So, you just can't wait to know all about the Staffords' family history??
Well look no further! Here it is--in simple, concise
question-n-answer format,
for the ADD impaired...
So where exactly did the name "Stafford" come from??
In the days of Ancient Anglo-Saxon England, perhaps
several generations previous to the Norman Conquest, a certain citizen
built himself a castle on the banks of some river, so long ago that the
names of both the builder and the location have been lost.
Nearby was a shallow place in this river, which could be
crossed or forded with the aid of a staff and the place was used for
fording the river in that primitive way.
Succeeding generations shortened the term of "can be
forded with a staff" into "staff-ford." The castle built on the banks of
the river was designated as being "near the staff-ford;" evolving later
into the "Castle of Stafford." The castle was still standing when
William the Conqueror invaded England in October, 1066.
Who was the first
Stafford??
Among the favorites to whom William the Conqueror
parceled out the captured estates of the native Anglo-Saxons,
was his young standard bearer, Robert De Toni. Scion of a noble
house of Normandy, Robert received from his commander a large portion of
these great estates scattered over the counties of England--included was
the Castle of Stafford.
Being appointed the castellan--or keeper of the castle,
Robert de Toni made it his residence, assumed the name, and was
designated as Robert de Stafford, living there during the time of Henry
I., 1100-1135.
Such was the origin of the name of Stafford. Robert de
Stafford's descendants, through their own activities and their
intermarriages--rose to be one of England's most powerful and prominent
families--and one of the most tragic.
Members of succeeding generations often saw their heads
slain in battle. Titles and estates were lost, and many fell
victim to the jealously and treachery of the reigning sovereign or of
some influential churchman or citizen.
These tragedies reached Roger, the great grandson of
Edward Stafford--the last Duke of Buckingham, who was compelled by
Charles I on December 7, 1639, to surrender his barony, and who died in
prison in 1640, unmarried, the last of the main line of the great,
historic House of Stafford.
-don't go yet, it's just getting
interesting!!
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To which branch of
Staffords do we trace our direct lineage??
Though the main line of the House of Stafford ended with
Roger Stafford's imprisonment and death, the cadet branches carried on
in different parts of England. A branch known as the Staffords of
Grafton was recorded during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 1558-1603.
The progenitor of this family in America was the son of
a younger son of the Staffords of Grafton. This young man, known as
William Stafford, settled in Virginia. His descendants migrated
southward into North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
-Hello??
Are you still there??
What is the story of
William Stafford, the first Stafford to arrive in America??
In the year of 1622, two years after the coming of the
pilgrims, a ship named "The Furtherance" approached the infant English
colony of Virginia. Included among its passengers was one William
Stafford, a lad of fourteen years. He was journeying to the new
world to work as a servant for Francis Mason, who was a close friend of
William's family.
In the same ship that brought William to Elizabeth City,
Virginia, was another passenger named Alice. She was twenty-four years
old and soon became the wife of Francis Mason. Within a year, a child
was born to Alice and Francis Mason; they named her Frances. When
the girl was of age, William married her. This makes Francis
Mason, William's boss and now father-in-law, our oldest known American
ancestor.
-you're not really there--no one makes
it this far!
How does the Georgia
Staffords link to William's family??
A son was born to William Stafford
and his wife Frances. They named him William Stafford, Jr. This
second William married a lady who's name we have no record of, and left
two known children, William III and John.
The son John (grandson of the original William
Stafford,) with whom we are concerned was our ancestor, died in Bath
Precinct, North Carolina. His wife's name was Ann Wyatt, daughter
of Reverend Haute Wyatt, whose line dates back to the signing of the
Magna Carta.
Joshua Stafford was one of five children
born to John and Ann. Joshua was a Revolutionary
War soldier of South Carolina. He and his family moved to
Effingham County, Georgia, from Barnwell County, South Carolina, in
1770. Effingham County was eventually divided and the part where
Joshua lived became Screven County. Joshua's family became the first in
our line to reside in Georgia.
-maybe I should
give out a pop quiz! We'll see who's paying attention!
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Joshua and his first wife, Martha
Ironmonger, had three children, one of which was named Ezekiel, born in
South Carolina in 1773.
At the age of 17, Ezekiel Stafford
moved with his family when his father took them to Effingham County.
Soon after his first marriage, Ezekiel moved to Montgomery County,
Georgia. He became part of the new county of Tattnall when it was
cut from Montgomery County. Ezekiel became a very involved member of
Tattnall.
Ezekiel served as County Surveyor,
Captain of the Militia in the 39th District, and as Justice of the Peace
in the 40th District. In addition, he was a member and trustee of one of
the first Methodist churches in Tattnall County.
Ezekiel was also a Mason, being a
member of the Rising Sun Lodge No. 20, F. and AM, at Reidsville for many
years prior to his death.
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Wow, you've made it this far! Well, never
fear...there will be more to come on the Stafford family saga soon...
Check back later.
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