Ann Walker Stansfeld (née Sutherland)

(Updated 6/7/2023)

Ann Walker Stansfeld (née Sutherland) was Ann Walker’s niece, Elizabeth & George’s youngest daughter. She signed her name as Annie in letters and was identified as such in some other documents. So, I will be referring to her as Annie in this blog.

Early Years

Ann Walker Sutherland was the 6th child of Capt. George M and Elizabeth Sutherland (née Walker), was born on 17 September 1837 and baptized the following month in Scotland.¹

Anne Lister first mentioned her in her diary entry of 1st October 1837, when Ann Walker received a letter from her sister Elizabeth announcing her birth:

“…dinner at 6 ¾ – coffee read the newspaper – A- had letter from her sister – the little girl born the other day to be called Ann – very judicious – A- and I came upstairs at 9 5 at which hour F53 ½° – Rainy morning but fair before noon tho’ damp soft day.”

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/20/0136 & SH:7/ML/E/20/0137 Transcription by Martin Walker

In another diary entry, on 11th January 1839, Anne Lister mentioned Ann sending a package to her sister, containing gifts for the children:

“A- returned from Cliff hill at 12 ¼ and sat with me till after 1 – she came to me afterwards once or twice – wrote note and sent off box by Sam tonight to her sister containing pelerine and gloves from Paris and Barèges scarf and Bentleys’ Landymere stone lease, and other papers and some books as presents to the children”

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale SH:7/ML/E/22/0098 Transcription by Francesca Raia

In 1841, per the census, Annie was living with her family in the Udale House in Scotland.²

To put Annie’s timeline into perspective, her aunt, Ann Walker (the younger, “our” Ann) was found to be of unsound mind in 1843, when the family was living in Scotland. Annie’s mother, Elizabeth, died in London in 1844, when Annie was only 7 years old. Six months later in 1845, Annie’s sister Mary died when the family was living at Shibden Hall. In 1846, George Sutherland, her father, married Mary Elizabeth Haigh, and he died the next year in 1847. In his will, George put his minor children under the personal care and superintendence of his second wife Mary Elizabeth Sutherland.³ Annie was 9 years old at the time of his death.

Education

There is no information yet discovered on where Annie lived from 1847 – 1850, however the 1851 census showed her as a pupil at a boarding school in Putney, Surrey, England. She was listed as Annie Sutherland. Coincidentally, Charlotte Clark (daughter of Fanny Penfold, who remarried after losing her first husband John Walker Jr, Elizabeth & Ann’s brother)¹  was a classmate of Annie’s.

In a letter dated 10th Sept 1855, while still a pupil in Surrey, Annie wrote to Robert Parker, one of the Executors of her father’s will:

 “As it is nearly time for me to write and remind you of the notice which will be necessary to
give Miss Lewis I think it as well to tell you now that the night before I left Halifax I spoke
to Mrs Sutherland on the subject of my allowance, she agreed with me, that when the various expenses to which I shall be liable are considered, that 300 £ per annum….”

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale WYC 1150/74/32/1 Transcription by Deb Woolson & Leila Straub

Adulthood

On 17th September 1858, four years after the death of her aunt, Ann Walker, and when she herself reached 21 years of age, Annie received her legacy, the sum of £2,000 (valued at £317,967.37 today¹) from William Gray, Executor of Ann Walker’s will.

Marriage Settlement

Prior to Annie’s November 1858 wedding, she signed a marriage settlement with Henry William Stansfeld whom she was about to marry. Henry was born to William and Margaret Stansfeld in 1828.¹ Henry’s father William died in 1835.² Margaret Stansfeld (née Milnes), Henry’s widowed mother, a co-heiress of the Milnes collieries, purchased the Manor House at Flockton and its estate of 164 ^1/2 acres in 1852. ³

Annie’s inheritances were listed in this agreement. Under her father’s will she was entitled to £16,000 (valued at £2,543,738.94 today⁴) plus £1,400 interest, in addition to legacies from her great uncle Thomas Grove Edwards, great aunt Ann Walker, and her aunt Ann Walker. This came to a total of over £29,231 (valued at £4,647,252.06 today⁵).⁶ The indenture agreement with Henry protected Annie’s fortune and contained this clause:

“..shall extend into her own hands for her sole and separate use independently and exclusively of the said Henry William Stansfeld and of his debts control and interruption and engagements but so nevertheless that the said Ann Walker Sutherland shall not have power to deprive herself of the benefit thereof…”

West Yorkshire Archives, Wakefield  WYW1630   Transcription by Deb Woolson and Martin Walker

It is stated in this document that she resided at Cliffe Hill in Lightcliffe.

Prior to their wedding, Captain Henry William Stansfeld resigned his commission in the West Yorkshire Rifle Regiment.

“Memorandum.-West York Rifle Regiment of Militia – Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the resignation of the commission held by Capt Henry W. Stansfeld.”

14 August 1858 Leeds Intelligencer©The British Library Board

Wedding & Italy

Annie married Henry William Stansfeld on 6th November 1858, in Hastings with her brother Evan C. Sutherland Walker listed as a witness.¹

After their wedding, Annie and Henry travelled to Italy. In the “Giornale di Roma” (Newspaper of Rome) dated Wednesday 22nd December 1858,  it was reported that Stansfeld E, British landowner  (the “E” stands for “Enrico”, that is Henry in Italian) arrived in Rome (from Florence) between the 19th and 20th of December.² It was not unusual for the wife not to be mentioned in the paper, but Annie would have been with him.

In March 1859, Logan Sutherland Stansfeld, Annie & Henry’s first child was born in Italy.

Maths being what it was and still is, Annie would have been about 5 months pregnant when she married Henry, which was not as unusual as we might think. Why did they go to Italy? At present, it is not known, nor is the date they returned to England. If it was between April and July 1859, the Second Italian War was in progress and the newspapers carried war reports and not traveller information.

Family Life

By the 1861 UK Census, the family of three were living at Manor House, Flockton, with Henry running the Colliery.¹

In September 1862, twins Harold Sinclair and Francis William were born.²

20 September 1862 The Queen©The British Library Board

Annie’s husband Henry would purchase the Flockton estate in 1865.³

The 9th of May 1867 was a special day for Annie, Henry, and their church. Annie laid the cornerstone of the foundation of the new St. James the Great Church in Flockton, and afterwards hosted an elegant lunch at their Manor House.

History repeated itself that day. We may never know if Annie was aware that before she was born her aunt Ann Walker had done the very same thing, and in 1834 had laid the foundation stone for Anne Lister’s Northgate Hotel. Though we don’t know if Ann Walker’s trowel is still in existence, we see the beauty in Annie’s, and thank the Elliff family for kindly allowing this image to be shared in this blog.

On 18th May 1867, the Huddersfield Chronicle ran this detailed account of the festivities.

“On Thursday, the 9th inst., the corner-stone was laid by Mrs. H. W. Stansfeld, of Manor House, amidst a large gathering of people.”

Rev Charles Musgrave became an Archdeacon and was among the guests and may have participated as a friend of the Stansfelds.

“The Ven. Archdeacon, with a large party of clergy and friends, were entertained to an elegant luncheon at the Manor House, by Mr. and Mrs. Stanfeld;”

In 1871, the census showed Henry, Harold and Francis (8 years old) living at Flockton.⁴ Logan was in boarding school in Hampshire.⁵ During this census Annie was visiting her brother Evan Charles Sutherland Walker and his family in London. Frances Shearman is also listed as a visitor and she was Annie’s servant.⁶

The 1881 census showed Henry, Annie and son Francis (18 yrs) at Flockton.⁷ Son Harold was away at Christowe School in Cheltenham⁸ and Logan was a sub-lieutenant at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth.This same census reveals that Annie’s late sister Elizabeth Weymss’ daughters Janet and Mary also lived on the Stansfeld’s Flockton Estate. Elizabeth died in 1872 and their father David Wemyss in 1877. The 1881 census shows Janet and Mary living with their governess Mary Parker at Green Head, Flockton. Janet was 14 years old and Mary was 11.⁹

In the 1891 census Logan was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy serving on HMS Ringarooma at Devonport¹⁰, prior to sailing for Australia, and Henry, Annie, Francis, and Harold were living together in Flockton. Francis was listed as a farmer, and Harold a mining engineer. Also in this census Janet S. Weymss and Mary S. Weymss were then living in the same home with Annie.¹¹

Widowhood

Henry died on 23rd January 1893, at the age of 64 years.

We can learn much about Capt Henry William Stansfeld’s life and death from an article about his funeral in the Wakefield and West Riding Herald, published on 28th January 1893. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1862, was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 1892, and was on the County Council. He was a staunch Conservative, and a successful colliery owner; he played the organ at church where he also served as warden. He was known to return from London on a Saturday just to play the organ on the Sunday, even when he was far from well, a fact that only his closest circle was aware of.

Annie was in London, herself far from well, when Henry took ill. He was attended to by a Wakefield doctor, and Annie returned as soon as she could, to be by his side until the end.

This memorial window honouring Henry William Stansfeld can still be seen today in St James the Great Church, Flockton.

17 February 1894 Huddersfield Daily Examiner©The British Library Board

Henry’s personal estate was valued at £22,726 8s. 10d (valued at £3,736,235.81 today¹).

At the time of Henry’s death, the collieries, which employed 600 men and 130 boys, were then put under Annie’s ownership, although Annie herself was not in good health. Her son Harold was still living with her at the Manor House at that time. In 1894, Annie announced she would not carry on with the colliery so the manager looked for financial backers to continue it. The Manor House estate was put up for sale and the family left the neighbourhood in 1896.²

This describes the Manor House from the advertisement of it’s sale.

12 October 1895 Huddersfield Daily Examiner©The British Library Board

Per the 1901 census, Annie was living in Chelsea. She had three servants – Frances Shearman, her longtime lady’s maid, a parlour maid and a cook.³

In 1904, her son Harold died from influenza at the age of 42. More on him later in this blog.

Annie’s Death

During World War 1, Annie was living at 44 Wetherby Mansions, Earl’s Court Square, Middlesex. She died on 4th November 1917¹ at the age of 80, of old age and cardiac failure. Her son Logan was with her at the time of her death.

08 November 1917 Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer©The British Library Board

Research has shown that Annie was not buried with her husband in the family vault at St. James Church, Flockton, and the search for her burial site continues.

In her will, proved 18th December 1917, she left the money from her mother Elizabeth’s trust to her son Logan, along with all her personal property. The money from her marriage settlement was left to her son Francis in America.²

At the time of probate, her effects were worth a little over £1,926 (valued at £290,254.52 today³)

Stansfeld Children

Francis

In 1892, Francis married Janet Mackay Sinclair Weymss, his cousin, the daughter of his mother’s sister Elizabeth Wemyss.¹ The following newspaper article about the funeral of his father Henry, mentions the couple leaving for America, and remembers Henry playing the organ at Francis’s wedding:

“Though the Captain was far from well at the time, the writer well remembers the evident pleasure he experienced in playing the Wedding March at his son’s and niece’s wedding last June.”

28 January 1893 Wakefield and West Herald©The British Library Board

18 June 1892 Huddersfield Daily©The British Library Board

The 1900 US Census has Francis and Janet living in Santa Cruz, California, with their two daughters. His occupation is listed as Capitalist.² Francis died in 1944, at the age of 81 years.

Harold

In the 1901 UK Census, Harold was living in Rotherham working as a mining engineer.³ In 1902, Harold married Maude Heaton.⁴ Two years later, in 1904, Harold died suddenly of influenza at the age of 42. He and Maud did not have children.

Logan

In 1894, like Francis before him, Logan married a Wemyss cousin. Logan married Mary Sinclair-Wemyss, the daughter of his mother’s sister Elizabeth Wemyss.

Logan achieved the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy and like his father, was a Justice of the Peace. He and Mary had two children. Logan died in 1936.

19 June 1936 Hampshire Telegraph©The British Library Board

Annie’s Story

Annie had lost both parents and multiple siblings by the age of 9. By the time of her death, her surviving siblings, Elizabeth and Evan Charles had died leaving her the last living child of George and Elizabeth Sutherland. Annie was born when Ann Walker and Anne Lister lived together at Shibden Hall. After her mother’s death, Annie lived at Shibden Hall with her aunt Ann Walker, her siblings, her father Capt. Sutherland, and his second wife Mary, and their new child. Though we do not know what the relationship was, Annie was the last of a generation of Sutherlands to have known her aunt, Ann Walker of Shibden Hall and later Cliff Hill.

References

Early Years

1. Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014
2. 1841 Scotland CensusParish: Cromarty; ED: 1A; Page: 4; Line: 800; Year: 1841 Ancestry.com
3. GMS Will – Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Ref#SC70/4/4 National Records of Scotland

Education

1. 1851 UK Census, Ancestry.com Reference # H0107/1579

Adulthood

1. CPI Inflation Calculator https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1858?amount=2000

Marriage Settlement

1. Henry William Stansfeld birth certificate – The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths Surrendered to the Non-Parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857; Class Number: RG 5; Piece Number: 134  Ancestry.com
2. William Stansfeld’s death Ancestry.com. England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
3. British Mining No.19 Memoirs 1980 – 1982 by J. Goodchild
4. CPI Inflation Calculator
   https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1858?amount=16000
5. CPI Inflation Calculator
   https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1858?amount=29231
6. West Yorkshire Archives, Wakefield WYW1630 Transcription by Deb Woolson and Martin Walker

Wedding & Italy

1. Marriage License – East Sussex Record Office; Brighton, England; Sussex Parish Registers; Reference: PAR 369/1/3/2
2. In the “Giornale di Roma” (Newspaper of Rome) dated Wednesday Dec. 22, 1858 8n.290) National Central Library of Rome: http://digitale.bnc.roma.sbn.it/tecadigitale/visore/#/main/viewer?idMetadato=20919792&type=bncr Transcription by Francesca Raia

Family Life

1. 1861 UK Census Ancestry.com Reference Ancestry.com  Ref# RG 9 3417
2. History of the Family of Stansfeld of Stansfield in the Parish of Halifax by John Stansfeld, Leeds,
3. British Mining No.19 Memoirs 1980 – 1982 by J. Goodchild
4. Henry, Francis & Harold Stansfeld – 1871 UK Census – The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 UK Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 4614; Folio: 8; Page: 9; GSU roll: 848398
5. Logan Stansfeld – 1871 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref # R.G.10 1218
6. Annie W Stansfeld – 1871 UK Census – The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 UK Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 103; Folio: 24; Page: 1; GSU roll: 838762
7. Francis Stansfeld – 1881 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG 11/4570
8. Harold Stansfeld -1881 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG 11/2577
9. Logan Stansfeld – 1881 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG 11/1147
10. Logan Stansfeld – 1891 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG12/1743
11. Henry, Annie, Francis & Harold – 1891 UK Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG 12/3742

Widowhood

1. CPI Inflation Calculator
   https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1893?amount=22726
2. British Mining No.19 Memoirs 1980 – 1982 by J. Goodchild
3. 1901 England Census Ancestry.com Ref# RG 13/74

Annie’s Death

1. Probate – Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
2. Probate, ibid
3. CPI Inflation Calculator
   https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1917?amount=1926

Stansfeld Children

1. Francis Marriage Certificate – West Yorkshire Archive Service, accessed through Ancestry.com Ref# D15/14
2. Francis 1900 US Census – Year: 1900; Census Place: Santa Cruz Ward 2, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 112; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0089; FHL microfilm: 1240112 Ancestry.com
3. 1901 UK Census Ref# RG 13/4397 Ancestry.com
4. Harold’s marriage – England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 for  Harold Sinclair Stansfield 1902 Q3-Jul-Aug-Sep Ancestry.com

Other Resources

West Yorkshire Archives, Calderdale
Ancestry.co.uk – a paid subscription service
The British Newspaper Archive – a paid subscription service

Special Thanks

Elliff family – for the use of the photo of Annie’s trowel
Peter Crow, churchwarden, St. James the Great Parish Church, Flockton Archives – for the photos and church history
Diane Halford – Archival research
Francesca Raia, Anne Lister Italia – Italy research & transcription
Ian Philp & Dorothy Barker – historical reference
Leila Straub – transcriptions
Martin Walker – transcriptions
Caroline Maillard & Louise Godley – editing

In Search of Ann Walker’s research into Ann’s life is ongoing, therefore new discoveries may change the way we chronicle her life in the future.

How to cite this article:
Deb Woolson (2023) “Ann Walker Stansfeld (née Sutherland)”: In Search of Ann Walker [Accessed “add date”]