writ to brother Robert de Valle Regali, escheator in co. Chester, 4 Feb. 12 Edw. I.
Chester.
Inq. Thursday after St. Peter in Cathedra, 12 Edw. I.
Storton. 2 carucates land in demesne, a windmill, a watermill, and 9l. 3s. 11d. rent of assize there, 2s. rent in Weyeleye, and 12d. rent in Makelisfeld, held of the king in chief by service of keeping the king's forest of Wyrhal' as chief forester, which office is worth 4l. yearly beyond costs.
His daughters, Joan aged 20, Ellen aged 9, and Agnes aged 8, are his next heirs.
Writ of plenius certiorari whether the said Joan contracted marriage 'per verba de presenti' with William de Stanleye, as is said, and whether before or after her father's death, and before whom, and in what words, 27 Feb. 12 Edw. I.
Chester.
Inq. Saturday after St. Chad, 12 Edw. I.
Cradoc de Greves sworn and examined says that William de Stanleghe contracted marriage with the abovesaid Joan, saying 'Joan I give thee my troth to have and hold thee for my lawful wife to my life's end,' and the said Joan gave him her troth by like words; it was before the death of the said Philip, on Sunday after St. Matthew two years ago, before Adam de Hoton and Dawe de Coupeland, at the church of Asteburi; for the said Philip, his wife and family, were at a banquet (convivium) of Master John de Stanleghe, and Joan doubting that her father would marry her to a son of her stepmother, on that occasion accepted the said William as her husband. Robert de Bebinton and many others agree; Adam de Hoton, Dawe de Coupelaund and others agree, except as to the form of words used, viz.—'I William take thee Joan as my lawful wife, and thereto give thee my troth,' and the said Joan replied 'I Joan take thee William as my lawful husband.'
(CIPM vol. 2, no. 512)
Such an exchange of vows constituted a legal marriage in the Middle Ages (“sponsalia per verba praesenti”). No ceremony was necessary.
Fines (abstracted by Chris Philips. I am not sure that these are related to the same family):
References
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and other analogous documents preserved in the Public Record Office. Volume II. Edward I. (London, 1906).
Cokayne, George Edward, and Vicary Gibbs; et al. The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant [2nd ed.]. (London: St. Catherine Press, 1910-59).
W. Fergusson Irvine. “The Early Stanleys” in Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Vol. 105, 1953.
Wrottesley, George. Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls:collected from the pleadings in the various courts of law A.D. 1200 to 1500, from the original rolls in the Public Records Office (1905).