Margaret (Freeman) Stapleton (abt. 1650)

Ancestors

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Biography

Margaret was probably born in St Kitts.

Her brother-in-law was Sir William Stapleton, Deputy Governor of Montserrat and later Governor of the Leeward Islands. This relationship provided the connection for William Freeman, her own brother, to act as Stapleton's personal agent in London. Sir William married Anne Russell, daughter of Colonel Randolph Russell of Nevis. The Letters of William Freeman stated that she was married to Edmund Stapleton but he appears to have died a bachelor - did she marry another brother? It was probably not Redmond Stapleton or, if she did, it was after 1684 as there are letters between William Freeman and Colonel William Stapleton in this year wherein William refers to Stapleton's "brothers Edmond and Redmond", Redmond having taken over Edmond's estates. If Redmond were William's brother-in-law at this time it is likely he would have used more familiar language as he was wont to do (for example) when referring to his brother in law William Baxter.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ William Freeman, 'Freeman's Letters, 1684: nos 344-369', in The Letters of William Freeman, London Merchant, 1678-1685, ed. David Hancock (London, 2002), pp. 360-386. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol36/pp360-386 [accessed 3 October 2016]. Letter no 361.

• The Letters of William Freeman, London Merchant 1678-1685., page xxi., Appendix 1A. Accessed at the Society of Genealogists, London, May 2015. The full text of this book is currently available on this link including references to underlying source materials.