William Stafford 1508-1556

In or before 1500 [his father] Humphrey Stafford [aged 38] and [his mother] Margaret Fogge [aged 29] were married at Blatherwycke, Northamptonshire.

Around 1508 William Stafford was born to Humphrey Stafford [aged 47] and Margaret Fogge [aged 38].

Before 1532 [his mother] Margaret Fogge [aged 61] died.

In 1534 William Stafford [aged 26] and Mary Boleyn [aged 35] were married in secret. The marriage was discovered when she, Mary, attended Court, when pregnant, angering both the King [aged 42] and her sister the Queen [aged 33]. They was banished from Court. She the daughter of Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde [aged 57] and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde [aged 54].

After 1534 William Stafford [aged 26] and [his wife] Mary Boleyn [aged 35] lived at Rochford Hall.

On 26th April 1540 Francis Knollys [aged 28] and [his step-daughter] Catherine Carey [aged 16] were married.

In 1541 William Stafford [aged 33] was committed to the Fleet Prison [Map] together with Sir John Clere and others for eating meat on Good Friday. After his release and a rebuke from the Privy Council he served on the campaign of that year in the Netherlands.

On 19th July 1543 [his wife] Mary Boleyn [aged 44] died. Her considerable wealth and properties were inherited by her two children from her first marriage [his step-daughter] Catherine Carey [aged 19] and [his step-son] Henry Carey 1st Baron Hunsdon [aged 17], and her second husband William Stafford [aged 35].

In 1544 William Stafford [aged 36] fought in France and in 1545 in Scotland, where he was knighted by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford [aged 4].

In March 1544 William Stafford [aged 36] with his wife [aged 17], children (Elizabeth Stafford, Edward Stafford, Ursula Stafford, William Stafford, John Stafford and Dorothy Stafford ), sister, cousin and servants settled in Geneva to avoid religious persecution.

In 1545 William Stafford [aged 37] and Dorothy Stafford [aged 18] were married. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 22nd September 1545 [his father] Humphrey Stafford [aged 84] died.

In 1546 [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford was born to William Stafford [aged 38] and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 19]. She married before 1575 William Drury and had issue.

In 1547 William Stafford [aged 39] was elected MP Hastings.

In 1550 William Stafford [aged 42] was granted him an annuity of £100 for his services to Henry VIII and entrusted with the custody of three noble French hostages from Dover to London by the John Dudley 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 23].

In 1551 William Stafford [aged 43] accompanied the Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln [aged 39] to Paris for the christening of one of the future King Henry III of France [aged 31]. On his return he took part in the New Year's tournament at court.

In 1552 [his son] Edward Stafford was born to William Stafford [aged 44] and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 25]. He married (1) 1573 Roberta Chapman (2) 29th November 1597 his fourth cousin Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield, daughter of William Howard 1st Baron Howard and Margaret Gamage Baroness Howard.

In November 1552 William Stafford [aged 44] was briefly committed to the Fleet Prison [Map] for having brawled with Adrian Poynings [aged 40].

In 1553 [his daughter] Ursula Stafford was born to William Stafford [aged 45] and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 26]. She married before 11th July 1603 Richard Drake.

On 1st March 1554 [his son] William Stafford was born to William Stafford [aged 46] and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 27]. He married 1593 Anne Gryme and had issue.

On or before 4th January 1556 [his son] John Stafford was born to William Stafford [aged 48] and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 29]. He was baptised on 4th January 1556; the first to be baptised as part of the English Congregation established in Geneva. John Calvin was his godfather, He married 29th January 1580 Millicent Gresham.

On 5th May 1556 William Stafford [aged 48] died at Geneva. Calvin claimed the custody of his son John Stafford and forbade his widow [aged 29] to leave with him. She appealed to Stafford's younger brother and the threat to invoke French aid persuaded Calvin to yield. She then moved to Basle, remaining there until January 1559.

On 22nd September 1604 [his former wife] Dorothy Stafford [aged 77] died. She was buried at St Margaret's Church, Westminster [Map]. Her effigy and monument are in the north aisle of the church. The inscription reads... Here Lyeth the Lady Dorothy Stafford, Wife and Widow to Sir William Stafford, Knight, Daughter to [his former father-in-law] Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford, the only son of Edward, the last Duke of Buckingham: Her mother was [his former mother-in-law] Ursula Pole, Daughter to the Countesse of Salisbury, the only Daughter to George, Duke of Clarence, Brother to King Edward the Fourth. Shee continued a true Widow from the Age of 27 till her Death. She served Queen Elizabeth 40 Yeeres, lying in the Bedchamber, esteemed of her, loved of all, doing good, all she could, to every Body, never hurt any; a continual Remembrancer of the Suits of the Poor. As she Lived a religious Life, in great Reputation of Honour and Vertue in the World, so she ended in continual fervent Meditation, and hearty Prayer to God. At which Instant, as all her Life, so after her Death, she gave liberally to the Poore, and died aged 78, the 22 of September 1604. In whose Remembrance, Sir Edward Stafford [aged 52], her sonne, hath caused this Memorial of her to be in the same Forme and Place as she herselfe long since required him.

[his daughter] Dorothy Stafford was born to William Stafford and Dorothy Stafford.