Events
Date of Birth: about 1337.
Place of Birth: unknown.
The date is given by Irvine.
Date of Death: 18 June 1398.
Place of Death: unknown.
The date is given by Irvine. William’s inquisition post mortem states that William died on the Tuesday following the feast of Saint Barnabas. In 1398, the feast of Saint Barnabas (June 11) fell on a Tuesday. The writ “de diem clausit extremum” is dated 18 June 1398.
Relationships
Father: William de Stanley.
This relationship is given by Irvine. It is recorded in the Black Prince’s register.
Mother: Alice Mascy.
This relationship is given by Bennett (ODNB) and by Coward (p. 3). The Complete Peerage (12/1:247 fn m) suggests that the marriage to a Mascy may have actually taken place in an earlier generation. Irvine states that there is no satisfactory evidence for this marriage.
Spouse: Matilda.
I think this relationship is recorded in the entry from 1400 in the Calendar of Patent Rolls below.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
William de Stanley (born before 1362 - died before 1368)
Sir William de Stanley (about 1368 - 2 February 1427/8) married Margery de Hoton.
Evidence
from the Black Prince’s Register:
1360, June 21. London.
Order to the same, –in pursuance of an inquisition taken by him shewing that William son of William Stanley is next heir of the said William, and of full age, – to remove the prince’s hand clean from the lands late of the said William and the bailiwick of the forest of Wirhalle which were seized into the prince’s hand on his death, and deliver them to the said heir.
Be it remembered that on 21 June William de Stanley did homage and fealty to the prince for the lands which he claims to hold of the prince in the county of Cestre for an eighth part of a knight’s fee, and acknowledged that he holds of the prince (1) the bailiwick of the forestership of Wirhalle by the service of being the prince’s forester in that forest with his under-foresters, taking for himself and them certain profits in the forest for the keeping thereof, and (2) a third part of the manor of Storton by the service of an eighth part of a knight’s fee. And thereupon he had a letter to the escheator (as above) and another letter ordering the escheator not to distrain him any more for homage and fealty.
from the Ryland Charters:
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1299
RYCH/1299
Wirral and Shotwick
22 Jan 1365
Writ of Edward, Prince of Wales, to William de Stanlegh [Stanley], forester of the forest of Wyrhale [Wirral], ordering him to levy money due from numerous named persons, etc., for cattle in the forest, etc.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1300
RYCH/1300
Wirral and Shotwick
27 Apr 1368
Writ of Edward, Prince of Wales, to William de Stanlegh [Stanley], keeper of the park of Shotewyk' [Shotwick], ordering him to deliver to Richard de Ercall, his master carpenter, material for the repair of the manor of Shotewyk'.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1301
RYCH/1301
Wirral and Shotwick
19 Aug 1371
Writ of Edward, Prince of Wales, to William de Stanlegh [Stanley], keeper of the park of Shotewyk' [Shotwick], ordering him to deliver to Robert de Dokenfeld two oaks for palings.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1439
RYCH/1439
Storeton
9 Feb 1373
Surrender by Cecily, widow of John de Norreys, to William de Stanlegh, of dower lands in Mikelstorton and Lytelstorton [Great Storeton and Little Storeton].
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1302
RYCH/1302
Wirral and Shotwick
12 Feb 1373
Writ of Edward, Prince of Wales, to William de Stanlegh [Stanley], keeper of the park of Shotewyk' [Shotwick], ordering him to deliver to Roger Gille and William Jonet an oak for the repair of a fishpond, called 'le Flodyord', leased by them.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1303
RYCH/1303
Wirral and Shotwick
25 Apr 1374
Writ of Edward, Prince of Wales, to William de Stanlegh [Stanley], keeper of the park of Shotewyk' [Shotwick], to permit Richard Dounfoull, Edward de Coghull and William Savage to take away underwood, etc., which they had bought.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1575
RYCH/1575
Bebington
25 Feb 1375
Grant by Thomas de Bacford of Bebynton [Bebington] to Ellen le Wayte and Nicholas de Stanlegh [Stanley], bastard, with remainder to William de Stanlegh the elder.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1673
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.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1799
RYCH/1799
Stanley
14 Jan 1376
Grant by William de Stanlegh the elder, to William, his son, and Margery, daughter of William de Hoton.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1337
RYCH/1337
The Wirral
12 Nov 1376
Letters patent of Edward III, King of England, concerning certain concessions made to William de Stanlegh [Stanley] after the deafforestation of Wirhale [Wirral].
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1441
RYCH/1441
Storeton
13 Jan 1377
Record of the claims of William de Stanlegh the elder, for court leet, etc., for the manor of Storeton.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1442
RYCH/1442
Storeton
n.d. [1381]
Writ to the sheriff of Cheshire concerning the complaint of William de Stanley the elder, Geoffrey de Perburn, and Alicia, his wife, against Robert de Bebynton. Witness: 'Teste Johanne de la Pole, Justiciario nostro Cestr' apud Cestr', xxx die Maii anno regni nostri quarto.'
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1320
RYCH/1320
Mollington
25 Sep 1382
Bond of William de Stanley the elder, and of William, his son, to Hugh de ffaryngton, clerk, made in the exchequer at Chester.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1851
RYCH/1851
Wichmalbank
9 Oct 1383
Quitclaim by Henry de Delves to Robert de Scwynnarton, knight, John de Haukeston, William de Stanley, Henry de Beston', and William de Praers of Badilegh [Baddiley], of a recognizance for the sum of £200 made by the said Robert, etc., at Wichmalbank [Wich Malbank, Nantwich].
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1319
RYCH/1319
Mollington
21 Mar 1384
Mandate from the official of the Archdeacon of Chester to the vicar of the parish church of Sondbache [Sandbach], etc., to warn those who had cut down and destroyed certain trees of William de Stanlegh at Haseldene in Bechynton [Haseldene in Hassall, Sandbach parish] that within fifteen days they should make restitution under penalty of excommunication, 'pulsatis campanis, candelis accensis et extinctis ac cruce in manibus erecta'.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1271
RYCH/1271
Burton
9 Nov 1385
Surrender by William de Stanley the elder to Wynian de Foxwist of lands in Prenton.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1414
RYCH/1414
Storeton
18 Jun 1389
Lease by William de Stanley the elder to Richard de Staundon, clerk, of land in Claverton.
http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-rych/rych/1823
RYCH/1823
Storeton
24 Feb 1396
Receipt for dower from Cecily, widow of Richard de Bechinton, to William de Stanley the elder.
from the Recognizance Rolls of Chester (DKPR, vol. 36):
1382, June 26
William de Stanley, appointment of, by the King, during pleasure, as keeper of the advowries of Chester, the said William to receive all the profits and to render 10l. yearly for the same.
1385-8
William de Stanley, keeper of the park of Shotwick.
1387, Nov. 30
William de Stanley, senior, William de Stanley, junior, and Robert del Heth, mainprise John Coly before Thomas de Molyneux, vice-justice of Chester
1389, April 7
William de Stanley, senior, Ralph de Dynbiegh, John de Martynescroft, and John de Neuton, mainprise John Altecar, clerk, to keep the peace towards William de Brumburgh, parson of the church of Aldeford.
1396, April 12
William de Stanley, senior, to the King, recognizance for 9 marks.
1396-7, March 14
William de Stanley, senior, and Thomas de Shordeley, of Chester, taillor, to Richard de Briddesmere, parson of Wodechirch, recognizance for 10l.
1397, May 14
William de Stanley, senior, to the King, recognizance for 11s. in exoneration of Henry le Bruyn and Richard de Prestlond, late bailiffs of the hundred of Wirrall, in the time of John de Olton, late sheriff of Chester, for the value of certain goods of Simon del Twys outlawed for felony.
1397, Sept. 16
William de Stanley, senior, armiger, grant to, by the King, of an annuity, for life, of 20 marks, in recompense for the loss sustained by the said William as hereditary bailiff of the forest of Wirrall, on the de-afforestation of the said forest.
1397, Dec. 22
William de Stanley, senior, finds sureties for his good behaviour, viz., William de Stanley, junior, John de Bebynton, of Chester, George de Caryngton, and Peter de Legh.
1398, June 18.
William de Stanley, senior, writ “diem clausit extremum” on the death of.
from the Calendar of the Patent Rolls:
1389, March 5, Westminster.
Pardon to John Banastre of Faryngton, co. Lancaster, for breaking prison at the castle of Winchester where he had been placed in irons after arrest at Henle in le Heth on suspicion, when staying with Robert de Veer, late duke of Lieland, of having, at his command, with others, abducted Agnes Lanchecron, late damsel of the queen's chamber. by p.s.
The like to William de Stanley, of Wyrhale, co. Chester.
1397, September 16, Westminster
Grant to William Stanley the elder, until the forest of Wirhale, co. Chester, is re-afforested, or until further order, of 20 marks a year at the exchequer of Chester, in consideration of his being disinherited, as he asserts, of his bailiwick of forester thereof, of which he and his ancestors have been possessed of fee and right by prescription, until he was removed per altum dominium on account of the disafforestation of that forest, without due process of law. By p.s.
1400, February 16, Westminster
Grant for life of the king's alms to Matilda Stanley, late the wife of William Stanley, esquire, who has come to such poverty that she cannot maintain her estate, of 2d. daily at the Exchequer. By p.s.
from Ormerod (vol. ii, pr. 411):
By Inq.p.m. 21 Ric.II. this William de Stanley [called senior] died seized of the manor of Storeton, and lands in Great Meols, [Tranmere,] Chorleton, Congleton, Bechton, and Honbrugge, [and also of a rent of 46s. and an annuity of 20 marks]. William de Stanley son and heir, [etatis 30 annor’ & ampl’ die martis prox’ post festum Sc’i Barnabe Apl’i ultio praeteritium, quo die p’fatus Will’s de S. senior’ obiit.
from the Lancashire VCH (3:sub Aughton):
[Henry de Litherland] in 1361 gave a yearly rent of £20 from his lands in Aughton to William de Stanley and Agnes his wife, the widow of John de Lascelles. Eight years later William de Stanley gave to Agnes de Beckington, formerly wife of Henry de Litherland, lands in Wallasey, while Agnes gave to William lands she had in Storeton in Wirral.
A deed from Taylor (p. 194):
XII
TO ALL those who shall see or hear this writing William son of William son of John de Stanley of Wyrhale the elder greeting in God. Know ye that I by this writing have released granted & confirmed and for me and my heirs quitclaimed to William de Hoton and to his heirs for ever all manner of putures profits rents and moneys for putures and all manner of charges whatsoever by reason of putnres which I or my ancestors in any wise had to take and were wont to receive of the said William de Hoton or of his ancestors due from their lands and tenements in the town of Hoton with the appurtenances in Wyrhale So that [neither] I the aforesaid William son of William son of John nor my heirs may henceforth claim or demand any putures profits rents moneys for putures or by reason of putures from the lands and tenements aforesaid or from any parcel thereof but by this writing be excluded for ever AND the aforesaid William de Hoton and his heirs may have and can hold the aforesaid lands and tenements with the appurtenances quit and discharged of putures profits rents and moneys for putures or by reason of putures by me or my heirs to be claimed or demanded for ever. IN WITNESS whereof to this writing I have set my seal. Given at Storton the Tuesday next before the feast of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist in the first year of the reign of King Richard the Second after the Conquest.
References
Bennett, Michael J. “Sir John Stanley (c. 1350-1414) in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography v. 52.
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).
Coward, Barry. The Stanleys, Lords Stanley and Earls of Derby 1385-1672. Volume 30 of Remains Historical and Literary Connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester, Third Series. (Manchester: Chetham Society, 1983).
Earwaker, J. P. (John Parsons). East Cheshire, past and present, or, A history of the hundred of Macclesfield in the county Palatine of Chester - from original records. (London: Printed for the Author, 1878-1880).
A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3 (William Farrer, ed.) (Victoria County Histories, 1907)
Irvine, W. Fergusson. “The Early Stanleys” in Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Vol. 105, 1953.
Ormerod, George; Peter Leycester; William Smith; William Webb; and Thomas Helsby. The history of the county palatine and city of Chester: compiled from original evidences in public offices, the Harleian and Cottonian mss., parochial registers, private muniments, unpublished ms. collections of successive Cheshire antiquaries, and a personal survey of every township in the county, incorporated with a republication of King's Vale royal and Leycester's Cheshire antiquities. (London: G. Routledge, 1882).
The Register of Edward the Black Prince preserved in the Public Record Office Part III (Palatinate of Chester) A.D. 1351-1365 (London, 1932).
Taylor, Henry. “On some early Deeds relating to the families of Hoton of Hooton, and Stanley of Storeton and Hooton” in the Journal of the Architectural, Archaeological and Historic Society for the County and the City of Chester and North Wales, new series vol. vi. (1899).
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).