Ralph Stafford

     Ralph Stafford was born on 24 September 1301 at Tunbridge, Staffordshire, England.¹ He married Katherine de Hastang.¹ Ralph Stafford died on 31 August 1372 at Tonbridge, Kent, England, at age 70.¹
     Stafford had fought the Scots in the 1330's. He had been summoned to Parliament and continued to attend there until 1350. He accompanied King Edward to France in 1338 as an advisor. Later took part in many battles. He was obviously valued by the King, and was created as 1st Earl of Stafford on 5 Mar 1350.
Even at age sixty, Stafford commanded troops and acted as a royal envoy, both in FRance and Ireland in 1361.¹