Martha (Clay) Blankenship Stanley (abt. 1670 - 1734)

Born about 1670 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Ralph Blankenship Sr — married about 1690 in Henrico County, Virginia [uncertain]

Wife of Edward Stanley — married 1725 in Henrico County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1734 at about age 64 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

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Disputed Origins

This profile claimed, without sources, that Martha, second wife of Edward Stanley, was the daughter of Charles Clay and Hannah Wilson. This parentage is extremely unlikely as Hannah (Wilson) Clay was Edward Stanley's first wife. I sincerely doubt that he also married Hannah's daughter. Martha is being removed as daughter of Charles and Hannah Wilson Clay. (Strutton-11 18:54, 13 February 2022 (UTC))

Biography

Martha (Clay) Blankenship Stanley was a Virginia colonist.

Martha is estimated to have been born about 1670, probably in Henrico County, Virginia. (Birth year estimated based on age 20 at marriage in 1690.)

"On 7 August 1727 Martha Stanley of Henrico Parish and county made a deed of gift of 100 acres on the south side of James River at the head of Proctors Creek to her son John Blankenship. It was part of the land granted to her as Martha Blankenship and was the land where John Blankenship was living. The land was almost surely a portion of the tract which Edward Stanley had devised to him in common with his brothers Ralph and James.^{[1] [2]}

It was during the summer of 1725 that Martha Blankenship, a widow of eleven years, decided to marry again. She married Edward Stanley, a widower of Henrico County; he was born circa 1650. His former wife was Hannah (Wilson) Clay, widow of Charles Clay.

Edward Stanley deposed that was aged 35 on 14 May 1685 in Henrico County. He had married Hannah (Wilson) Clay between 1 October 1687 and 10 April 1696. Edward Stanley lived on the north side of Swift Creek on a 235 acre plantation next to Robert Hudson which he had purchased from Thomas Powland, Sr. for £3 on 24 March 1703/4. "According to the 1704 quit rent roll of Henrico County, he owned 300 acres. He had acquired an additional 135 acres from Robert Hudson for £5 on the north side of Swift Creek, on 30 October 1709. In all probability the property adjoined his own land.

On 5 October 1725 the Henrico County court held at Varina ordered Edward Stanley, who intermarried with Martha the relict of Ralph Blankenship, to be summoned to appear at the next court and bring the orphans of Ralph Blankenship, deceased.^[3]

Accordingly, some of the children of Ralph were still under age in 1725. By this union Martha probably improved her condition measurably. Unfortunately, Edward Stanley did not live much longer. He made his will in Henrico County on 21 May 1726 leaving his daughter Hannah Thweatt one shilling, his wife Martha 1/3 of his land for life, his granddaughter Frances Thweatt the plantation whereon he lived and the plantation where Richard Dickason lately dwelt, various items granddaughters Mary and Hannah Thweatt, and his plantations on Coldwater Run totaling 230 acres to Ralph, John, and James Blankenship. He named his wife Martha Stanley executrix.

Marriages & Children

Martha Unknown married Ralph Blankenship about 1690 in Henrico County, Virginia.

1. William Blankenship, born about 1691 in Henrico County, Virginia; died April 1745 in Henrico County, Virginia
2. Richard Blankenship, born about 1693 in Henrico County, Virginia; died after 1768 in Goochland County, Virginia
3. Ralph Blankenship, Jr, born about 1695 in Henrico County, Virginia; died November 1754 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
4. John Blankenship, born about 1697 in Chesterfield County, Virginia; died April 9, 1754 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
5. James Blankenship, born about 1699 in Henrico County, Virginia; died May 23, 1749 in Chesterfield County, Virginia
6. Ann Blankenship

Martha married second Edward Stanley about 1725 in Henrico County, Virginia. They had no children.

Research Notes

Disputed parents:

1." We don't know when Martha (wife of Ralph Blankenship the immigrant) was born as there has never been a birth record found. We also don't know her parents. It is possible she was born about 1660 and that she was the daughter of Charles Clay (1636-1686) and Hannah Wilson (1642-1706) but it cannot yet be proven. This information is based on the fact that two of the Clay brothers who also were children of Charles and Hannah appeared on the death inventory and will of Ralph Blankenship and Martha's second husband Edward Stanley. This would have been properly done to protect Martha's dowry if her brothers had been witnesses to Martha's husband's wills or death inventory. It's only circumstantial evidence, but its certainly possible. If this was the case then Edward Stanly would have married Hannah Wilson (the mother) after Charles Clay died in 1686. She married Edward Stanley in 1690 and died 16 years later in 1706. Edward Stanley then remained a widower until 1716 when he married Martha, the former wife of Ralph Blankenship. Just conjecture based on circumstantial evidence. This Clay family lived right next to Ralph Blankenship just north of Swift Creek." Don

2. The two Clay brothers who "appeard on the death inventory and will of Ralph Blankenship and Martha's second husband Edward Stanley..." were probably there because Martha, widow of Ralph Blankenship, was marrying their step-father Edward Stanley, second husband of their deceased mother Hannah (Wilson) Clay. This is not evidence Martha was their sister. (Strutton-11 18:54, 13 February 2022 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ The research of Lloyd Bockstruck supervisor at the Dallas, Texas, public library, to Helen Hetherington Dunn
2. ↑ Weisiger, Henrico Deeds 1706-1737 p 90.
3. ↑ Henrico County, Orphans Court, p. 53; Martha, widow of Ralph Blankenship

Acknowledgements

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