Robert Stanford (abt. 1639 - 1709)

Born about 1639 in Cumberland, Massachusetts Bay Colony (Maine) [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 15 May 1709 at about age 70 in Gloucester, Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

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Biography

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Please note: This Robert Stanford is not the same as Robert Standford who married Mary (Howland) Williamson in 1679.^[1]

Robert Stanford, son of Thomas, was likely born before 1639 in Maine. The year is based on him having received property in 1660 from Mr. Jordan; it is assumed he was at least age 21 to receive property.^[2] Robert and his father, Thomas, were in Maine by December 1651, or perhaps at least a year before that.^[3]

Robert (who died in 1709) married an unknown wife in Falmouth, Maine or Gloucester, Massachusetts; she died in 1721 at approximately age 72. Their known children were:^[2]

• Mary, married Josiah Wallis
• Martha, m James Wallis
• Rebecca, m in Gloucester February 20, 1701, John Sawyer
• Elizabeth, m James Simpson
• Bethia, d in Gloucester Feb 20, 1719-20, at about age 28
• Josiah, m Hannah Day November 19, 1719. Was still living in April 1772, 7 or more children.
• John, Gloucester, claimed the Maine lands and sold land to Samuel Stevens in 1730; married Abigail Butman November 8, 1722 in Gloucester.

Robert resided in Falmouth in 1660, 1666, and in 1675-6. In December 1677 he was in Beverly. He returned to Falmouth by 1680.^[2]

The Sanford family moved to Gloucester about 1707; since Robert Sanford/Stanford is referred to in some places as "of Gloucester", this is thought to be his family.^[4] Libby says that "in the 2nd war" Robert moved from Falmouth, Maine to Gloucester where he died.^[2] This second war likely referred to the second time Falmouth was destroyed - in 1690, during King William's War. (The first time it was destroyed was in 1676, during King Philip's War.)^[5]

Robert Stanford passed away May 15, 1709, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. A "Widow Stanford" died in Gloucester July 6, 1721, at age 72.^[4][6] According to Libby, the widow was Robert's unnamed wife.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Torrey's New England marriages Prior to 1700, (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Reference page 1431
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Libby, Charles Thornton Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire" Volume 5, page 654
3. ↑ Brandon, John C. "Four Early Immigrants to Maine and New Hampshire - Hercules Hunking, Arthur Gill, Sampson Penley and Thomas Stanford" The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Reference Volume 72 (1998), page 227. Subscription
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Babson, John James History of the town of Gloucester, Cape Anne, including the town of Rockport, published 1860. Reference page 257
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Portland,_Maine#Raid_on_Portland_.281676.29
6. ↑ Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1621-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). Reference Gloucester Volume 3, page 272. Subscription

• Identifies father as Thomas Stanford: Adams, Clayton R. "The Proposed Identities of William Jordan of Falmouth and Abigail Allen, his wife" The Maine Genealogist. Farmington, ME: The Maine Genealogical Society, 1977-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014.) Reference Volume 16 (1994), page 3-4. Subscription
• Pope, Charles Henry: "Pioneers of Maine and Mew Hampshire"; page 181. Robert petitioned to Governor Andros for a land survey, with his father, Thomas.