Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford

Sir Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford (24 September 1301 – 31 August 1372) was an English nobleman and notable soldier during the Hundred Years War against France.

He was the son of Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford, by his spouse Margaret Bassett.

Stafford was appointed Steward of the Royal Household in 1327. He became a founding Knight of the Garter on August 26, 1348, and was summoned to Parliament by Writ as the 2nd Baron Stafford from 1337 to 1350. In 1345 he became Seneschal of Aquitaine, an English possession in France and he participated in the English victory at the Battle of Crecy, on August 26, 1346.

He was created the 1st Earl of Stafford, March 5, 1350. He subsequently served as a military leader under King Edward III, fighting in campaigns in Scotland, then in Brittany, France, where he was captured during the Siege of Nantes.

Lord Stafford married firstly, before 1326, Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Hastang, Knt., of Chebsey, Staffordshire, and they had two daughters:

*Margaret, married Sir John of Bramshall (or Wickham) de Stafford, Knt.
*Joan, married Sir Nicholas de Beke, Knt.

He later sensationally abducted Margaret de Audley (1318-1347), daughter of Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester and Margaret de Clare. They filed a complaint to the King, but King Edward III of England supported Stafford. He appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh Earl of Gloucester. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before July 6, 1336 and they subsequently had three sons and four daughters, of whom:
*Hugh, born circa 1336 in Staffordshire, England
*Katherine, (1348 - 1361), married Sir John de Sutton, Knt., Baron of Dudley, Staffs.
*Elizabeth, (d. 1375), married, secondly, John de Ferrers, 4th Lord Ferrers of Chartley.
*Beatrice, (d. 1415), married, secondly, Thomas de Ros, 4th Lord Ros of Helmsley.
*Joan, (d. 1397), married, firstly, John de Cherleton, 3rd Lord Cherleton.

He died August 31, 1372 at Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England, where he was buried.

Sources

* [http://thepeerage.com/p1414.htm The Peerage, p1414]
* [http://www.geocities.com/missourimule_2000/audley.html Audley genealogy]