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Ancestors of Staffurth Clarke

 

Staffurth Clarke , my great great great grandfather was born in Warboys, Huntingdonshire, (though working and living later in Oundle) as was his father William . Two recent visits to the Huntingdonshire RO and another to the Society of Genealogists in London, and also the purchase of the Huntingdonshire marriage index has expanded knowledge of this branch. Note especially the correction to the ancestry of William Clarke. See the documents page for some wills and inventories.

The Lamberts and Staffurths were from Ramsey, while the Bulls and Fishers were from Godmanchester. The Brices were from Alwalton, and the Sallowbanks/Sallabanks/Sallybanks.

There is some interesting information about Richard Aynesworth in Ramsey: the lives of an English Fenland town, 1200-1600 by Edwin Brezette DeWindt, here, select page 115.

The leet of 1582 records: “£5 from Richard Aynesworth for saying and proclaiming contemptuous and illicit words against the homage and jurati, contrary to the ordinance. Reduced to 10s. by the lord’s special grace."
Richard was a literate, self-styled yeoman with a home on the High Street who bequeathed all my books to his son Martin. He exploited various opportunities to make a profit, plying his trades as innkeeper, miller, baker, and brewer. Indeed, he soon claimed his place among those very Forty he had verbally abused just two years earlier. Richard did not employ angry oaths in a noble proletarian gesture of defiance against the ruling families of Ramsey. Rather, he was a man with a hot temper whose confidence in his right to govern shielded him from any timid humility. The nature of the fraternity of the Forty was such that, in spite of the fact that he was done of them. the Sworn Twelve imposed fine after fine on Richard for allowing “illicit games” at his ale house on Sundays, and for cutting sedge or gathering fodder or cutting wood in the marsh contrary to the provisions of the town’s ordnances. Obstreperous to the end, Richard was fined for assaulting the hayward just two years before he was put to his final rest on 15 December 1597 no doubt swearing his oaths and cursing his fate up to the very end.

Regarding Elizabeth Eadis/Edis. The possibilities have now been narrowed to one as all other possible Elizabeths died in infancy. Elizabeth was daughter of Thomas Edis and Mary, b Elton 1703.

William Clark's revised ancestry is proved by these two documents - the Court Roll here and the land transfer here demonstrates this.

The Court Roll giving relationship shows the relationship William Clark and John Staffurth Toseland (and John Clifton)
...William Clark (the only Son  and Heir according  to the Custom of the said Manor of Jane Clark heretofore called Jane Staffurth  Spinster and John Clifton only Son and Heir at Law of Eleanor  Staffurth Spinster who are the Cousins  and next Heir at Law of the said John Staffurth Toseland deceased) ... Messuage or Tenement  situate near  a certain place called the Green  in Ramsey
The land transfer clearly indicates that the same land passed from William to his son Staffurth
... Messuage or Tenement situate near a certain place called the Green in Ramsey aforesaid and within and held of the Manor aforesaid late the estate of William Clark deceased and heretofore the estate of Ann the wife of William Toseland theretofore called Ann Staffurth Spinster and is now in the Occupation of William Hicks and to which said Premises the said Stafford Clark was admitted as the eldest Son and heir at Law of William Clark his late Father deceased at a Court
So now there is no doubt that Staffurth Clark's father, William Clark is a cousin of John Clifton and John Staffurth Toseland . The same William has passed on the land to his son Staffurth Clarke. So Staffurth Clarke's parents are William Clark and Jane Brice, and his Grandparents are John Clark & Jane Staffurth, and John Brice and Jane Sallybank.

See these relationships on this tree of descendants of John Staffurth

The Bulls were from Godmanchester. This is the ancestry as found so far for Jane Bull

William Bull was a labourer killed by a cart, and buried in Godmanchester 1st April 1758. Samuel Fisher was a cordwainer.

Sarah Webster's ancestry has been further traced

She was born in St Ives to Henry Webster and Elizabeth Sears, and baptised on the 18th March at St Ives, they married on the 4th February 1732, also at St Ives.

Henry Webster was baptised on the 9th April 1710 at Bluntisham cum Earith, son of Henry Webster and Sarah Johnson, who married on the 21st May 1702 st St Ives.

Staffurth Clarke Ancestry updated 23.3.2014

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