Stanley Families

Letitia Sophia Stanley
Born 6th 11th Month 1870
Called Home 7th 3rd Month 1946.

Mona Wylie ‘The burial ground of Grange Meeting: Gravestone Inscriptions’.
Duiche Neill: Journal of the O’Neill Country Historical Society, No. 13, 2000, page 207.

Mary Ann, the only child of Sir Edmond & Jane Talbot, was born 24 Oct. 1801.  Died 7 Jan. 1881.

Mary Ann was born in Ireland some 15 years after her parents were married. Edmond was 44.  She had quite an interesting life travelling to far off places with her parents.  Her mother & herself spent 5 months travelling home, perhaps for some more advanced schooling with her rapidly approaching status as a young lady of quality.

This event must have been tarnished somewhat by her elopement & marriage of 1815 to a widower 16 years her senior. His name was Edward Trant Bontein, Army Captain, b: 1785 in Balglas, Scotland. She was not quite 14 years of age. There were no objections to the match but those which arose from her extreme youth.

Her first son Edward was born Jan 1818 & was only 4 months old when the family all sailed for Madras to join Sir Edmond. Just under a year later in Sept. 1819 she gave birth to her second son James.  Only two months later her husband died while in service at the age of 34. She was only 18 at the time.  The family stayed in Madras, leaving in 1824.

Little is known of her life thereafter except that towards the end of her father’s life, her mother having already died, she was living with him at Richmond. By this time her sons surnames had been changed to Stanley by Royal License, registered at the College of Arms. Mary Ann referred to herself as Mrs. Bontain Stanley. It was the condition of Sir Edmond’s Will that she should take back the name Stanley & pass it on to her sons.  Interestingly she had the full support of Sir James Bontain, her father-in-law. She lived most of her life in rather elevated circles in Brussels where she moved & is buried.

The late Mrs. Bontein Stanley was very much respected by all indicated by the large number who assembled at her house afterwards joined in the funeral service in the English Church Rue Belliard. It was quite evident that all present were deeply affected on bidding a final farewell to one who had been such a universal favourite & whose generous efforts in the cause of charity will long be remembered.

Further information on Edmond Stanley can be found at: http://www.thebrassbuddha.net/stanley/?p=413″

The Ouzel Galley Society had its origins in a dramatic incident in Irish shipping history. The Ouzel, a trader ship was sent in 1695 to the coasts of Smyrna and the Levant by the firm of Ferris, Twigg and Cash. The ship had an Irish crew and was captained by Captain Eoghan Massey.

When the ship failed to return and three years had passed without any word, it was presumed lost and the owners claimed and were paid the insurance money. Some time later the ship returned with tales of being boarded by Moorish seamen in the Bay of Biscay and then falling into the hands of Algerian pirates who used her in their trade. The Irish crew were kept aboard ship and eventually managed to escape with the ship and the spoils, which greatly exceeded the value of the original cargo.

The merchants, Ferris, Twigg and Cash claimed the new cargo and offered to refund the insurance. The insurers disagreed and the matter was brought to the Courts was settled by arbitration by a committee of merchants. The arbitration was successful and met with such approval that the committee formed itself into the Ouzel Galley Society in 1705, with the aim of arbitrating in all disputes referred to them relating to trade and commerce. Fees were charged, and these were used to provide benefits for ‘decayed’ merchants.

The Society was a success but over time became more of a social club than an arbitrator, in 1869 important matters were still being dealt with by the society. However in 1888 with the growing complexities of commercial law the Society was voluntarily wound up by the Order of the Court of Chancery, and its assets were distributed among charitable associations.

F.G. Hall, ‘The Bank of Ireland 1783-1946‘
Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co Ltd, 1949, pages 478 & 479.

Arthur Stanley was one of the original subscribers to the capital of the Bank of Ireland in 1783-1784, subscribing £2,000.

He was a director of the bank in the years 1786, 1788, 1790, 1792, 1794 and 1796-1807. He then became governor of the bank from 1807-1808. He was a member of the firm of Arthur Stanley & Co, formerly Westlake & Stanley, drug merchants of 4 Bride Street, successors of Patrick Bride. The Stanleys, originally Hanleys, came from farming stock in Westmeath.

F.G. Hall, ‘The Bank of Ireland 1783-1946‘
Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co Ltd, 1949, pages 505 & 509.

Further information on Arthur can be found at: http://www.thebrassbuddha.net/stanley/?p=218″
Some information on Arthur Stanley’s son Edward can be found at: http://www.thebrassbuddha.net/stanley/?p=330″

Vicars of the Parish of Errigal Trough in the Diocese of Clogher and in counties Monaghan and Tyrone.

1801 – Edward Stanley was collated on December 18, 1801 (Diocesan Register); he resigned on May 9, 1806 to become Prebendary of Tyholland.

Prebendaries of the Parish of Tyholland (or Tehallen) in the Diocese of Clogher and in Co. Monaghan.

1806 – Edward Stanley was collated on May 9, 1806, (First Fruit Returns). He was the eldest son of Arthur Stanley, Pharmacopola [Chemist] of Dublin. He was born in Dublin and educated by Dr Norris of Drogheda. He entered Trinity College Dublin on October 29, 1788 at the age of 16 and graduated with a B.A. in 1792 and a M.A. in 1806. He was Vicar of Errigletrough from 1801-1806. He died intestate on April 14, 1822 at the age of 40. (Mont. in Tehallen). His wife Charlotte was granted administration of his estate in 1822, she died on October 10 1829 at the age of 57.

Rev. James B. Leslie ‘Clogher Clergy and Parishes: being an account of the clergy of the Church of Ireland in the diocese of Clogher, from the earliest period, with historical notices of the several parishes, churches etc‘.
Enniskillen: Fermanagh Times, 1929, pages 87 & 195.

Some information on Edward Stanley’s father Arthur can be found at: http://www.thebrassbuddha.net/stanley/?p=337″

Curates of Holywood Parish, Co. Down.

1857 – Thomas Carter Stanley was licensed January 14, 1859 (Diocesan Register of Down and Dromore). He was the son of Thomas Stanley, described as a “Vectigalium Collector” in Alumni Dubliensis. He was born in Cheshire, educated at Liverpool School and entered Trinity College Dublin on October 12, 1852, at the age of 19. He graduated with a B.A. in 1857, an LL.B. in 1867 and an LL.D. 1869. He was ordained deacon in Down in 1857, and on November 30,1858 a priest. He was curate of Holywood parish from 1857 to 1859. He was Chaplain to the Forces from 1859-1890, Chaplain at Berne from 1890-1894, at Dinan from 1894-1897 and at Brindisi in 1897.

J.B. Leslie and H.R. Swanzy ‘Biographical succession lists of the clergy of diocese of Down’
Enniskillen: Fermanagh Times, 1936, page 132.

Tom Reilly's book 'Joe Stanley: Printer to the rising' tells the life story of Joseph Michael Stanley or more accurately Joseph Michael Patrick William Catherine Larkin Stanley. Born in Dublin, the son of John and Mary Stanley of Ardbolies, near Clogherhead in Co. Louth, the book concentrates on the period from 1913 to 1923. In 1913 Joe bought a struggling printing works, and in the following years the book records his increasing involvement in the republican movement. His printing works were raided in March 1916 and the presses confiscated. He delivered copies of a handbill 'The Provisional Government to the Citizens of Dublin' to the GPO on Easter Tuesday. He was arrested at the end of the week and eventually was imprisoned at Frongoch Concentration Camp near Bala in North Wales. Other prisoners included Michael Collins, Sean T. O'Reilly, Dr James Ryan, Tomas MacCurtain, Terence MacSwiney, Desmond Ryan, W.J. Brennan-Whitmore, Richard Mulcahy, Michael Staines, Oscar Traynor and Dick McKee. All the prisoners were released before Christmas 1916. Returning to Dublin he recommenced printing under his imprint the Gaelic Press. In 1918 he started printing An tOglach for Michael Collins, and again found himself subject to raids from the police. In 1919, frustrated by the confiscation of his presses, he moved with his family to Drogheda where he opened a cinema, this was followed by the opening of a second cinema in Dundalk in the same year. In 1920 he stood for election and was elected to Louth County Council. Following independence in 1921 Joe was back in Dublin getting his printing presses back and resurrecting the Gaelic Press. When the Civil War broke out in 1922 Joe resigned his position in the IRA.

In 1929 he moved to London to take up the post of sub-editor at the Daily Mail, the family remaining in the Clogherhead area. He returned to Ireland in 1935 and the family moved to Drogheda. In 1936 he bought over the Drogheda Argus and Advertiser and he was back in the printing and publishing business, which proved to be very successful. Joe died in hospital in Drogheda in June 1950.

Tom Reilly, Joe Stanley: Printer to the rising. Brandon Press, Dingle; 2005. ISBN: 086322346X.

Emma Sarah Hardy married Rev. Henry Todd on 30th October 1902 in St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh. Emma Sarah is the eldest daughter of John Hardy and Mary Crooks Stanley of Bessbrook. Henry is the youngest son of James Todd of Stonebridge, Kilmore, Co Armagh.

Henry was born on 12th January 1863 in Portadown. He was educated at The Educational Institution, Dundalk; Santry School, Co Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. In Trinity he obtained Mathematical Sizarship, Senior Exhibition, Michael Roberts Prize in Mathematics, First Honours and Prize in Modern History and Logics, First Resp. B.A. 1895.

Before entering the Church, he was Mathematical Master in the Royal School, Cavan; and in Drogheda Grammar School; and Mathematical Lecturer in Mungret College, Limerick.

On entering the Church of Ireland, he became Curate of Carlingford and was ordained Deacon in 1896, and Priest in 1897; in 1899 he became Curate of St Mary’s, Newry, and was installed as Incumbent of Camlough Parish on 30th July 1900 a post he held until his death on the 17th November 1942. In addition to his Incumbency he held the following posts within the Church: Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop of Armagh, 1911-1914; Chancellor of Armagh Cathedral, 1928-1934; Prebendary of Yagoe and Representative Canon of Armagh in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, 1934-42.

Rev. James B. Leslie in his book ‘Armagh Clergy and Parishes’ described him as “probably one of the best all-round scholars in the Church of Ireland”.

Emma Todd died on 22nd February 1947, and was buried with her husband in Bessbrook Churchyard. The couple had no children.

This post is compiled from entries in the following books:
Rev. James B. Leslie ‘Armagh Clergy and Parishes’ Dundalk: William Tempest, 1911; pages 155 and 163.
Rev. W.E.C. Fleming ‘Amagh Clergy 1800-2000′ Dundalk: Dundalgan Press, 2001; page 249.

The University of Glasgow have added a database of graduates of their university to their website, the database covers the period from 1451-1896.

Henry Stanley can be found at:

http://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH16567&type=P&o=&start=0&max=20&l=

Oct 20, in the Cathedral Armagh, by the Rev. Benjamin Wade, Rector of the parish, George Ward Street, Esq., Lieutenant 16th Regiment to Septima Caroline, third daughter of John Stanley, Esq., Pavilion, Armagh.

Armagh Guardian, Friday, October 21st, 1859, page 8.