Louise's 10x Great Grandfather, James Stansfield (that's ten Greats before the word Grandfather!) was married at Colne parish church to Margaret Southworth on 7th September 1615. In 1619 he was mentioned in the Clitheroe Court Rolls residing in a 'cottage in the waste of the Manor of Colne'. In March 1640/41, he took the Oath of Protestation, the only Stansfield on the Colne area list. The Oath was "to live and die for the true Protestant religion, the liberties and rights of subjects". Those who refused to take this oath were considered to be unfit to hold office in church or state. James was buried on 30th March 1645 at Colne parish church.

Louise's 7xGreat Grandfather was John Stansfield (baptised 12th September 1697) married Alice Nutter on 25th October 1718 in Colne parish church. They had ten children, and the marriage lasted for 45 years, till her death. They seem to have lived for much of the time around Colne Edge, but in 1738 there was a settlement order to Barnoldswick, a small town about six miles to the north of Barrowford. This must indicate that the family were in poverty at this time because a settlement order was imposed when a family could not care for their own needs and had to apply for parish relief. In some cases, families could be sent all over the country to the last parish that had responsibility for them. The Stansfields could consider themselves to be 'lucky' that they were sent only a few miles away. At some time, the work situation must have improved and they were able to earn enough to care for themselves, because they had moved back to Colne Edge where John died in 1768. This was also where he was born.

Our Stansfield ancestors: