Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Stavely, William
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Solebury Township


   WILLIAM STAVELY was born in Shrewsbury parish, Kent 
county, Eastern Shore of Maryland.  At his death he had in 
his possession the original deed for seven hundred acres of 
land, dated 1682, and granted by "Charles, absolute lord and 
proprietor of the province of Maryland and Lord Baron of 
Baltimore," a part of which tract is still held by the 
Stavely family.  When 15 years of age Mr. Stavely went to 
Philadelphia and was apprenticed to Thomas J. Stiles, 
publisher of "The True American."  He then entered the 
employ of John H. Cunningham and in 1823 purchased Mr. 
Cunningham's business and printed on a small scale at Third 
and Dock streets, until the property was purchased by 
Stephen Girard.  He then removed to Pear street near St. 
Paul's church and began to extend his business.  August 27, 
1822, he married Margaret, daughter of George Sheed, Esq., 
of the old district of Southwark.  In October, 1823, he 
began to print "The Philadelphia Recorder" (afterwards 
called "The Episcopal Recorder," and successively "The 
Episcopal Register" and "Church"), a weekly paper published 
by a brother of the late Bishop Potter.  This brought him in 
contact with many of the most prominent clergy and laymen of 
the Episcopal church, with many of whom his business 
relations ripened into a life-long friendship.  Shortly 
afterward he published and circulated throughout the United 
States a cheap edition of the Common Prayer Book.  Just 
after the liberation of the Spanish American colonies, Mr. 
Stavely did a very large and lucrative printing trade in the 
Spanish language for the Mexican and Columbian governments.  
He afterward removed to the vicinity of Third and Dock 
again.  He took James McCalla into partnership and then the 
firm assumed the name of Stavely & McCalla.  A vast amount 
of church printing, convention journals, reports, tracts, 
etc., fell into the hands of the firm.  In 1839 he bought 
Garret Bryan's estate, consisting of three hundred acres in 
Solebury township, near Lahaska, and afterward added to it 
the adjoining Brown estate, consisting of two hundred and 
thirty-two acres, thus making himself one of the largest 
landowners in Bucks county.  He removed to the country and 
made farming his occupation, though keeping up his 
connection with the publishing house until 1854.  He was an 
ardent churchman and worked faithfully and contributed 
generously to all the parishes that he was in any way 
identified with.  He was for fifteen years vestryman and 
Sunday School superintendent at "Old Swedes" church, and 
also took great interest in the "Church of the Ascension," 
which church, through his efforts, was greatly relieved from 
financial difficulties.  After his removal to Bucks county 
he took an active part in the organization of the parishes 
at Doylestown and Centreville, the parsonage of the latter 
of which was donated by him.  He was also president of the 
Bucks county Bible Society.  His life in the country was 
simply a repetition of his city life.  His great knowledge 
and tact as a business man, coupled with his remarkable 
energy, always assured him prominent positions.  He was for 
a number of years president of the Bucks County Agricultural 
society.  At the time of his death he was president of the 
Brownsville Horse company, United Horse companies, Farmers 
and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance company of Bucks county 
and director of Lahaska and New Hope, Buckingham and 
Doylestown turnpike companies, declining the presidency of 
the latter on account of advanced years.  He was very much 
interested in all farming improvements.  In fact, he was the 
first man who used a mowing machine in this county.  In 
politics, first a whig and later on a republican, he always 
took great interest, though he never sought for a public 
position. Eight children were the fruit of his marriage, 
five of whom are still living.  On August 27, 1872, he 
celebrated his golden wedding, and the great number present, 
the expressions of regard and the congratulatory addresses 
all testified to the great esteem in which he was held.  He 
died on the 22nd of March, 1877, at the ripe age of 77 
years, and was buried in Centreville.