Biography of William Stafford 1508-1556

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

Around 1508 William Stafford was born to Humphrey Stafford (age 47) and Margaret Fogge (age 38).

Before 1532 [his mother] Margaret Fogge (age 61) died.

In 1534 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).

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

On 26 Apr 1540 Francis Knollys (age 28) and [his step-daughter] Catherine Carey (age 16) were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1541 William Stafford (age 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 19 Jul 1543 [his wife] Mary Boleyn (age 44) died. Her considerable wealth and properties were inherited by her two children from her first marriage [his step-daughter] Catherine Carey (age 19) and [his step-son] Henry Carey 1st Baron Hunsdon (age 17), and her second husband William Stafford (age 35).

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

In Mar 1544 William Stafford (age 36) with his [his future wife] wife (age 17), children ([his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford, [his son] Edward Stafford, [his daughter] Ursula Stafford, [his son] William Stafford, [his son] John Stafford and [his 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.

On 22 Sep 1545 [his father] Humphrey Stafford (age 84) died.

In 1546 [his daughter] Elizabeth Stafford was born to William Stafford (age 38) and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford (age 19).

In 1547 William Stafford (age 39) was elected MP Hastings.

In 1550 William Stafford (age 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 (age 23).

In 1551 William Stafford (age 43) accompanied the Edward Clinton 1st Earl Lincoln (age 39) to Paris for the christening of one of the future King Henry III of France (age 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 (age 44) and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford (age 25).

In Nov 1552 William Stafford (age 44) was briefly committed to the Fleet Prison [Map] for having brawled with Adrian Poynings (age 40).

In 1553 [his daughter] Ursula Stafford was born to William Stafford (age 45) and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford (age 26).

On 01 Mar 1554 [his son] William Stafford was born to William Stafford (age 46) and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford (age 27).

On or before 04 Jan 1556 [his son] John Stafford was born to William Stafford (age 48) and [his wife] Dorothy Stafford (age 29). He was baptised on 04 Jan 1556; the first to be baptised as part of the English Congregation established in Geneva. John Calvin was his godfather,

On 05 May 1556 William Stafford (age 48) died at Geneva. Calvin claimed the custody of his son [his son] John and forbade his [his wife] 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.

On 22 Sep 1604 [his former wife] 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 William Stafford, Knight, Daughter to [his former father-in-law] Henry, Lord Stafford, the only son of Edward, the last Duke of Buckingham: Her mother was [his former mother-in-law] Ursula, 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 [his 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.

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