Stanford Rivers by H. M. Scott – The Stafford Family

The Stafford Family

Barons and Earls of Stafford, Earls of Wiltshire and Dukes of Buckingham

The Stafford Family and Stanford Rivers

The connection of this famous family with Stanford Rivers began when Lady Pauline de Gras disposed of the estate to Ralph, Baron Stafford – later 1st Earl of Stafford.

Ralph Stafford held the paramount Manor as well as one carucate of land called Traceys, by Knights' Service. When he died in 1373, records show that Stanford Hall was one of his properties.

His son, Sir Hugh Stafford, inherited the estate, part of which he demised to John Tyrell and others, but on his death in 1421 his widow, Lady Elizabeth, appears to have inherited all the land.

She later remarried and it seems that she and her second husband – Sir Nicholas Robessart (later Lord Bourchier) – jointly held the titles of the Manors.

On Lady Elizabeth's death in 1433, parts of the estate were subdivided into Manors of the under-tenants, namely Traceys, Bottollers, Piggesland and Brigges. The last three Manors have long since been absorbed into the main manor.

The paramount Manor then passed to Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, and on his death in 1460 to his third son, John Stafford, who was created Earl of Wiltshire in 1470 and who died in 1473.

After the death of his widow, Constance, in 1475, it passed to their son, Edward, 2nd Earl of Wiltshire, who died without issue in 1499.

The estates then passed to Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. The Duke was attainted and beheaded by Henry VIII on 13th May 1521.

Notes on the Stafford Family

The Barony and Earldom of Stafford

The Barony (1st Creation) commenced in 1298 and ended with the execution of Edward Stafford (3rd Duke of Buckingham) in 1521.

The Earldom was created in 1351.

Edmund Stafford, 5th Earl of Stafford

Edmund Stafford, the fifth Earl, married Ann, daughter and heiress of Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest son of Edward III.

Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1402–1460)

Their son, Humphrey (1402–1460), was created Earl of Buckingham in 1438 and Duke in 1444.

He was granted preference over all the other Dukes not of Royal blood.

He was killed at the Battle of Northampton in 1460 and buried with his wife at Pleshey.

The Second Creation of the Barony

The second creation of the Barony dates from 1547. The present (14th Baron, at the time of the original account) has his seat in Staffordshire.