William Staveley is the son of Michael Staveley (1750-1820) and Penelope Staveley, nee Jefferson (1758-1825). He was born on the 21st March 1784 in Harpham. The village of Harpham is approximately 5 miles north-east of Driffield and 7 miles south-west of Bridlington.

It is important to note that the first census in England did not take place until 1801 and it was not until 1841 that a more detailed census would appear. Consequently this makes tracing family history more difficult before this period.

William married a Mary Wilson at the Parish Church of Wharram Percy on the 19th July 1806 at the age of 22. Mary Wilson was 15 years old. Together they would have nine children including a son named William. Wharram Percy is a deserted medieval village in the Yorkshire Wolds. The marriage actually took place at Burdale which is 8 miles south east of Malton. Although just a hamlet, Burdale is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is also a deserted medieval village. The farm here was probably quite remote.

William had nine children including a son named William who would die young and who married a Frances Proctor and lived in Muston. William’s brother Richard and his father Michael had leased a 200+ acre farm at Barmston from Sir William Boynton in 1820. William may have worked on this farm since the family were living in Harpham nearby. Click to view the lease.

In 1807 Their daughter Mary is born in Harpham. Their son Michael follows in 1808 and is also born in Harpham. Samuel is born in 1810 but he dies in infancy and they have another son called Samuel in the same year. Wilson is born in 1812 and their first daughter Penelope in 1814. In 1815 Daughter Elizabeth is born, followed by Julia in 1817. William their last child is born in 1819.

Up until the birth of Penelope in 1814, the family had remained in Harpham but in 1815 they are in Reighton and by 1817 in Fridaythorpe. The situation in farming is becoming difficult. It is becoming harder to find work. Despite the fact that there are two generations of Staveleys being born in Harpham by the time the 1841 census arrives there are no Staveleys left here. His brother Samuel would move to London. Other members of the family to Tibthorpe and other Yorkshire villages.

Elizabeth Staveley died on the 18th December 1849 at Reighton. William died in February 1857 at Driffield and was buried on the 25th of February in Great Driffield. Things were now becoming desperate in farming and for his sons and their families it would be a fight for survival.

I did not include all of William’s brothers and sisters here but you can learn more about them by visiting our Family Tree.

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