John Staniforth (gentleman)

John Staniforth (died August 1661) was a British Gentleman, notable for being the Principal agent for the Earl of Arundel, as well as receiving a protection from the Earl of Newcastle prior to the English Civil War.

Prior to the English Civil War, the Earl of Newcastle visited Sheffield in May 1641. During his visit he gave Staniforth a protection against Charles I's aggression:

"It is my expresse pleasure and command that no officers or soldiers of his Majesty's army under my commany presume at any time hereafter to plunder, moldest, or trouble the person, house, family, goods, or chattels of John Staniforth of Darnall in thie county, without particular order and special warrant therein. And hereof none of the m may fayle at theire perills. Given under my hand the XVIIIth day of May 1641. Wil. Newcastle."^[1]

John also contributed to the construction and upkeep of the Attercliffe Chapel. The chapel was consecrated on February 24, 1630 (St. Matthias Day, and Staniforth contributed an endowment of 10s annually. It is likely that John also constructed the original Darnall Hall that his grandson Samuel Staniforth demolished and replaced with a larger residence.^[2]

Although no marriage record exists, Antiquarian Joseph Hunter suggests that Staniforth married Mary Gower, the daughter of Puritan minister Stanley Gower. This is evidenced in letters written to John Staniforth by Stanley Gower in which he is referred to as Son In Law.^[3]

John Staniforth was buried on 27 August 1661 at the Attercliffe Chapel.^[4]

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