Edward Stafford, 4th Baron Stafford


Edward Stafford, 4th Baron Stafford, was the son of Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford, and Mary Stanley, daughter of Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby, and Dorothy Howard. He became 4th Baron Stafford on the death of his father in 1603.
He married Isabel Forster, the daughter of Thomas Forster of Tong, Shropshire. Isabel was reported to be a family chambermaid in a letter to the Earl of Leicester which includes "My Lorde Stafford's son is basely married to his mother's chambermaid."
Edward Stafford continued on with his father's patronage of the Lord Stafford's Company, a travelling group of players, who were active until at least 1617

Death and succession

Stafford had one son, Edward. He married Ann Wilford, daughter of James Wilford, Newman Hall, Quendon, Essex. They had two children:
  1. Mary Stafford, who married Sir William Howard, younger son of Thomas, Earl of Arundel. Was created Countess of Stafford for life in her own right in 1640, following the death of her nephew. Thomas Howard was created Viscount Stafford.
  2. Henry Stafford, 5th Baron Stafford. Born after his father's death.
However, the younger Edward pre-deceased his father in 1621 and the barony passed to Henry, the grandson of the 4th Baron, in 1625.