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The "first John Stansel" migrated from England,
and is found on the "quit rent" tax roll of 1704, in
Nansemond County, Virginia. He was born about 1670. He
married Katherine Hardy and had children: John, Peter
and William.
William, born about 1697, married Mary Grifen,
daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Grifen. (Chowan Co. N.C.
Martin Grifen will, 171& also mentions her brother John Grifen)
William Stansel and Mary Grifen had chilaren: Peter,
Mary, Nathan and William jr. that are known. William jr. ,
b. ca. 1740 married first Affrica Smith, daughter of Dan and
Affrica (Smithwick)Smith. She was the granddaughter of
Edward Smithwick, Gentleman, one of the earliest settlers of
North Carolina. It is known that Edward was the son of Hugh
Smithwick, an Englishmaniwho'immigrated to Upper Norfolk County,
Virginia in 1642. The will of Hugh Smithwick, was recorded prior
to 1679/ in the colony of North Carolina. (From "Early Virginia
Immigrants, 1623-1666" by George Cabell Greer, Clerk,Virginia
State Land Office, p.306.)
William Stansel jr. and Affrica, had a son,William,
b. ca. 1765, who married Elizabeth Roberts, daughter of James
and Amey Roberts.
(The name "Affrica" which was used in several
generations in that era, in no way relates to the continent
Africa. It is a Celtic name meaning "the pleasant". It was a
favorite in ancient Manx and Irish families. Affrica was a
famous 12th. Century princess who married Semerled, "Lord of
the Isles", and ruled as his queen over the Isle of Man.)
A will by John Hardy filed in March 1719 in Chowan
County, in the Colony of North Carolina, bequeaths several
parcels of real estate and personal belongings to different
members of his family. Listed are his wife Rebeccah, daughters
Elisabeth and Mary; brothers William, Thomas and Jacob. Other
legatees were Katherine Stansell, Richard Pickering and John
Butler. Katherine, was the widow of the "first John Stansell,
(diedl713) and was presumed to be a sister of John Hardy. In
the will, Katherine was given "one cow & calfe."
A humorous misspelling of the Stansel name occurred
in 1724, a North Carolina livestock registration lists
John and Godfrey Stansel as "John and Codferry Standstill".