1694-1764

George' mark on his will dated 1764

George Staniforth baptised at Eckington on the 20th of June 1694 was the son of George Staniforth of Litfield, Ridgeway. George’s life and his connection to Southgate Hall, between Clowne and Barlborough has been well recorded, it was said that George once ‘raised a troop of horse against The Pretender when he had got as far as Derby in 1745’ in reference to the Jacobite Rebellion that same year. Mentions of George from the time period are interesting as they erroneously claim his family resided at Barlborough Manor for 500 years and that he was buried in the chancel at Barlborough Church. Enquiries and visits have been made by myself and other former Staniforth researchers such as Rosamund Du Cane before me to the church at Barlborough in which we discovered there was no grave in the chancel, however the parish records do indicate that George was buried at Barlborough on April 1st 1764.

Southgate House, which today is a hotel located on the A619 just outside of Clowne, appears to have been built and owned by Emmanuel Richardson before 1757.

In his will, George makes reference to Emmanuel in relation to Southgate House, which he leaves to his son. He describes ‘Southgate house and farm as the same were late in the possession of Emmanuel Richardson lying in the several parished of Barlbrough, Whitwell and Clown in the county of Derby’ George also owned property in Litfield, Ridgeway, the place of his birth, which was handed down from his father, this would become the residence of his son Jeremiah. He also references land at Duffield, to the north of Derby in his will, as well as land elsewhere in Eckington.

A deed of conveyance dated 1772, the year following his death, his property is described ‘the messuage in which George Staniforth formerly dwelt in Barlborough, with two meadows, the little close, the four crofts or pingles and four houses in Barlborough and the West End Closes, the long pingle and a garden in Barlborough’.

Memorial to George's wife, Hannah in Chesterfield St, Mary's Church

George would marry Hannah Slater in 1722, a woman who’s surname is well known to the town of Barlborough. The surname is said to derive from the occupation of a roofer, which would obviously involve working with slates. The earliest mentions of the name come from Barlborough itself, and 1599 subsidy tax records show a Christopher Slater owning property in the village. George and Hannah would be married for 42 years when he passed away in 1764, and Hannah would follow him in 1771. A memorial can be found in Chesterfield Parish Church which reads:

‘Near this monument lieth

Inter’d the remains of Hannah

Staniforth wh odepared this life the

8th of August 1771 Aged 72 years

Also Charles Staniforth and John

Slater Staniforth, two of her

Grand Children who died

infants’

The two infant sons mentioned where their grandchildren through their son Charles Staniforth and his wife Sarah Clark. George and Hannah would have five children in total, all mentioned in George’s will. Hannah Staniforth who was baptised 5th August 1741 at Clowne would marry Thomas Layland, the two were still living at the time of 1765. Sarah Staniforth would go onto marry Thomas Clarke at Chesterfield on the 13th July 1757, she passed away in 1765. Charles Staniforth, as mentioned above married Sarah Clarke and lived at Southgate house. Charles is described as a surgeon, and was also on the Canal commission. It is quite likely that Sarah Clarke and Thomas Clarke where siblings and this was two siblings marrying two siblings. Jeremiah Staniforth of Litfield was baptised on the 31st January 1736 in Clowne, also a member of the canal commission, he left a will dated 22nd July 1772 which was proved 17th October 1781. Jeremiah married Olive Taylor on the 22nd August 1764 at Rotherham. When Jeremiah passed away she went onto marry John Willot on the 24th February 1774 at Eckington. Hugh Staniforth is also listed on the Clowne parish records on the 6th August 1735 with George and Hannah listed as the parents, however there is no mention of him in his fathers will, so it seems likely he passed in infancy.

Another interesting piece to the puzzle, is that on his marriage to Hannah Slater, he is described as a Gentleman of Catcliffe, there is a memorial in the church of All Saints, Rotherham which reads:

Here lieth the body of two children of George Staniforth, of Catcliffe, heir of George Beardwell (sic) deceased. Dolor Slater, who died ye 20th November, 1728, aged 16 days; also John, who died ye 23rd of January, 1728 (sic), aged 3 years 7 months and 15 days.

An Earlier marriage showing George Staniforth of Catcliffe marrying a Dorcas Westby at Aston takes place January 14, 1719, however on the burial record for Dorcas, wife of George of Catcliffe which takes place August 25, 1720, George is described as a farmer.

It is unclear how George came into possession of land at Catcliffe, however based on his will, he was still in possession of this land upon his death.