Burns and Stanley Family History

Author: Richard

  • John Stanley (1812-1873)

    This article concerns a series of cases John Stanley was involved with as a solicitor over a number of years from the mid 1840s into the 1850s, though the case was not finally resolved until 1880. I first became interested in the Heaths when I found a newspaper transcript relating to the case of Stanley v Heath on a genealogy newsgroup. 

    This case was associated with the breakdown of a marriage between Francis Wilson Heath and his wife Caroline Abigail Archdall Heath nee Cope. The case Heath v Heath was heard by the Consistorial Court, Armagh on Monday, 28th July 1845. It was not the first case between the couple but because Francis Heath sought a judgement for the restitution of conjugal rights against his wife Caroline it attracted wide interest and coverage in newspapers across Ireland. 

    The article Heath v Heath – the Disintegration of a Marriage in Victorian Times appeared in History Armagh 2015 unfortunately this edition of the magazine is not available on the History Armagh website but an exended version of the article is available here

  • Edward John Stanley

    Edward John Stanley (1850-1935) was the younger brother of Kate North and John Stanley. He trained initially as a solicitor but following his father’s death enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. His career in the Fusiliers was short-lved and after a year he set off for Canada with the aim of finding employment there. He travelled extensively in Northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta working in survey parties.

    He married Elizabeth Moore Dunlop (pictured above) in 1891 and found employment with the Indian Affairs Department as a farm instructor. He wrote an account of his activities in Canada up to his marriage and this account is largely based on that. Edward Stanley: a Life of Adventure appeared in History Armagh 2013. The article can be viewed here.

  • Henry Telford Maffett

    Henry Telford Maffett (1872-1914) was born in St Helena, Finglas, County Dublin and educated in the Royal School Armagh. He is connected to the Stanley family through marriages between the Maffett and Bell families and the Bell and Stanley families.

    He had a widely travelled military career leading up to the commencement of WWI. His Battalion arrived in France on 10th September and on the 20th October he was killed in action.

    The bulk of the content of this story comes from his war diary and letters to and from his sister Emilie Harmsworth (pictured above with Henry) which are held in the National Library of Ireland. One Soldier’s Story: the War Diary of Captain Henry Telford Maffett appeared in the 2014 edition of History Armagh p22-26 and can be viewed at History Armagh 2014