Are We Related?: Stanfield

I’ve decided to expand my surname list by reaching out to my colleagues. Luckily, we’re all a curious sort, so a long list of new surnames and connections to research suddenly appeared. This month’s article features my long-time coworker and friend Susan’s family, the Stanfields.

For more than 40 years IHS has had a collection of materials related to Louise Carpenter Stanfield. It has often been wondered by Susan if her Stanfields and Louise’s husband, Orris’ family, were related. I took some time to run an analysis on this through AncestryLibrary edition, county histories, and Quaker records.

Both branches left extensive records, as many from the Society of Friends do. Both Stanfield families had deep roots in Indiana going back to the year after statehood, or so. Susan’s family knowledge led me to start in Benton County for her line. Orris, a native of Indianapolis, was quickly tracked into Jackson County. My certainty of kinship only grew as I traced Susan’s Stanfields from Benton, to Tippecanoe, and down into Jackson County. The question was, how far back was the direct link?

Deep River Monthly Meeting Minutes showing request for certificate to Blue River Meeting in Indiana via AncestryLibrary (cropped)

The Stanfields, early settlers of Jackson County, Samuel related to Orris, and John for Susan. According to census records, both were born in North Carolina. Furthermore, a note located in Quaker Meeting Records for the Deep River Monthly Meeting in North Carolina, located on AncestryLibrary, showed the following:

1 September 1817: “Deepriver preparative meeting informs that John Stanfield requests a certificate for his sons John, Nathan, William, Eli and Joel also a certificate for Samuel Stanfield and family to blue-river Monthly meeting in the Indianaia [sic] state …”

Based on this and additional evidence, John Stanfield (Sr.), who appears to have remained in North Carolina was the brother of Samuel Stanfield for whom he was requesting transfer along with his own sons. Therein lies the familial connection which leads me to definitively state that Susan and Orris ARE related, being 4th cousins 2x removed. Do you see the family resemblance? I see a similarity in the eyes.

Three descendants of Samuel and Mary Stanfield of North Carolina, originally of Pennsylvania: my colleague Susan, Orris Stanfield (1897-1956), and Leonard Stanfield (1916-2009). Image 1: Courtesy of Susan. Image 2: Indiana Historical Society, P0236 (cropped).  Image 3: Courtesy of Susan.

Keep an eye out next month for another installment of “Are We Related?” For previous postings, see Herndon (https://indianahistory.org/blog/are-we-related-herndon/) and Belcher (https://indianahistory.org/blog/are-we-related-belcher/).

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