There is a large and impressive alabaster memorial tomb in Hunmanby Church. The inscription on the tomb reads “Tomb erected to the memory of Robert Staveley, died 1742, age 2. William Staveley died in Jamaica 1765 age 36 ( 1729 – 1765 ). This tomb was restored in 1900 by two great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter of William and Rosamund Staveley. They being:- The Right Hon. Alexander Staveley Hill Q.C. M.P.”

When I visited the church with my father back in 1992 he took one look at the dates and the connection with Jamaica and said “I hope they are nothing to do with our lot”! The business connections of this family, particularly the three brothers William, Richard and Luke had extensive and intricate trade connections with Jamaica that may or may not have been legitimate.

Interestingly, there is a reference to a Stavley Park in Jamaica on the Legacies of British Slavery website of the University College London. It reads: John Miller, merchant, born circa 1778 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, husband of Mary Robinson McCook, born Jamaica. Described also as a merchant in Kingston, Jamaica. Awarded compensation as co-owner of 3 enslaved persons in Kingston, Jamaica, and for 19 enslaved persons on Stavely Park in Jamaica as executor of Robert Hamilton. Could one of the Staveley family have founded this Stavely Park Estate?

I spent some time trying to add further detail to the research that Peter Staveley carried out. St Augustine the Less was a Church of England parish church in Bristol, England, first attested in 1240, rebuilt in 1480, damaged in 1940 by fire, and demolished in 1962. They do not appear to have any information relating to the marriage of William Staveley to Elizabeth Lee in 1781.

There is an interesting entry in the Jamaica baptism records in 1801 showing the birth of a daughter Ann to a Richard and Ann Staveley but nothing else before or after this date which gives us any indication as to what happened to them before or after this event.

Perhaps we will never know what really happened to the Staveley members that died in Jamaica. Their lives and involvement in trade, legal or otherwise whilst they were in Jamaica, may never be revealed to us. I have nothing more to add and I hope that one day someone can fill in the details for us.

Bristol & Jamaica connections

1773 – William Staveley pilot for the Port of Bristol

1779 – 23rd October – Ship “Polly” sailing from Jamaica to Bristol under Captain Staveley is captured by a French ship “The Monsieur”.

1781 – 30th December – Marriage of William Staveley to Elizabeth Lee at St Augustine the Less. Bristol.

1782 – 18th March – William Staveley, Captain of the Bristol Privateer “The Queen”.

Note: This William mentioned above may be the son of William Staveley (1729-1765), elder brother of Luke Staveley of Bridlington line who died in Jamaica aged 36 and who is recorded on the Hunmanby Church Monument. Note that on Jamaica records the surname is spelt Stavely.

Note: William (1729-1765 ) leaves a will dated 5th May 1766 which calls into question the death date of 1765. It is is extremely hard to read. It provides a wife with a yearly annuity of £4 and there is some reference to a provision for a Mary and Elizabeth which would probably be Luke’s wives. The will mentions his mother Rosamund as Rose and shares his property equally with his four brothers Richard, Thomas, Luke and Robert equally. There is also a reference to a Captain Croplon.

Additionally, two of Luke Staveleys sons from his first wife MARY FROUD – William (1765-1811) and Richard Staveley (1773 -1804) are both thought to have died in Jamaica.

Jamaica Staveley Records

1801 – Ann Staveley, daughter of Ann Jane Davison guardian (girl born?) by Richard Staveley was baptised 30th September in Kingston.

1804 – 10th June – Richard Stavely burial in Jamaica. He is listed as a clerk who died from fever. Perhaps he was keeping merchant records for his Staveley family business back home in England? Ref: Kingston Burial Records – Volume 2, page 310.

1811 – 3rd March – Ellen Frances Stavely – Mother and Father Stavely – Belonging to John Henry Barrett Esq. – Kingston Baptism Records – Volume 2, line 14, page 104.

1837 – 5th March – Dunwell Stavely- Christening. Parents:Stavely.
1839 – 14th April – Edward Stavely-Christening. Parents: Thomas & Olivia Stavely
1852 – 4th March – James Staveling – Baptism

Details from Peter Staveley Notes

On Oct 23 1779, the ship Polly, whilst sailing from Jamaica to Bristol under a Captain Stavely, was captured by the Monsieur, a French privateer, and carried into St Malo. (info. taken from The Belfast Newsletter, 29th October-2nd November 1779, p2.) This just may be the same Staveley skipper as the Queen above, some three years later.

The Marriage of William Staveley to Elizabeth Lee at St. Augustine the Less, Bristol on 30 Dec 1781. This is only Staveley event in Bristol I have ever found and suspect it is our skipper.

I also suspect this William may just possibly be a son (currently unrecorded) of William Staveley (1728-65), elder brother of Luke Staveley of the Bridlington line – see later chapter), who died in Jamaica aged 36 and is recorded on the Staveley family Hunmanby church memorial.

Any son of this Jamaica William may well have been born about 1750-55 and, given Jamaica William’s possible seafaring background, any birth may have occurred in Jamaica or elsewhere, and hence left unrecorded. The Bridlington line was suspected, as you shall read later, to have connections in Jamaica and may even have had a certain smuggling heritage. This ‘son’ being a sea captain in his late 20’s (cabin boys were at sea from as young as 12), betwixt Jamaica and Bristol with the slave trade and sugar plantations/linen export, seems to tie in well.

This is, however, all pure speculation, as almost all records of Bristol privateers were sadly destroyed by a Bristol fire in the 19th century. Research continues in this matter.

I was unable to locate a picture of the ‘Queen’, but above is the ‘Old England’, another Bristol privateer no doubt built by the same shipyard, as she was identical to the Queen in many aspects, having 3 masts, 2 gun decks, 280 tonnage, 120 compliment and so forth

Please let us know if you can find out any more information about these brothers and their connections with Jamaica.