build free website

Ralph de Stansfeld (c1350 - 1438/9)

Parents: William de Stansfeld & Maud (Culpon)

Born: c1350
Flourished: 1403-1437    
Died: 1438/9

Siblings
probably William
probably John

Marriage: to Johanna (Jane/Joan)
Secondary sources say Jane Copley

Children
John (heir)
probably Joan (married John del Brygg)
probably William
probably Ralph
probably Laurence

Other facts
Of Stansfield Hall and Hartshead Hall, and held lands in Wadsworth and Sowerby. Ralph held the Manor of Stansfield, though after his death his widow appears to have lived at their manor of Hartshead. 

Sources
- Wakefield Court Rolls
- West Yorkshire Archive Service: Calderdale SU/B:22, SU/B:25, SU/B:29, SU/B:30, SU/B:31, SU/B.32, SU/B:34
- Feet of Fines CP 25/1/279/150 #22
- Close Rolls 1440
- Calendar of Patent Rolls
- Calendar of Fine Rolls
- History of the Family of Stansfeld p112 citing Cottonian MSS and p114



Evidence

7 May 1403 Tourn at Halifax, Ralph de Stansfield was amerced for drawing blood from William Hare (Wakefield Court Rolls).

25 Oct 1403 Feoffment by Robert Mathewson of Illingworth to Richard Henreson of Rawtonstall, piece of land called Faludrode in Wadsworth. Withnesses: Randolph (sic) de Stansfeld, Richard de Wadsworth Thomas del Scha, Henry de Cokcroft and Randolph Draper (West Yorkshire Archive Service SU/B:22).

18 Nov 1404 (one week from St Martin, 6 Henry IV) at Westminster.
Parties: Ralph de Stansfeld, querent, and John del Brygg and Joan, his wife, deforciants.
Property: 1 messuage, 16 acres of land, 4 acres of meadow, 4 acres of wood and a fourth part of 1 messuage, of 20 acres of land and of 4 acres of wood in Waddesworth and Savreby (Sowerby).
Action: Plea of covenant.
Agreement: John and Joan have acknowledged the tenements to be the right of Ralph. For this: Ralph has granted to John and Joan the tenements and has rendered them to them in the court, to hold to John and Joan, of Ralph and his heirs for the life of Joan, rendering yearly 1 rose at the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, and doing to the chief lords all other services. And after the decease of Joan the tenements shall revert to Ralph and his heirs, quit of the heirs of Joan, to hold of the chief lords for ever.
(Feet of Fines CP 25/1/279/150 #22)

13 June 1410 at Westminster.  Commission to William de Haryngton, 'chivaler', Richard Tempest, 'chivaler', Laurence de Hamerton, Thomas Sayvill, William de Radclif,  Ralph de Stansfeld, William Gayrgrave and the sheriff of York to arrest Richard de Tournley, William Skilycorne, Bernard de Syngleton, Richard son of John de Legh and John son of Thomas de Bradley and bring them immediately before the king and council at Westminster.
(Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry IV Volume 4 p225
)

15 May 1415 Feoffment by William de Drapowr, chaplain to Thomas his brother.  All property of William's in Wadsworth, given to him by John Drapowr, another brother.  Witnesses Ralph de Stansfeld, Henry Savell of Copley, Thomas del Schagh, Henry del Brig and Richard de Wadsworth (West Yorkshire Archive Service SU/B:25).

5 Oct 1416 Tourn at Halifax. The panel present Ralph Stansfeld, John Stansfeld, John son of Ralph Stansfeld and R—(torn) Stansfeld, for making, at Halifax, on  27th August 1416 (4th Henry V) an assault upon Richard Horrneclif and Thomas Horrneclif, shooting at them and drawing blood from the same Richard, and making a great affray. They are ordered to be attached (source not cited, History of the Family of Stansfeld p114).

22 April 1417 Tourn at Halifax. Ralph Stansfeld and John Aikerode of Wadsworth were presented and ordered to be attached for depasturing in the park there, without licence, during the winter, the former 29 beasts and the latter 6 beasts and 5 horses. 

(Wakefield Court Rolls)

21 Oct 1429 Quitclaim: John son of John Rawlyn Draper to Thomas Draper, pieces of land called Broad Bottom and Burlees, in Wadsworth. Witnesses: Hugh de Keighley, Ralph de Stansfeld and John de Stansfeld (West Yorkshire Archive Service: Calderdale SU/B:32).

8 Dec 1429 Quitclaim: John son of John Rawlyn Draper to Ralph de Stansfeld, Thomas de Schagh, Robert de Southcliff and Richard de Schagh, messuages called Broad Bottom and Burleghes and land called Myllyncroft in Wadsworth. Witnesses Robert Pilkington, John de Stansfeld and William de Schagh.
(West Yorkshire Archive Service: Calderdale SU/B:31)

(Below) 28 Oct 1429 Grant to Ralph de Stansfeld and appointment of Nicholas de Stansfeld as attorney by Robert Crossley.
(West Yorkshire Archive Service: Calderdale SU/B:29 & SU/B:30)

Mobirise

1 May 1434 at Westminster. Commission pursuant to Act of the last Parliament to W. bishop of Lincoln and William le Souche of Haryngworth, 'chivaler', and Thomas Grenham and William Beaufo, knights of the shire for the county of Rutland in the last Parlilamant, to issue their warrant to the sheriff for proclamation in the next court of the county that the following whose names have been certified in chancery by the said knights of the shire as those of persons who should take the oath not to maintain peace breakers referred to in the said Act should appear before the said commissioners or three or two of them and take the said oath. York :  J. archbishop of York, and Richard earl of Salisbury also Edmund Darrell, knight, and Robert Hopton, knight, knights of the share for the counry of York commissioners to receive the oath of the following: 51 names including  Thomas Sayvell 'chivaler', John Tempest, 'chivaler',  William Gascoygne, 'chivaler', Ralph Stansfeld, esquire, Roger Tempest of Broughton, esquire, Robert Pylkyngton of Ayrenden, esquire (Calendar of Patent Rolls p370
).

1434 membrane 12 Collectors of Tax in Yorkshire.  Richard Gathersby of Boland, Ralph Stansfeld of the parish of Halyfax, William Bruton of Suttyll, Thomas Russell of Wyghall, Robert Driffeld of Tadcastre, Thomas Breton of Thrybergh, William Gargrave of Wakefeld, Thomas Nuttyll of Ryston in Holdernesse, etc. 
(Calendar of Fine Rolls  Henry VI
)

25 June 1437 Quitclaim. John Rawlyn of Keighley son and heir of John Rawlyn to Thomas Draper of Wadsworth all property in Wadsworth formerly belonging to John Rawlyn the father. Witnesses Ralph de Stansfeld, esquire, Richard de Schagh, John de Widdop, Robert de Southcliffe and Richard de Wadsworth (West Yorkshire Archive Service: Calderdale SU/B:34).

(Below) 1439 approx. Johanna wife of Radulphi de Stancefelde re Hartshead Hall (History of the Family of Stansfeld p112 citing Cottonian MSS).

Mobirise
Mobirise

The following record is included here, despite Ralph probably being dead by this date, as it establishes his son John's lineage and his status regarding Hartshead.

16 June 1440 Quitclaim. 
William de Methelay and John de Methelay, sons of Thomas de Methelay esquire and Ellen his wife daughter of John de Wodehede, to John de Stansfelde, son of Ralph de Stansfelde esquire (armigeri), his heirs and assigns.   Quit-claim with warranty of all lands, rents and services of the said William in Herteshede and Lyversege, which by deed indented he gave to John de Stansfelde, his heirs and assigns for 120 years from the feast of St. Martin in winter 1438. Witnesses: John Hopton, Robert Myrfelde, Christopher de Ryshworth, Thomas de Thonge, William Ottes chaplain.
(Close Rolls 18 Henry VI)


My thanks to researcher Joanne Backhouse for her collaboration and guidance regarding the Stansfeld family and Calderdale.