STENYSHAM, Richard
Commr. of inquiry, Som. Nov. 1395 (Fichet estates), Oct. 1421 (piracy), Feb. 1435 (evasion of customs), June 1436 (treasons and felonies); to raise royal loans Apr. 1422; of sewers Nov. 1423; gaol delivery, Ilchester May 1430, Dec 1433, Aug., Sept. 1434, May 1435; to assess contributions to a tax, Som. Apr. 1431, Jan. 1436; of oyer and terminer June 1432, June 1436; array Jan. 1436.
Sheriff, Devon 3 Nov. 1434–7 Nov. 1435.
STAWELL, Sir Thomas (c.1369-1439)
Commr. to raise men and lead them against the northern rebels, Lancs. July 1403; of array, Derbys. Sept. 1403, Notts., Derbys. May 1405; to make an arrest, Lancs. Oct. 1404; of oyer and terminer, Derbys. July 1406 (disorder at Eckington).
Steward, bailiff and master forester of the High Peak in the duchy of Lancaster, Derbys. and constable of the castle of the High Peak 3 Sept. 1403–15 Feb. 1420.
J.p. Derbys. Feb. 1404 – Feb. 1407.
Sheriff, Lancs. 7 Mar. 1411–11 Oct. 1413.
The name Staveley can, in contemporary sources, be easily confused with Stanley or Stanelegh; and many scholars have fallen into this paleographical error. References to Sir Ralph are, therefore, frequently to be found under the name of Stanley.
STAVELEY, Sir Ralph (c.1362-c.1420)
Master forester of Dartmoor, Devon bef. Mar. 1413–30 July 1433.
Comptroller of the Pipe 1 May 1413–d.
Constable of the duchy of Lancaster lordship of Melbourne, Derbys. 8 Apr. 1418–d.
Great care should be taken in distinguishing this MP from his contemporary and namesake, Thomas Staunton (d.1447) of Staunton-in-the-Vale, Notts. The latter was the s. and h. of Ralph Staunton (d. by Oct. 1408), and married Margaret, a da. of Thomas Mapperley* of Nottingham (R. Thoroton, Notts. ed. Throsby, i. 306, 308; Notts. RO, Staunton mss, Rr 2, 3, 10). He owned extensive estates in the county, valued at pound;20 p.a. in 1412 but clearly worth far more by the time of his death, and was also seised of the manors of Bassingham, Quarrington and Scredington in Lincolnshire, which produced about as much again (E179/159/48; Thoroton Soc. v. 27; Feudal Aids, vi. 482; Staunton ms Kk2). Nevertheless, despite his wealth and position he played very little part in local affairs, acting twice as a tax collector in Notts. (in 1428 and 1429), but otherwise living quietly out of the public eye. The two men are very easily confused, especially as they both left sons called Thomas, although the Thomas Staunton of Staunton-in-the-Vale who succeeded his father in 1447 was born in 1433, by which date our Member’s son was already serving in the royal household. HP ed. Wedgwood 1439-1509, Biogs. 803, has, even so, failed to make the right identification.
STAUNTON, Thomas (-d.1436)
STATHAM, John
Collector of customs and subsidies, Ipswich 10 Oct. 1399 – 16 Aug. 1402, 14 Oct. 1403 – May 1406, 24 July 1408 – 1 Nov. 1409, Great Yarmouth 13 Apr. 1413–20 Feb. 1415.
Bailiff, Ipswich Sept. 1404–5, 1407 – 08, 1412 – 13, 1416–17.
Dep. butler, Ipswich 14 June 1407–29 Jan. 1408.
Clerk of the King’s ships 19 Nov. 1409–22 June 1411.
STARLING, John
