John Stanley 1423-1474

Before 1423 [his father] Thomas Stanley [aged 30] and [his mother] Matilda Arderne [aged 26] were married.

In 1423 [his mother] Matilda Arderne [aged 26] died at Elford, Staffordshire.

In 1423 John Stanley was born to Thomas Stanley [aged 30] and Matilda Arderne [aged 26] at Elford, Staffordshire.

After 1423. St Peter's Church, Elford [Map]. Monument to John Stanley. Early Plate Bascinet Period. Maiden's Face Buckle. Eagle and Baby Crest; the legend associated with Sir John's descent from his ancestor, Sir Thomas Latham, whose wanted his barren wife to adopt his illegitimate son so he placed the baby in a nearby eagle's nest. His wife was delighted with this 'miracle' and took the child as her own.

Historic England states ... "Knight of circa 1370, alabaster, with bogus Gothic inscription by Richardson to Sir John Stanley, died 1474".

Mark Downing, President of the Church Monuments Society states on FB ... My research concludes c.1410. On a modern alabaster tomb-chest in the north-east corner of the south aisle. Stebbing Shaw quotes the inscription and expenses by Humphrey Stanley who probably acquired the effigy from a dissolved monastic house, with the inscription added c.1540 by possibly a Burton-on-Trent workshop. Restored and re-cut by Richardson in 1848/49. He states that he renewed the eagle crest, parts of the basinet, aventail, left arm, gauntlets, grip of the dagger, rowel spurs, spur straps, first part of the inscription and tomb-chest. Inscription on the right side of the slab: Orate pro aia d'ni Joh'is Stanley milit quondam d'ni de pype clyfton caumpuyle elforde et stotfolde et hui' Cantarie et capelle fundator' Anno d'ni Mil'simo CCCCMO Septuagesimo quarto. It is worth commenting that the rapier sword was not introduced until the sixteenth century and that this sword was cut into the slab when the inscription was added.

Humphrey Stanley: Around 1450 he was born to John Stanley and Elizabeth Vernon at Pipe, Staffordshire. On 19th March 1505 Humphrey Stanley died.

In 1428 John Stanley [aged 5] and Cecilia Arderne [aged 5] were married. They were third cousins.

Around 1445 [his daughter] Alice Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 22] and [his future wife] Elizabeth Vernon [aged 18]. She married in or before 1476 John Melton 9th Baron Lucy and had issue.

Around 1447 [his son] John Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 24] and [his wife] Cecilia Arderne [aged 24] at Elford, Staffordshire. He married Anne Hanford and had issue.

After 1447 John Stanley [aged 24] and Elizabeth Vernon [aged 20] were married. They were half fourth cousins.

Around 1450 [his son] Humphrey Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 27] and [his wife] Elizabeth Vernon [aged 23] at Pipe, Staffordshire.

In 1450 John Stanley [aged 27] was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1459 John Stanley [aged 36] was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1460 [his daughter] Isabel Stanley was born to John Stanley [aged 37] and [his wife] Elizabeth Vernon [aged 33]. She married in or before 1484 Hugh Peshall.

In 1463 [his father] Thomas Stanley [aged 70] died. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Elford [Map].

In 1465 John Stanley [aged 42] was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1469 John Stanley [aged 46] was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

After 4th August 1471 [his former wife] Elizabeth Vernon [deceased] died at Clifton, Cheshire [Map].

In 1474 John Stanley [aged 51] died.