Knight of the Garter. Diplomat to many European Countries. Ralph was born, married and died at Stafford. He was the son of Edmund de Staffard (Baron of Stafford) and Margaret Bassett. He married first Katherine de Hastang, by date 09 Feb 1327. She was the daughter of Sir John Hastang. They were the parents of: Joan de Stafford (m. Sir Nicholas Beke), Margaret de Stafford (m. Sir John de Stafford.
Secondly he married Margaret de Audley, whom he abducted against her parents' wishes. Her parents protested to King Edward, who approved the marriage, and soothed the Audleys by making her father the 1st Earl of Gloucester. Ralph and Margaret were married by 06 Jul 1336. They were the parents of: Ralph (m. Maud of Lancaster), Hugh (m. Phillipa de Beauchamp), Thomas (a clerk), Elizabeth (M. Fulk le Strange, John de Ferres, Reginald Cobham), Beatrice (m. Maurice FitzGerald, Thomas de Ros, Sir Knt Richard Burley), John (m. ?) and Katherine (m. Sir John de Sutton)
Ralph was knighted in 1327, fought in the Battle of Sluys, the Battle of Crecy, the Seige of Vannes, and the navel Battle of Winchelsea. He inherited lands and became wealthy at the death of his first wife Katherine's parents without paying homage taxes, indicating his relationship with Edward, the King of England. As the co-heir to the Corbet family, he inherited the lordship and the Castle Caus in 1347. He was given the title of the 1st Earl of Stafford 01 Mar 1351. He died at Tonbridge Castle.
(Bio supplied by Anne Shurtleff Stevens)

Knight of the Garter. Diplomat to many European Countries. Ralph was born, married and died at Stafford. He was the son of Edmund de Staffard (Baron of Stafford) and Margaret Bassett. He married first Katherine de Hastang, by date 09 Feb 1327. She was the daughter of Sir John Hastang. They were the parents of: Joan de Stafford (m. Sir Nicholas Beke), Margaret de Stafford (m. Sir John de Stafford.
Secondly he married Margaret de Audley, whom he abducted against her parents' wishes. Her parents protested to King Edward, who approved the marriage, and soothed the Audleys by making her father the 1st Earl of Gloucester. Ralph and Margaret were married by 06 Jul 1336. They were the parents of: Ralph (m. Maud of Lancaster), Hugh (m. Phillipa de Beauchamp), Thomas (a clerk), Elizabeth (M. Fulk le Strange, John de Ferres, Reginald Cobham), Beatrice (m. Maurice FitzGerald, Thomas de Ros, Sir Knt Richard Burley), John (m. ?) and Katherine (m. Sir John de Sutton)
Ralph was knighted in 1327, fought in the Battle of Sluys, the Battle of Crecy, the Seige of Vannes, and the navel Battle of Winchelsea. He inherited lands and became wealthy at the death of his first wife Katherine's parents without paying homage taxes, indicating his relationship with Edward, the King of England. As the co-heir to the Corbet family, he inherited the lordship and the Castle Caus in 1347. He was given the title of the 1st Earl of Stafford 01 Mar 1351. He died at Tonbridge Castle.
(Bio supplied by Anne Shurtleff Stevens)