Hi, cousins! I'm Stacey Vanstone. I have been researching my family tree, and I can't find anything on my ancestor, Samuel Vanstone before he emigrated to Providence, Rhode Island, USA. I know that he was born on or around 1 March, 1813. On 4 May, 1853, he married Margaret Heaven, and they arrived in Providence on 12 December, 1853 on the British Barque Cosmo. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

In addition, my grandfather once told me a story about how someone in the family (I know know if it was a Vanstone or another branch) was involved in the Protestant Reformation under Knox and had a hand in the murder of a bishop who was a friend of Mary of Guise. Much later in life, I had the opportunity to travel to Edinburgh, but my visa was denied for some reason. Does anyone know anything about this?

Just for interest of others, the marriage took place in Bristol!

4th May 1853, St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol.
Samuel Vanstone to Margaret Heaven.

Samuel's father: Thomas Vanstone.
Margaret's father: Samuel Heaven

Looks like Samuel was actually born in 1831?
NY Passenger List, dated 1853, has his age as 22.
Various US Censuses confirm his birth 1831/2.

That makes Samuel the son of Thomas Vanstone and Elizabeth (nee Body), and born at Instow, Devon.

Go to the VanstoneWeb home page, and select Family Trees.
Tree 8 (William Vanstone & Margaret Clarke) is what you want.

Your Samuel is the 4th child of #17 Thomas Vanstone and Elizabeth Body.


Tree 4 (Steven Vanstone & Mary Piper) will be your starting point, then Tree 8.