John STANLEY

Family/Spouse: Susan LANCOCK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of John Stanley and Susan Lancock

Notes:

Name:
He probably arrived in May, 1634, (Love's Colonial History of Hartford, p. 2), though he is generally said to have come from London in the ship "Planter", 1635 and registered at the Custom House as 16; but this evidently refers to someone else of the same name, for he was much older. He and his brother Timothy were made Freemen of Massachusetts, March 4, 1634/5. His wife was born in 1609 and he was Deputy to the General Court from Lynn, Sep. 2, 1635, when the removal to Connecticut was decided upon. Moreover, he came with his brothers, John and Timothy who did not come in the "Planter." At Hartford he was Constable in the years 1644, 48 and 53. He joined the first party for the settlement of Hartford, known as the "Adventurers," who went the year before the main body of Mr. Hooker's congregation. He had been chosen Constable at Lynn and was fined 10 shillings at a Court held in Salem, for not being present June 27, 1636. He was an original proprietor at Hartford and his home lot in 1639 was on what is now Main Street just north of Little River, extending to the present Center Church. He removed to Hadley in 1659 and it has been said he was Townsman there but his name is not included in the list of Hadley's Selectmen.

Though a young man at this time, Mr. Stanley soon took an important position in the affairs of the town. He was a juryman in 1639 and 1643, and a constable in 1644, 1647, 1648, and 1653. This office was then one of the most responsible in the settlement, combining the duties of the modern sheriff and policeman, and being charged in general with preserving the order and decorum of the place. it devolved on him to summon the courts, General and Particular, to their sessions, and the freemen to their elections, to execute the decrees of the courts and the laws, to enforce order in public worship, to arrest and confine offenders, to administer the frequent whippings which were ordered in punishment of petty crimes, inflicting so many lashes "well laid on," a duty requiring a steady nerve and a strong arm.

In the year 1659, Thomas Stanley and his family, with some others, removed from Hartford, and commenced a new settlement at Hadley, Mass.

Though Thomas Stanley and his family removed from Hartford, he did not dispose of his house and lands there. At his death he left them to his only son, Nathaniel, who after the de3cease of his mother, returned and made his home there. They remained in the line of his descendants until they were bequeathed by his grandson William to the second church in1726. He died January 31, 1663, and was buried at Hadley. His will which is on record in Northampton, gives us interesting particulars as to his home and his family.

Thomas married Benedicta TRITTON on 3 Aug 1630. Benedicta was born on 30 Jul 1609 in Parish Reg., Ashford, Kent, England; died in Jan 1664/5. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Timothy married Elizabeth ?England. Elizabeth was born about 1603; died on 23 Feb 1679 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
There were three children but the youngest was dead before the order of the General Court of March 3, 1635 was made, as this resolution disposing of the estate of the father shows: "Whereas John Stanley dyed intestate, in the way to Newe England, & lefte three children vndisposed of, the youngest whereof is since disceased--." (Col. Rec. of Mass., vol. I, p. 134.) One uncle, Thomas Stanley agreed to bring up John and he became his adopted son. timothy, the other brother of the deceased agreed to take care of Ruth. Both John and Ruth were married the same day, it is said, but this statement may be wrong. In the case of John the records reads: "was maryed vnto Sary Scott the fif ( )th of descember one Thousaind Six hundreth forty & fiue." The letters missing in the brackets were probably "teen" making the word fifteen whereas Ruth was married on the fifth.

Family/Spouse: ? UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]