STANLEY, Thomas (1530-91), of Weaver and Alderley, Cheshire.

Stanley had extensive lands in Cheshire, mainly in the Macclesfield area: some of his property, at Little Meols, involved him in an expensive lawsuit before the Exchequer court of Chester. In November 1556 his father, who was in bad health, conveyed to him land in Alderley, Weaver and elsewhere, in return for a £30 annuity. By the end of the year Stanley had succeeded to the whole estate, and was soon appointed to the customary local offices for one of his social position. In 1564 the bishop of Chester recommended him as a suitable justice of the peace; and he was no doubt added to the commission before November 1571, when he became sheriff. Earlier in 1571 he had represented Cheshire in Parliament.2PRO Chester 3/82/24, 72/8; C142/109/9; J. Brownbill, West Kirby and Hilbre, 246; Cam. Misc. ix(3), p. 751; APC, viii. 235; xii. 159.

Apart from a reference to ‘Mr. Stanley of Alderley’ as a guest of his distant relative Henry, 4th Earl of Derby at Lathom in July 1587, no references to Stanley’s private life have been found. There is an inquisition post mortem, but no will. He died 1 Aug. 1591 and was buried at Alderley. During the renovation of the church in 1878 an alabaster slab was found, with a recumbent figure in armour and an inscription giving his name and details of his family, together with a statement that he built the houses of Alderley and Weaver.3Stanley Pprs. (Chetham Soc. xxxi), 30; PRO Chester 3/82/24; Ormerod, iii. 570-1.