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The Staffords of Eyamby C. E. B. BOWLES, M.A.
With respect to the lands, those mentioned as being in the co. of Derby, which can be traced in the Stafford family for the next two centuries, were charged with the dowry of Dionysia's mother, for about this time, though whether later or earlier it is hard to say, an undated conveyance was executed[26] by Nicholas de Cotterell and Roger de Gaddesby to Laurence de Lynford and Alice, his wife and their heirs of the lands in Moneyash, Chelmorton, Hassop, Calver, and Rowlsey, which lands, Marjery, late wife to William de Lynford, had held of her dowry. Several grants of land in Eyam and the neighbourhood exist, which were made to John de Stafford. E.g.,"In 44 Edward III. (1370), Johanna and Matilda, the daughters of Richard del Dale of Eyam in their widowhood granted to John de Stafford land in Eyam lying between the high road and the village brook opposite to the messuage of said John de Stafford on the other side of the road".[27] In the forty-sixth year of Edward III. (1372) a lease was granted by "Nycholas son of John de Stafford to John de Stafford his father of a messuage and ten acres of land in Great Hucklow which Nycholas had of the demyse of Thomas the son of John L'Archer, who had it of the demyse of Thomas the son of Richard".[28] In 11 Richard II. (1388), a release of land in Eyam was made to him as John de Stafford sen., by Margery, late wife of John, son of Nicholas de Haddon, of land which she had inherited from her brother, Henry Gregory.[29] The same date is affixed to a grant by Robert de Wardelow, of Bakewell, to John de Stafford and his heirs of lands in [Page 270] Highlow, which had descended to him after the death of John L'Archer of Highlow, lately in the tenure of John de Billeston.[30] These lands in Highlow, which township adjoins that of Eyam, were apparently afterwards held by Richard, the son of John de Stafford, as will be seen. The 16th year of Richard II. (1393), is the date of a grant[31] from John de Stafford, of Eyam, and Thomas Amot, of Midleton, to John Rankell, chaplain, of two messuages, and nine acres and a half of land in Eyam. In 19 Richard II. (1395), John, or possibly his eldest son, attested a grant of lands in Calver and Middleton Cliff by Godfrey de Roland to Thomas and Richard Gumfray, but as there is no proof of the date of his death, it may have been that this deed was attested,[32] as indeed many others prior to it, by his son, for as in this case, where father and son bore the same Christian name, it is not easy to determine the identity of the individual. Both were certainly alive in 1338, but after that date it is not clear as to whether "John de Stafford" refers to the elder or younger. Rhodes in his Peak Scenery, declares that "In the reign of Richard II., a period when the rights of the subject were but inaccurately defined and his liberty but imperfectly secured by law, a violent and outrageous assault was made on one of the Staffords, who was at that time Lord of the Manor of Eyam. Attacked by an armed force, he was a forcibly carried away from his home to the residence of his enemy, and there detained close prisoner until he was ransomed by his friends". No authority is given, and it is hard to say whence Rhodes obtained his information. If it be true, it must have been either John de Stafford, sen., or his son, who had this unpleasant experience. It may be remarked, however, that the Staffords never at any time owned the manner of Eyam. By his marriage with Dionysia de Lynford, John de Stafford, sen., had this issue;
But the earliest mention of Richard is in a grant dated at Bakewell, 3 Richard II. (1379),[34] of lands near Bakewell, by Thomas Bilstone to Richard Stafford, son of John Stafford. In 14 Richard II. (1390),[34] he granted a release to John Redsor, parson of the church at Eyam, and John Rankell, chaplain, of all his rights in Youlgrave. By a deed dated at Tideswell 19 Richard II. (1395),[34] John Cobyn granted to him as "Richard de Stafford son or John de Stafford", and his heirs certain messuages and lands in Tideswell. A confirmation of a grant of lands at Bakewell to "John de Stafford, of Eyam, and Richard, his son, and to John, brother to Richard", is dated 20 Richard II. (1396).[34] Three years later, a messuage and two bovates of land, and a toft lying near Leyhamsty, at Eyam, were granted to him by William Kalale, of Normanton, and Randolph de Glapwell. This is dated at Eyam 23 Richard II. (1399).[35] [Page 272] In 3 Henry IV. (1401)[36] one "Richard de Stafford, of Highlow", granted land to John Milnes, of Tideswell - and the same man attested a deed of 1 Henry IV. Taking into consideration the deed quoted before, which proved that in 11 Richard II. (1388)[36] John de Stafford, his father, had from Robt. de Wardelow, a grant of land in Highlow, it may be presumed that this man is identical with his son Richard. In 13 Henry IV. (1412)[36], it would appear that Richard was dead, as in that year there is an indenture dated at Eyam between John de Stafford, of Eyam, and Richard de Stafford, heir of Richard Stafford, on the one part, and Thomas de Collay, of Bakewell, and Johanna, his wife, on the other part, with respect to land held by Clement de Longsdon and others. In any case, he was dead in 4 Henry V. (1417)[36], for in that year land in Haddonlowe was granted to Roger de Padley and Lettice his wife, by Richard de Stafford, son and heir of Richard de Stafford, deceased. His son Richard, therefore, was now in possession of his lands, and it will probably be he who, as Richard Stafford, of Highlow, attested a deed of 11 Henry VI. (1432)[37], and it will be his son who, as John Stafford, of Highlow, son of Richard de Stafford, in 13 Edward IV (1474) had a grant of the lands in Longsdon and Bakewell.[36] |
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© Copyright Rosemary Lockie, GENUKI and Contributors 1999-2007, &c.
GENUKI is a registered trade mark of the charitable trust GENUKI, see
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Transcribed by Rosemary Lockie June 2000 - March 2001
from photocopies very kindly supplied by Barbara Newton and Tim Rowland.
URL of this page: http://www.wishful-thinking.org.uk/genuki/DBY/Eyam/Stafford/EyamJohnVI.html
[Created 5 Mar 2001. Last updated 30 Dec 2007 - 13:43 by Rosemary Lockie]