Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford


Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford was the second surviving son of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Ursula Pole. He was the younger brother of Henry Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford. He served in Parliament for Stafford and succeeded his brother to the barony in 1566.

Family life

Edward Stafford was the second surviving son of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Ursula Pole. He became the 3rd Baron Stafford on his elder brother Henry's death in 1566.
He was descended from the Plantagenets through both his parents:
He married Mary Stanley, daughter of Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby on 23 November 1566. They had three children:
  1. Edward Stafford, 4th Baron Stafford, ; married Isabel Forster, a chambermaid
  2. Ursula Stafford; married to Walter Erdeswick
  3. Dorothy Stafford, ; married to ____ Gervais of Chadsden
He was succeeded by his son Edward.

Public life

Stafford was elected MP for Banbury in 1554. Following his brother Thomas's rebellion, Edward was questioned by the Privy Council on 3 May 1557, but no connection was found. Edward followed his uncle Henry Stafford as Member of Parliament for Stafford in 1558 and 1559 and after his ennoblement was summoned to the House of Lords
From about 1574, Stafford was patron of a "Lord Stafford's Company of Players", who were first recorded appearing in Barnstaple, appearing often in public records for the next twenty-six years. In 1577, whilst appearing in Southampton, it contained at least ten players. The group continued until at least 1617, under the patronage of the 4th Baron. Other groups of entertainers sponsored by Stafford included a group of bearwards, who appeared with the players in 1579 and a company of trumpeters.