Harvey and Staffell , Rye

[Summercloud]

Interested in finding out more about the shipbuilders Harvey & Staffell whose yard was situated below the Green Steps at the end of Watchbell Street, Rye.  Does anyone know when the firm was established? how long the business was in existence? the names of the founder members and subsequent owners and any other information about the firm?

Many Thanks,
Viv

[marinerclark]

The Staffells owned the neighboring shipyard to Philip Clark d. 1806.  Philip Clark son of the former drowned in the Irish Sea in 1815 and is on the MI's for the Staffells.  He married Mary Machin Staffell, dau of john and jane Staffell.  mary the widow lived past the 1841 census but Mary Clark is hard to sift out.  She is listed on the tax records .

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi there

There are a number of tombstones in Rye Churchyard to the Staffell and Harvey Families from 1810 0nwards including these:

A50-
  Sacred to the memory of John Staffell Senr, Shipwrigyht, who departed this 
  life May 3rd 1817 aged 80 years. 'Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart 
  in peace, according to thy word'  Also of Jane Staffell his wife, who       
  departed this life May 13th 1821 aged 81 years

A53-
  In memory of John Staffell, son of John & Jane Staffell, who died August   
  31st 1808, aged 34 years.  In memory of Philip Clark who was unfortunately 
  drowned on his passage home from Ireland, in 1815, in the 50th year of his 
  age. Also of <ary Machin, wife of the above who died February 17th 1854,   
  aged 88 years Let me know if you want the others

Chris in 1066   

[marinerclark]

Hi Chris,  Yes I have these and the other Clark ones.  Have found a new cousin.   I read a reference to Rye St Mary headstones being weathered beyond legibility. Can someone verify this?  I have dreams of coming to Sussex someday and don't want to be disappointed.  So glad they were transcribed by an industrious Victorian.

[Hampshire Lass]

Hi, I would say that the headstones at Rye are particularly unreadable. That's not to say that there may be the odd ones which are readable and they may well be the ones you need

I went there about 2 years ago, in my niavity, expecting to find the ones I wanted
 " just like that" and was disappointed.

A lovely town, non the less and still well worth visiting the area just to see where your ancestors lived. Some of the streets are cobbled and altogether it's a unique place.

Best wishes HL

[marinerclark]

I know what mine are supposed to say thanks to Mr. Butler's transcriptions.  My family also has some graves where no headstone was erected.  These I found thru the SFHG.    I am missing john Clark who was baptized in 1696 and supposed to have died on some of the "trees" in 1737 but I canot confirm this  Thanks for your interest   LizR

[Hampshire Lass]

Hi LizR,

I agree that via SFHG there would be no record of his death in 1737. I have found his baptism in 1696 and am assuming you have too.

I also found online public trees on which he is entered but they seem, in the main to have his death as 1736 and the information was gathered from other ancestral trees. One of them has a probate record attached but John Clark isn't an unusual name so it's hard to prove that it's the right person on that probate record.

I looked elsewhere and found a Will for a John Clark which was made in 1734 and proved in 1736. He was on board HMS Kent. I don't know if this means anything to you. I find these documents very hard to read and could find nothing linking him to Rye. Although I believe in this document he's leaving his estate to his wife Mary, but there must be lots of John and Mary Clarks.

If HMS Kent looks a possibility I'll look again at it for you.

Best wishes HL

[marinerclark]

Thanks so much.  They were a maritime family.  He was married to Mary Vousden.   Found christenings for sons  John, Philip, Thomas, Edward,  and Dau  Elizabeth, Mary and Martha.  sons names are repeated in the next generations.
    Philip 1730 -1806 is mine.  He had a PCC will and sent boys to George Pikes school in Robertbridge so family wasn't poor.  Would love to know more about will

[Hampshire Lass]

Not sure now if this will be your John Clark 

Have sent you a PM