The entries for people & families with the surname Stansfield are gathered together in this SideTrack.
This Page does not include people with other forms of the surname.
The entries for people with the surname Stansfield – and similar surnames – are shown in a separate Foldout
The individuals listed are not necessarily related to each other.
All people with the surname Stansfeld or Stansfield who trace their ancestors back to Calderdale, originate from the one family, and the first member of this family to have the surname was John de Stansfeld.
This family's original surname was Stansfeld and this spelling seemed to predominate until around 1550, then the name changed from Stansfeld through Stansfeild to finally settle as Stansfield. This change also occurred to other surnames ending in ...feld.
In the 17th century, to differentiate themselves from the rest, the Sowerby branch of the family decided to revert to the original Stansfeld, and their descendants retain that spelling to the present day.
Being an ancient family, the Stansfields have a great number of descendants, and frequently inter-married with other local families.
The various researchers have contributed generously to the entries here, though their versions of the names, dates and relationships of these descendants may conflict at some point.
Although there may be some errors / inaccuracies, the information here will give the general reader some idea of who the family were and what they achieved through the generations
In 1831, he was accused of supplying the paper which was used by a
gang involved in forging large quantities of bank-notes of the Bank
of England and several other English and Irish Banks.
The gang – around 16 men in number – operated in Manchester, Bolton
and Liverpool.
The counterfeiting had been going on for around 28 years.
During the trial, Stansfield tried 3 times to cut his own
throat with a blunt pen-knife.
He subsequently called for help and was attended by a doctor and
recovered
In 1819, he was declared bankrupt.
He was still at the mill in 1834
Born at Hugeon Croft near Shore, Todmorden.
He was a handloom weaver and wrote poetry to support his family.
He was famous as a botanist and gardener
Born in Midgley.
Baptised at Luddenden Church [1819].
He was
a worsted weaver [1841] /
a weaver [1845] /
a hand loom weaver [1851] /
a cotton warp dresser [1861] /
a cotton warper [1871] /
a warp dresser [1881].
In 1845, he married Grace [1821-1???] at Halifax Parish Church.
She was a hand loom weaver [1851]
Children:
The family lived at
He never married.
He lived at Vale Cottage working with his father as a
nurseryman and seedsman.
He moved to Kersal Moor Nursery in Broughton, Lancashire where he was
a nurseryman and florist with over 3 acres of land.
About 1908/1911, he completed, edited and published the book
entitled The Flora of Todmorden which was compiled by his
father and John Nowell, with a list of The Birds of
Todmorden compiled by Walter Greaves
During World War II,
he served with the Royal Horse Artillery.
He died in the conflict.
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
Born in Hebden Bridge.
He was
a member of Cross Lanes United Methodist Chapel, Hebden Bridge & Sunday School /
a weaver of Heptonstall Road, Heptonstall [1903] /
a cotton weaver [1911] /
a weaver with Roger Shackleton & Company.
In 1903, he married Edith Shackleton [1881-19??] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at 21 Calder Place, Hebden Bridge [1911].
During World War I,
he enlisted at Hebden Bridge [22nd June 1916], and served
with the Durham Light Infantry
and
Cycle Corps,
then
he served as a Private
with the 16th Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers.
He was hospitalised for 3 months after hurting himself in a
bomb-throwing exercise during training.
He was killed in an air raid [21st October 1917], the first recorded
such death of a local man
He was buried at the Zuydcoote Military Cemetery [II A 18].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Cross Lanes United Methodist Chapel.
His brother Joseph also died in the War
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 1st/8th Battalion
Lancashire Fusiliers.
He died 7th August 1915 (aged 21).
He is remembered on the Helles Memorial [58-72 / 218-219],
and in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
Like others in her family, she was interested in botany.
She married (1) Thomas Gaukroger.
She married (2) Thomas Mitchell.
They lived at Vale Cottage, Todmorden, where Ann died.
She was buried at Christ Church, Todmorden
Her body was found in the canal.
Her husband, Fred Stansfield, later found a letter from his
wife
During World War II,
he served with the Royal Artillery.
He died in the conflict.
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
He was an insurance agent [1909].
In [Q2] 1909, he married Nellie Thomas in Halifax.
Nellie died 28th June 1949.
Arthur died 13th December 1950
Son and heir of James Stansfield.
He was
at University College Oxford [1619],
admitted to Gray's Inn [1621],
a barrister at law at Gray's Inn [1629],
and
a barrister at Wakefield
He (possibly) married Miss Speight, daughter of Philemo
Speight of Earls Heaton, Dewsbury.
Children:
He married Frances Henrietta.
Children:
See
James Bracewell
He became a Leeds cloth merchant.
He built Hope Hall.
He was a subscriber to the publication of Watson's History.
He was (possibly) a Trustee of Northgate End Chapel [1757].
In 1748, he married Ellen Aldred [17??-1755]
at Burton Chapel.
Children:
5 including
There is a memorial window for him in Heptonstall Church
He had business as a leather currier.
He traded in Macclesfield and Salford before establishing business on
Commercial Street, Brighouse [1855].
He was a greengrocer with his son John Edwin Stansfield [1870]
He was at No. 17 Commercial Street, Brighouse [1871]
Son of John Stansfield.
In 1714, he married Mary, daughter of John Farrer.
Children:
Son of Henry Stansfield.
He was a cordwainer.
On 8th June 1747, he married Mary Parkinson [1717-1798].
Children:
Ely died between 1792 and 1798 in Hipperholme.
Mary was buried at Coley Church
Born at Warley.
He was a cordwainer.
On 30th April 1789, he married Sarah Starkey [1769-1831] at
Huddersfield.
Children:
He lived at Hipperholme, until, about 1795, the family moved to
Huddersfield where he opened a shoe making, and later, a general
retailing business.
The timing of this move appears to have related to the death of his
father.
He was a boot & shoemaker at Manchester Street, Huddersfield [1822].
By 1828, he is listed as:
From 1828 to 1838, his sons William and Thomas are
listed as boot and shoe makers in Manchester Street and later in New
Street, Huddersfield.
Ely died in Huddersfield.
Son, William, later became a farmer, and appears in 1851
census with 13 acres
He was
a member of Salem Wesleyan Church, Hebden Bridge & School /
a cricketer with Heptonstall Slack & Salem teams /
employed by Greenwood & Pickles.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 22nd Battalion
London Regiment.
The Halifax Courier [28th October 1916] reports him with
the Royal Fusiliers.
He died 8th October 1916 (aged 20).
He was buried at the Warlencourt British Cemetery [VIII G 3]
Fred took over as beerhouse keeper at the Victoria & Albert, Boothtown [1905].
Fred died on 27th January 1909.
In April 1909, Hannah Rebecca married Sam Drake
He married Clara.
They lived at 3 Saxon Street, Walsden.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 15th Battalion
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He died 4th August 1917 (aged 32).
He was buried at the Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Belgium [V F 20].
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).
He died 5th May 1915.
He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial [20],
and in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
Baptised at All Souls' Church, Halifax [6th August 1899]
He was an overlooker with Rouse Brothers at Bowling Dyke Mill
[1914].
He lived at 63 Woodside View, Boothtown.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 15th Battalion
Durham Light Infantry.
He was killed in action [10th September 1918] (aged 19).
He was buried at the Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery [V F 13].
He is remembered on the Memorial at Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Saint Thomas the Apostle, Claremount
Born in Todmorden.
He worked for his father in Vale Nurseries.
He was
an Associate in Arts of Oxford University /
a nurseryman and gardener.
He married Jane Lee.
Children:
After his marriage, he moved to Sale in Cheshire
He married Unknown.
Children:
During the Peninsular War, he served with the 16th Queen's Light
Dragoons.
He was present at the Battle of Waterloo.
He married Susannah [1790-1840].
Children:
George died 1st January 1832 (aged 58).
Susannah died 8th September 1840 (aged 50).
Members of the family were buried at St Paul's Church, Cross Stone
Of Todmorden.
During World War II,
he served as a Private
with the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
attached to the
7th Battalion
Parachute Regiment A. A. C.
He died 7th April 1945 (aged 18).
He was buried at the Celle War Cemetery [3 F 1].
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
Of Todmorden.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 20th Battalion
Manchester Regiment.
He died 28th August 1916 (aged 21).
He was buried at the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension [I A 32].
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
He became Keeper of the Department of Botany at Liverpool University.
In 1936, he published a Handbook Guide to the herbarium collections
in Liverpool Museums.
The book also included a biography of W. H. Stansfield
He lived at Park House, Halifax [1874]
He married Diones Thornhill.
Children:
The above entry has been taken from a pedigree:
No evidence has been found to support it.
In this period the surname was Stansfeld; it was much later
that it evolved into Stansfield
Ralph de Stansfeld appears in documents in the 1350s
The senior person of the Stansfeld family in this generation was
William de Stansfeld
Sir Bryan de Thornhill appears in documents from the 1330s
He became a tailor.
On 19th 9 June 1692, he married Elizabeth Hanson [1675-1753]
from Halifax.
Children:
He was a Mason.
On 19th October 1730, he married Anne Bradley [1???-1747].
Children:
He was buried in wool on 16th November 1773
On 26th April 1761, he married Mary Wilson [17??-1766].
He went to live at Ovenden.
He was buried after 1766
Born in Todmorden.
He was educated at boarding school at East Hardwick, Yorkshire [1871].
He moved to Pontefract where he was a nurseryman employing 5 people.
He moved to Sale in Cheshire where he was a nurseryman (his brother
Frederick had been there previously).
He married (1) Betsy.
Children:
He married (2) Sarah.
Children:
Born at 9 Railway Street, Todmorden [March 1891].
He was a cotton weaver.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 7th Battalion
East Lancashire Regiment.
He died 31st July 1917 (aged 26).
He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium [34],
and in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
He was Bailiff of the Manor of Halifax [1590]
He held lands in Stansfield, Hartshead and Mirfield.
He married (1) Margaret Lacy.
He married (2) Alice Barker [1???-1638].
Children:
He died in London.
His Inquisition Post Mortem is dated 1603
In 1614, James leased land in Hartshead to William
Ashton of The Ashton Family.
In 1617/18, deeds from James and Elizabeth Stansfeld
to Theophilus Ashton of Grayes Inn, of certain closes and
messuages in Stansfeld for 8 years at a rent of a grain of pepper.
James sold most of the family possessions – including
Stansfield Hall – to John Pilling.
In 1612, he sold Hartshead Hall.
He married Elizabeth Holden.
Children:
He was buried at St Paul's Church, Cross Stone
He married Unknown [16??-1690].
The couple were buried at Heptonstall Church
In 1789, he married Christiana Cooper.
Children:
He died intestate with goods under £100
See
Todmorden Flood Relief Fund
Children:
The family lived at Todmorden [1916]
He was (possibly) one of the subscribers to John Horner's book Buildings in the Town & Parish of Halifax [1835]
Born in Todmorden.
He married Salley [1816-19??].
Children:
He was a plasterer.
On 22nd January 1872, he married Mary Lumb in Halifax
Children:
The children were born in Warley, and baptised at St Mary's Church,
Luddenden
He was cotton weaver.
In 1872, he married Mary Marshall [1850-1914] in Todmorden.
Children:
The children were born in Todmorden.
The family lived at
Born in Norland.
He was
a labourer in brick yard living at 9 Leopold Street, Halifax with William Procter [1901] /
a brickyard labourer [1905] /
a cotton spinner of Baldwin's Yard, Warley [1905].
In 1905, he married Emma Jane Horne [1878-1958] at Halifax Parish Church.
They lived at
He enlisted [15th May 1906]
with the 3rd Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment.
He was discharged [14th May 1912] at the end of his term of service.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 2nd Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment.
He died 9th April 1917.
He was buried at the Neuville-Vitasse Road Cemetery [B 7].
He is remembered on the World War I Memorial in Sowerby Church.
In 1919, Emma married George H Dewhirst.
They lived at East Longley, Norland
He was a cart driver [1874].
On 18th June 1874, he married Lucy Sunderland [1855-1919].
Children:
The children were born in Hebden Bridge.
The family lived at
Sons Albert & Joseph died in World War I
In [Q2] 1921, he married Sarah Jane Mell [1???-19??] in Goole.
Children:
The family lived at Todmorden [1945]
He lived at Ewood House, Todmorden.
He owned Lineholme Mill
He married Unknown.
Children:
They owned Hartley Royd
Son of Josiah Stansfeld.
He married (1) Eliza Hirst [16??-1689] from Adswood Hall,
Cheshire [1681].
Children:
In 1690, he married (2) Anna Bathe from Booth.
Children:
In 1788, he had an illegitimate daughter Harriet by Mary Hollinrake
He married Sally [1748-1821].
Children:
Members of the family were buried at St Paul's Church, Cross Stone
He was
a member of the Todmorden & Walsden Select Vestry [1838] /
a trustee at Cloughfoot Chapel [1851] /
weaver and farmer of 60 acres at Moorhey Farm, Todmorden.
In 1807, he married (1) Sarah Fielden [17??-1808].
They had no children.
Around 1812, he married (2) Mary.
Children:
He was buried at Cloughfoot Independent Congregational Chapel
Born at Hipperholme.
He became a cordwainer and joined the family business.
When the family moved to Huddersfield he ran the shoe-making side of
his father's business.
In 1814, he married (1) Sarah Mellor.
Children:
He married (2) Hannah.
Children:
He died in Huddersfield
He married Betty, daughter of Joseph Barker.
Children:
The family lived at Carr Barn, Todmorden
He married Amelia Robinson.
Children:
Around 1825, he established business as a boot and shoemaker at
Rastrick.
The business was later at Commercial Street, Brighouse.
The business was taken over by his sons, Godfrey, then
Sowden, and finally his daughter.
The business continued until around 1938
He was active in establishing the Eaves Self-Help Manufacturers' Society
He married Sarah [1817-18??].
Children:
The family lived at Pad Laithe, Colden [1851]
He was an Attorney at Law.
He married Mary [1821-1895].
Children:
The family lived at
He was
a woolsorter [1851] /
professor of music [1861] /
licensed victualler at the Royal Hotel, Halifax [1871, 1874] /
licensed victualler & concert hall proprietor [1881] /
a retired innkeeper [1891] /
living on own means [1901].
Before 1856, he lived at the Church Tavern, Sowerby Bridge
and changed the name to the Musical Tavern.
Whilst he was at the Royal Hotel, Halifax, he also ran a music hall
in Leeds.
In [Q3] 1849, he married Sarah Ann Riley [1830-1???] in
Halifax.
She was a straw bonnet maker [1851]
Children:
Henrietta [1853-1922] who was a barmaid [1871] and married John William Smithies
and
an adopted daughter Martha Smith [b in Manchester 1861].
The family lived at
Living with them [in 1851] were father-in-law John Riley,
his wife and daughters.
Living with them in 1871 were
visitor Mrs Marie Roberts [aged 30] (born in Beverley)
and
8 servants (7 hotel employees and a professional singer).
John died at Mayfield Terrace, Halifax [19th April 1905].
Probate records show that he left an estate valued at £3,809 12/6d.
Probate was granted to
his widow Sarah Ann, and John William Smithies
He was a mason [1889].
He married (1) Unknown.
On 19th October 1889, he married (2) Sarah Hollas at Elland
Parish Church.
They had no children
He married Elizabeth [1831-1???].
Children:
The family lived at
He was
a woollen manufacturer [1851] /
a woollen manufacturer at Milner Royd Mills employing 81 hands [1881].
In March 1885, on account of bad debts, the business failed – with
debts of £6,929 7/10½d – and he was examined in Halifax
Bankruptcy Court.
On 22nd December 1853, he married (1) Harriet Taylor [1833-1874] at Halifax Parish Church.
Children:
Harriet died 17th September 1874 (aged 40)
(possibly) in childbirth.
In [Q3] 1875, he married (2) Mary Ann Carter [1845-1876] in Halifax.
Children:
Mary Ann died 12th July 1876 (aged 31)
shortly after giving birth.
The family lived at 6 Milner Royd, Sowerby Bridge [1881].
John died 12th March 1891 (aged 60).
Probate records show that he left a personal estate valued at £2,609 5/9d.
Probate was granted to son John Herbert
Members of the family were buried at Sowerby Bridge Cemetery
He was a greengrocer with his son father in Brighouse [1870].
He moved to run a greengrocery business in Hunslet, Leeds
He married Mary.
They lived at 21 Cambridge Street, Todmorden.
During World War I,
he served as a Private
with the 11th Battalion
East Yorkshire Regiment.
He died 9th September 1918 (aged 35).
He was buried at the La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck [III D 7].
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance
He lived at Walsden.
During World War I,
he enlisted in Todmorden, and
served as a Private
with the 15th Battalion
Lancashire Fusiliers.
He died of wounds [27th August 1918].
He was buried at the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension [VIII A 25].
He is remembered in the Todmorden Garden of Remembrance,
and on the Memorial at Oddfellows' Hall, Todmorden
Grace, born in Sowerby, was the daughter of weaver John
Broadbent.
Edith, of Mansfield Field Farm, Wadsworth, was the daughter
of John Shackleton, farmer
Dear Husband, I cannot live any longer.
It is no use you saying I don't stammer, I do and the knowledge makes
me miserable.
I feel quite worn out in mind and body.
Kindly think of me sometimes and forgive me, as I hope God will
forgive me.
You have been good to me, so don't think you are to blame at all; you
are not.
Good-bye
Your loving wife
Nellie was the daughter of John Thomas
Ellen was the daughter of Rev Timothy Aldred vicar of
Morley Leeds
Warley – to accompany Psalm 100
Sowerby – to accompany Psalm 98
Mary was the daughter of William Parkinson of
Lightcliffe
Sarah was the daughter of John Starkey of Cowcliffe,
Huddersfield, and brother of Joseph Starkey
Stansfield Eli & Sons, Shopkeepers and Dealers in Sundries in
Manchester Street, Huddersfield
Diones was the daughter of Brian Thornhill of
Thornhill
[Harleian MS 4630, folio 582] a Stansfield family pedigree
Elizabeth's family were leather workers and saddlers
Margaret was the daughter of John Lacy of Leventhorp
Alice was the daughter of Edmund Barker of Stansfield
Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert Holden of Holden
Hall, Lancashire
Mary was the daughter of Levi Lumb
Mary was born in Blackshaw Head
Emma Jane, of Browning Avenue, Southowram, was born in Halifax,
the daughter of William Horne, engine tenter
Lucy was born in Midgley
The 3 younger sons died without issue
All of whom died young
Hannah was the widow of Mr Hamer
Sarah was born in Heptonstall
Sarah Ann was the daughter of John Riley.
Sarah Ann was 49 years old, and the daughter of James Hollas