Michael Staveley is the son of Isaac Staveley (1715-1771) and Ann Peircy (1726-1810). He was was born at Kirkburn, Yorkshire. Michael later moved to Nafferton where he would marry Mary Rawson. They had a son called Michael who was born on the 9th June 1773. Unfortunately their son would die in infancy in September 1774. Mary Staveley is thought to have died a year later in 1775.

On the 5th January 1776, Michael marries Penelope Jefferson in Nafferton. Their first child is born on the 17th July in the same year at Harpham but he dies in infancy in 1777. They have a daughter called Frances who is born on the 21st December 1777 at Burton Agnes. This is followed by the birth of a son named Richard, also at Burton Agnes, on the 10th November 1779. As you can see from the map, Burton Agnes is just 1.4 miles from Harpham.

On February the 14th at Harpham in 1782 we see the birth of another daughter named Judith. Their son William is born on March 21st 1784 at Harpham. Samuel Staveley is born on June 15th 1788 at Harpham, and Hannah on June 10th 1791. The family is expanding and Michael must be doing reasonably well as a farmer. Michael is a husbandman by occupation. This means that he is a farmer below the rank of Yeoman. An average farmer in his local area.

The couple are settled in Harpham and continue to have more children. Francis is born on September 14th in 1795 but dies in infancy later in the year. Mark Staveley is born on the 13th March 1972 but he dies in April of the same year. Their daughter Frances marries a Thomas Anderson on October 15th 1798.

In 1800 Michael was left a bequest of £150 in the will of his Uncle William. Michael and Penelope have their last child, also named Penelope, on the 17th May 1801. Michael is aged 50 when this child is born. His wife is 46. This year we see the first British Census and the results show that the population number 8,892,536.

In 1820 Sir Francis Boynton leased Michael and his son Richard over 200 acres of land at Barmston. Sir Francis Boynton, one of the Boynton Baronets, had a stately home in Burton Agnes near Harpham. He would have known Michael Staveley and his family quite well. I am fairly certain that this move by Michael was to help secure his sons future in farming. Since Michael was now 70 years of age it was unlikely to be of any benefit to him.

Michael dies in 1820 in the same year that he signs the lease. He is buried at the St. John of Beverley Churchyard, Harpham. Richard would continue with the leased land at Barmston. To follow the history of this family take a look at the life of William Staveley his son.

Penelope dies at the age of 67 at Kirby Grindalythe near Malton.

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