Earl Ralph de Stafford & Countess Margaret de Audley & Lady Katherine de Hastang
30422828. Earl Ralph de Stafford & 30422829. Countess Margaret de Audley & 5910475. Lady Katherine de Hastang
9/24/1301, Ralph de Stafford born in Stafford, England, heir & s/o 60845656. Edmund de Stafford & 60845657. Margaret Basset.
2/25/1308, Edward II crowned king of England.
8/26/1308, Ralph 9 years old when his father Edmund died.
~1305, Katherine born in England, [proposed] natural d/o §§Humphrey de Hastang, archdeacon. [Humphrey held lands in Bradley in the 1324 grant. 6/14/1327, that the marriage is by command of the king. 10/17/1343, Ralph and Humphrey jointly found a house of Austin Friars, which licence of 6/25/1344 refers to "heirs" of both. Also see (S) Hist. of Stafford, V3, 1970, The Austin Friars of Stafford.]
~1320, Margaret born in England, heiress & d/o 60845658. Hugh de Audley & 60845659. Margaret de Clare.
4/6/1323, Ralph son and heir of Edmund de Stafford made proof of age. Stafford: William de Stafford, aged 60, says that the said Ralph, born at Amynton by Tamwurthe and baptized in the church of St. Edith in Tamwurthe, was 21 years of age on 24 September last, and this he knows because he lifted him from the sacred font. … (S) CIsPM.
12/6/1323, Order to cause Ralph de Stafford, son and heir of Edmund de Stafford, … to have seisin of his father's lands, as he proved his age … . (S)CCRs.
[––Ralph & Katherine––]
1324, Ralph married 1st to Katherine. (S) Transactions – Bristol and Gloucester Arch. Soc., V72, 1954, P79.
1324, Ralph de Stafford, knight, to grant land in Bradley, with the advowson of the church there, to Humphrey de Hastang, retaining the manors of le Hide and Norton. (S) Lists & Indexes, V17, 1904, P331.
1325, Margaret heir to her half-sister Joan Gaveston, d/o Piers, Earl of Cornwall; and became sole heir to her mother and here extensive lands in England, Wales and Ireland.
4/16/1326, Order to supersede … king's writ … to place in exigent … Ralph de Stafford and Richard his brother, John son of Thomas de Stafford, … who were indicted for unlawful assemblies, alliances, and confederations, … (S) CCRs.
1/20/1327, Ralph created a knight-banneret.
2/1/1327 at Westminster, Edward III, age 14, crowned king of England.
2/9/1327, Licence for Ralph de Stafford to enfeoff Humphrey de Hastang of the manors of La Hide, co. Stafford, and Calilond, co. Cornwall, held in chief, and for the said Humphrey to grant the same to the aforesaid Ralph and Katherine, his wife, in tail, with remainder, if they die without issue, to the right heirs of the said Ralph. (S) CPRs.
3/17/1337, Ralph's mother died.
3/18/1337, Writ for IPM of Margaret late the wife of Edmund de Stafford. Warwick: Tisho. The manor held for her life of the king in chief, as a member of the barony of Stafford, … Ralph de Stafford, knight, is son and next heir of the said Edmund, and did homage and fealty to the king for the whole barony during the lifetime of the said Margaret. (S) CIsPM.
6/14/1327, Ralph de Stafford' and Katherine, his wife, querents, …, and Humphrey de Hastang, deforciant. The manor of Calilond' in the county of Cornwall and the manor of la Hide in the county of Stafford. Humphrey has granted to Ralph and Katherine the manors and has rendered them to them in the court, to hold to Ralph and Katherine and the heirs of their bodies, of the lord king and his heirs for ever. In default of such heirs, remainder to the right heirs of Ralph. This agreement was made by the command of the lord king. (S) Feet of Fines, CP 25/1/286/35, number 4. [Katherine represented by king's appointee.]
10/18/1329, Thomas Hasting', Ralph de Stafford, an John Murdak, knights, … owe to Scolastica de Melsa 300 marks … (S) CCRs.
10/19/1330 in Nottingham castle, Ralph, 1 of 9 helping young King Edward III and fellow knights, took Roger de Mortimore and his mother Queen Isbella [widow of Edward II] prisoner.
3/1331, Assizes taken at Lychfeld. Henry de Kerswall of co. Stafford appeared in Court and complained, that whereas he had come into Court to execute a certain fine, one Ralph de Stafford Chivaler, Humfrey Hastang, … with malice aforethought, had insulted, beaten and ill-treated him in the Court in the presence of the Justices. (S) Staffordshire Historical Collections, V11, 1890, Plea Rolls.
1331, Ralph de Stafford, knight, acknowledges that he owes to Richard de Stafford, his brother, 80 marks … (S) CCRs.
4/23/1332, Protection with clause … for Hugh de Audele going behound the seas on the king's service. … Ralph de Stafford going with him. [14 others also named after Ralph.] (S) CPRs.
9/25/1334, Licence for Ralph de Stafford to enfeoff William de Shareshull and Dionisia his wife, in fee tail, of a knight's fee and a half in Sharshull and Coven, co. Stafford, … (S) CPRs.
3/27/1335, Ralph de Stafford, Philip de Chetewynde, and Philip de Somerville appointed to array 60 hobelars and 200 archers in co. Stafford. (S) Collections for a History of Staffordshire, V8, P53.
Bef. 2/28/1336, Hugh's daughter Margaret was abducted in co. Essex by, and married to, Ralph de Stafford. They filed a complaint, but King Edward III supported Ralph. (S) CPRs.
10/20/1336, Letters of attorney for John de Stafford, knight, going to Scotland with Ralph de Stafford, …. (S) Cal. of Doc's Relating to Scotland.
1/10/1337, Ralph appointed Steward of the Royal Household.
1/14/1337, "Radulpho Baroni de Stafford", 2nd Baron Stafford, summoned to Parliament.
1/8/1339, Hugh de Audele, earl of Gloucester and Ralph de Stafford, knight, acknowledge they owe … 320 marks … (S) CCRs.
1339–1340, Ralph fought at sites in Flanders. King Edward, unable to provoke a battle with Philip VI of France by his various invasions of France, decided to attack Flanders, which was economically tied to England through the wool market.
9/20/1339, King Edward III, attacked Cambresis [Hainaut], Tournai, Vermandois and Laon [far northern France.] There were about 1,400 men-at-arms, and nearly 3,000 archers together with their horses.
11/1339, King Edward and the forces of King Philip neared each other at Brabant; however, King Philip retreated without engaging in battle.
2/1340, Having wintered in Hainault, King Edward was forced to return to England.
6/24/1340, Ralph fought at the sea battle of Sluys in France.
6/24/1340, Battle of Sluys, France. A sea battle – one of the opening conflicts of the Hundred Years' War. During the battle the French navy was devasted, giving the English fleet mastery over the channel. In a 9-hour battle the English attacked 166 French ships at their moorings.
5/13/1341, Ralph, steward of the king's household, granted a market and fair at Madeley, Staffordshire. (S) Gaz. of Markets and Fairs.
[––Ralph & Margaret––]
By 1340, Ralph married Margaret.
10/1341, Ralph was captured during the Siege of Nantes in Brittany. English supporting a French noble John de Montfort. The siege lasted less than a week, the town surrendering.
4/9/1342, Margaret's mother died.
4/15/1342, IPM of Margaret, late the wife of Hugh de Audele, earl of Gloucester. … Essex: Neweport. The manor and town … Margaret the wife of Ralph de Stafford, daughter of the said Margaret, … aged 18 years and more, is her next heir in blood. (S) CIsPM.
12/5/1342, The Earl of Arundel lead the English siege (4th of the year, others were by opposing French forces) of Vannes in Brittany. The siege ended with a truce on 1/19/1343. [9/1343, the English retook the town through internal support by the citizens.] Ralph took part in the seige of Vannes where he was taken prisoner. He was exchanged for Olivier de Clisson.
7/6/1343, Commission of oyer and terminer to William Scot, Ralph de Stafford, Robert de Burghcher, … (S) CPRs.
10/17/1343, By jury inquiry permission granted to Ralph, earl of Stafford, and Margaret his wife, and Humphrey de Hastang, Archdeacon of Lichfield, for their souls when they departed from this life, … souls of the faithful departed … to found a house of Austin Friars at Forbrigge, near Stafford. (S) The Reliquary, V20, 1880, P24.
3/1/1344, Hugh de Audele earl of Gloucester and Ralph baron of Stafford acknowledge that they owe to Adam de Veryngham of Rockele £500. (S) CCRs.
6/22/1344, Ralph, baron Stafford, with earls and the king in the new chamber at Westminster, before the ninth hour, when the king sealed certain letters. (S) CPRs.
6/25/1344, Licence for Ralph, baron of Stafford, steward of the household, to found a house of Austin Friars for the good estate of him, Margaret his wife, and their children, and Humphrey de Hastang, archdeacon of Coventre, for the souls of their ancestors and heirs, … (S) CPRs.
9/1344, Ralph participated in the tournament at Hereford.
2/23/1345, Ralph became Seneschal of Aquitaine, in France.
7/12/1346, King Edward landed an invasion force of 10000 in Normandy, which marched north plundering the countryside. King Philip VI, with 8000 horsemen and 4000 Genoese crossbowmen pursued.
8/26/1346, Ralph fought as a knight banneret in the King's Division at the Battle of Crecy (S) Crecy & Calais, 1898, P35.
8/26/1346, The Battle of Crecy, north of Paris. Edward III vs. Philip VI, heralded the rise of the longbow as the dominant weapon, and also saw the use of the ribauldequin, an early cannon, by the English. The English longbowmen could fire much more quickly than the Genoese, with a killing range of 250 yards. A decisive victory, a third of the French forces lost [mainly to arrows] to less than 100 Englishmen, this started the decline in importance of the mounted knight, and the rise of England as a European power.
2/1347, Ralph and the Earl of Oxford destroyed a French fleet bringing food to Calais.
3/11/1347 at London, John Lestraunge (30422828) of Whitchirch arranged marriage of his son Fulk with Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Ralph, Baron of Stafford … and John shall enfeoff Fouk and Elizabeth with 200 marks of land … lands with the fees and advowsons which John holds whether jointly with Enkarette his wife or alone … Ralph for the said marriage shall give John £1,000 … Ralph grants that if Elizabeth live to the age of 13 years … Witnesses: Sir William de Clynton, earl of Huntingdon, Sir William de Shareshull, Sir Richard de Stafford, Sir Thomas de Ferers … (S) CCRs.
9/4/1346, The English began the year-long siege of the port of Calais.
1347, Ralph at the siege of Calais, with 205 men in his contingent. (S) English Historical Doc's 1327-1485, Myers, 1996, P497. [Calais fell 8/4/1347.]
11/10/1347, Margaret's father died.
11/16/1347, Whereas the king of special grace has lately surrendered to Ralph de Stafford and Margaret his wife, daughter and heir of Hugh Daudele, earl of Gloucester, who is of full age, the lands of Hugh … (S) CPRs.
1348, The Black Death entered the west countryside of England [likely entering through Bristol].
4/23/1348, Ralph a founding Knight of the Order of the Garter. (S) Plantagenet Ancestry, Faris, 1999.
9/7/1349, Margaret died.
8/1350, Ralph was present at the naval battle of Winchelsea.
8/1350, English navy in battle with the Spanish near Winchelsea. Using grappling hooks and bording tactics, the English destroyed most of the Spanish vessels. King Edward's ship was sunk.
3/1/1351, By letters patent, the king lately granted licence for Ralph, baron of Stafford, and Margaret his wife, to enfeoff … before this latter feoffment could be made Margaret depated this life … for them to grant to Ralph the manor of Thornebury, co. Gloucester … with remainder to Hugh, his son, and Philippa daughter of Thomas de Bello Campo, earl of Warwick, … (S) CPRs.
3/5/1351, Ralph named the 1st Earl of Stafford by King Edward III.
7/21/1352, Ralph, earl of Stafford arrived at Bordeaux, France, and organized an army, short of archers, that marched up the Garoone valley. (S) The Hundred Years War, V2, Sumption, 2001, P96. [The army of 3800 had 144 bannerets and knights, 117 men-at-arms, 1328 mounted infantry, 30 archers, and 1096 foot soldiers.]
8/15/1352, Ralph and his army arrived outside Agen, which was held by Amaury de Craon. A few days later a French contingent from the town was engaged and defeated, with multiple French knights captured.
9/1352, Ralph returned his forces to Bordeaux. Soon after he took forces and marched north to engage French forces besieging the fortress of Taillebourg.
1353 at Chester, Ralph assigned to protect the Prince of Wales.
11/3/1354, Enrolment of release by George Selymon for his life to Sir Ralph, earl of Stafford, … lands in the town of Attewarde, co. Wilts, … (S) CCRs.
3/6/1355, The Pope sent letters to King Edward, Prince Edward, Henry duke of Lancaster, Richard earl of Arundel … [Ralph] the earl of Stafford … requesting the liberation of Charles, duke of Brittany. (S) Cal. of Papal Entries, V3, P617.
4/18/1355, Order to pay Ralph earl of Stafford 250 marks for Easter term, last, as the king granted to Ralph to stay with him for the term of his life with 100 men at arms both in war and in peace, 1,000 marks to be received yearly for his life of the customs in that port [Boston] and the port of London. (S) CCRs.
9/9/1355, King Edward and Henry, duke of Lancaster, sail for Normandy from Plymouth, with the Black Prince who had been appointed lieutenant in Gascony; to oppose raids by the count of Armagnac.
10/1/1355, Ralph, landing in Calais with King Edward, proceeded on raids into Pas de Calais, Artois and Picady.
2/1356, Ralph with King Edward started a campaign in southern Scotland.
5/17/1357, Licence for Brian de Cornubia, 'chivaler,' … remainder to Ralph, earl of Stafford, Hugh, his son, and their heirs. (S) CPRs.
1357, Margaret died.
[––Ralph––]
5/22/1357, Commitment to Ralph, earl of Stafford, of the wardship of the manor of Styuecle, co. Buckingham, late of Gilbert de Clare, late earl of Gloucester, which is in the king's hand because of the minority of Hugh, son and heir of the said Ralph and Margaret, late his wife, countess of Gloucester, deceased, kinswoman and one of the heirs of the said earl of Gloucester, to hold until the lawful age of the said heir. (S) CFRs. [Margaret, d/o Ralph, s/o Margaret de Clare (60845659), sister of Gilbert de Clare.]
1359, Ralph served in Gascony. [Ralph had left England with 414 horses in his service, and returned with 486.] (S) The Organization of War Under Edward III, Hewitt, 1966, P88.
1/14/1361, Radulpho Baroni de Stafford summoned to Parliament.
1361, Ralph accompanied Lionel on his excursion into Ireland.
11/25/1361, Ralph, earl of Stafford, staying in England, has letters nominating John ap Howell as his attorney in Ireland for 1 year. Hugh de Stafford has like letters. (S) CPRs.
7/13/1363, In consideration of the discords and debates which have arisen between the lordships of Ralph, earl of Staffor, of Neuport and Walter de Mauny of Strogoil and Chepstowe in Wales, … the king … to make a final agreement thereon in the next Parliament … (S) CPRs.
7/29/1366, Ralph, earl of Stafford, staying in England … attorney in Ireland … (S) CPRs.
5/1/1370, Licence, for 10 marks … Ralph, earl of Stafford, for the alienation in mortmain … to celebrate devine service daily … for the safe estate of the earl, and for the souls of his relations and friends … (S) CPRs.
8/31/1372, Ralph, 2nd Lord Stafford, Earl of Stafford, died; buried at Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England, with Margaret, at the feet of her parents.
(S) Plantagenet Ancestry, 2004. (S) DNB, 1891. (S) Magna Carta Ancestry, P764.
Family notes:
· Katherine de Hastangs' ancestry is questionable. Mostly given as d/o Sir John de Hastang, Knt., of Chebsey, Staffordshire & Eve ?; there is minimal evidence to support this; while there is some minimal evidence to support her being d/o Humphrey de Hastangs.
Children of Ralph and Katherine:
i. Margaret de Stafford (2955237), born 1328 in England.
ii. Joan de Stafford, born ~1330 in England.
Joan married Sir Nicholas de Beke, Knt.
Children of Ralph and Margaret:
i. Hugh de Stafford (15211414), born bef. 1342 in England.
iv. Katherine de Stafford, born 1348
Katherine married Sir John de Sutton, Knt., Baron of Dudley, Staffs.
1361, Katherine died.
v. Elizabeth de Stafford, born 1342 in England.
1347, Elizabeth married to Fulk le Strange, s/o 2955026. John le Strange & 2955027. Ankaret le Boteler.
[No children by Fulk.]
vi. Beatrice de Stafford (1477621), born ~1345 in England.
vii. Joan de Stafford, born ? in England.
Joan married John de Cherleton, s/o 7606062. Baron John de Cherleton & 7606063. Maud de Mortimer.
1397, Joan died.