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Great-grandmother Staley

Great-grandmother Margaret Staley

Margaret Northrop Staley
Born: April 23, 1884
Died: 1977

My mom’s mom’s mom, Great-grandma (i.e. “Gra Gra”) Margaret Staley. Born in Kansas City. Father’s name was Jacob Staley, brother Harold, sister Helen.

Northrop is the surname of a man who married into the Wyandotte Indian family a few generations ago. (How many generations? I’m assuming he’d be my great-great-great-grandfather, since I’m 1/32nd Wyandotte if memory serves correctly. We’re looking it up.) He educated an Indian girl (some say princess) and gave her the English name Margaret. (Doing the math, this would probably be a decade or two before the Civil War.) The name Margaret was passed along the family for generations; it’s also my Gran’s name.

Jacob Staley (my great-great-grandfather) was from Virginia, eventually settling in Kansas where the Wyandottes were from. His bride is buried in the Wyandotte graveyard there.

It wasn’t until a few months ago that I learned that my great-grandmother was a Staley. There is limited knowledge about her father, Jacob Staley, although we know the semi-obscure name dates back to England. I’d like to do some further research on that, as the only other person I’ve ever heard with the name Staley was our brother Layne from Alice in Chains. We lost him five years ago this week.

I’ve always felt a connection in spirit, but could it also be one in blood?

layne staley

Layne Staley
August 22, 1967 – April 5, 2002

2 comments… add one
  • thundy April 2, 2007, 12:59 pm

    what a trip..i could see it brutha!

  • jaced.com April 2, 2007, 8:54 pm

    Whoah. I just did a quick search for Jacob Staley, my maternal great-great-great-grandfather. Records show that a Jacob Staley’s widow Barbara, from Frederick County, Virginia, claims he marched in the Revolutionary War under General Michael Swope. Obviously too old to be our guy, but the name suggests a family connection. =more info=

    I also found this Staley geneology page, which has a Jacob or two in it.

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