House of Stratford: Difference between revisions

The Stratfords are an old gentry family of England, either giving their name to, or taking it from, Stratford-on-Avon in the 12th century and traceable back to the Norman conquest. Since their establishment the Stratfords have spawned numerous religious, cultural and political leaders, multiple Bishops, Arch-Bishops, Viscountcies, Baronies and an Earldom.^[2] Historic family seats have included Farmcote Manor and Stratford Park in Gloucester,^[3] Merevale Hall in Warwickshire,^[4] Baltinglass Castle,^[5] Belan House and Aldborough House in Ireland, and Stratford House in London.^[6] They have links with numerous noble families, including the Tracys, Sudeleys, Dugdale baronets, Throgmortons, Overburys,^[7] and Wingfields.^[5] They were at their most powerful in the 14th and 18th centuries.

The Stratfords can trace early maternal lines into the De Monthault family (and through them to the Anglo-Saxon Earls of Mercia and Lady Godiva) and the Ceeley family (the head of their pedigree being the Norman Sire Ce Gaulle, who came over with William the Conquerer in 1066).^[7] An unreliable pedigree belonging to Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough traces the family to an ancient Edvardus Stratford, progenitor of an "illustrious Saxon family",^[8] whilst more recent genealogists have found origins with the Norman Sir Gualla de Lupella, who came to England with William the Conquerer (and who counted Amiens in Normandy amongst his territory, hence the title of "Viscount Amiens" awarded to John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough on 28 January 1777).^[9][10][11]

Robert de Stratford, an original burgess of Stratford-on-Avon, is the earliest indisputably traceable member of the paternal Stratford line. His children and nephews rose to positions of power and influence in the political and religious landscape of England in the 14th century, and originated all other branches of the family.^[12][13]

• John de Stratford (c.1275 - 1348), Bishop of Winchester, Lord High Treasurer, Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Robert de Stratford (c.1292 – 9 April 1362), Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Chancellor, Archdeacon of Canterbury, Bishop of Chichester
• Henry de Stratford Greater Clerk of the Royal Chancery under Edward III
• Thomas de Stratford (died June 12, 1396) Senior Proctor of Oxford University, Archdeacon of Gloucester, Prior of Caldwell
• Ralph de Stratford (c. 1300-1354), also known as Ralph Hatton of Stratford, Bishop of London
• Andrew de Stratford (died 1399), Bishop and landowner

The Manor of Merevale in north Warwickshire (including the original Merevale Hall and estate) was purchased in the mid 17th century by Edward Stratford (died 1665). ^[5] Having established himself, Edward settled the sum of £500 on his younger brother Robert in order to fund his starting a life in Ireland.^[7] Robert settled at Baltinglass Castle and went on to sire the Earls of Aldborough, and a close relationship between the Merevale and the Irish branch was maintained until the extinction.^[14]

In 1749 the property was inherited by Penelope Bate Stratford (the daughter and co-heiress of Francis Stratford of Merevale) who married into the (now) Dugdale baronets, who still possess the estate.^[5]

In 1749 Merevale Hall was inherited by Edward's eventual descendant Penelope Bate Stratford (the daughter and co-heiress of Francis Stratford of Merevale) who married William Geast. William Geast took the surname of his Uncle, John Dugdale, and their child was Dugdale Stratford Dugdale who married the honourable Charlotte Curzon, daughter of Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon of the (now) Earls Howe.^[15] Their son William Stratford Dugdale had a son also named William Stratford Dugdale who had a son named William Francis Stratford Dugdale, who came to be the 1st Baronet.^[16] The Merevale estate has descended through to his son and the present incumbent Sir William Stratford Dugdale of the Dugdale baronets.^[5]

• Sir William Francis Stratford Dugdale, 1st Baronet (1872-1965)
• Sir William Stratford Dugdale, 2nd Baronet (born 1922)
• The heir apparent to the Baronetcy is William Matthew Stratford Dugdale, born 22 Feb 1959; the only male issue of the 2nd Baronet's first marriage
• Thomas Joshua Stratford Dugdale FRSA (born 1974), British documentary film-maker, male isse of the 2nd Baronet's second marriage

It was Thomas de Stratford of the original Warwickshire Stratfords who first moved the family's interests to Gloucestershire, holding the post of Archdeacon of Gloucester. Stephen de Stratford, Kinsman to Thomas and John, was the father of another John Stratford who, in 1320, became a member of parliament for Gloucestershire, where the Stratfords had been granted Lordship of the Manor of Farmcote, Hawling and Temple Guiting in 1314. His son was raised to the knighthood as Sir Stephen Stratford,^[17] and this branch of the family became resident at the ancient, feudal Farmcote Manor House following the dissolution of Hailes Abbey in 1539. This branch were cousins to Robert Dover, and involved in the establishment of the Cotswold Olimpick Games in 1612.^[5]

The Farmcote and Hawling estates were sold in 1756, by sons of Walter Stratford, though part of Farmcote Manor still stands, and Stratford tombs, arms and effigies can be found in the estate chapel there.^[5]

Notable members of this line include:

• John Stratford, member of parliament for Gloucestershire, 1320
• Sir Stephen Stratford, knight of the realm
• John Stratford (c.1582-c.1634) Merchant and entrepreneur, a significant grower of tobacco in the Cotswolds

The Stratford's interests in Wessex stem from 1323, when John de Stratford took the position of Bishop of Winchester (bringing with him his brother Robert as part of his familia and eventually installing him as Bishop of Chichester). Their Kinsman Andrew de Stratford, a senior clerk, soon amassed a great deal of property in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight,^[18] eventually leaving church service and taking a wife (Christine). His estate passed through to relatives in the area, and the Wessex branch of the Stratford family (based mainly in Hampshire, with strands in the Isle of Wight and Berkshire) continued into modernity as yeomen, blacksmiths and rural landowners.^[19]

Notable members of this line include:

• James Stratford, Georgian Theatre Manager^[20]
• Graham Stratford, the first Town Mayor of Alton, Hampshire^[21]
• Brice Stratford, Shakespearean Actor-Manager and Stuntman
• Sir Robert John Sawers KCMG (born 26 July 1955), British diplomat and senior civil servant, the current Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) (descent through maternal grandmother, Emily Stratford)^[22]

A later branch of the family extended from the Stratfords of Merevale and into Ireland, where they went on to enter the peerage as Earls of Aldborough, of the Palatinate of Upper Ormond. The title was created on 9 February 1777, along with the subsidiary title Viscount Amiens, for John Stratford, 1st Viscount Aldborough.^[23] He had already been created Baron Baltinglass, of Baltinglass, in the County of Wicklow,^[24] on 21 May 1763, and Viscount Aldborough, of the Palatinate of Upper Ormond,^[25] on 22 July 1776. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. Three of his sons, the second, third and fourth Earls, all succeeded in the titles. They became extinct on the death of the latter's grandson, the sixth Earl, in 1875. Their seats were Belan House, Aldborough House, Baltinglass Castle and Stratford House.

• Robert Stratford (of the Merevale Stratfords)
• Edward Stratford, supporter of William of Orange^[26] (who refused a peerage offered by William III) ^[27]
• John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough (c. 1691–1777)
• Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough (d. 1801)
• John Stratford, 3rd Earl of Aldborough (c. 1740–1823)
• Benjamin O'Neale Stratford, 4th Earl of Aldborough (d. 1833)
• Mason Gerard Stratford, 5th Earl of Aldborough (1784–1849) (Bigamist)^[28]
• Captain Benjamin O'Neale Stratford, 6th Earl of Aldborough (1808–1875)

Abigail Stratford was the daughter of Robert Stratford, progenitor of the Irish Stratfords. In 1697 she married George Canning,^[29] and in 1703 they had a son, named Stratford Canning. He had a son sometime after 1734, also named Stratford Canning, who had a son in 1786, also named Stratford Canning, who was created 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe on 24 April 1852.^[30]

• Stratford Canning, 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe KG GCB PC (1786–1880), a diplomat and politician, best known as the longtime British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire

Lady Amelia Stratford was the daughter of John Stratford, 1st Earl of Aldborough. On the 7th September 1760 she married Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt, and took his name; it is from this maternal Stratford lineage that the current Viscount Powerscourt descends.^[31]

The Stratford descendant Viscounts Powerscourt are as follows:

• Richard Wingfield, 4th Viscount Powerscourt (1762–1809)
• Richard Wingfield, 5th Viscount Powerscourt (1790–1823)
• Richard Wingfield, 6th Viscount Powerscourt (1815–1844)
• Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt (1836–1904)
• Mervyn Richard Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt (1880–1947)
• Mervyn Patrick Wingfield, 9th Viscount Powerscourt (1905–1973)
• Mervyn Niall Wingfield, 10th Viscount Powerscourt (born 1935)
• The heir apparent is the present holder's only son Hon. Mervyn Anthony Wingfield (born 1963).

When Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough (Amelia's brother) died in 1801 he bequeathed the bulk of his estate to Amelia's grandson (his nephew, too junior to inherit the Powerscourt Viscountcy) on the proviso that he took back the Stratford name, thus becoming John Wingfield-Stratford in 1802.^[5] This line inherited Stratford House in London, and Amelia lived there until her death in 1831. It was sold in 1832.^[6]

Notable Wingfield-Stratfords include:

• Brigadier-General Cecil Wingfield-Stratford CB, CMG (1853–1939) a British Army officer in the Royal Engineers and an English international footballer
• Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford (1882–1971) an English historian, writer, mind-trainer, outdoorsman, patriot and ruralist

• Haines, Roy Martin. Archbishop John Stratford, Political Revolutionary and Champion of the Liberties of the English Church, ca.1275/80-1348. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. ISBN 0888440766. (1986, biography)
• Haines, R.M. (ed.). The Register of John de Stratford, Bishop of Winchester, 1323-1333: Vol. I. Surrey Record Society. Vol. 42. Woking. ISBN 9780902978171. (2010, historical records)
• Haines, R.M. (ed.). The Register of John de Stratford, Bishop of Winchester, 1323-1333: Vol. II. Surrey Record Society. Vol. 43. Woking. ISBN 9780902978188. (2011, historical records)
• Ronald W. Lightbown, "An Architect Earl: Edward Augustus Stratford (1736-1801), 2nd Earl of Aldborough" OLL Editions in association with the Irish Georgian Society (2009)
• Ada K. Longfield (Mrs. H. G. Leask), Linen and Cotton Printing at Stratford-on-Slaney, County Wicklow The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 75, No. 1 (Mar., 1945), pp. 24–31 (1945, regarding Edward Stratford, 2nd Earl of Aldborough, and his work in founding Stratford-on-Slaney)
• Martina Galvin, "Interior Landscapes: Aldborough House" Blurb Self-Publishing (2011, Photobook)
• Stanley Lane-Pool, The life of Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, from his memoirs and private and official papers (1888, biography)
• E. C. Wingfield-Stratford, Before the lamps went out (1946, autobiography)

• The Stratford Family by Gerald Stratford (A partial history of the family written in 1988)
• Genealogy forum for the surname: Stratford
• Stratford DNA Project (a genetic genealogy project for the surnames Stratford, Stafford, Spafford, Staford, Stowford, Strafford, and Styweard)