Item 2 - Will: Sir Henry Stafford

Identity area

Reference code

SJLM/4/2/2

Unique identifier

GB 1859 SJLM/4/2/2

Title

Will: Sir Henry Stafford

Date(s)

  • 1470 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1 item, parchment

Context area

Name of creator

(c.1425-1471)

Biographical history

Henry Stafford was the second son of Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, and the third husband of Lady Margaret Beaufort, his second cousin. They were wedded in January 1458 and enjoyed a long and ostensibly amicable marriage until Stafford’s death in 1471. Like Lady Margaret, Stafford backed the House of Lancaster during the early years of the Wars of the Roses and fought alongside the Lancastrians at the battle of Towton in March 1461. However, following his pardon by Edward IV of England in June 1461, Stafford retained a cautious allegiance to the Yorkist King in subsequent challenges to his sovereignty. Stafford supported Edward at the Battle of Losecoat Field in 1470 and again at Barnet in 1471, where he was wounded during the conflict and later died from his injuries.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Will of Sir Henry Stafford, third husband of Lady Margaret. A later will, dated October 1471, was proved 4 May 1482. The proved version has gifts including a horse to John, Earl of Wiltshire which are not in the 1470 version.

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Accruals

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Finding aids

A transcript of the original will and a copy with transcript of the probate version are available in Finding Aids 11.

Allied materials area

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Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

A fuller will was proved in 1482 and is available in the The National Archives at Kew. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D970211

Related descriptions

Publication note

For proved will, see: Nicholas, NH, " Testamenta Vetusa". p. 324.

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Former Ref.

D56.186

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Physical storage

  • Box: 51/ESTATES