Sir Nicholas de Stafford

Nicholas was a Knight whose son Edmund became the first Baron Stafford. His manors included Offley, Schelbedon and Bradley in Staffordshire. His wife was a daughter of Geoffrey de Langley. Nicholas died in the siege of Drosselan.

From Stirnet's "Stafford01" page ( http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/ss4tz/stafford01.php#top ): "We have seen reported that <this> Nicholas married Eleanor, daughter of Thomas de Clinton < http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/cc4aq/clinton01.php#linklo >, but, whilst BE1883 does not name his wife, TCP identifies her as ... <a probable daughter of Geoffrey de Langley.>"

Alleged to have been High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Shropshire, but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Sheriff_of_Staffordshire#13th_cen... does not support that allegation.

Date of death also incorrectly reported as circa August 1, 1287 at Stafford.

1. Name: Nicholas De Stafford
2. Given Name: Nicholas De
3. Surname: Stafford
4. Suffix: Knight
5. Sex: M
6. Birth: 1246
7. Death: 1 Aug 1287 in Seige of Droslan Castle, Wales, FALLING WALL
8. Change Date: 21 Sep 2005 at 15:22

Father: Robert De Stafford b: Bef 1220 in Stafford, Staffordshire, England Mother: Alice Corbet b: 1228

Marriage 1 Alianore Clinton b: 1250

   * Married:

   * Change Date: 21 Sep 2005

Children

  1. Has Children Edmund Stafford b: 15 Jul 1273

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/STAFFORD1.htm#Nicholas De STAFFORD1

married 1 Anne de Langley

married 2 Eleanore de Clinton

Nicholas De Stafford died during the Siege of Droselan Castle

Notes: actively engaged against the Welsh, in the reign of King Edward I, and was killed before Droselan Castle. His manors included Offley, Schelbedon and Bradley, Staffordshire.

--Laurel Logan

Nicholas de Stafford was born on 1246 in Stafford Castle, Stafford, Staffordshire, England to Robert de Stafford and Alice de Corbet de Stafford. Nicholas married (1.) Anne de Langley. Nicholas married (2.) Eleanor de Clinton and had 2 children: Richard de Stafford and Edmund de Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford. He passed away on August 1, 1287 in "The Siege of Droselan Castle."

Nicholas de Stafford is my 25th great uncle.

The 1287 Siege of Dryslwyn Castle

Photographs copyright © 2002 by Jeffrey L. Thomas

From the official Cadw Guidebook for Dryslwyn Castle In the wake of Rhys ap Maredudd’s revolt of 1287, there was a swift, well coordinated, and effective English reaction. With Edward I out of the country, it was left to his lieutenant in England, Earl Edmund of Cornwall, to take the lead. A great army was to be assembled at Carmarthen, and on 16 July writs were dispatched to the lords of the March to raise their forces.

On 9 August, Earl Edmund set out from Carmarthen for Rhys’s castle at Dryslwyn, at the head of an army of some 4,000 men. Some of these had been raised in England, others had been assembled locally under Robert de Tibetot. On 15 August, the earl’s forces were joined by an army of 6,700 ranks and officers, gathered under Reginald Grey (d.1308) who had set out from Chester and Roger l’Estrange who had marched from Montgomery.

With the combined force of more than 11,000 assembled on the flat valley floor in front of Dryslwyn, on or just after the 15 August, the siege of Dryswlyn Castle began. Many of the men coming from Chester were drawn from the building works on King Edward’s north Wales castles. These craftsmen and others constructed a trebuchet, a siege machine capable of hurling huge stones at the castle walls. This machine, constructed with timber, hides, rope, and lead, cost £14. A total of 20 quarrymen and 24 carters were employed to shape and move the large stone balls which were hurled by the trebuchet at the castle.

In addition, the besiegers were attempting to undermine the castle walls. Tradition records that they brought down a large section near the projecting chapel block. The mining was marred by the collapse of a wall, crushing to death a group of nobles who were inspecting the work, including the earl of Stafford, Sir William de Monte Caniso, and Sir John de Bonvillars. The castle was captured by 5 September, and although Rhys ap Maredudd escaped, his wife and son were captured. The siege undoubtedly caused extensive damage to the castle, and repairs were carried out shortly afterwards.

The archaeological excavation of the site has produced important evidence from the time of this siege. Two substantial stone balls, over 16 inches, and almost certainly thrown by the trebuchet, were recovered. Also recovered were many smaller stones which were thrown at the castle, as well as links of chain mail, arrowheads, slingshots and a spearhead. Over one hundred arrowheads were recovered, many with long sharp points deliberately made to penetrate amour and chain mail.