David Patrick Staunton

Born November 7, 1899. Died 21 April 1981.
A gentleman, in every sense of the word.

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Character References

1. Ballintubber House, Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland. January 17, 1916. "I have known David Staunton for a considerable time. He, as far as I can judge is a promising boy, of good character. He is a total abstainer. I prepared him for Confirmation and he attended very carefully to my instruction. He is apt, and willing to learn. He, I am sure will give you satisfaction. I shall always be glad to hear of his welfare. He belongs to a Church of Ireland family. [signed] W. Matcheth (?), curate of Stradbally & Ballintubber."

2. Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co. Galway, Ireland. June 19, 1916. "David Staunton has been in my employment as Hall boy for five months, during which time he has been perfectly sober, well conducted & obliging, & has done his work well. [signed] Clonbrock."

3. Dunsland, Glanmire, Co. Cork, Ireland. 10 June 1917. "David Staunton has been in my employment for the past 10 months first as page, & then as footman. He is thoroughly honest, sober & obliging & waits well. He is quite satisfactory & does what he is told. He leaves here at his own request."

4. Longueville, Mallow, Co. Cork, Ireland. December 17, 1919. "David Staunton has lived here as a footman for 12 months. I have found him thoroughly steady & well conducted. He waits well at table. He leaves at his own wish to go to his people in England. [signed] R. E. Langfeild."

5. Ballynatray, Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland. August 15, 1919. "David Staunton has been in my Employment for over seven months. I shall be pleased to recommend him, as I consider him an energetic worker and trustworthy. Signed, R. Holroyd Smyth, Capt."

6. Dunsland House, Ballintubber, Co. Cork, Ireland. December 24, 1920. "David Staunton was employed at Dunsland for about nine months and left on 29th of November 1920 to go to England. He worked both on the farm and as odd-man at Dunsland House, and was very steady and obliging, strictly sober, quiet and honest. [signed] Richard Heard."

7. The Gardens, Moorefield House, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland. November 9, 1922. "David Staunton worked here for the last 9 months, in the Garden and about the place generally. I always found him good at any kind of work which we had in hand. Strictly sober, Honest and industrious, & anxious to give satisfaction. He is very handy, intelligent and most obliging. He leaves here at his own request and to my regret. I will be always happy to recommend him to anyone requiring his services, and glad to hear of his welfare. [signed] C.W. Burne (Head Gardener to the Honble. Lady McCalmont)."

8. Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. April 8, 1923. "I have known David Staunton for the past year, and having met him frequently I am in a good position to speak of his character. At once I may say that I have nothing to say of him but of the highest praise. He has all the qualities that go to make a perfect young gentleman in every way. I found him most obliging, truthful, honest, sober and obedient and scrupulously careful of things entrusted to him. He has ability and brains and can use both to the best advantage, and I have no doubt but in a short time by his diligent application to work and duty, he will raise himself to a high position of trust in the Civic Guard, to which body he tells me he is anxious to join himself. I have great pleasure in giving him this reference for I know he is deserving of it and more. [signed] Thomas Flanagan, Avoca, Co. Wicklow."

3. The Rectory. Vale of Avoca, 11th April 1923. "To whom it may concern. Sir, I have great pleasure in testifying to the excellent character which David Staunton bears in this district. — I can safely say that his moral character is all that one could wish and in that respect he is an example to every young man in this parish. He is sober, honest, and worthy of full consideration as a Civic Guard and or any other position that his ability would fit him for. He can be relied upon to do his duty to his fellow man with tact, courtesy, and good will. Signed this 11th day of April 1923. G. Gibson Bolton, Rector of Castlemacadam."

9. Station Commercial Hotel, Nelson, Lancashire, England. January 20, 1924. "To whom it may concern: David Staunton has been employed by me for about 8 months. During this time I have found him honest, sober & a good willing worker. [signed] H. Sutcliffe."

3. The Rectory. Vale of Avoca, 5th May 1924. "To all it may concern. Dear Sir or Madam, I have very great pleasure in testifying to the excellent character borne by Mr. David Staunton whom I have known for over 2 years during the time I have been Rector of this Parish. I cannot speak too highly of him, and I have always found him to be of high moral tone, one who can always be trusted to do what is right. He has been a constant attender at Divine Service and is a member of the Parish Choir. He has very kindly and voluntary [sic] helped us here in every way he could and as a parish and as its Clergyman I feel we are losing a good friend. Signed, G. Gibson Bolton."

10. Woodenbridge Hotel, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. May 5, 1924. "David Staunton was employed at above Hotel as waiter from January 1923 to April 1924 during that time I found him strictly honest sober quiet willing & attentive to his duties. He now leaves at his own request. All wages due paid to date & cards stamped. M. Bayley Mrs."

11. Killruddery Estate Office, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. January 27, 1926. "David Staunton has been employed as Footman at Killruddery for one year and five months to this date. Lord Ardee wishes me to say that he is strictly sober, very hard-working and willing, and that he understands the cleaning of plate, and the other duties of a Footman in a large Establishment. Lord Ardee is dispensing with his services as he is leaving home for a time. V.C. LeFanu, agent to Lord Ardee."

12. Roebuck Castle, Dundrum, Co. Dublin, Ireland. March 10, 1926. "David Staunton has been in my service for one month as single handed butler -- He was strictly sober, honest and kept his silver well. He now leaves at his own request, wages paid & -- card stamped. Louise Westby."

13. Ballingarrane, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. 24 February, 1930. "David Staunton has been in my service and that of my late husband as butler valet for the last two years and three months. He thoroughly understands his duties, keeps his silver and glass very well, and is most careful of everything in his charge. We found him strictly sober, honest and quiet, obliging and trustworthy. Owing to the illness of his mother he wishes to find employment near his home. Irene H. Watson."

14. Estate Office, Ballyarthur, Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. 10 February 1932. "David Staunton was employed by me at Woodenbridge Hotel Co. Wicklow for 3 seasons. I always found him honest, sober and obliging to the visitors, & I wished to employ him this season, but I understand he wishes to make other arrangements. He is presently employed at Ballyarthur as Butler, & is left in charge of the house, whilst the family are in England. He had sole charge of my Hotel Coffee Room in summer. [signed] Charles J. Bayly."

From Margaret Proby to David Staunton 2 Draycott Place, London SW3, England. November 27, 1932. "My good David Staunton I will certainly do all I can to find you a post in England: it is not very good at the moment for there is but little work going, but I will see if anything can be arranged. It may make it a little easier if you can take service in a Hotel as well as a private house. I am sure you enjoy being with Edward's wife -- and the dear little Baby. Remember me to them all. Yrs faithfully, Margaret Proby." The Proby family were the employers of David Staunton's brother Ted as a chauffeur from the 1920s into the 1980s, first in Ireland and then at Elton Hall in the county of Huntingdon (near Peterborough). Click here for link to Elton Hall.

From Jennie Barry to David Staunton Lowell (Massachusetts) February 28, 1934 My Dear Cousin David I received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to hear that you are working, as this leaves us all well, but myself I have been sick with a terrible cold and I am still out of work. I also received the other ticket all right. Say, David, if I win that thirty thousand, me for the land of my birth right away quick, but no such luck for me and if you win we hope to see you too. You will be as welcome as the flowers in May. I hope you have luck. Dear Cousin David, how will I know about that Sweep Stake? Will the head one write to me, or will I have to send you the tickets? Please let me know in your next letter, I don't know anything about them kind of sports. Well, Cousin David, I don't think I know of anything else to say at present, so I will close with us all sending you our best love and regards. I remain as ever your loving cousin, Miss Jennie Barry, 23 Lawson St., Lowell, Mass. From David Staunton to ecclesiastic authorities,April 25, 1975. Dear Rev. Father: I am [attempting to] trace the marriage of my great-grandfather [by the] name [of] Staunton. He was, I am led to believe, married at Castlemary [County Cork]; the date would be about 1824. I have information from the book of Old Irish Families, page 52, there were 14 such families [of that name] in Cork. My father, who died in 1920, was born in Cork City in 1844. He informed me there was no change of name when his father married, so I take it they were cousins. I am informed by the Cork City Registry of Births that no record of birth could be given by them till after 1845. The above book referred to informs me that the name Milo de Staunton began with the MacEvillys, beginning in the 14th century, in County Mayo. [. . . ] 14 families [of that name] in Cork [who] took their name from Milo de Staunton; my grandfather must have been one of those Stauntons. If you can help me to establish [the date of] this important marriage I will forward the amount due for research upon hearing from you. Yours faithfully, D. P. Staunton. Typewritten letter to Sarah, daughter of Patricia (Staunton) Yates: The [Staunton] coat of arms I have [obtained] from Dublin Castle: Or, a lion rampant sable. Crest: a lion passant Or, holding an dexter paw formme cross, fitchee gules. Motto: En Dieu ma Foy ('In God my Faith,' old Norman French). The Stauntons came over to England with the Pied Earl (who he was, or why he chose to land with a Staunton in County Mayo in the west of Ireland I don't know, but I do know that he did. A lot of information on the family, who had a castle there, can be had from the Book of Survey from Galway, the chief town of the west of Ireland, if you care to write there. The name of the Pied Earl was De Bargo. Perhaps you could hunt up who he was from the library.* Galway is the seat of the Ordnance Survey, address County Galway, Irish Republic. I have just discovered the coat of arms document from the Chief Herald at Dublin Castle, and if you wish to have one done [depicted] you write first to Heraldic Artists Ltd., Insignia Craftsmen, 21 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. It's a very old coat of arms of a proud family, as it contains four of the five colours used in heraldry: white, black, gold and red (purple is royal). Also it has no bars on the shield, which is or (gold). I am sending to you the English side of the Stauntons, which you can get a copy of from the book by the Thoroton Society of Nottingham, through the library, it is the oldest name in Nottinghamshire and a village is called after the name, which has Stauntons still there. There is a Staunton Street in Lincoln, too. As you will see I have tried to get some information and I want to keep this letter so that someone someday makes an effort to go a bit further and find out as much as they can. It only means digging [into] old books in Ireland and they can be got in English libraries too, if you try. And I will one day have a go at finding out about the Staunton that formed a 'sept' and became one of the Irish clan called McEvillys, he was chief of the clan [in the] early 14th century, about 1337. Anyway, you can put the tree together, the roots must be in Cork or Galway. I am doing this in a hurry, but I think that [your] Aunty Bridget in Canada is trying to get at the bottom of it all. You see that a name is considered a religion as its members will not do, things that would bring disgrace upon the name, as this would put a bar on the shield of the family and a disgrace to the name. So there are things a Staunton would not do. Anyway, Sarah, I think it's interesting to know something of your beginning, and helps to mould the future. *"(in the reign of Henry II, 12th century) Robert Lovel . . . went over to Ireland with Richard de Marlee, Stephen de Bargo, and near twenty men at arms, who behaved with great valour, and in recompence, acquired great possessions; which induced him to remain in that country" -- http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/lovell/2591/. Wartime Service Being employed in "essential war work" as a plate moulder at the local Malleable Iron Works, David Sataunton was ineligible to serve in the military, but served in the Home Guard unit, in which he rose to become a corporal, in charge of several men. The many engineering works, as well as RAF airfields, made the Lincoln area a frequent target for enemy bombing raids. The above certificate shows that he was proficient in rifle, grenade and machine gun handling. His uniform flashes are shown below.

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