Re: Lives of Medieval Staffords
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In reply to:
Lives of Medieval Staffords
4/30/00
The name of Stafford is said to be derived from "Stat" meaning town, and "ford" meaning a river crossing.The town was located by a river where there was a ford.The "t" in Statford being gradually changed to the "ff" in Stafford.
According to certain accounts, the family of Stafford is descended from a Norman follower of William the Conqueror, one Robert de Toeni, Govorner of the castle of Stafford in the eleventh century, whose descendents used the surname of "de Stafford."
Robert de Toeni was on the list of companions of William the Conqueror at Hastings and was lord of Stafford with the possessions of seven earls. His brothers, Roger II and Beranger, also had considerable domains. The former (Roger II de Toeni) was builder of Clifford castle (Herefordshire). Their sister, Alice, married William, son of Osborn. The following generation Ralph III married the daughter of Walthof, the sister of Baldwin, earl of Boulogne. In 1204, the Tosnys, like the Bohons, supported John and lost their lands in Normandy.
Robert de Toeni, born 1049 in Normandy, was a young standard bearer in the Army of William the Conqueror when he invaded England in October of 1066.He was a favorite of the Conqueror who bestowed on him "a great fief, extending into 7 counties, holding 131 manors."Among these estates was the Castle of Stafford, of which he was appointed the castellan or keeper, assuming the name of Stafford, and residing there during the reign of King Henry I, 1100-1135.Robert de Toni then became Robert de Stafford.
Robert de Stafford, possessed at the time of the General Survey, lordships in Suffolk,
Gloucester, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire, in all 131, and the assumption of the surname Stafford arose from him being Governor of Stafford Castle, which had been erected by William the Conqueror.He held the mmanors of Haughton and Bughale and many others.
Robert de Stafford, who lived till the time of King Henry I,founded an Augustine Priory, at Stone, in Staffordshire, upon the spot where Enysan de Waltone, one of the companions of the Conquedror, had killed two nuns and a priest.
About 1072 Robert made a grant to Evesham Abbey of Wrottesley and Loynton.
He married Avice of Clare,
In 1086, as a monk, lying sick at Evesham Abbey, he reneewed his grant to the Abbey and directed that he, his wife and his son Nicholas should be buried there.
Robert died abt. 1088and was succeeded by hia son, Nicholas.
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Re: Lives of Medieval Staffords
k brown 5/23/06