Humphrey Stafford

Notes:

Sheriff of Staffordshire 1403-04; Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset 1415-16. Knight of the shire for Staffordshire in 1406 and knight of the shire for Dorset ten times between Apr 1414 and 1432.

He was Knight of the Body to Henry V at his coronation in 1413. In his later years he was styled Sir Humphrey "of the silver hand," because of his use of an artificial limb after the loss of one of his own.

Humphrey married Elizabeth Maltravers before Oct 1397. Elizabeth (daughter of John Mautravers and Elizabeth d'Aumarle) was born about 1378; died before Jan 1420; was buried in Abbotsbury Abbey, Dorset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alice Stafford died before 24 Apr 1448.

Notes:

Knight of the shire for Warwickshire Oct 1383; Wiltshire Nov 1384; Dorset Sep 1388, Jan 1390, 1391, 1393; Somerset 1394; and Dorset 1395, Jan 1397, 1399, 1401, Jan 1404, 1406, 1407, and 1410.

Sheriff of Staffordshire 1 Nov 1383 to 11 Nov 1384, 1 Dec 1388 to 15 Nov 1389, Somerset and Dorset 18 Nov 1386-7, 21 Oct 1391 to 18 Oct 1392, 22 Nov to 19 Dec.1405, and 29 Nov 1410 to 10 Dec 1411.

Called one of the wealthiest commoners in England of his time.

"In 1388, Humphrey Stafford was caught up in the crisis of the Lords Appellant, being required by them to take oaths of loyalty to the regime in Dorset. It was at this time – in a possibly related incident – that members of the Cornish gentry conspired to assassinate him, eventually managing to shoot him 'with a certain engine called a "gunne" so that his life was despaired of.' However, since at the same time he loaned King Richard II 100 marks, and later received a royal appointment to assess the Appellants' forfeited lands there, the king clearly did not see Stafford as a major player in the rebellion locally. Following Richard II's deposition by Henry Bollingbroke in 1399, Stafford does not seem to have lost royal favour by his previous support for the old king; indeed, within a few weeks of Henry's coronation he was referred to as a 'King's Knight' and was granted the royal manor of Seavington, Somerset. By now Stafford was, in E.F. Jacob's words, 'a shire knight of standing and influence,' and of all the gentry in the county, Humphrey was 'at their head for wealth.' His estates were valued in the 1412 tax assessment at around £570 per annum." [Wikipedia, accessed 25 Sep 2020]

Humphrey married Alice Grenville before 1365. Alice (daughter of John de Grenville) was born about 1344; died before 1386. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1345

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Abt 1370
• Alternate death: Bef 1372

Notes:

Knight of the shire for Staffordshire, 1339-40. Knight of the Order of the Hospital. Fought in the king's division at Crécy.

John married Margaret de Stafford before 1337. Margaret (daughter of Ralph de Stafford and Katherine de Hastang) died after 22 Aug 1373. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Aft 1375

William married Isabel de Stafford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Earl of Stafford. Steward of the Royal Household, 6 Jan 1341 to 29 Mar 1345, when he assumed the position of Seneschal of Aquitaine. King's lieutenant in Gascony, 1350 and onward. One of the 26 founding members, and the fifth knight, of the Order of the Garter. As a young man he supported the plot to free the young Edward III from his mother's lover, Roger Mortimer; he was subsequently a close member of Edward III's retinue for the rest of his life. He was also a notably competent soldier and diplomat in the Hundred Year's War.

Fought at Crécy.

Summoned to Parliament by writ 29 Nov 1336 to 25 Nov 1350.

"He [...] sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley, 2nd Baroness Audley, daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester and Margaret de Clare, who was worth at least £2314 a year, more than ten times his own estates. Her parents filed a complaint with King Edward III of England, but the King supported Stafford's actions. In compensation, the King appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh the 1st Earl of Gloucester. [Wikipedia]

Ralph married Katherine de Hastang before 9 Feb 1327. Katherine (daughter of John de Hastang and Eve) died before 6 Jul 1336. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]