Joan Stafford

From the Will dated 15 September 1496 and proved 25 January 1497, of John Spencer (d. 4 January 1497) of Hodnell, Warwickshire: PDF

Testator’s second marriage

The testator married secondly Jane Graunt, the daughter of Walter Graunt of Snitterfield, Warwickshire, and Elizabeth Ruding. In the will below, she is referred to as both Jane and Joan.

For Walter Graunt and Elizabeth Rudinge, see Burke, Bernard, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland, 5th ed., (London: Harrison, 1871), Vol. II, p. 896 at: GoogleBooks. For the Ruding pedigree, see Urban, Sylvanus, The Gentleman’s Magazine, (London: John Nichols, 1796), Vol. LXVI, Part I, pp. 217-19: GoogleBooks

After the testator’s death, Jane Graunt married secondly Henry Smyth (d. 25 February 1513), esquire, for whose will see TNA PROB 11/18/7, and thirdly a husband surnamed Stafford. See the inquisition post mortem taken in August 1515 after the death of ‘Joan Stafford, late the wife of Henry Smith, esquire’, TNA C 142/30/123, and the copy at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, DR 10/1887, at: miscellaneous-inquisitions-post-mortem/search/everywhere:joan- stafford/page/1/view_as/grid link

Some researchers say her name was Alice or Cynthia.

Sources

• http://www.ffish.com/family_tree/pedigrees/9603.htm