Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford facts for kids

The west front of Thornbury Castle. This castle was started in 1511 for Henry Stafford's father.

Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford (born September 18, 1501 – died April 30, 1563) was an English nobleman. His father, Edward Stafford, lost all his family's lands and titles in 1521. This happened because his father was accused of treason. Henry worked hard to get some of his family's position back. In 1547, he was given the title Baron Stafford. However, his family never fully recovered. Over time, they slowly lost their importance. Later, in 1639, a king even asked one of Henry's descendants to give up the title because he was so poor.

Early Life and Family Roots

Henry Stafford was born on September 18, 1501. His birthplace was Penshurst Place in Kent, England. He was the only son of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1477–1521). His father owned Stafford Castle and Thornbury Castle. Henry's mother was Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Buckingham. She was the daughter of Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland.

Marriage and Many Children

On February 16, 1519, when he was 18, Henry married Ursula Pole. Ursula was the daughter of Sir Richard Pole. Her mother was Margaret Plantagenet, ''suo jure'' 8th Countess of Salisbury. Henry's father helped arrange this marriage.

After they married, Henry and Ursula lived with his father. They had a large family with about fourteen children. Seven of their children were sons and seven were daughters. Here are some of their known children:

• Henry Stafford (born November 1520), who died as a baby.
• Henry Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford (died 1566), who was the oldest son to live.
• Thomas Stafford (around 1533 – May 28, 1557), who was executed.
• Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford (January 17, 1535 – October 18, 1603), who became Baron after his older brother.
• Richard Stafford, who had children, including Roger Stafford, 6th Baron Stafford.
• Walter Stafford (around 1539 – after 1571).
• William Stafford.
• Dorothy Stafford (October 1, 1526 – September 22, 1604). She married Sir William Stafford. Dorothy was an important person in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. She served as the Queen's Mistress of the Robes.
• Elizabeth Stafford, who married Sir William Neville.
• Anne Stafford, who married Sir Henry Williams.
• Susan Stafford (born after 1547).
• Jane Stafford.

His Titles and Important Roles

Henry was called Earl of Stafford when he was young. This was his father's second title. But his father lost all his titles in 1521. In 1547, Henry asked the Parliament to restore his family's good name. He did not ask for his father's old lands or titles back. In 1548, King Edward VI called him to Parliament. This is how he became the 1st Baron Stafford.

At first, people thought his title was new. But in 1558, he proved that his title should be recognized as very old. It was linked to a title from 1299. This older title belonged to his ancestor Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford. In 1554, he asked Queen Mary I for money help. She made him one of two Chamberlains of the Exchequer. This job paid him £50 each year.

The title of Baron Stafford was created four times. The 6th Baron Stafford, Roger Stafford, gave up the title in 1639. He was very poor and lived a simple life. King Charles I asked him to do this.

Henry Stafford also had a legal background. He studied law at Gray's Inn in 1528. In 1531, he became the recorder (a type of judge) for the town of Stafford. This town was near his family's old home, Stafford Castle. Later, in 1536, he became a justice of the Peace for Staffordshire and Shropshire. From 1558 to 1559, he was the lord-lieutenant of Staffordshire. This role included being the clerk of the Peace.

What He Read and Wrote

Henry Stafford loved books. He had a large library with about 300 books. Most of them were in Latin. In 1548, he published an English translation of a book by Edward Foxe. The book was called "The True Dyfferens Between the Royall Power and the Ecclesiasticall Power."

Later, under Queen Mary I, he became Catholic again. He translated two books by Erasmus that were against Luther. Sadly, these translations do not exist anymore. He also asked others to translate books. For example, he influenced the publishing of Mirror for Magistrates in 1559.

Later Life and Death

Henry Stafford passed away on April 30, 1563. He was 61 years old. He died at Caus Castle in Shropshire. This castle was the home of the Corbet family. He was buried on May 6 in Worthen Church, which was nearby. His oldest living son, Henry Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford (died 1566), took over his titles. However, his son died less than three years later.