Robert de Stafford


Robert de Stafford was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, the first feudal baron of Stafford in Staffordshire in England, where he built as his seat Stafford Castle. His many landholdings are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Origins

According to Cawley, primary evidence is lacking to determine his parentage, but he is generally said to have been a son of Roger I of Tosny. Sanders gives him as a younger brother of Ralph I de Tosny, feudal baron of Flamstead in Hertfordshire who was the brother in law of William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford. The de Tosny family originated at the manor of Tosny, Eure, arr.Louviers, cant. Gaillon.
Cawley states that Robert de Stafford's connection with the Tosny family is evidenced by an undated charter in which "Robertus de Stafford" confirmed the donations to Wotton Wawen Abbey, Warwickshire made by "avus meus Robertus de Toenio et pater meus Nicolaus de Stafford". Also "Robertus de Staffordia et Robertus filius meus et haeres " confirmed donations of property to Evesham Monastery made by "Rodbertus avus meus... et pater meus Nicholaus" again by undated charter.

Career

He founded Stone Priory in Staffordshire, which became the burial place of many of his family.

Possible wives and children

Adelisa de Savona

A few sources say Robert de Stafford married Adelisa de Savona, by whom he had a daughter Adelisa de Toeni, who married Roger Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk. Yet the Adelisa de Tosny who married Roger Bigod of Norfolk, is known to have been the heiress of Belvoir Castle in Rutland, and thus clearly the daughter of Robert de Tosny, Lord of Belvoir, by his wife Adeliza fitzOsulf du Plessis, through whom Belvoir had been inherited, since the Feudal barony of Belvoir then passed to Cecily Bigod, the daughter of Roger Bigod by his wife Adelisa.

Avice de Clare

Robert de Stafford apparently married Avice de Clare, by whom he had sons, variously listed as:
He held 131 manors as listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, a high proportion lying in Staffordshire. They included Barlaston and Bradley in Staffordshire and part of Duns Tew in Oxfordshire.

Death and burial

Robert de Stafford was buried in Evesham Abbey.

End of the Stafford family

The peak of the Stafford family was reached by Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, who was executed for treason in 1521, on whose death "the princely House of Stafford fell to rise no more". Cleveland relates the descent of his children into obscurity and poverty as follows:

Surviving direct descendants

The Gresley family of Drakelow, baronets, were descendants of the de Tosny family through their de Stafford ancestors, including Robert.
As Cleveland relates in her Battle Roll: