After 1423. St Peter's Church, Elford [Map]. Monument to John Stanley. Early Plate Bascinet Period. Maiden's Face Buckle. Eagle and Baby Crest; the legend associated with Sir John's descent from his ancestor, Sir Thomas Latham, whose wanted his barren wife to adopt his illegitimate son so he placed the baby in a nearby eagle's nest. His wife was delighted with this 'miracle' and took the child as her own.

Historic England states ... "Knight of circa 1370, alabaster, with bogus Gothic inscription by Richardson to Sir John Stanley, died 1474".

Mark Downing, President of the Church Monuments Society states on FB ... My research concludes c.1410. On a modern alabaster tomb-chest in the north-east corner of the south aisle. Stebbing Shaw quotes the inscription and expenses by [his son] Humphrey Stanley who probably acquired the effigy from a dissolved monastic house, with the inscription added c.1540 by possibly a Burton-on-Trent workshop. Restored and re-cut by Richardson in 1848/49. He states that he renewed the eagle crest, parts of the basinet, aventail, left arm, gauntlets, grip of the dagger, rowel spurs, spur straps, first part of the inscription and tomb-chest. Inscription on the right side of the slab: Orate pro aia d'ni Joh'is Stanley milit quondam d'ni de pype clyfton caumpuyle elforde et stotfolde et hui' Cantarie et capelle fundator' Anno d'ni Mil'simo CCCCMO Septuagesimo quarto. It is worth commenting that the rapier sword was not introduced until the sixteenth century and that this sword was cut into the slab when the inscription was added.

Humphrey Stanley: Around 1450 he was born to John Stanley and Elizabeth Vernon at Pipe, Staffordshire. On 19 Mar 1505 Humphrey Stanley died.

In 1450 John Stanley (age 27) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1459 John Stanley (age 36) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1465 John Stanley (age 42) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.

In 1469 John Stanley (age 46) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.