Catalogue description STAFFORD LANDS

The four charters are all linked to the Stafford family. No direct connection with the Berkeleys of Berkeley has been discovered, although there are numerous connections with holders of other estates recorded in the muniments.

The Berkeleys of Dursley held the manor of Dodington (Glos.) of the Clare earls of Gloucester. Margaret daughter and coheir of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, married Hugh de Audley (d. 1347), who was created earl of Gloucester. Hugh's father Hugh (d. 1325-6) had acquired the manor of Eastington (Glos., in Whitstone hundred) by marriage to Isolda, daughter of Edmund Mortimer and widow of Walter de Ballon. Eastington descended from Isolda's grandson Sir James Audley (d. 1369) to Hugh Stafford, earl of Stafford (d. 1386).[VCH Glos. x. 127-8; GEC i. 347-8.] That Hugh was the son of Ralph de Stafford, earl of Stafford (d. 1372), and his wife Margaret, daughter and heir of Hugh de Audley, earl of Gloucester, and Margaret de Clare. The Staffords inherited the Welsh marcher lordship of Caus from the Corbets in the 14th century. Archbishop Thomas Bourgchier and John Bourgchier, Lord Berners, were half-brothers of Humphrey Stafford, duke of Buckingham (d. 1460); their sister Eleanor married John Mowbray, duke of Norfolk (d. 1461), and their brother William, Lord FitzWarin, married Thomasin Hankeford, half-sister of Anne wife of Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond (d. 1515)[Cf. above, BCM/H Administrative history] Humphrey Stafford's widow, Anne Nevill, married secondly Walter Blount, Lord Mountjoy (d. 1474).[For him, cf. above, D5/51/7 [GC 4364.] Anne appointed William de Berkeley to offices in Gloucestershire.[Above, BCM/A/5/5/6-7 [SC 605, SC 607.] Walter's younger son and eventual successor John (d. 1485) married Lora daughter of Sir Edward Berkeley of Beverston, who married thirdly Thomas Butler, earl of Ormond (d. 1515).[GEC ix. 336-41.]