The
StanleysThe
StanleysAfter a century of disputed ownership between the English and the Scots the Island was 'given', by Henry IV, to Sir John Stanley in 1405 on condition 'of rendering to our heirs the future Kings of England, two falcons on the days of their coronation'.
The Stanleys were one of the great families of England whose main houses were at Knowsley and Lathom in south-west Lancashire between Liverpool and Ormskirk (see map). These properties came from the marriage of Sir John to Isabel Lathom. At the time of the marriage neither expected to inherit such estates but the death of many closer heirs left them with large landholdings on the Lancashire/Cheshire border.
The Stanleys derive their descent from Adam de Stanley(c.1125-c.1200) to whom his cousin, Adam de Audley, conveyed the Manor of Stanley in Staffordshire close to the Cheshire border.
A brief biography, concentrating on their role in Manx affairs, is given under their separate headings; however Robertson in his Tour of 1794 makes the following, rather typical, comment concerning the Stanleys:
it may not be improper to observe, that their personal history, except in a few instances, is unconnected with the public transactions of the Island. Being Subjects of England, they generally resided in that country; and so long as their Lieutenants remitted the revenues of the kingdom,they supinely acquiesced in their administration. For more than three centuries this family enjoyed the regal government of Man; yet in so long a period few of them possessed the ambition or generosity to visit their subjects: and when they conferred this honour, either their interests in the Island were threatened, or their personal safety in England endangered.
There is a fair amount of truth in this - the Island would appear to have contributed around 20 to 25% of the Derby revenues (figures averaged from those quoted by Coward) and any political activity required them to remain either in London or more usually their Lancashire stronghold.
Sir John Stanley = Isabel Lathom
1405 Lord of Man (1385) heiress of Lathom and Knowsley d. Oct 1414
d. Jan 1414 |
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+-----------+
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Sir John(2) = Isabel dau. of Sir Nicholas Harrington of Farelton
c. 1386-1437 |
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Sir Thomas = Joan dau. and co-hieress of Sir Robert
c.1405-1459 | Goushill of Hoveringham, Notts.
created Baron 1456 |
+-+------------------------------------+
(1) | (2) |
Elanor = Lord Thomas = Margaret Beaufort Sir William
dau of 1459 c1433-1504 1482 1441-1509 executed 1495
Richard Neville | 1485 mother of Henry VII
Earl of Salisbury | 1st Earl of Derby
+-------------+------------------+------------------------------------+
| (1) | (2) |
George = Joan Anne = Sir Edward = Elizabeth Vaughan James
c.1460-1503 (c.1480) dau and created widow of Bishop
Lord Strange | dau and co-hieress Lord Mounteagle Lord Grey de Wilton of
| heiress of Sir John 1513 Ely
| of John Harrington d.1524 d.1515
| Lord Strange
| d.1514
+-------------------------------------------+
| |
Thomas = Anne Sir James
2nd Earl (c.1502) dau of Lord Hungerford of Cross Hall, Lathom
c1484-1521 | and Hastings |
| d.1550 v
| The Stanleys of Bickerstaffe
+------+
|
(1) | (3)
Katherine Howard = Edward = Margaret Barlow
d.1530 (1530) 3rd Earl (1558) d.1559
1509-1572
(2) (4)
Dorothy Howard = = Mary Cotton
d. c.1557 (1530) (1561) d.1580
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Henry = Margaret dau of Henry Clifford
4th Earl (1555) 1st Earl of Cumberland
1531-1593 | d.1596
Of those Lords of Man mentioned above only the second Sir John and, to a lesser extent, Henry played any significant personal part in Manx affairs. Sir John was responsible for codifying Manx law.
Henry = Margaret dau of Henry Clifford
4th Earl (1555) 1st Earl of Cumberland
1531-1593 | d.1596
|
+----+----------------+
| |
Alice = Ferdinando William = Elizabeth sister and co-heiress
dau. of (1579) 5th Earl 6th Earl (1594) of Henry 18th Earl of Oxford
Sir John Spencer | c.1559-1594 c.1561-1642 | d.1627
of Alsthorp | |
+----------+---+----------+ |
| | | |
Anne Frances Elizabeth James = Charlotte de la Tremouille
= = = 7th Earl (1626)
(1)Baron Earl of Earl of 1607-1651 |
Chandos Bridgewater Huntingdon |
(2) Earl of |
Castlehaven +-----------------+----------+
| |
Dorothea Helena = Charles Anna Sophia = John Murray 1st Maquis of Atholl
dau of (1650) 8th Earl d.1703 (1659) d. 1703
Baron Rupa | 1628-72 +--------------+
d.1702 +--------------+---------+--------+ |
| | | |
Elizabeth = William James = Mary Charles John 1st Duke of Atholl
(1673) 9th Earl 10th Earl(1705) d.1715 |
| c1655-1702 1664-1736 | without issue James 2nd Duke of Atholl
(all children/grandchildren |
d. by 1732) William d. 1710 without issue
The most significant player in Manx affairs was James, seventh Earl, or as known by the Manx 'Y Stanlagh Mooar' or the Great Stanley. His attempt to alter Manx land tenure to his own advantage however caused much discontent and was the basis of the lack of support given to his wife defending the Island against the parliamentary forces. It was left to Bishop Wilson to negotiate with William, 9th Earl, though actually agreed by James following William's death, the basis of the Act of Settlement which restored the ancient land tenure.
The 11th and later Earls came from a different branch of the family - a brief mention for the sake of completeness is given elsewhere.
The volume by Seacome was issued (and pirated) in many editions up to the 1820s; generally a short addition was made to bring the family history 'up to date' at the time of printing. See his genealogical sections for descriptions of the Barons of Strange and other branches of the Stanley family.
The genealogical tables quoted on this page are taken from those quoted by J.J.Bagley.
J.J.Bagley The Earls of Derby, 1485-1985 London:
Sidgwick & Jackson 1985
B. Courage The Stanleys Lords Stanley and Earls of Derby
Manchester:published for Chetham Society by Manchester Univ
Press 1983
W Pollard The Stanleys of Knowsley. A History of that noble
family including a sketch of the political and public lives of the
Right Hon. Earl of Derby...Liverpool 1868
J. Seacome
Memoirs; containing a genalogical and historical account of the
House of Stanley from the conquest to the death of James, Earl of
Derby in the year 1735; as also a full description of the Isle of Man
&c2pt Liverpool: [1737?]
A W Moore History of IoM 1900 (Book 2 chap 1) covers Stanleys upto James 7;
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Any comments, errors or omissions
gratefully received The
Editor |
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