John Stamford (or could be Thomas Stamford)
of Derby, England

Born: probably 1690ish, died not known but after 1714.
Son of: possibly Thomas Stamford and Sara Smith who were married in 1692 at St Peter's.  This Thomas Stamford possibly died in 1731.
Brother of: not known.
John married: or appears to have married:
1st. Elizabeth 11 September 1711.
2nd. Mary Crampton (or Crompton?), married in 1721 at St Michaels in Nottingham.  This second wife probably died in 1764.
John had issue presumably by his first wife Elizabeth:
1. Thomas Stamford (the younger, 1712-1787) who's second marriage was to Hannah Crompton (1720-1788).
2. Rebekah Stamford (1712-after1784).
3. John Stamford (1714-17??).
John had issue presumably by his second wife, possibly Mary:
4. Mary Bentley (nee Stamford, ?-1797) who married 22 June 1772 Thomas Bentley (1730-1780).
5. Martha Nowsham (nee Stamford, living after 1796) who married Ralph Nowsham.
6. Sarah Stamford who appears to have been living unmarried in 1796.

John Stamford: An Overview

We know of John Stamford (the elder) from the following:
1. A 1747 Almanack owned by Hannah Stamford (nee Crompton, 1720-1788).
2. A small note in the book "Freemen of Derby" 1992.
3. A small mention in the book "Life of Josiah Wedgwood" by Eliza Meteyard, published 1865. 
4. A small mention in the book "Thomas Bentley 1730-1780" by Richard Bentley, published in 1927.  

In an Almanack, 1747, owned by Hannah Stamford (nee Crompton) there are a lot of hand written family names and dates including:
John and Elizabeth Stamford where married September: 11: 1711
Thomas and Rebekah Stamford was born September ye 17: 1712 baptized by III- Rogerson
John Stamford and his deceased sister was born Jan 16:1715 baptized by III- Shaw 

The hand written notes in Hannah Stamford's Almanack imply quite strongly that John Stamford was the father of Thomas Stamford however other references record both men as being called Thomas?  This confusion may have come about because the grandfather may have been called Thomas Stamford.

In "Freemen of Derby" 1992, in the Derby County Library there is recorded that a Thomas Stamford was apprenticed to his father John Stamford, Framesmith, sworn 13th February 1734.  Thomas would have been 22 years old which fits in quite well with the notes in Hanah Stamford's Almanack.

From the book "Life of Josiah Wedgwood" by Eliza Meteyard:
"The Stamfords were a family of considerable standing in Derby, and the half brother of Mrs Bentley, Thomas Stamford the younger, was mayor of that borough in 1769.  Thomas Stamford [John Stamford?], the father of Mrs Bentley, was twice married, she being the issue of the second marriage.  His son Thomas was also twice married; by his first wife he had no children, but by his second who was Sarah [Hannah?], the eldest daughter of John Crompton of Chorley Hall, of the widespread and prosperous family of Crompton, to which Samuel Crompton "the inventor", Sir Charles Crompton, the present respected Judge, and the families still reside in Derby, in Lancashire, and in Yorkshire, belong - he had two daughters, one of whom - Elizabeth - was married to James Caldwell, Esq., of Linley Wood, Staffordshire, and was the mother of the gifted and popular authoress of "Emilia Wyndham", and many other works - Mrs Marsh-Caldwell."

From the book "Thomas Bentley" by Richard Bentley:
"...One of Bentley's early friends was Mr Thomas Stamford of Derby, an engineer of resource and ingenuity, and who, introduced by him about 1765 to Wedgwood, was able subsequently to render considerable assistance in devising special tools or appliances for use in the pottery works.  Stamford was father of a son and four daughters (Mr Jewitt states that Mr Stamford was married twice).  Being frequently at his friends house, Bentley in course of time became attached to one of the girls..."
"...the wedding of Thomas Bentley and Mary Stamford took place on June 22, 1772..."
"...Mary Bentley died on February 19, 1797, and was buried in the Parish church at Chiswick with her husband on February 25.  She made her will a year previously, her sister Martha (Mrs Ralph Nowsham) being executrix of it, and mentions another sister, Sarah Stamford, as living unmarried in 1796.  Reference is also made in the document to a "cousin Bentley" and to her two nieces, Mrs Elizabeth Caldwell and Miss Hannah Stamford..."

In the "Derbyshire Parish Register" published in 1909, there is a marriage recorded between Thomas Stamford and Sara Smith 6 January 1692 at St Peter's.  Perhaps these were John Stamford's parents, Thomas Stamford's grand parents?

In the publication "Derbyshire Miscellany, Vol 14: Part 3, Spring 1996" there is a note of a Thomas Stamford who was a Glover & Hosier and was buried in 1731.  He lived at Nuns Green, Friarsgate.  He is said to a have married Sarah Smith in 1692 and later Mary Crampton (Crompton?) in 1721 at St Michael in Nottingham.  However the note states that this second marriage may have been one of his sons and this I think it is more likely that this second marrige related to his son John Stamford.  He is said to have had a son Thomas in 1695 and a son James in 1698 but these dates do not seem to fit quite so well.  Thomas, the younger, is noted as being a merchant & engineer and also a hosier.  He had his horse commandered from the George Inn at 11pm on 4/12/1745.  Thomas' daughter married Thomas Bentley

If you have any information to add to what is listed please contact me on jj@jjhc.info
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