The House of Standish

Background/History

Our Standish Family Pedigree

Standish Family Appendix

Background

1206 A.D. –Radulphus [Ralph] de Standish first Lord of the Manor of Standish. In one of the earliest deeds of ownership from the House of Standish, Radulphus purchased land from Siwardus de Duxbury and his brother Hugh at the Burh upon the Manor of Duxbury.

+ Captian Myles Standish was born in 1584, in the county of Lancashire, England, and belonged to the Standishes of Standish Hall, and was the only one of the Mayflower Pilgrims of high descent, according to the laws of England. His family dated back to the time of the Conquest, and is in existence there today. Many were knighted and ennobled by peerages during their long existence. Their estates are very valuable in mines and land in this county, near the village of Chorley, where exists the ancient church in whose vaults lie the bodies of many members of this ancient family and the ancestors of Myles Standish. Many years before his time the family had divided into two branches: one the Standishes of Standish, and the other that of Uuxbury Hall or Park; and the family early divided in their religious beliefs, that of the Standishes of Standish being Roman Catholic, and those of Duxbury Hall being Protestant. Capt. Myles came from the family of Standish of Standish, and that he was heir to some of the family estates there is no doubt, as he claimed them himself and left his right by testamentary bequest to his son Alexander, the text of which is added further along; and this son in his turn bequeathed his right to his children. Perhaps the Captain was less skillful in obtaining his legal rights than in fighting with more deadly weapons his fellowmen. Of the early life of Capt. Myles Standish we know little. The first mention of him is that in Queen Elizabeth's time he held a commission as Lieutenant in the English forces that

+ were fighting the Spanish in the Netherlands, and it was during the truce that existed between the combatants that he joined the Plymouth Pilgrims. It appears that he never joined the Pilgrim Church strictly as a church member, but, be that as it may, he fully and entirely cast, his lot in with theirs, and rendered them inestimable service from the lime of his joining them till the day of his death. He bore not only all of their hardships, but as Bradford particularly mentions in his history, was one of those who nursed the others through their sickness and sore straits during the first winter. He was their military savior on numerous occasions, as is told in the various histories of the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies; and he was not less efficient in shaping the civil policy, being constantly on the Board of Assistants to the Governor, and serving in many other capacities connected with the infant Colony. He was chosen the attorney of the English Company under the Royal Charter of the Great Patent of New England to transfer to the Plymouth Settlement a charter of their proprietary rights in 1629, this document being in existence today, preserved in the Registry of Deeds office in Plymouth. Finally, on September 6, the M ayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. It is told in the early records that the first settlers lived in Duxbury only

+ in the summer time, going to Plymouth for the winter; and Captain Standish is mentioned in 1632 as one of those who promised to live in the town in the winter that they may the better repair to the worship of God." Captain Standish settled on a bluff overlooking Plymouth, the site of his house being known, and of unquestionable authenticity, and is particularly described under the chapter on Old Houses. Here Captain Standish lived till his death, on Oct. 3, 1656, being seventy-two years old. Secretary Morton, recording his death, says: he, growing very ancient, became sick of the stone or stangullian, whereof, after his suffering of much dolorous pain he fell asleep in the Lord, and was honorably buried at Duxbury." Although at an advanced age, shortly before his death he was appointed to lead an expedition against the Dutch in the New York Colony War about to break out between the Dutch and English, which was averted by one of Cromwell's victories. He had held the position of Captain Commandant all of his life, never for a moment losing the confidence of the Colony. What he might have done on a larger field of action it is impossible to say, as it is with most men; but if his actions and ability are to be judged by the services that were rendered to the English race, his talents were very great; for if this beginning of making a colony had been crushed, it would not only have set back the progress of the English settlement for a long time, but would have set back freedom and liberty to a far greater extent. MayflowerHistory.com

+ Our Standish Family Pedigree

Ralph [Radulphus] de Standish (1160-1220) of Standish, Lancashire. First lord of the manor (Lordship,1202-1220).

Marriage: Juliana Spileman (1164-deceased) of England

Children: (1) Alexander; (2) Richard (Rural Dean of Standish)

Alexander de Standish (1180-1246) of Standish, Lancashire. Sole heir to the Manor of Standish (Lordship,1220-1240). He had been Rector of Standish since 1205.

Marriage: Juliana

Child: Ralph

Ralph [Radulphus] de Standish [Radulphus de Standish (II) ] (1200-deceased) of Shevington, Lancashire. These three sons all succeeded in turn to the manor after the death of their father. (Lordship 1240-1246). Marriage: Children: (1) Edmund; (2) Hugh, was Rector of Standish in 1253; (3) Jordan

+ Jordan de Standish (1235-1290) of Standish, Lancashire. Lordship 1270-1290.

Marriage: 1255 Alionora (1235-1284) of England

Children: (1) Radulphus, succeeded in 1290, but d. in 1296; (2) Mabel; (3) William; (4) Edmund; (5) Alice, living 1304; m. Richard de Ince; Alice, daughter of Jordan de Standish, releases to her brother William, son of Jordan de Standish, certain lands in Shevington of which she had been enfeoffed by Jordan, her father.

William de Standish (1260-1322) of Standish, Lancashire. William de Wygan deeded to William, the son of Jordan de Standish, all his estates real and personal in Wigan. Dated, 1309. Marriage: Alianore,

[William and his wife Alianore had at least two children. There may have been others but no record remains. It was a feature of the times that many children did not survive to maturity and their short lives were not recorded.]

Children: (1) John, lord of Standish, 1322-1353; (2) Joan, who married Henry de Burgh, who held lands on the manor of Chorley and Burgh upon the manor of Duxbury.

John de Standish (d.1353) of Standish, Lancashire. Lord of the Manor 1326-1353.

[Soon after he obtained possession of the manor John exchanged some land which he held in Shevington for another plot nearer the manor. The rent on

+ this piece of land was a pig. John de StandishJohn contributed to a subsidy for a defence against the Scots. A John de Standyshe is mentioned at the Battle of Durham, or as it may be better known, the Battle of Neville’s Cross, in 1346, where he took prisoner Sir William Lydell, a Scots Knight. The Standish arms at this time were a saltire between four crosses patonce. This armorial seal is found on an indenture with the legend ‘S Johannis de S(tand)issh’.

John was concerned in future transfers of land, though in a deed of 1335 he was witness only for a conveyance of land in Duxbury by Richard, son of Hugh de Standish. In the following year, however, John seemed to be following his policy of consolidating his Standish estate by making exchanges of outlying plots to obtain pieces adjoining the manor.]

Marriage: 1314 Margaret de Hulton daughter of Robert de Hulton of Shevington. Thomas and his wife Margery were enfeoffed by his brother Gilbert Standish Rector of Standish of land at Gathurst.

Children: (1) William (preceeded his father in death); (2) Henry; (3) Ralph; (4) Edmund; (5) Thomas, was the originator of the Gathurst branch of the Standish family; (6) Gilbert; (7) Robert

Henry de Standish (1316-1396) of Standish with Langtree, Lancashire.

[Henry’s brothers had followed the traditional occupations of the younger sons of those days, either military service or the church. Robert and Ralph had been knighted, Robert having been appointed Sheriff of Lancaster, while Ralph was an esquire to the Black Prince, whom he served in Acquitaine. Gilbert and Edward entered the church, Gilbert being Rector of Standish an Edmund most likely the one known as Brother Edmund de Standish, who was one of the Black Friars of Chester. + Two years after he succeeded to the manor he received a general pardon from Richard II, which seems to have covered a multitude of sins, including complicity with others in the death of Roger de Hulton in 1382, when they had been ordered by John of Gaunt to pay the widow 100 marks at Wigan Church. Other misdemeanours were neglected to do homage and non-payment of fines.]

Marriage: 1336 Joan de Worseley of Worseley, Barton- upon-Irwell, Lancashire, daughter of Henry de Worseley of Standish, Lancashire & Margaret Shoresworth of Shoresworth, Lancashire

Children: (1) Joan; (2) Ralph; (3) John

Ralph de Standish (1339-1392) Lord of Standish, Sheriff of Lancashire. Ralph added to his estates considerably by purchases of land in Wigan, Standish, Shevington and Winstanley.

[Two years after he succeeded to the manor he received a general pardon from Richard II, which seems to have covered a multitude of sins, including complicity with others in the death of Roger de Hulton in 1382, when they had been ordered by John of Gaunt to pay the widow 100 marks at Wigan Church. Other misdemeanours were neglected to do homage and non-payment of fines.]

Marriage: 1359 Cecilia Bradshaigh (1340-1411) of Haigh, Lancashire

Children: (1) Lawrence; (2) Alexander, [was very soon nominated clerk to the Rectory and Church of Standish by his father. He then went to Oxford for one year, was ordained sub- deacon during the following year and then returned to his Standish Rectory where he held the living from 1398 to 1415. ]; (3) John; (4) Gilbert; (5) Elizabeth; (6) Clemence; (7) Eleanor + [Eleanor married John, son of Henry de Birkheud. There was a Henry de Birkheud who was Town Clerk of Wigan early in the fifteenth century.]

Lawrence Standish (1360-1432) of Standish, Lancashire. Lord of the Manor 1418-1434. Lawrence who made the agreement with Henry de Berkheud for Eleanor, his sister, to marry Henry’s son, John and he contracted to pay Henry “forty marks on certain days as agreed (most likely a dowry).

Marriage: 1398 Lora Pilkington of Pilkington Manor, Lancashire, daughter of Sir Roger Pilkington of Pilkington Manor, Lancashire &

Children: (1) Alexander, heir to the Manor, who later became a knight; (2) Roger, who was by now Rector of Standish (3) Oliver

Alexander Standish (1400-1445) of Standish, Lancashire. Lord of the Manor 1434-1445. Ralph, to succeed him in the manor and to his other possessions, including land in Shevington and a tenure in Ormskirk.

Marriage: 1421 Constance Gerard (1402-1468) of Kingsley, Cheshire, daughter of John Gerard of Kingsley, Lancs. & Ann de Boteler of Warrington, Lancashire

+ Children: (1) Lawrence; (2) Ralph; (3) Oliver; (4) Robert; (5) Peter; (6) Hugh; (7) Henry; (8) Roger; (9) Alexander; (10) Henry At this Point, the Family splits. In regard to our Standish lineage, with the younger son, Ralph and, his younger brother, Hugh, whose descendants will bring forth Myles Standish ---who will be the military leader in charge on the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower, and the Plymouth Colony.

CLICK HERE, Ralph de Standish (1422-1468) for the Lineage of Myles Standish, of Standish, Lancs., Esquire, Military leader, lord of the manor of Standish, The Mayflower & Plymouth Colony 1620 1445-1468, died 1468, when there was a settlement of family disputes. He was the son of Sir Alexander and Constance (Gerard) Standish of Standish.

[Ralph de Standish owned estates in Lancashire - Cheshire -Warwickshire and Essex. Ralph de Standish conveyed his estates in Lancashire, Cheshire, Warwickshire and Essex with the advowson of the Church in Standish to Roger de Standish, Rector of Standish, and other trustees, in order to make settlements on the marriage of Alexander, his son and heir apparent, with Sibyl, daughter of Henry Bold of Bold, Esq. This was dated, 1451/2.]

[1441. In the year 1441 Ralph bought land from Richard Greeg located in Chorley and Duxbury. This parcel of land lay across the boundary of Chorley and Duxbury. One part lay upon the Manor of Chorley the other larger part formed the Burgh upon the Manor of Duxbury including a Mill. This Land would become the inheritance of his grandson Thurstan Standish second son of Sir Alexander Standish originator of the Burgh branch of the Standish family. + Ralph seems to have had about eight brothers, and one sister, Joan, who married into the Bradshaigh family of Haigh, near Wigan. A further item of information about him is that in 1452 he obtained a general pardon from Henry VI, possibly on account of taking part in the Wars of the Roses. He died in 1468 and Alexander, who was about sixteen, succeeded him.]

Marriage: 1440 Margaret Radcliffe of Ordsall Manor, Salford, Lancashire, daughter and co-heir of Sir Richard Radcliffe II & Katherine Molyneux of Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire.

[Margaret brought him land in Chadderton, Witton and Glodyth. This was no doubt an Margaret Radclyffe advantageous marriage. Landed families deliberately sought to enlarge their estates by the marriage of the heir with an heiress, and land was still the main form of property. Marriages were frequently arranged while the parties were still children.

She survived him and was living as a widow in 1473. She afterwards married Thomas Radcliffe and died in 1476, when Alexander, her son and heir, was twenty-four years of age.]

Children: (1) Alexander, Knight, born 1452, lord of the manor of Standish, 1468-1507.; (2) Brian; (3) Lawrence; (4) Hugh; (5) Alice; (6) Thomas, would be Reverend; (7) Gilbert; (8) Robert [Roger]

Sir Alexander Standish (1438-1507) of Standish, Knight, lord of the manor of Standish, 1468-1507.

+ [At the time that Alexander became Lord of the Manor his grandmother, Constance, and his mother, Margery, were still living and provision had to be made for them. At the same time Alexander’s uncles, his father’s brothers, received some benefits. A year later his mother married again, this time to Thomas Radcliffe who was probably related to her.

Sir Alexander was knighted at the battle of Hutton Field in Scotland, 1482. He owned manors, lands and tenements in Blackrod, Standish, Shevington, Langtree, Worthington, Coppull, Chorley, Duxbury, Whittle, Adlington and Wigan besides estates in other shires such as Chester, Warwick and Essex. A large landowner,Alexander appeares frequently in deeds.

Sir Alexander de Standish had by various accounts a large family of between seven to eleven children. Ralph his eldest son became Lord of the manor on his father's death and his marriage to Alice daughter of Sir James Harrington brought the Manor of Brixworth into the Standish Estates.]

Marriage: 1461 Sibella de Bold (1444-1507) of Bold, Lancashire, daughter of Sir Henry de Bold & Gracia de Savage

Children: (1) Alice; (2) Ralph; [some sources say Ralph has a younger brother, Thurstan, founder of the Burgh branch of the Standish family]

Ralph Standish (1465-1538) of Standish, Lancashire.

[Ralph de Standish was a major purchaser of land and property in his time as Lord of the Manor. One major purchase was the final part of the Manor of Duxbury including Ellerbeck Hall that remained in the possession of the Duxbury family. The land known as Ellerbeck upon the Manor of Duxbury. Ellerbeck Hall was the last home of the Duxbury family who were descendants of Deowuc the Saxon the first Lord of Duxbury.

+ Ralph de Standish Lord of the Manor of Standish was the originator and first Lord of the Manor to use the Owl and Rat as a crest above the three standing dishes. His younger brother Thurstan Standish of the Burgh upon the Manor of Duxbury also used the Owl and Rat as a crest above the three standing dishes. Documents sealed by Ralph and Thurstan provide evidence of that use.]

Click to see his “Inquisition Post Mortem"-1538

Marriage: 1497 Alice Ellen Harrington (1471-1538) of Standish, Lancs., daughter of Sir James Harrington of Wolfage, Northhampton & Isabella Radcliffe of Ordsall, Lancashire. This marriage brought the Manor of Brixworth into the Standish Estates. Letter, from Alice to husband, Ralph.

Children: (1) Roger; (2) Robert; (3) Ann; (4 ) Edward; (5) Alice

[Some sources give: (1) Alexander (heir); (2) Anne; (3) George; (4) Roger; (5) Jane ]

Roger Standish (1478-1556) of Standish, Lancashire

Marriage: 1517 Constance (1503-1523) of Standish, Lancashire

Children: (1) Ralph; (2) Elizabeth

+ Elizabeth Alice Standish (1564-deceased) of Standish, Lancs.,

Marriage: 1536 Robert Holt (1500-1554) of Stubley, Lancashire, son of William Holt of Stubley, Lancs., & Dorothy Ashton of Middleton, Lancashire

Children: (1) Alice; (2) Elizabeth; (3) Mary (Mary will marry Charles Holt, (Charles is Mary’s half brother, sharing the same father)

Alice Holt (1569–deceased) of Ashworth Hall, Lancashire.

Marriage: 1557, John Greenhalgh (1532–1615) of Brandlesome, Elton, Lancashire

Children: (1) Thomas; (2) Elizabeth; (3) Fernando; (4) John; (5) Robert; (6) Anne; (7) Richard; (8) Edward; (9) Dorothy; (10) John; (11) James; (12) Alice.

Thomas Greenhalgh (1558– 1599), 10th of Brandlesome, Elton, Lancashire.

Marriage: 1585 Mary Holt (1569-deceased), daughter of Robert Holt Esq of Ashworth near Bury, Lancashire.

+ [After Thomas’s death, Mary married Sir Richard Assheton of Middleton, Lancs., Sir Richard Aseheton, born in 1557, and who was three times sheriff of Lancashire, married Mary Holt, as his second wife.] Children: (1) Thomas; (2) John, (3) Richard, (4) Edmundi. Captain John Greenhalgh

Thomas Greenhalgh (1585–deceased) of Bolton, Lancashire.

Marriage: 1610 Elizatbeth Hilton (1592-1613), of Bolton, Lancs., daughter of Edmundi Hilton of Eccles, Lancs.

Child: Peter

Peter Greenhalgh (1613–deceased) of Bolton, Lancs.

Marriage: 1640 Margaret Ward (1618-deceased) of Blackburn, Lancs., daughter of William Ward of Blackburn, Lancs. & Margery of Blackburn, Lancs.

Children: (1) Ellen; (2) John; (3) George; (4) Peter

John Greenhalgh (1643–deceased) of Bury, Lancashire

Marriages: (1st marriage) 1668 Elizabeth Stott of Bolton, Lancs. Children: (1) John; (2) Richard; (3) Thomas

(2nd marriage) 1671 Elizabeth Rothwell (1650-deceased) of Little Lever, Bolton, Lancs., daughter of John Rothwell of + Worsley, Eccles, Lancs., & Elizabeth Pendlebury of Eccles, Lancs. Children: (1) James; (2) Richard; (3) Margaret; (4) Ralph; (5) John; (6) Adam; (7) Thomas; (8) Robert

Thomas Greenhalgh (1695–deceased) of Ainsworth, Lancashire

Marriage: 1722 Grace Hirst (1694-deceased) of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, the daughter of John Hirst of Huddersfield, Yorkshire & Sarah of Huddersfield, Yorkshire Children: (1) Edmund; (2) James; (3) John; (4) Gyles; (5) Stephen; (6) John; (7) Thomas; (8) Sarah; (9) Margaret; (10) Rebecca; (11) Alice; (12) Ann; (13) John; (14) Grace

Thomas Greenhalgh (1724–1778) Ellenbrook, Salford, Lancashire

Marriage: 1741 Mary Holden (1724-deceased) of Worsley, Eccles, Lancs., daughter of John Holden of Lostock, Bolton, Lancs. & Ellen Holm of Bolton, Lancashire

Children: (1) Mary; (2) Samuel; (3) John; (4) Samuel; (5) Roger; (6) Thomas +

John Greenhalgh (1751–1830) of Worsley, Eccles, Lancashire

Marriage: 1777 Martha Smith (1754-1832) of Leigh, Lancs., daughter of James Smith of Tyldesley, Leigh, Lancs., & Martha Aldred Tyldesley, Leigh, Lancs. Children: (1) James; (2) Thomas; (3) John; (4) Ann; (5) Joseph; (6) Samuel; (7) Joseph; (8) William; (9)Richard; (10) Alice; (11) Ann

William Greenhalgh (1790–1861) of Swinton, Eccles, Lancashire. A widower when he married Martha. Little is known about William’s childhood years. He came from a family that was well off financially. The family owned a silk mill where fine material was woven.

[Their religious preference was toward the Independent Calvinists. William did not care for the Mormons from America, though their children did. Their son's Thomas and Abraham were some of the first people to join the church in the Preston area. When Thomas learns of his father’s death, Thomas writes: “When I went to look at him I thought he was not dead. His likeness was not changed at all but same as he was asleep. He was buried on the 18th January, 1861 at the Methodist Chapel, Swinton. He was very stout and fat. He was an honest man as ever I knew though never obeyed the gospel of Christ through his blindness with sectarianism. He was a good father to us.”] Marriage: 1814 Margaret [or Matty] Hope (1792-1867) of Swinton, Eccles, Lancashire, daughter of Henry Hope of Leigh, Lancs., & Ann Thornley of Little Lever, Lancashire

+ Children: (1) Ann, (2) Mary, (3) Alice, (4) Thomas, (5) Abraham, (6) Marie, (7) Sarah, (8) Ellen, (9) Peter, (10) William, (11) John, (12) Henry

Thomas Greenhalgh (1821–1886) of Worsley, Eccles, Lancashire. His family owned a silk mill where fine material was woven. He learned to be a weaver and silk warper working at the mill. Thomas Greenhalgh [He was a “zealous advocate and defender of the truth”.In 1840, Thomas and his brother Abraham joined the Mormon Church, some of the first to do so in the Preston area. In 1841, their family was living in Pendleton, Eccles, Lancashire, England. Thomas served as a home missionary in England from 1840-1860. In Thomas's journal he wrote of attending "Tea Parties" where they would invite friends and family to come and hear the Apostles teach The family, including seven children, sailed on the ship Belle Wood from Liverpool, England, arriving in New York City 31 May 1865. They found the country in deep mourning over the tragic death of Abraham Lincoln. The baby had been ill on the voyage and passed away a month after they arrived. Thomas could not find work in New York City, so they moved to Cohoes, Albany, New York. They sailed down the Hudson River from Albany to New York and waited for more saints who were going to Utah. In 1865, Thomas was a mover, living in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with Mary and seven children] Marriages: (1st marriage) 1847 Mary Moorcroft (1827-1885) of Staffordshire, daughter of James Moorcroft of Liverpool, Eng.& Ann Hannah Downing of Cheshire, England.

[Mary suffered from dementia and wandered off into the hills near their home and died in 1885. She is buried in the Washington City Cemetery.]

+ Children: (1) Mary Ann; (2) Sarah Elizabeth; (3) Martha; (4) Abraham; (5) Thomas Jr.; (6) Margaret; (7) Alice; (8) William; (9) Francis; (10) Ruth; (11) Elizabeth; (12) George Downing

(2nd marriage) 1874 Harriet Wardle (1851-1930) of Manchester, England, daughter of Jonathan Wardle & Elizabeth Dyson. When, in 1874, they got married, Mary Moorcroft was very much alive. This was truly a polygynous marriage.

[After Thomas’s death, in 1886, Harriet, with her two of her remaining children, Henry & Ester, move to Salt Lake City, and stay with her older son, John Thomas.] Children: (1) Ruth; Elizabeth; (2) John Thomas; (3) Henry; (4) Ester; (5) James Albert

John Thomas Greenhalgh (1878–1969) of Washington, Washington County, Utah. In 1897, for the 50th Anniversary of the Pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley, he moved to Salt Lake City, stayed, married, John Thomas and died there. John Thomas worked for and Greenhalgh retired from Utah Oil. Marriages:

+ (1st marriage) 1906 Sarah Elizabeth Fitt (1884-1955) of Salt lake City, Utah, daughter of George Fitt of Masbrough, Yorkshire, Eng. & Caroline Rachel Wakefield of London, Eng.

[Sarah’s mother, Caroline, was actually born with the first name of Mary, and her mother Caroline left England without their father John Wakefield. (Her father joined up with them a couple of years later.) They landed in New York and left with a wagon train of Saints westward to Salt Lake. It was during this trek out West, that little Mary’s mother died, she was buried just off the main trail. Little Mary, from this point on, took her mother’s first name, “Caroline”, as her’s] Children: Blanche Pauline; Rachel Gertrude; John Willard “Bill”; Sarah May; Frank; Dorothy; Elmer Pershing; Ruth Ellen; Vernon Edward; Robert Leonard

(2nd Marriage) 1958 Lillian Ann Loy (1894-1968), in the year 1958, with no issue.

+ Standish Family Appendix

Inquisition Post Mortem of Ralph de Standish, 1538

A sampling of the Standish wealth:

Standish history link

+ Amongst the Standish papers is a letter written by Alice (or “Alys”) to her husband Ralph:

“Ryght Worshypfull and most hertely belovyd Bedfellow I command me unto you praying God I hear of your welfare and hyf hyt lyke you to hereof myn I was in gud healthe at the making of thys sympele byll, thankyd be God, praying you to remember when you be at Manchest’ to speke wt your coparcener for the monie to my Lord of St. Andrews in Northampton ye wiche send unto me for hys thynking that he shuld have been payed afor now wiche is now II yeres rent behynd, and also to speyke of ye monie which most be payd at Mychealmasse next enying for apparens in Barton Court. Thankyd be god I and all your householdare in gud health and in the towne ther is no nuse syethyns you went thence but ay yong wenche of keyburs and she is mendyt agayne and thus God preserve you. Youre bedfelow Alys Standysshe”

+ The Will of Ralph Standish

Ralph Standish, Lord of the Manor 1507-1538 (1507) In 1535 Ralph Standish made a will, the text of which follows: “In Dei nomine Amen the XVIIth day of the moneth of September in the yere of our lord god MCCCCCXXXV, I, Rauf Standissh squier beying in perfite and gud mynde and remembrance make my Testament in maner and form as folowith. That is to wete First and principally I betake my soul to all myghty god oure blessed lady saynt Mary and to all the blessed cumpany of angells and saynts. And I will that my body shall be buried in Standissh Church yorde in such place as I shall appoint hereafter. And I give and bewheth to the new makyng of the said Church XLli () Also I giff and bewheth to Isabell Standish, doghter of Alexander my sone XXli () And to Alice Asshton, doghter of Thomas Asshton squier decessed XXli () And to Alice Holcroft doghter of my sone-in-law John Holcroft other XXli () And to the residue of all my godes and catells after my deets paied and my funerall expenses I giff and bewheth to Alice my wiff to administer and dispose all the same residue as shall deme best to be done by her descrecion to the plesure of god and for the weele of my soule. In witness whereof to this my present Testament I have set my seale the day and yere above said. Rauff Standyssh”

+ Myles Standish (1584-1656),

His genealogy Myles Standish was an English military officer hired by the Pilgrims as military adviser for Plymouth Colony. He accompanied the Pilgrims on their journey on the Mayflower and subsequently played a leading role in the administration and defense of Plymouth Colony from its inception. On February 17, 1621, the Plymouth Colony militia elected him as its The Embarkation of the Pilgrims, Myles first commander and and Rose Standish are prominently depicted in the foreground on the right. continued to re-elect him to that position for the remainder of his life. Standish served as an agent of Plymouth Colony in England, as assistant governor, and as treasurer of Plymouth Colony. He was also one of the first settlers and founders of the town of The Mayflower Compact Duxbury, Massachusetts.

+ A defining characteristic of Standish's military leadership was his proclivity for preemptive action which resulted in at least two attacks (or small The expedition against Nemasket led by Standish and guided by Hobbamock skirmishes) on different groups of Native Americans—the Nemasket raid and the conflict at Wessagusset Colony. During these actions, Standish exhibited considerable courage and skill as a soldier, but also demonstrated a brutality that angered Native Americans and disturbed more moderate members of the Colony. One of Standish's last military actions on behalf of Plymouth Colony was the botched Penobscot expedition in 1635. By the 1640s, Standish relinquished his role as an active soldier and settled into a quieter life on his Duxbury farm. He was still nominally the commander of the Pilgrim military forces in the growing Plymouth Colony, although he seems to have preferred to act in an advisory capacity. He died in his home in Duxbury in 1656 at age 72. He supported and defended the Pilgrims' colony for much of his life, though there is no evidence to suggest that he ever joined their church.

+ Several towns and military installations have been named for Standish, and monuments have been built in his memory. One of the best known depictions of him in popular culture was the 1858 poem The Courtship of Miles Standish by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The highly Myles Standish Monument fictionalized story presents Standish as in Duxbury, Massachusetts a timid romantic. It was extremely popular in the 19th century and played a significant role in cementing the Pilgrim story in US culture.

There are indications that Standish began to seek a quieter life by 1635 (after the Penobscot expedition), maintaining the livestock and fields of his

The Alexander Standish House (still Duxbury farm. He was about 51 standing) built by Myles Standish's years old at that time, and he son on the Captain's farm in Duxbury, Massachusetts began to relinquish the responsibility of defending the colony to a younger generation. Wikipedia link

+ Genealogy of Myles Standish

Alternate Standish family Line 

A continuation of the preceding Standish pedigree

 Myles Standish Alexander Standish (1400-1445) of Standish, Lancashire. Lord of the Manor 1434-1445. Ralph, to succeed him in the manor and to his other possessions, including land in Shevington and a tenure in Ormskirk.

Marriage: 1421 Constance Gerard (1402-1468) of Kingsley, Cheshire, daughter of John Gerard of Kingsley, Lancs. & Ann de Boteler of Warrington, Lancashire

Children: (1) Lawrence; (2) Ralph (our ancestor); (3) Oliver; (4) Robert; (5) Peter; (6) Hugh; (7) Henry; (8) Roger; (9) Alexander; (10) Henry

Hugh Standish (1434-1481) died, age 47 years old, Standish,

Lancashire

Gilbert Standish (1458-1502), of Ormskirk, Lancashire

Marriage: ? + Children: (1) Ralph; (2) Lawrence; (3) Oliver; (4) Cecily; (5) Robert; (6) Peter; (7) Hugh

Robert Standish (1475-1528/1539), Ormskirk, Lancashire

Marriage: 1498 Margaret Croft (1480-1529), Ormskirk, Lancashire, daughter of Robert Croft and Anne

Children: (1) Elizabeth; (2) Alice; (3) John

John Standish (1518-before 1572), Lancashire

Marriage: ?

Children: (1) John

John Standish (1538-1603), Ellenbane, Isle of Man, Lancashire

Marriage: Mary Moore (1540-deceased)

Children: (1) John

John Standish (1557-1602), Ellanbane, Isle of Man, Lancashire

Marriage: Christian Katherine Lace (1561-1624)

Children: (1) Myles;

+

Myles Standish (abt, 1584-1656)

Marriages:

(1) Rose Hanley (1590-1621);

Children: (1) Thomas; (2) 1621 Barbara Allen (1588-1659) Children: (1) Charles; (2) alexander; (3) Lora; (4) John; (5) Myles; (6) Josiah; (7) Charles

A few books to read online:

Click to Read Book

+

Click to Read Book

Click to Read Book Click to Read Book

+

+