Pettistree, Suffolk
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Leonard Staveley was the Vicar of Pettistree, Suffolk. It is unknown where Leonard was born, but he married his wife Margerye BROWN on April 27, 1581 in Aldringham. Leonard and Margerye had two children together in the parish of Aldringham, John (b. May 24, 1582) and Charitie (b. August 30, 1584). Charitie died in 1608 a spinster, and was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul, in Pettistree on April 30, 1608. It is believed that her brother John may have moved to Stepney, East London. |
Prior to becoming Vicar of Pettistree, there is a reference to a 'Leonard Staveley' in a legal complaint filed by Robert Bradley of Aldeburgh, Suffolk in regards to an assault charge where Leonard is one of the numerous defendants named. The complaint was filed approximately 1582, in the twenty-fourth year of Elizabeth's reign. William Gosselynge of Aldeburgh had left his wife his property in his will, and on his death she lawfully resided on this land. Robert Bradley at some point married this widow, and filed a complaint after a rabble of some twenty individuals assaulted the woman and forcibly removed her from the land. Hardly behavior fitting of a future parish Vicar! With this complaint, Robert Bradley petitions to the Queen, requesting that all the mentioned defendants appear before the Court 'at a certain day, and under a certain pain’. A partial transcript of this petition is included below:
Humbly compleyniynge .....unto your most excellent majesty..., your....thoughtful and obedyent servant Robert Bradley of Aldeburghe in your highnesses county of Suff that wheras ....Willm Gosselynge late of Aldeburghe aforesaid deceased was in his lief time lawfully feoffed in his............of fee by ........of ...............will of the lord according to the ...........of the........of Aldeburghe aforesaid, of ......messuage or tenement with appurtenances situate lying and being in Aldeburghe aforesaid, and ...being therof feoffed ............past or therabout by his last will and testament in ..., did give and bequeath the said messuage or tenement with the appurtenances unto [blank] then his wief for enduring her naturall lyfe and surrendered the same according to the .....of the said......to ...of his said last will and testament and ............after the said William Gosselynge dyed, after whose death the said surrender was...the next ........for the said......found and ....by the ......and the said [blank] admytted ...unto of the said messauage or tenement to .....to ....assinges for and during her naturall lyfe accordingly, by .....whereas the said [left blank] entered into the ......aforesaid, and was therof lawfully feoffed in her demesne....in her .......of......by ....of........will of the lord according to the ....of the said...., and afterward ye said Servant toke to....the said [left blank] who aswell in her.....................the intermariage........said....servant peacably and quietly..............and......the ......aforesaid.......her death of the said....untill the twenty day of January now last past and Thomas Walker the older, Thomas Walker the younger, Leonard Stavelye, Robt Bodkyne, Zacarye Pratt, Robt Tokeley, John Billman, Isabell Walker......Margery Walker and .......to ye said .....unknown to her under ....of....twenty.............being unlawfully assembled in most ....and outragious sorte not..............the ....of god before...........and ....of this ye ......realme of England .....regarding, but ........instigated the said twenty day of January last past with force and armes that ye ....with swords, daggards, knives, bills, halbeards, morris pikes, long bowes, arrowes, long staves, pytch fforkes, axes, and other weapons and armors aswell, ...by forcebly and in ..... manner into the messuage or tenement aforesaid did break and enter and upon the said [left blank] wife of ye said ..........being a...weak and aged woman then ...being in the ...of almighty god, and ye.......being, did make an assault and ....did beate....and ......., so as of her ....life that was in great despair and her did violently forceth and ..., drawe, remove, expell, and putt out of the ....of the said messuage or tenement. By reason wherof your said subject was enforced to leave and forbear his lawfull possesion thereof and contrary to the good and godly lawes and statutes of this your Majestys realm of England against your Majestys peace, your...........and dignity to the perilous example of such like wicked and evil disposed persons who wilbe ready to attempt the like offences if condign punishment be not had........good for........,.......,...forcable entry, assault, battery, and ....misdemeanors.....send greatly to ....dysturbance of your (majestys) most gracious ........and .....government and to the great .........and trouble of ..........., may ..... therefore please your highness of your abundant grace and goodness .......discretion and .......of the said.......unto your said........highness most gracious......of........to them the said Thomas Walker the older, Thomas Walker the younger, Leonard Staveley, Robert Bodkin, Zacarye Pratt, Robert Tokely, John Billman, Isabell Walker and Margery Walker to be ...... Demanding them thereby all a ....and render a ..paynt and penalty to appear before your Majesty most honorable ........self. in your ...most .........of ........chambers then and there to make.....answer to the......and to take leave, and.....................punishment for them for all offences and to your ............................, and your...................according be his ............shall...........to the allmighty for your most excellent Majestys ..............................
Unfortunately, we neither have supportive documentation as to the reason behind the assault, nor do we have conclusive documentation as to the outcome of this petition, or whether any of the defendants were required to appear before the Court, or whether they suffered any punishment for their alleged crime.
Regardless of the complaint filed by Bradley, Leonard Staveley received an appointment as Vicar of St. Peter and St. Paul, Pettistree on June 13th, 1590. From 1598 to 1620, working as Clerk to Pettistree and Ufford, he painstakingly retranscribed the 1538 copy of the Pettistree parish register. The transcript is dated June 24th 1598, and was written "by his labour and sweat". Leonard continued this work until his death in 1620. The transcript includes both patriotic salutations of Queen Elizabeth, expressions of allegiance, and perhaps some insight into Leonard's own personal philosophy with the note: "Lyfe is striefe, Love is a Solace".
Within the register is perhaps a clue as to Leonard's origins:
In Rippon-park my ancient Sier wasse bredd
A Second brother of the Staveleys race
His lyfe thearefore a merchantman he ledd
And travaild farr as dyd befitt hys place;…”
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There is also an additional reference to his Yorkshire origins:
In famous York, a citie of renowne
I took my byrthe: and hear my corps must sleep
Untill ye Judgment day
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If indeed Leonard's ancestors were of 'Rippon-Park', then this would suggest that he is from the Stainley line. The most likely candidates for his father would be either Christopher or William, both merchants of London, and the younger brothers of Ninian Staveley. The notation in Leonard's reference above '...a second brother..." would most strongly suggest William to be Leonard's father.
Little else is known of Leonard. Leonard was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul in Pettistree on December 28, 1620. He is believed to have also penned the following work before his death, around 1575:
A breef discour[se] wherein is declared, of ye trauailes an[d] miseries of this painful life, & that death is th[e] dissoluer of mans miserie. Gathered out of [di]uers good writers, by Leonard Staueley.
Wh[er]vnto is annexed the authors muse of this life in English uearse and his prayse likewise of uertue, felicitie and true gentillitie.
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His son John may have settled in Stepney, London, and there is some degree of speculation that John's own son Matthew may have been an early settler in Virginia in 1634, although this link as yet is unproven.
Authors: Peter Staveley and Clare Staveley
