John Thomas Staniforth

Coed Talon, Flintshire

John Thomas Staniforth was born in 1842 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire to Benjamin Staniforth, and Ann Frith. Although it isn't obvious why, John appears to have been raised by his grandparents on his mother’s side, although his parents Benjamin and Ann where already raising his siblings in Barrow-Upon-Soar.

On the 1851 Census, John is living with his widowed grandmother Elizabeth Frith, a Cottager Occupier of 7 Acres, originally from Chapel-en-le-Frith. Elizabeth was the widow of Thomas Frith, a Labourer from Derbyshire, and the two married at Chapel-En-Le-Frith on July 25, 1814. Thomas passed away in 1850. In 1851, the family are living at Benscliffe, Newton Linford, Barrow-Upon-Soar.

On the 1861 Census, John is living at Fox Cover House, Fox Lane, Thrussington, Barrow-upon-Soar, with his uncle John Frith, a Gamekeeper born in Newtown Linford, Leicestershire to Thomas and Elizabeth. John's wife Mary Frith is also in the household.

On August 21, 1866, John Thomas Staniforth married Elizabeth Tallack, the daughter of William Henry Tallack in Bangor, Wales. John includes his father Benjamin Staniforth on the record, along with his occupation 'Butcher' which reflects his father's occupation on census records. By this time John lists his occupation as 'Gamekeeper' apparently taking after his uncle John Frith.

On the 1871 Census, John and his wife Elizabeth are living at Bracknell and Crowthorn Road, Nine Mile Ride, Easthampstead, Berkshire. By this time they have two children, William Frith Staniforth, aged 2, a man that would emigrate to Cleveland, Ohio to establish a Veterinary business (see our article on William here ), and 1 year old Frederick George Staniforth, who would also follow his brother to Cleveland. John is still listed as a gamekeeper.

John Milton Staniforth is also baptised to John Thomas and Elizabeth in 1871, however he does not appear in the household, he later shows up in Cleveland, Ohio alongside his brothers. He dies there on January 12, 1950.

On the 1881 Census the family have relocated to Twll Tyfod, Tryddyn, Flintshire, Wales. John is still working as a Gamekeeper, now aged 39 with his wife aged 24. William Frith and Frederick George are Scholars and they are now joined by 8 year old Lizzie Emily Staniforth, she would go onto marry Ernest Alfred Butler, 3 year old Ada Lydia Staniforth, and 1 year old Nelley Staniforth.

Around this time we see numerous reports in the local newspaper concerning John Thomas Staniforth, and it is clear to see he may have had a temper.

Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser March 29, 1879:

Robert Ingham, an old man, a farmer, was charged with trespassing in pursuit of game. John Thomas Staniforth, gamekeeper, stated that on the 1st March he saw the defendant with a dog working a field on the farm of Mr Yond, at Tryddyn. The land belonged to Colonel Roper. Defendant said he was only going along a public footpath through the field. Defendant caused considerable amusement by a running comment in Welsh upon the case and when he was fined 10s and costs, he opened his eyes with wide amazement and shouted "For what? Where shall I get the money?" He was then told he could "do" seven days if he didn't choose to pay, and after some hesitation he drew the money from his pocket and handed it over.

Wrexham Advertiser March 5, 1881:

The Tables Turned - Thomas Wood was summoned by John Thomas Staniforth, gamekeeper to Colonel Roper, with threatening to kill him on the 9th of January last. The complainant said that on the evening of that day he went to the house of James Langley, a man who watched with him some nights. The defendant came in and said that his b---- living was taken off him because someone had stolen his ferret. He said then that complainant had killed his dog, and added that had he met him on the night he done it he would send his knife to his heart if he suffered forty thousand years for it, and added that he would do it yet. He had waited from the 9th of January until now in the hopes that defendant would apologize, but he did not, so he was afraid of him and asked that he might be bound over to keep the peace. In answer to the defendant, the complainant said that the defendant had threatened to kill him that night. - James Langley, the man in whose house the row took place was called by Staniforth, and said that Wood had said that if Staniforth had met him on the night his dog was poisoned, it would have been a bad job for them both, but he did not hear Wood make any threat to Staniforth. He added that he had that night prevented Wood from assaulting the complainant twice. A.S Nelson was called by the complainant and said he had heard wood threaten Staniforth in October last, but took not notice of it as Wood was a little in drink. - The defendant to the Complainant: Did you not threaten to shoot me that night at Langley's? - Complainant: Me threaten to shoot you? No I never threatened to shoot any man. Defendant: Did you not pull a revolver out of your pocket and threaten to shoot me? Complainant: Me! No man saw a revolver in my hands that night, and I made no such threat unless I may have said that I would shoot somebody in self-defense. - George Evans was called by the defendant, and distinctly swore that Staniforth pulled a revolver out of his pocket in the house of Langley that night and threatened to shoot Wood with it, who answered that he could not as he would prevent him. Staniforth said so three or four times, and had said so on the "bank" on one occasion - Staniforth denied that he ever threatened to shoot Wood, but admitted that he pulled out his revolver to try and experiment whether powder would ignite on hot iron. He then added that he might have threatened to shoot Wood in a joke. - Langley was then recalled, and said that Staniforth had pulled out his revolver on the night in question, and threatened Wood, but it was said in the way of a joke. Upon that the case was at once dismissed, the complainant paying 10s costs.

John's daughter Lizzy with husband Ernest

Wrexham Advertiser September 3, 1881:

A Very Serious Charge - At the conclusion of the business of the Petty Sessions on Monday, a man named Thomas Dodd, residing at Coed Talon, applied to the magistrates for a warrant for the apprehension of J. Thomas Staniforth, gamekeeper of Col. Roper (one of the justices on the bench) on a charge of shooting him with intention to do him grievous bodily harm on the previous Saturday morning. The man bared his right arm and showed the mark of the shots, saying that he saw the man Staniforth deliberately aim at him through a hedge, and about 20 or 25 yards away, and then shoot at him, fifteen shots entered his right arm, three entered his neck and seventeen his thigh, and Dr. Jones of Pontybodkin to whom he went bleeding after Staniforth shot him, extracted the shots out of his body. Mr. Cooke (chairman of the justices): Are you sure it was Staniforth? Dodd “Yes I am certain. I saw him distinctly when he aimed at me: Col. Roper (menacingly): Now, you take care what you are saying. Dodd: I say that Staniforth shot me, and I can prove by two witnesses that he threatened to shoot me the first time he had the chance. Kr Keene: Has there been no dispute between you? Dodd: Yes, sometime ago he summoned me for taking a pheasant, and the case was dismissed. Staniforth then held his revolver and threatened to shoot me at the Coed Talon Pit. Col. Roper said that under these circumstances all that could be granted was a summons. Mr Keene said there was no danger of the man going away perhaps but the charge was a serious one, and the offence indictable. Dodd said that about seven o'clock on Saturday morning, he went to gather mushrooms. He had gathered several and was in the act of stooping for some when he saw Staniforth, and then the shot was fired. A Summoning was then granted, returnable at the next Petty Sessions at Mold.

In the following articles, it seems that Thomas Dodd was actually Thomas Wood, it should also be noted that in this single article, John’s name is incorrectly given as James:

September 17, 1881 - Wrexham Advertiser

A Gamekeeper charged with shooting a man

James Thomas Staniforth, gamekeeper to Col. Roper, was charged by Thomas Wood, a collier, living at Coed Talon, with shooting him on the morning of the 27th of August last. Mr. Mason, of Chester, appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. Acton, of Wrexham, for the defendant. Mr. Mason, in stating the case, briefly recapitulated the facts, which, according to the statement of the prosecutor, were as follows:-

On Saturday morning, the 27th of August, from 7 to 7.15, he went into a field near Coed Talon, to gather mushrooms, and when about five yards from the hedge something struck him in the shoulder and thigh when he was stooping down, and at the same instant he heard the report of the gun. He turned his head and saw Staniforth through the hedge in the next field. He was on his knee and was pointing his gun towards the prosecutor, who shouted to him four or five times "Who went through the corn field?" Wood shouted to him "You've done it at last, you said you would do it many a time," but Staniforth did not stop. Wood felt sick, and leaned on the gate for five minutes or so, when he went home and thence to Dr. Jones, who examined him and took out the shots from his right arm and left thigh, there were also three marks on his neck, but no shots were in. He afterwards saw P.C Hughes, who accompanied him to the place where it occurred. He noticed that in the place where Staniforth had been, the corn had been trampled down. The defendant had often threatened him, and on one occasion going up the road they were talking about a dog being poisoned, when defendant going over a style said if he got within twenty yards of him he would send a hole through him. On another occasion in January last, the defendant put a revolver to his face. - Cross examined by Mr. Acton: The field in which he belonged to, the Firith Farm, and the hedge between the field and the one in which Staniforth stood was about a yard and six inches high. Staniforth was about twenty-two yards away. He did not see Staniforth aiming at him before he felt the shot. The wadding of the shot adhered to his coat, and the mark was on his coat still. He heard no alarm gun go off in a dingle just below the field. He was at Dr. Jones' about eight o'clock.

Mr. John Jones, assistant surgeon, living at Pontyhodkin, said that on the morning of the 27th of August, Wood called upon him about eight O'clock, he pulled his coat off, bared his arm, and said "Can you do anything for this?" Witness looked at it intently and could not make out what it was at first, as prosecutor had not told him he had been shot. However when he saw some shot and pulled them out, they were embedded in the arm, and there was some trouble in getting the last, which was rather deeply embedded. There were fifteen shot marks on the arm, and he took several out - five or six. Prosecutor showed him his thigh, on which there were shot marks but no shots, and the same with the neck. There was blood about the marks, and the shot had not been there more than two hours, they could not get there only from missile. The deepest shot was embedded to the depth of about an eighth of an inch.

P.C. Hughes said that on Saturday morning the 27th of August the complainant called on him about 11 o'clock, and said he had been shot, and on the Wednesday following he accompanied him to the spot, and stepped it to be about 23 yards from where the complainant stood to that where the defendant shot. The wheat had been trampled down a little.

James Langley, collier said that he knew the parties and had watched under the defendant last winter, and during that time, Staniforth said that the first that moved off the footpath he would shoot him, and Staniforth had told him the same thing in his own house. Witness said he heard remarks of that kind several times. Cross-examined.- He had never quarreled with Staniforth since then.

George Evans said he was a collier, living at Tryddyn. He was with Wood at Langley's house last winter, and Staniforth was there too. Wood and Staniforth were quarrelling, and Staniforth had a revolver out saying "I shall do an end of you Tom” and "I shall shoot you." That was the complainants' case.

Mr. Acton then addressed the Bench for the defense contending that it was a case of mistaken identity, saying he was going to call Staniforth's children to prove that at the time mentioned, Staniforth was in bed. Having dwelt on the improbability of the prosecutor's story, he called Col. Roper, who said that so far as he knew, the man's character was good, and he thought it was very improbably for him to commit a crime of that sort. On Tuesday last he examined the spot, where he noticed that a good deal of trespass had been done in the place where Staniforth was said to have stood. He saw the place where Wood was said to be and he did not think it possible for Wood to be able to identify anyone kneeling at the spot where Staniforth was said to be, as the corn was high and above his head. Neither did he think that a man kneeling down could have shot over the hedge. Cross-examined.- He could not tell the exact-spot. The defendant was with him when he examined the field.

William F Staniforth, son of the defendant, and aged 13, said he lived at home. He remembered Friday night the 26th August, his father came in at 11 O'clock, and he had supper with him, and then went to bed. There were three bedrooms, one was occupied, the second was one in which his mother and two sisters slept; the other room was occupied by two beds, in one of which his father slept, and the other witness and his brother occupied. His father went to bed about 11.30, and he saw him go then. Witness woke at three in the morning and got up and woke his father but he did not get up. Witness woke again at 7 o'clock, it being time for him to get up to make the breakfast. His father was then sleeping fast. Witness went downstairs at a quarter to eight, where he made a fire and boiled the kettle. At eight o'clock, he went to call his mother, his father being in bed, and they had breakfast at 8.30, but his father did not come down to it. He and his brother went out a little after 9, and up to that time his father had not gone out. He remembered it so well because his father said in the evening that the doctor told him that he had shot Lane (a nick-name of Wood's).

George Staniforth, another boy, aged 12, said he remembered the circumstances. It was eleven when his father came in, and he remembered him going to bed, but he did not know the time. He woke up at seven, when his father was asleep. Got up about half-past seven, and went down soon after, as soon as breakfast was ready. About nine o'clock he went out with his brother, and his father had not come downstairs then.

That was the defense

The magistrates then retired for some time, and on their return to court, the Chairman said they could not agree, so things would have to take their course.

Mr. Acton said that was tantamount to a dismissal. The chairman said it was not, and the best way would be for the case to be re-heard, and before another tribunal. At this point Mr. Raikes left the court, and a long argument took place between Mr. Acton and the Chairman as to the re-hearing of the case, Mr Acton objecting to any decision being arrived at in the absence of one of the justices who heard the case. The upshot of it was that Mr. Raikes was again sent for, and he agreed the course proposed to be taken by the other justices, and the case stands over to be re-heard next Monday week.

Wrexham Advertiser October 1, 1881:

The Shooting Case - The case of Thomas Wood v John Thomas Staniforth was next taken. Mr. Morgan appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. T. B Acton of Wrexham, for the defense. It will be remembered that the case was heard at the last court, but the magistrates not being able to agree it was ordered to be re-heard at the present one. - Mr. Morgan applied for an adjournment, on the ground that an important witness was unable to be present. He obtained a summons for the witness on Friday morning and on the evening of the same day it was given to a police constable for the purpose of being served. He went to the place where the witness worked but found that he had gone away. - Mr. Acton most strenuously opposed the application, and the magistrates ultimately decided to go on with the case. It was decided to take the case de nova and the evidence which we have already published was again gone into. The magistrates who heard the case on the last occasion retired from the bench and Mr. P E D Cooke took the chair. It will be unnecessary for us to reproduce the whole of the evidence given, but the testimony of the prosecutor contains a summary of the case, and we give it as follows: - On Saturday morning, the 27th of August, from 7 to 7.15, it appears the prosecutor went into a field near Coed Talon, to gather mushrooms, and when about five yards from the hedge something struck him in the shoulder and thigh when he was stooping down, and at the instant he heard the report of the gun. He turned his head and saw Staniforth through the hedge in the next field. He was on his knee and was pointing his gun towards the prosecutor, who shouted to him four or five times. "Who went through the corn field?" Wood shouted to him "You've done it at last, you said you would do it many a time" but Staniforth did not stop. Wood felt sick and leaned on the gate for five minutes or so, when he went home, and thence to Dr. Jones, who examined him and took out the shots from his right and left thigh, there were also three marks on his neck, but no shots were in. He afterwards saw P.C Hughes who accompanied him to the place where it occurred. He noticed that in the place where Staniforth had been, the corn had been trampled down. The defendant had often threatened him, and on one occasion going up to the road they were talking about a dog being poisoned, when defendant going over a style said if he got within twenty yards of him he would send a hole through him. On another occasion in January last, the defendant put a revolver to his face. The witnesses for the prosecutor which were called at the last court, having been examined, Mr. Acton addressed the bench, and dwelt upon the improbability of Wood's story, and detailed some experiments by which he said it was absolutely impossible for a man kneeling in the corn field to fire a shot and not hit the hedge or cut a way through the standing corn. He then called Col. Roper, who said the defendant who was his gamekeeper, bore a good character, and he did not think he was the man to do anything of the kind alleged. Witness examined the field in question about ten days afterwards. He knelt down in the corn field himself and levelled his gun as high as he could but he could not see over the standing corn. - Mr. Wm Lea, manager of the Coed Talon Colliery, proved a plan and section of the spot which had been drawn by him. The corn was about 3 feet 9 inches, and some of it 4 feet. The fence at the point was about 6 feet high, but some points were higher. The levels were taken with the theodolite. The difference between the levels of the two fields was 2 feet 6 inches, the grass field being the highest. The points where the section was made was pointed out to witness by P.C Hughes. If a shot had been fired from the corn it would have injured the hedge and the corn. - Mr. John Jones, gun maker, of Chester-Street, Wrexham, said he examined the spot, and the corn was standing when he was there. He placed himself in the corn and another person stood in the grass field. It was utterly impossible for him to have fired a shot without cutting a road through the corn. He examined the hedge and found no shot marks. He tried Staniforth's gun, and at 25 yards he sent a charge of shots through 48 sheets of strong brown paper. The cartridges were bought ready filled and if the complainant had been hit with a good cartridge he would not have been able to give evidence that day. A man in the corn could by standing up shoot a man in the grass field. - The magistrates then retired, and after a long consultation the Chairman said the magistrates were divided in their opinion as to the merits of the case, but they had decided to adjourn it for a month in order that the witness for the prosecution should be present.

Wrexham Advertiser October 29, 1881:

The Alleged Shooting Case

In this case which had already been twice heard before their Worships, and which, a month ago, was adjourned for the production of a witness for the prosecution. The following Magistrates sat to hear the case:- Messrs. P.B Davies Cooke, E Thompson, R.V Kyrke, and C.P Morgan. - Mr. Mason appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Acton for the defense. The only witness called was Robert Peake, banksman at the Tanllan Colliery, Coed Talon. He remembered the 27th of August, and was in that Court on the 12th of September. On the morning of the 27th of August he saw a man going along the top of the field opposite the colliery, between six and seven o'clock. He had nothing with him, and he could not tell who he was distinctly, for he was 270 or 300 yards away. He had never told anyone that the man was Staniforth, at least he could not remember that he had. He did not tell Robert Marsh that it was Staniforth. He was not certain, and was not prepared to say. He would swear he did not tell Robert Marsh so. He did not tell Ingham that he saw Staniforth that morning. He might have told him that he fancied he saw him, or he was terribly mistaken. The witness went on to prevaricate a good deal, and refused to give very definite answers. - Their Worships, having consulted a minute or two, the Chairman said they had carefully gone into the evidence the other day, when the case was adjourned for further evidence. The evidence was not sufficient to clear up the case, and was insufficient to convict. IT was much to be regretted that a man should be shot, as certainly the man Wood had been, and then be no evidence to bring the act home to the guilty party. They could not commit the prisoner unless there was some probability that a jury in a higher court would convict, so the case would be dismissed. In that case Col. Roper did not sit, and in the Sunday closing cases Mr. Kyrke did not act. There was a good deal of interest in both cases, and the Court was crowded. We may add that the number of cases on the agenda was 70 the largest known for many years, if, indeed, the number is not unprecedented.

Cheshire Observer March 3, 1888

Petty Sessions - At the Mold Petty Sessions on Monday last, John Thomas Staniforth, gamekeeper to Colonel Roper, of Plas Teg, was summoned by Benjamin Hughes for assault and larceny. The defendant frequently appears at the local sessions in cases for poisoning, and the present charged against him excited a good deal of interest. The complainant who is a platelayer on the L and N W Railway deposed that on Wednesday last he was on the highway road near Pontblyddyn. He had with him a pike and billhook and a pair of mittens, as he had been repairing the fences on the railway line. The defendant came up to him and asked him what he was doing. Witness replied that he had been on duty, but that it was no business of defendants. The defendant thereupon hot hold of witness by the throat and struck witness until he fell in the snow. The defendant then picked up the pike and said he would pit it through witness and walked away with the pike. The bench considered the case of assault clearly proved, and fined defendant 20s and costs. As to the charge of larceny, the bench dismissed it, as the defendant had left the pike for the complainant at a house in the locality. In another case, in which Staniforth charged two men with poisoning for game, the bench struck the case out of the list owing to Staniforth having gone out of court and the chairman told him that he ought to have remained in the court instead of going out.

Wrexham Advertiser January 21, 1888

Highway Offence - Harriett Roberts of Coed Talon, who did not appear, was charged by John Thomas Staniforth, her neighbour and gamekeeper, with allowing her pig to stray not on the highway, but in a wood, but as that was not quite according to the law the case was dismissed, it being said the case was one of trespass, for which the pig could not be summoned.

Ampthill, Bedforshire

By the time of the 1891 Census, his sons William and Frederick had already emigrated to the United States, the family are now residing at Panty Stain, Georges Row, Tryddyn, Chester, Flintshire. John Thomas is now 40, still working as a Gamekeeper, living with his 44 year old wife Elizabeth, 11 year old daughter Nelley, 9 year old daughter Elsie Staniforth, 5 year old Pierce Staniforth and 3 year old Charles Frith Staniforth.

Again we find another mention of Staniforth in the newspaper:

Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle January 11, 1896:

Night Poaching in Burderop Wood

Thomas Pickitt, engine driver, of Prior's Hill, Wroughton, was summoned charged with unlawfully taking a rabbit on land in the occupation of W. Davy Esq at Burderop, near Swindon, on December 22nd, between the hours of 1 and 2am. Mr. W. H Kinneir appeared to prosecute, and called John Thomas Staniforth, head keeper at Burderop Park, who said that he and his underkeeper, a man named Harrod, met at his house at 11 O'clock on Saturday night, December 21st. They left and went in different directions in the wood, and witness shortly afterwards heard shots in the wood. He went in the direction whence the sound came, and about half past one he came to Harrod, with whom the defendant was having a "set to" in the wood. Defendant also turned round on him. There were some other men in the wood. It was a starlight night, and he identified defendant, he id not speak to him because he knew he was deaf. Defendant had a net and a rabbit. - Thomas Harrod, underkeeper gave corroborative evidence. - Defendant who was very deaf, some difficulty being experienced in making him understand the evidence, denied that he was in the wood at all. He said he went to the club house on the night in question, and went home to bed at twelve o'clock. He had too much beer to go poaching. He called no witnesses - The bench convicted, and fined defendant 1 pound and 1 pound 12s costs; in default six weeks imprisonment without hard labour. He was allowed a fortnight for payment.

Northampton Mercury November 30, 1900:

Horse Dealing

John Hollowell, Racehorse Inn, Abington square, Northampton, v. John Thomas Staniforth, Marefair, Northampton, corn merchant, Claim for 5 pound 10s, value of a mare sold to the defendant.- Mr. J.D Douglas (for Mr. G.J Phillips) appeared for the defendant.- According to the plaintiff’s account, plaintiff purchased the mare at Woods' auction for 5 pound 5s, and his son immediately sold it to the defendant for 5s profit. The defendant took it away from the repository, but had refused to pay, and plaintiff had to pay the auctioneer the five guineas. - The defendant said that the plaintiff's son asked him 7 pound 10s for the mare. Defendant would have nothing to do with it. Afterwards, the son went to Witness's house, and urged him to try the horse, and said that if he gave him 5s, he could try it. If the mare did not suit defendant would to lose the 5s. Defendant was quite willing to do that, and he fetched the mare from Hollowell's stables, not from the market. Hollowell afterwards refused to take the mare back if defendant would not pay 1 pound. - William Pearson said that when he took the mare back to the yard someone said "Here's the old mare come back again, turner her out!" Someone turned her out in the street. The plaintiff said that the horse fell into the hands of the police and, after being kept at the market, was sold for 4pounds 12s 6d. There were 48s expenses, and the police still had the balance.

His Honour said that he was satisfied that the horse was lent to the defendant on trial. It was not returned in a proper manner. There would be a verdict for the defendant, but without costs.

In 1901, the family have again relocated to 21, Marefair, Northampton, Northampton, John is now working as a Corn Merchant, aged 59, Elizabeth is not present in the household, although John is still recorded as being married. 18 year old Elsie Staniforth is also in the household along with Pierce, aged 15, now working as a shop boy, 13 year old Charles Frith Staniforth, 9 year old Frank Staniforth and a 5 year old Grandson from the Channel Islands named Wilfred Smith. Elizabeth appears on a Census record in Swindon, Wiltshire, she is listed as a visitor to a 50 year old Mary Ann Page, Ada Lydia Staniforth is also with her as a Boarder, her occupation reads Teacher in National School. Interestingly, Elizabeth's name is recorded as 'Loveday Elizabeth Staniforth'. Looking at her birth record it shows that her full birth name was Elizabeth Loveday Tallack.

On the 1911 Census, the family have relocated to Woburn Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, John is now 69 and working as a Kennel Man, Elizabeth is back in the home, now aged 64 and once again she is calling herself Loveday Elizabeth Staniforth. the only child still in the home is 23 year old Charles Frith Staniforth, now working as a Shoemaker. He would go onto marry Winifred Gilbert in 1926. Pierce is living with his sister Lizzie Emily Staniforth and her husband Ernest Alfred Butler.

John Thomas Staniforth dies in 1927 at Ampthill, Bedfordshire, He outlived his wife Elizabeth by 6 years, as 'Loveday Elizabeth Staniforth' dies in Ampthill in 1921.

His obituary reads:

August 5, 1927 - Bedfordshire Times

The death of Mr. John Thomas Staniforth, of 40 Chandos Road, formerly a gamekeeper, took place on Tuesday evening after an illness of a month. Mr. Staniforth was predeceased by his wife in 1921 and leaves nine children - four sons in America, one son in London, another living in Ampthill, and three daughters.