Beck Family

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Admin

Our research into the Beck ancestry began with this information: Ruth Mary Beck was born at 95 Broadway East, Rotherham, on 18th April 1929 and married Walter Staveley at Cheltenham Parish Church, Gloucestershire, on 24th August 1957.

Cheltenham Parish Church Ruth Beck marriage to Walter Staveley – 24th August 1957

Ruth Mary Staveley née Beck is the daughter of Wilfred Beck and Edith Beck née Marshall, who married at Wincobank Parish Church on 9th February 1922.

Wilfred Beck was born at 16 Neville Street, Brightside Bierton, on 29th October 1894 and died at 20 Grosvenor Place South, Cheltenham, on 12th February 1968. Edith Beck née Marshall was born at Bradfield, Wortley, on 25th April 1890 and died at Delancey Hospital, Cheltenham, on 24th April 1962.

Wilfred Beck was the son of John Samuel Beck, an engine fitter, and Mary Beck née Hart, who divorced him in 1904. She would later marry a Henry Wells Brookfield.

John Samuel Beck remarried a second wife named Alice Maude Osborne. John Samuel Beck was born at Chapel Yard, Duke Street, Sheffield, on 6th November 1871 and After Alice’s death he lived with his son Donald Beck and died at 55 High Storrs Crescent, Sheffield, on 13th October 1947. He is buried at Shire Green Cemetary, Sheffield. John was in the Sheffield Silver Band and used to play the flute and Piccolo

John Samuel Beck 1871 – 1947 lived at 55 High Storrs Crescent, Sheffield with son Donald

John Samuel Beck was the son of John Beck, a chapel keeper, and Hannah Beck née Fox, who married at the Norfolk Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Sheffield, on 5th September 1861.

Norfolk Street Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Sheffield

At the time of his marriage John Beck stated that he was a twenty-six year old bachelor, the son of the later Augustine Beck, a farmer. Augustine Beck died at Hainford, Norfolk, on 6th March 1854 aged fifty-six years, and was therefore born around 1797-98.

We calculated that John Beck had been born around 1834-35. This was before the introduction of civil registration in England and Wales.

The main sources for ancestry research before the beginning of civil registration are the local parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. There is no complete index to English parish registers and it is essential to discover which parish or parishes to search for evidence of the earlier ancestry.

Norfolk Street Chapel where John and Hannah got married was built in 1780, one of the largest in the Kingdom and opened by the founder of Methodism himself, who to the end of his long laborious life loved it and its people…Methodism in Sheffield Park by J J Graham which does not appear to be available online. You can however read about The History of Methodism in Sheffield by Rev T Alexander Seed.

The Methodism in Sheffield Park records on page 124 that John became a teacher for the chapel Sunday school in 1859. In January 1912 Mr John Beck retired from the position of caretaker after 43 years service in that capacity (Page 256). An extract from the book:

“At the end of 1913 there passed from the scene of his labours, in more senses than one, John Beck, a veteran who had become almost one with the church. Spared to the age of nearly four-score years, fifty-three of which were spent in connection with the Park Church and forty-three of those in the position of caretaker.

In addition to his care of the fabric he endeavoured to do other Christian work, serving in connection with the Cottage, Prayer Leaders’, and Tract Societies, and as a visitor.

His wife, Hannah, was a diligent worker in the church from her youth, as we have noted in various connections, pre-deceased him in 1907. The last longing of this veteran was that he might live to see the Centenary Celebrations of the School, he being one of the few who were present at the Jubilee. It was not to be, however, for God took him”.

By all accounts and from information passed down by Wilfred Beck, John was quite a jovial character and was forever playing tricks on the family much to the disapproval of his son John Samuel who was very straight laced by comparison.

John’s baptism had not been found at Sheffield. We therefore began our investigations by searching an index to the 1881 census returns for Yorkshire, hoping to find the Beck family for details of their ages and birthplaces.Censuses of the population of England and Wales have been taken every ten years since 1801. These early national headcounts helped the Government to predict the level of income from taxes, for example, and to estimate the potential size of an army in times of war.

The 1841 census was the first to include personal details, recording each person’s name, approximate age, occupation and whether or not they were born in their county of residence. From 1851 onwards the censuses give a more detailed description of the population, including precise ages and specific birthplaces.

The Staveley family come from a traditional Yorkshire farming background. It would appear that the Beck family also have their origins in farming albeit in Norfolk. The census of 1881 provided us with the following information.

We were very pleased to have found this entry, which provided much useful information concerning the ancestral John Samuel Beck’s siblings in addition to telling us that his father John senior had been born at Hainford in Norfolk. We sought John’s baptism in an index to Norfolk parish registers called the International Genealogical Index.

The village of Hainford & Hevingham in Norfok. Click to see the map.

Hainford is situated close to the A140. The village is bordered by Hevingham to the north. Buxton to the northeast. Frettenham to the east. Spixworth to the southeast. Newton & Horsham St Faith to the south. Horsford to the west and Stratton Strawless to the northwest.

The International Genealogical Index is the nearest approach to a comprehensive index to English parish registers. It includes a large proportion of entries from the local parish baptism and marriage registers from the sixteenth up to the later nineteenth centuries, indexed alphabetically on a county basis. Some entries have also been collected from various sources apart from parish registers: for instance, there are also some inclusions, notably those from wills, family histories and other documents, which cannot altogether be relied upon. The IGI is therefore more of a location aid than a specific index, and naturally all references should be checked against the original records for authenticity.

We searched the section for Norfolk. There were no entries for the baptism of John Beck in the early to mid-1830s, but two possible entries for his father Augustine:

On balance, it seemed likely that these entries were too early to be relevant at this stage, but we wondered whether they might refer to an earlier generation of the family. In order to make certain that we were following the correct lineage, we considered it prudent to turn our attention to the original Hainford parish registers.

St Julian’s church became dilapidated during the 18th century. It was restored in 1845 repaired in 1934. In June 1942 is was bombed and then rebuilt in 1953.

The earliest parish registers in England and Wales date from 1538, when legislation was introduced by Thomas Cromwell on behalf of Henry VIII to the effect that all baptisms, marriages and burials occurring within each parish should be recorded by the incumbent in a weekly register. The earliest entries were recorded mainly on paper, and it was not until 1597 that these were ordered to be copied and henceforth kept on parchment. Unfortunately, the wording of this Act included the phrase that records should begin “especially from the first year of Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth I]’s reign” so occasionally one finds that the first twelve years of entries are missing.

Cromwell in the Battle of Naseby in 1645

Other gaps in continuity do occur, notably around the time of the English Civil War, and of course the natural passage of time has also sometimes resulted in loss. Furthermore, the content of parish registers can vary greatly, from brief or partial lists of names, to comments on the morality and religious orthodoxy of the parishioners. We searched the Hainford baptismal registers from 1813 to 1850, noting the following Beck entries:

William son of Austin and Elizabeth Beck, Hainford, Labr. Orson son of Orson and Elizabeth Beck, Hainford, Lab. George illeg. son of Charlotte Beck, Hainford. Augustin(e) was described as a labourer, but may have acquired some land himself by 1837, when he is first described as a farmer. The marriage of Augustin(e) Beck was not found at Hainford, although he had acted as a witness to other marriages in the parish:

Hainford Parish Registers – Marriages

Robert Ulph of this Parish, Single Man, and Maria Beck of this Parish, Single Woman, were Married in this Church by Banns the 18th Day of October in the Year 1820.
This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of Robert Ulph x the mark of Maria Beck. In the Presence of: John Bunbrey. x the mark of Mary Anne Beck

Robert Howard of this Parish, Single Man, and Mary Beck residing in this Parish, Spinster, were Married in this Church by Banns the 12th Day of October in the Year 1824. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of Robert Howard x the mark of Mary Beck. In the Presence of: x the mark of Augustin Beck. x the mark of Mary Ulph

William Beck of this Parish, Single Man, and Elizabeth Watson of this Parish, Single Woman, were Married in this Church by Banns the 13th Day of November in the Year 1829. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of William Beck x the mark of Elizabeth Watson. In the Presence of:x the mark of Augustin Beck x the mark of Anne Watson

We searched the Hainford burial registers, noting the following Beck entries:

The ancestral Augustine Beck was buried on 13th March 1854. The 1851 census returns for Hainford revealed that the William Beck who was buried in 1855 aged ninety-five years was Augustine’s father:

We searched to see whether either Augustine Beck or his father William Beck left a will.

Up until 1857 the proving of wills came under the jurisdiction of the Church. This was because for many hundreds of years it was here that the most literate classes were to be found. In addition, it was of course the responsibility of the priests to remind the dying to put their affairs in order before they passed on. Wills were proved in some three hundred ecclesiastical courts throughout the land. If a person owned property in more than one jurisdiction, his will would be proved in a higher ecclesiastical court which governed both, such as the Prerogative Courts of Canterbury or York.

Wills are a valuable genealogical resource. Almost all refer to the testator’s successors or at least to his or her spouse or siblings.

The Norfolk Probate Indexes 1751-1857 were found to contain just one Beck entry from the Hainford area. This related to George Beck, a labourer of Hainford, whose will was proved in 1851 (NCC 376). We examined the will, finding that it was made on 3rd February 1851 and proved at Norwich on 28th June 1851, after the testator had died on 9th June 1851. George left effects under the value of £100. His watch was bequeathed to his brother William Beck, and £12 due from the Hainford Provident Society was bequeathed to his father Augustine Beck, who was also appointed executor. The witnesses were Leonard Woolsey and William Sexton, and administration was granted to Augustine Beck on 16th July 1851.

George Beck was the son of the ancestral Augustine Beck, and in fact had been found living with his father in the 1851 census returns. The 1851 census returns had also told us that Augustin(e) Beck had been born at Hevingham in about 1797-98. The International Genealogical Index entries therefore could not be relevant after all, and we turned our attention to the original Hevingham parish registers for details concerning the earlier ancestry. We first noted the marriage of Austin Beck in 1816:

Hevingham Parish Registers – Marriages

John Lovick of this Parish, Single Man, and Ann Beck of this Parish, Spinster, were Married in this Church by Banns the 12th Day of September in the Year 1810. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of John Lovick x the mark of Ann Beck. In the Presence of:Robert Willmott Henry Crane.

Samuel Seely of this Parish, Single Man, and Elizabeth Beck of this Parish, Spinster, were Married in this Church by Banns the 20th Day of May in the Year 1812. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: Samuel Seely. In the Presence of: James Raven Henry Crane. x the mark of Elizabeth Beck

John Beck of this Parish, Single Man, and Elizabeth Greenwood of this Parish, Spinster, were Married in this Church by Banns the 26th Day of October in the Year 1812. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of John Beck x the mark of Elizabeth Greenwood. In the Presence of: x the mark of John Levick Henry Crane

Austin Beck of this Parish and Elizabeth Fish of this Parish were Married in this Church by Banns the 26th Day of November in the Year 1816. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of Austin Beck. In the Presence of: James Abbs Henry Crane. x the mark of Elizabeth Fish. It appeared that “Austin” was a variant of “Augustin(e)” at this stage. Augustine’s baptism was noted at Hevingham in 1795:

Augustine’s parents had had one child named Elizabeth born before they had actually married. Elizabeth Beck may have been baptized again in December 1790 after her parents’ marriage. There were no Beck burials at Hevingham between 1790 and 1812 suggesting that a first daughter had not died in infancy. This information focused our searches for the marriage of William Beck and Mary Green, and the event was noted at Hevingham in September 1790:

Hevingham Parish Registers – Marriages

William Beck of this Parish, Single Man, and Mary Green of this Parish, Single Woman, were Married in this Church by Banns the 29th Day of September in the Year 1790.
This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of William Beck x the mark of Mary Green. In the Presence of: [?] Orgul [?] Joseph Warnes

John Codling of this Parish, Single Man, and Ann Beck of the Parish of Aylsham, Single Woman, were Married in this Church by Banns the 10th Day of October in the Year 1797. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of John Codling x the mark of Ann Beck. In the Presence of: John Watts Henry Crane

We knew from the 1851 census returns and the burial registers at Hainford that William Beck had been born at Cawston in about 1759-65. Turning our attention to the Cawston parish registers, we were very pleased to locate William’s baptism there in 1760:

Marriages
John Beck of this Parish, Widower, and Elizabeth Sendall of this Parish, Widow, were Married in this Church by Banns the 18th Day of November in the Year 1777.
This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of John Beck. In the Presence of: x the mark of Elizabeth Sendall

Joseph Harman. x the mark of David Sendall. John Beck of this Parish, Widower, and Elizabeth Vout of this Parish, Single Woman, were Married in this Church by Banns the 15th Day of September in the Year 1794. This Marriage was solemnized between Us: x the mark of John Beck x the mark of Elizabeth Vout. In the Presence of: Samuel Drake William Hall

William Beck, Single Man, and Elizabeth Dewing, Single Woman, both of the Parish of Caston [sic] in Norfolk, with license.

We searched the earlier Cawston parish registers. We noted that Elizabeth Dewing was baptized there on 13th July 1728, the daughter of Augustine and Hannah Dewing. It thus appeared that the Christian name “Augustine” had originated from the Dewing family. However, the Cawston parish registers were also found to contain no less than two possible baptisms for the ancestral William Beck:

We also searched the Bawdeswell parish registers, given the residence of William Beck in the final burial entry, but no further Beck entries were noted between 1723 and 1731.

The ancestral William Beck could have been baptized at Cawston on 13th April 1723, the son of John and Agnes Beck, or on 19th January 1725/26, the illegitimate son of William Beck by Susan Atterton. The fact that two years are given for the date of the latter event does not indicate that the exact year is unknown, but can rather be explained by the use of a different calendar up to 1751. Up to this time England still used the old-style Julian Calendar which started on Lady Day (25th March) rather than 1st January. Thus all entries between 1st January and 25th March are shown as relating to what we would call the “previous” year. The new-style Gregorian Calendar had actually been in use in Scotland and on the Continent for many years, and for this reason some registers use a system of “double-dating”; 1750/51, for instance, would mean 1750 in the old-style calendar and 1751 in the new.

Furthermore, the Julian Calendar had actually become inaccurate by eleven days by 1751. Parliament accordingly passed an Act ruling that the following 1st January would duly become the first day of 1752, and the discrepancy in days would be corrected by the 2nd September being followed by the 14th. This led to a great deal of confusion and almost caused riots as people believed that twelve days of their lives had been taken from them. Typically, however, bankers refused to have their financial year shortened (because they would lose interest) and actually extended the financial year from 25th March to 5th April – which remains the financial year to this day.

It was difficult to distinguish between the two possible baptisms for William Beck as neither child appeared to have died in infancy. We therefore again turned our attention to probate records. The Norfolk Probate Indexes 1687-1750 were found to contain two Beck entries from Cawston:

We examined both documents. William Beck’s will was made on 5th February 1716/17, and he signed his name with a mark. William left his son John Beck five shillings and his son William Beck thirty pounds. His wife Elizabeth was appointed executrix, and the will was witnessed by Joseph Furrsse, John Munday and Susan Atterton.

This would appear to suggest that John and William Beck, the respective fathers for the two possible baptisms for the ancestral William, were themselves brothers. Their mother Elizabeth was found to have made the other will, dated 15th May 1746 and proved 31st May 1746. John Beck was appointed executor and was left his mother’s “houses & lands & place called Segale in Cawston”. Elizabeth’s grandson John (the son of William Beck) was left her “houses & lands late Earls, now in the possession of William Roberts” when he attained the age of twenty-one years. The witnesses were William Dewing, Dorcas Dewing and Thomas Thorpe, and Elizabeth signed her name with a mark.

Although it is disappointing that we have been unable to distinguish between the two possible baptisms for William Beck in the 1720s, the wills have shown that their respective fathers John and William were themselves brothers, being the sons of William and Elizabeth Beck.

This suggests that further progress should be possible as both John and William Beck share a common ancestry. Unfortunately, however, the Cawston parish registers prior to 1711 back to the 1660s and 1670s are missing, perhaps due to losses around the time of the Civil War.

The period between 1642 and 1660, when the monarchy was suspended and Britain came under the control of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, is often referred to as the “Interregnum” or “Commonwealth Gap” by genealogists. During this period, an Act of the Barebones Parliament in 1653 divested the church of many of its powers and a local civilian registrar – known as the “Parish Register” appointed to record the births, marriages and deaths in each area. The old registers were supposed to be handed over to the new official but the inhabitants of most parishes still embraced the established faith and would have little to do with the magistrates who were charged with conducting the civil ceremonies, with the result that the survival of parish records from this period can be extremely patchy. Further losses occurred when the office of Parish Register was in turn abolished upon the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Our next step, therefore, would be to search an alternative source such as the Cawston Bishop’s Transcripts or Register Bills. Bishop’s Transcripts result from a 1598 Act of Parliament, requiring that a transcript of the original parish register entries for the previous year be sent to the Bishop. The earliest Bishop’s Transcripts thus date from 1597. They are important because they provide a second record should the original registers have been destroyed or mislaid. They also frequently contain different or additional material to the original.

In addition, Cawston manor court records may provide details concerning the property belonging to the Beck family and its descent, especially to help with earlier generations. The prospects for further research are most intriguing.

You can find out more about the Beck Family on Geneanet. Click here.

Walter Staveley (1921-2005)

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Admin

On the left of Cardigan Mount is number 33, next 35, then 37.

Walter Staveley (1921-2005) was born on 26th January 1921 at 35 Cardigan Mount, Kirkstall, Leeds as shown in the photograph above. Walter is the first child of his parents Walter Boynton Staveley (1896-1972) and Ruby Millicent Staveley (1894-1970). The photographs below show him as a small baby and at around the age of three.

In 1927 Walter gets his first school report praising him for his excellent English lesson skills and noting that he is very weak at arithmetic. The report also states “He is a very eager worker, especially in English. He answers very well in oral lessons. Is very intelligent”. Like many children in those days he collected stamps and built up a pretty large and impressive cigarette card collection.

Photograph as apprentice with co workers – Leeds

Walter’s school reports continue to be good throughout his education. When he leaves school he decides to become an electrician and signs up for an apprenticeship with a local electrical firm. The war interrupts this and Walter Staveley is called out for military service on 22nd September 1939. He is 18 years old. His call up papers instruct him to bring a civilian gas mask and report for duty at the Gibraltar Barracks.

Walter was fortunate in that he was flat footed and not suitable as a foot soldier. Without doubt his experience as an electrician helped him to secure a place as a signalman and subsequently served with the Royal Corp of Signals. At the tender age of 18 he is drafted into the army and by 1941 he is on his way to Egypt to play his part in World War II.

On Saturday 29th June 1940 he is aboard the SS Mauretania II which is steaming off to a destination that is not known to those on board. You can follow his progress by watching a video or reading his dairy of the World War II Convoy.

Walter Staveley in the Middle East circa 1942

Walter spent the entire war in the Middle East as a signalman with the Eighth Army in the North Africa Campaign. During this time he found himself for the most part in Egypt but also having been in Jordan, Libya and Iraq. He took quite a few photographs along the way, images of war and every day sights. Photos 1940-1944. Also a small UK selection.

By early 1944 it is becoming very clear that Germany is going to lose the war so preparations are underway to plan for soldiers to return to civilian duties and Walter is placed on a course in Electrical Engineering which he completes in December 1944.In 1945 he is posted to Germany and spends some time there prior to being sent back to the UK in April 1946. He receives his Release Papers on 16th April 1946.

Walter’s notification of impending release from military duties states: “ This man is a trustworthy and steady worker who carries out his duties efficiently without supervision”.

Walter becomes a member of the Royal Signals Association in Leeds on 7th November 1947 and regularly attends functions. From 1946 until 1948 Walter Staveley is being paid by the Ministry of Labour and National Service a full time electricians wage to continue his apprenticeship, to effectively pick up where he left off before the war.

One of Walters Ration Cards dated May 1950

Rationing is still in place and even by 1950 Walter has a ration book for fuel for his motorbike. Walter did not want to continue his career as an electrician. In 1952 he is applying for a position as a Civilian Wireless Operator Admiralty. He is still living in Leeds at this time. In October 1952 he takes a morse test and interview in Scarborough. In December 1952 he signs the Official Secrets Act. Walter Staveley finally ends up being transferred to Cheltenham.

Repairing the BSA Motorcycle punctured inner tube circa 1955

Walter is now working for the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham where he will remain for the rest of his working life. This same year he applies for an International Driving License and plans a trip through Europe with a friend on their motorbikes. Tour Photos.

Walter tours Europe on his motorbike and takes many photos along the way. In 1954 Walter met Ruth Beck at a dance at Cheltenham Town Hall. They became officially engaged on a day out to Bourton on the Water near Cheltenham and were married 6 weeks afterwards on 24th August 24th 1957 at Cheltenham Parish Church.

Ruth at Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire and Walter and Ruth’s Wedding in 1957

Ruth Mary Staveley ( nee Beck ) can be seen with her father Wilfred Beck and mother Edith Beck ( nee Marshall ) to her immediate right. We have a separate and full family tree for the Becks and the Marshalls. You can find more information about the Beck’s here.

Ruth Beck ( Staveley ) with Mum and Dad Wilfred Beck and Edith Beck

Ruth Staveley moved around a lot as a child due to Wildred’s work as a commercial traveller or furniture sales representative as he might be called today. He was one of the few people who had a car in those days and he particularly liked the Morris 8.

Ruth worked at Dowty’s in Tewkesbury and for the Coal Board at Stoke Orchard. In 1958 Walter was given the opportunity to work in Singapore. Ruth and Walter sailed from Southampton on the 23rd August 1958 and lived at 3 Poulden Court in Singapore until their return. Their first son was born in Singapore on the 2nd of December in 1960.

3 Poulden Court, Singapore – 1958 – 1961

Their daughter Julie was born in 1962 and Catherine in 1965. From 1966 – 1969 the family were in Hong Kong where Walter was employed on another overseas tour. Matthew their fourth and last child was born in Hong Kong in 1967.

Chung Hom Kok Apartments where the family lived in Hong Kong 1966-1969

After a three year tour the family travelled back to England on the cruise ship “SS Oronsay“.If you have ever wondered what daily life and entertainment on a cruise ship in the late 1960’s might have looked like then step aboard the Oronsay!

The family disembarked some six weeks later at the Port of Southampton. They travelled by train to London and caught a black cab back to Cheltenham. The house in Delabere Road ( which had been rented ) was vacant and waiting for them when they returned. The Staveley family now settled down to life in England.

44 Delabere Road, Bishops Cleeve just after the houses had been built in 1961

Walter continued to work at GCHQ Cheltenham and would sometimes travel to work on his Honda 90 during the summer months. He was a keen gardener and enjoyed the occasional tipple at “The Apple Tree” or “The Swallow” in Bishops Cleeve. Ruth would work at the Civil Aviation Authority until she retired and she was a keen dancer. After her retirement she would attend dancing classes and had many certificates to show for it.

The children would grow up in Bishops Cleeve and attend the local schools. Walter Staveley passed away in September 2005 and Ruth Staveley joined him in September 2014. Sadly missed by their 4 children and families.

In service of his country – Walter Staveley’s war medals

For more details on the family tree of Walter Staveley click here.

Staveley Family

Featured

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Admin

Most of the Staveleys in East Yorkshire would appear to be descended from Robert Staveley who lived in the Tibthorpe area in the early 18th century. The family may have originated from the village of Staveley about 4 miles north of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

Special thanks to Irene Newham of Scarborough, John Watson of Milton Keynes, Mac Staveley from Hull, Dr L A K Staveley, Peter Staveley of Teddington, Middlesex, and all the individual Staveleys involved that I have met or communicated with.

The IGI records provided by the Mormon Church provide a very comprehensive list of Staveleys. In Yorkshire alone, the IGI index includes over one thousand entries dating as far back as 1600 and even earlier. Another invaluable source of information from 1837 onwards is the official register of births, marriages and deaths. There are also a number of genealogy websites all vying for your money.

Staveley is a place name. There are four places so named in England. The largest is that in Derbyshire, a few miles north-west of Chesterfield and not far from the Yorkshire border. There is a Staveley to the south of Ripon, a mile or so from the A6055, which puts it quite near places with Staveley associations, as we shall see. Another is that in Cumbria ( in the part which used to be Westmoreland ), familiar to many visitors to the Lake District as it lies a few miles to the east of Windermere on the A591. Finally, there is a Staveley-in-Cartmel, north-west from Grange-over-Sands and near the junction of the A590 and A592.

Domesday Book is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of King William the Conqueror

All four places are settlements of considerable age. They are all to be found in thirteenth century records, and the Derbyshire and Yorkshire Staveleys appear in the Domesday Book ( 1086 ). As is to be expected, a variety of spellings turns up. The concise Oxofrd Dictionary of English Place Names gives the following ( besides the correct version ); Stavelie, Staveleia, Stavelay, Stavele, Stanlei, Staflea and Staveleie. Rather surprisingly, the Stavely so often inflicted on modern bearers of the name is not in the list. All forms of the name have their origin in the Old English ‘ Staef-Leah’, meaning ‘ a wood where staves were got’.

In Norman times people would have been known under their first name. The place that they were from or their profession might have then been used to identify them further. For example, Robert of Staveley is likely to have been called Robert Staveley and Adam who makes Staves by the Ley might also be known locally as Adam Staveley.

There are a number of Staveleys that are recorded and which date back over a thousand years but piecing all the family tree details is extremely difficult due to the lack of records or any form of concise information regarding their lineage.

A manuscript depicting King Stephen of England (1096 – 1154 CE) on the left, and King Henry II of England Stephen is depicted standing and holding a falcon, Henry II is seated upon his throne.

What we do know is that there was a Swain de Staveley, born in 1085, that is quite possibly the first known individual with the Staveley surname. King Stephen who was the grandson of William the Conqueror, bestowed him with a Lordship and lands at the village of Staveley near Ripon and Knaresborough. Swain de Staveley and his descendents would hold the Manor of the village of Staveley until the middle of the 14th century when their lineage seems to fizzle out.

Adam de Staveley (1165-1225) the grandson of Swain de Staveley would marry into the Norman family of de Percy, daughter of William de Percy of Kildale. The Percy clan were land rich and very powerful. Through this marriage to Alice Percy, Adam would have acquired extensive land ownership around Sedbergh, Dent, Berwick on Tweed, Stainton, and Ingleby Barwick. Adam also had estates at Farnham, Staveley, Knaresborough, Lonsdale, Ilton, Swinton, and Ripon.

Despite the fact that the lack of any heirs would see his own line die out, his brothers are likely to be responsible for the future Staveleys of Yorkshire and beyond.

The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic, which reached England in June 1348.

We do know that Adam de Staveley was born at Calverley, near Leeds, in West Yorkshire and that he died in 1225 at the age of 60. He is buried in Jervaulx Abbey, near East Witton, just 14 miles from Ripon. Adam had previously provided the money and land for the foundation of the Abbey.

Scrolling forward to 1300 there are records of land being farmed around Bishop Burton, just 3 miles from Beverley. This land was owned by the Archbishop of York and a William Staveley and a John Staveley held rented land there. Perhaps this is really where the long line of Staveley farmers began. Certainly this location features prominently in future generations of Staveleys.

Jervaulx Abbey in East Witton in North Yorkshire, 14 miles north-west of the city of Ripon.

The Black Death would reach England in June 1348. Originating from Asia it spread across the European trade routes and was caused by infected rats coming off the ships. This bubonic plague pandemic started in Weymouth in Dorset. Within just two months it had reached London and by 1349 it had enveloped the entire country. It would have laid waste to around 50% of the population. It had all but died out in December 1349.

The plague was to return between 1361-1362 and would again cause the death of around 20% of the population. It would return several times during the 14th and 15th centuries. The last recorded outbreak of the plague was in London in 1665-1666. It had become less severe and people had built up an immunity to it.

Unfortunately we leave the early Staveleys here at the end of the 13th Century because although there are a few references to Staveleys after this time, the first plague outbreak was about to take place and the sheer scale of death and turmoil that it would cause left us without a recorded history for almost 200 years.

We start to see more records become available and there are a number of Staveleys recorded. Perhaps the most important is John Staveley, born in 1400, who was the Wakeman (similar to a Mayor ) of Ripon. John stands at the top of the tree in terms of being the main lineage for the Staveleys of North Stainley. He is recorded as having two sons, John and William. The youngest son John founded the Thornmanby line and William would go on to found the North Stainley Staveley dynasty that would last nearly 400 years. Details of these lines of the Staveley tree can be found on Genealogy sites such as My Heritage. We do not know the exact date of death of John senior but he is buried at Jervaulx Abbey.

Records show us that a certain Ninian Staveley, born around 1500, the son of a John Staveley, is one of the key descendents of the Stainley and Ripon family. The estates under his control stretched out from Ripon as far as the Yorkshire Dales. Tenant farmers would have worked the land on his estates.

Henry VIII orders the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541

The dissolution of the monasteries in England and Wales began in 1536 after a large rebel army of over 30,000 people marched to York and demanded that the monasteries should be reopened. This march became known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. The rebels were promised a pardon and a Parliament in York to discuss their demands, and they disbanded.

This would have tested loyalties and would definitely have been percieved as a threat to ordinary farm workers and estate owners alike. Ninian initially took sides with Catholicism and the recognition of the Pope but he seems to have escaped prosecution and any retribution after the opposition faltered.

Henry VIII’s response to the rebels was brutal and a significant number of Catholics were executed. Ninian went on to co-found the Ripon School which is one of the oldest schools in the country.

The pieces of the Staveley jigsaw start to become easier as records become more reliable and numerous. Yorkshire is clearly the county of Staveleys. From here they would travel to other regions around the country and emigrate overseas. Our own family line can be traced back to George Stavelie who was born in 1615.

When we get to Robert Staveley of Millington in our family tree, we find that according to the IGI, he was born in 1673 and was married to a Frances Harrison. However, there is also another Robert Staveley of Millington who was born in 1678 and who married Alice. Millington is such a small place. They must be related somehow. I came across a similar situation with Muston where there are a group of Staveleys that would appear on the face of it to be related to each other but a link is missing. Genealogy is full of frustrations and gaps. People also moved around the county or further afield looking for work and a better lifestyle so tracing them all can be extremely difficult.

The village of Millington near Pocklington in Yorkshire – Click to see the map.

One thing we can be certain of is that the Staveley roots are very much Yorkshire born and bred. The Staveleys are one of the oldest families in Yorkshire with roots way back to the times before William the Conqueror. A thousand years of Staveley history!

Peter Staveley, who is the main researcher of Staveleys, produced a CD Rom which until recently was available through the website www.staveley-genealogy.com
For anyone lucky enough to have a copy of this extensive Staveley research you can travel back in time and follow the progress of the Staveleys in much more detail than I have provided here.

Genealogy is not really just about collecting births, marriages and death dates. It is a fascinating insight into the social history of our ancestors. Learning how they lived, the conditions under which they lived, and the somewhat harsh environment that they had to endure, in order for us to get to where we are today.

Each entry in a family tree is a life. Each one had a story to tell. Sadly for most of them we will never ever know what their lives were really like.

Your own Staveley line might end up in London, Leicester, Scotland or Ireland. You might be a Staveley ( or a Stavely ) now living in the USA, Canada, New Zealand or Australia. Across the globe, Streets and Roads, Towns and villages, and names of businesses, continue with the Staveley name. I hope that you find this information useful.

For the Staveley family tree on Geneanet click here ( No login required )

Walter Boynton Staveley (1896-1972)

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Admin

Walter Boynton Staveley was born on January 10th 1896. He was the son of John Staveley (1861-1909) and Mary Elizabeth nee Boynton (1864-1944). At the age of 13 his father died from tuberculosis and he would have been looked after by his older sister Hilda May.

In the 1911 census he is living with Hilda May at 8 Belle View Street, Scarborough. Hilda May has been married since 1909 and lives there with her husband Henry Godfrey. Walter Boynton Staveley is 15 years old and already working as a builders clerk.

Walter Boynton Staveley enlists in the army on the 22nd December 1911. He serves with the Northumberland Batteries, Royal Field Artillery which were units of the Territorial Force with its HQ at The Drill Hall, Barrack Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His rank is Corporal.

On 28th July 1914 at the start of the First World War, Walter Boynton Staveley is sent to France where he serves with the artillery units. His military papers show that he is disembodied ( released ) from duty on 12th February 1919.

D Battery RFA, Cup Winners 1918. WBS shown with asterisk above his head

Walter Boynton returned to Leeds to start a family

Ruby Millicent Rowlin third adult in from the left at Rudston Post Office which the family managed

Walter Boynton married Ruby Millicent Rowlin when he was 21 years old. The couple married on 24th October 1917 at the Parish Church of Burley. Walter Boynton was a soldier still in active service at the time and living at 47 Cardigan Crescent in Leeds.

You can see the neat rows of houses around the factory. Cardigan Crescent is near the factory.

Founded in 1905 by Henry Price the company’s factory was built in 1923 on Lennox Road and was extended as far as Cardigan Crescent, off Kirkstall Road in the 1930s.

My father, Walter Staveley, was born on the 26th January 1921, his sister Gladys was born in 1925 and Margaret in 1935. The family lived at 35 Cardigan Mount in Leeds but later moved to 15 Monk Bridge Avenue in Leeds. This is the address that I remember and the one that we visited as children.

Both Walter Boynton and Ruby Millicent remained at this address until they died, Ruby Millicent on 1st June 1970 and Walter Boynton on the 8th October 1972.

I remember both grandma and grandad Staveley well. I can recall several visits to Leeds with the family and one occasion just Dad and I both before and after Ruby Staveley died. The house in Monk Bridge Avenue was one of the old back to back terraced houses with a cobbled street and an outside toilet. Coal fires were still used to heat the properties and you could smell the smoke in the street.

Even in the 1970’s this house would have looked very much as it had done when it was built. Although the house now had electric, you could still see the old gas lighting fitments. The house still had its outside loo. A bad pan in the room was needed at night to save having to get up and walk down the path to the toilet. As a small child I hated that outside loo, especially in the winter.

15 Monk Bridge Avenue circa 1957 with Walter Boynton. Ruby, Margaret, Walter & Ruth Staveley

Walter Boynton was not interested in mod cons and he had been used to this lifestyle all his life so there was no need to change. He would have been brought up in an environment where children were expected tp speak when spoken to by adults and where the dinner would be on the table when he arrived home from work. He still used a cut throat razor for a shave in the morning.

When visiting Leeds I can recall that grandad would always give me some pocket money and send me off to the corner shop to buy myself some sherbert and sweets.

Walter Boynton Staveley was keen on football and after leaving army service he went to work at William Thompson & Sons Builders as a clerk. He remained a clerk until he retired.

Take a look at the website Leodis – A photographic archive with over 62,000 images of Leeds, old and new, managed by the Local and Family History team at Leeds Libraries.