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(My sincere thanks to Mary Alice Cope for her contribution to this page.)
My great-great-great grandfather, James William Stanfield, was born February 13, 1813, in Georgia, according to census records. He was the son of William "Billy" Stanfield and Mary (last name unknown).
James married my great-great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Helton, about 1834, in Tennessee. Elizabeth was born about 1817, in Tennessee, according to census.
Elizabeth died July, 1851, in Wayne County, Tennessee. James prepared a will after his wife's death, which he signed on August 30, 1851. In his will he stated that it was his desire that his father, William Stanfield, and John W. Shull (who was his brother-in-law) be administrators of his effects and take care of his children and keep them together on his plantation, and that all of his household property be kept for their benefit. The will further stated, "also 2 cows, one called Pink, the other the Gillis cow, also one nag, the filly, to be kept with the children for their use and benefit; the balance sold and my matters settled and my debts paid. The children to be kept on my plantation if they should be satisfied; if not, the land to be rented until the youngest child comes of age...." . The will was signed by Roberson Talley, P. S. Stanfield, and John W. Shull, all witnessing the mark made by James W. Stanfield.
James died September 1851, in Wayne County.
James Stanfield's heirs are listed in a document dated April 4, 1853, from the Wayne County County Court Minutes book that states in part, "It is therefore adjudged and decreed by the Court that all the right title claim and undivided interest, which the said John Woody and wife, Nancy J., Elijah Stanfield, Peyton Stanfield, Elizabeth Stanfield, John Stanfield, and Lucinda Stanfield, heirs at law of said James W. Stanfield.....".
Mary Alice Cope says in her notes that the book, "Copeland, Our Branch Of The Tree", published in 1992, indicates that the two youngest Stanfield children, John and Lucinda, went to live with their mother's sister's family (James Dugal Copeland and Malinda (Helton) Copeland) after the death of their parents.
Children of James Stanfield and Elizabeth Helton
1. Nancy Jane Stanfield, b. 1835, Wayne Co, TN; m. John J. Woody (my line)
2. Elizabeth M. Stanfield, b. abt 1836, Wayne Co, TN
3. Thomas Peyton Stanfield, b. abt 1838, Wayne Co, TN
4. Elijah Martin Stanfield, b. abt 1841, Wayne Co, TN
5. John A. Stanfield, b. 1843, Wayne Co, TN
6. Lucinda M. Stanfield, b. abt 1849, Wayne Co, TN