Biography of Dorothy Stafford 1526-1604

On 16th February 1519 [her father] Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 17) and [her mother] Ursula Pole (age 15) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Richard Pole and [her grandmother] Margaret York aka Pole Countess of Salisbury (age 45). He the son of [her grandfather] Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 41) and [her grandmother] Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 1st October 1526 Dorothy Stafford was born to [her father] Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 25) and [her mother] Ursula Pole (age 22).

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

On 19th July 1543 Mary Boleyn (age 44) died. Her considerable wealth and properties were inherited by her two children from her first marriage Catherine Carey (age 19) and Henry Carey 1st Baron Hunsdon (age 17), and her second husband [her future husband] William Stafford (age 35).

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

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

In 1546 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford (age 38) and Dorothy Stafford (age 19). She married before 1575 William Drury and had issue.

In 1547 [her father] Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 45) was created 1st Baron Stafford.

In 1552 [her son] Edward Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford (age 44) and Dorothy Stafford (age 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 1553 [her daughter] Ursula Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford (age 45) and Dorothy Stafford (age 26). She married before 11th July 1603 Richard Drake.

On 1st March 1554 [her son] William Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford (age 46) and Dorothy Stafford (age 27). He married 1593 Anne Gryme and had issue.

On or before 4th January 1556 [her son] John Stafford was born to [her husband] William Stafford (age 48) and Dorothy Stafford (age 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 [her husband] William Stafford (age 48) died at Geneva. Calvin claimed the custody of his son [her son] John and forbade his widow (age 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.

In January 1559 Dorothy Stafford (age 32) returned to England with her young children.

In 1563 Queen Elizabeth (age 29)appointed Dorothy Stafford (age 36) Mistress of the Robes.

On 30th April 1563 [her father] Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford (age 61) died at Caus Castle [Map]. His son [her brother] Henry succeeded 2nd Baron Stafford. On 6th May 1563 Henry Stafford 1st Baron Stafford was buried at Church of All Saints Worthen, Shropshire.

In or before 1565 [her brother] Henry Stafford 2nd Baron Stafford and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Davy Baroness Stafford were married. She by marriage Baroness Stafford.

In 1565 [her brother] Henry Stafford 2nd Baron Stafford died. His brother [her brother] Edward (age 29) succeeded 3rd Baron Stafford.

On 12th August 1570 [her mother] Ursula Pole (age 66) died.

In or before 1572 [her brother] Edward Stafford 3rd Baron Stafford (age 36) and [her sister-in-law] Mary Stanley Baroness Stafford were married. She by marriage Baroness Stafford. She the daughter of Edward Stanley 3rd Earl of Derby (age 62) and Dorothy Howard Countess Derby (age 60). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Around 1573 [her son] Edward Stafford (age 21) and [her daughter-in-law] Roberta Chapman were married.

Before 1575 [her son-in-law] William Drury (age 24) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Stafford (age 28) were married.

In 1578 [her son] Edward Stafford (age 26) was appointed English Ambassador to France, possibly through the influence of his mother Dorothy Stafford (age 51).

On 29th January 1580 [her son] John Stafford (age 24) and [her daughter-in-law] Millicent Gresham (age 11) were married.

In 1593 [her son] William Stafford (age 38) and [her daughter-in-law] Anne Gryme were married.

On 29th November 1597 [her son] Edward Stafford (age 45) and [her daughter-in-law] Douglas Howard Baroness Sheffield (age 55) were married. They were fourth cousins.

On 6th February 1599 [her daughter] Elizabeth Stafford (age 53) died.

Before 11th July 1603 [her son-in-law] Richard Drake (age 68) and [her daughter] Ursula Stafford (age 50) were married.

On 18th October 1603 [her brother] Edward Stafford 3rd Baron Stafford (age 68) died. His son [her nephew] Edward (age 31) succeeded 4th Baron Stafford.

On 22nd September 1604 Dorothy Stafford (age 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 [her former husband] William Stafford, Knight, Daughter to [her father] Henry, Lord Stafford, the only son of [her grandfather] Edward, the last Duke of Buckingham: Her mother was [her mother] Ursula, Daughter to the [her grandmother] 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 [her son] Edward Stafford (age 52), her sonne, hath caused this Memorial of her to be in the same Forme and Place as she herselfe long since required him.

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