Biography of Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland 1499-1555
Paternal Family Tree: Stafford
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Merbury
On 02 Nov 1483 [her grandfather] Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 29) was beheaded in Salisbury Marketplace [Map] for his part in the rebellion. His son [her father] Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 5) succeeded 8th Earl Stafford, 9th Baron Stafford.
In Dec 1489 [her father] Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 11) and [her mother] Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham were married. She by marriage Duchess of Buckingham. The executors of her father [her grandfather] Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland, who had been hanged by rebels during the Northern Rebellion earlier in the year, having paid King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 32) £4000 for the privilege. His father, [her grandfather] Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham, had been hanged for treason in 1483. She the daughter of Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland and Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland. He the son of Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham Duchess Bedford (age 31). They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. 
Around 1499 Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland was born to Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 20) and Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham.
On 06 Feb 1499 Ralph Neville 3rd Earl of Westmoreland (age 43) died at Hornby Castle [Map]. His grandson [her future husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland succeeded 4th Earl of Westmoreland three weeks before his first birthday.
Before Dec 1512 Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 14) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 13) were married. She by marriage Countess of Westmoreland. She the daughter of Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 34) and Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1517 [her daughter] Eleanor Neville was born to [her husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 18) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 18).
On 17 May 1521 [her father] Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 43) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map] for no specific reason other than his having a significant amount of Plantagenet blood and was, therefore, considered a threat by Henry VIII (age 29). He was posthumously attainted by Act of Parliament on 31 July 1523, disinheriting his children. He was buried at St Peter's Church, Britford [Map]. Duke of Buckingham, Earl Stafford and Baron Stafford extinct.
His father Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham had been executed for his part in Buckingham's Rebellion, his great-grandfather Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham was killed at the 1460 Battle of Northampton, and his great-great grand-father was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury, not forgetting his great-uncle Henry Stafford who was killed at the Battle of Barnet and his daughter Margaret Stafford (age 10) who was burned at the stake for her part in Bigod's Rebellion.
In 1525 [her son] Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland was born to [her husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 26) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 26).
After 1527 [her son-in-law] Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and [her daughter] Elizabeth Neville were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 28) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 28). They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. 
Letters and Papers 1528. 31 Oct 1528. R. O. 4891. Henry Duke Of Richmond (age 9) To Henry VIII.
Has passed this last summer without any peril of the rageous sweat that hath reigned in these parts. Thanks the King for the preservatives he sent. There are now with him my [her husband] lord of Westmoreland (age 30) and his wife (age 29), and their son lord Nevell. Sheriff Hutton [Map].
Hol., p. 1. Add.
In 1530 [her mother] Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham died.
On 02 Jul 1536 three weddings between the Neville, and Manners and Vere families, were celebrated at one mass at Holywell Priory [Map]:
[her son] Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland (age 11) and [her daughter-in-law] Anne Manners Countess of Westmoreland (age 9) were married. She the daughter of Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland (age 44) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 41). He the son of [her husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 38) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 37). They were half fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. 
[her son-in-law] Henry Manners 2nd Earl of Rutland (age 9) and [her daughter] Margaret Neville Countess Rutland were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 38) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 37). He the son of Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland (age 44) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 41). They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
[her son-in-law] John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford (age 20) and [her daughter] Dorothy Neville Countess of Oxford were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 38) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 37). He the son of John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 65) and Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford.
Those present included Thomas Audley 1st Baron Audley Walden (age 48), Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 63), Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 52), Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 19), Henry Courtenay 1st Marquess Exeter (age 40), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 65) and Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 38).
Letters. 25 Apr 1544. Catherine, Countess of Westmoreland (age 45) to Earl of Shrewsbury (age 44).
After my most hearty recommendations unto your good lordship, this shall be to advertise the same that my servant, Ninian Meuvill, the bringer hereof, who is a gentleman, and is very desirous to serve the king's majesty on the borders fore anenst Scotland. Wherefore, my lord, I pray you that you would, at this mine instance and desire, admit him to be a eaptain upon the said borders. Trusting that he will so use himself therein or in any other business that it shall please your lordship to put him unto, if it be belonging a gentleman to do, that you shall be contented therewith, or else I would be right loath to write thus in his favour. And Almighty God preserve your good lordship.
From Brandspath [Map], the 25th day of April.
To the Right Honourable and my very good lord, the King's Majesty's Lieutenant, be this given.
[Talbot Papers, Volume B. Folio. 18. College of Arms. Original.]
The Countess of Westmoreland (age 45) was the second daughter of Edward, Duke of Backingham, and given in marriage to Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland (age 46), to compensate him for his disappointment, when her elder sister Elizabeth (age 47), to whom he had been previously plighted, was given in marriage to Thomas, Earl Surrey (age 71), afterwards 4th Duke of Norfolk. She had a large family of seven sons and nine daughters. She died on Tuesday, May 14th, 1555, and was buried the following Friday at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch.a
The residence of the countess at Colbrandspath exposed her to occasional perils, in the often disturbed state of the northern counties. Thomas Tempest, writing on one occasion to the Duke of Norfolk, detailing some disturbances that had arisen on account of the absence of the Bishop of Durham and Earl of Westmoreland, adds, — "My lady of Westmoreland, with such counsel as she taketh to her, stayeth the country here for a time; I assure your lordship, she rather playeth the part of a knight than of a lady, as your lordship shall well perceive at your coming hither."b
The Earl of Shrewsbury, to whom the present letter is addressed, was appointed lieutenant of the North in the year 1544.
Note a. Harleian MS. 897, fol. 80.
Note b. Miscellaneous Letters, 1st series, vol. iv. fol. 15. State Paper Office.
In 1549 [her son] Cuthbert Neville was born to [her husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 50) and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 50).
On 24 Apr 1549 [her husband] Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland (age 51) died. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Staindrop [Map]. His son [her son] Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland (age 24) succeeded 5th Earl of Westmoreland. [her daughter-in-law] Anne Manners Countess of Westmoreland (age 22) by marriage Countess of Westmoreland.
After Jun 1549 [her son] Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland (age 24) and [her daughter-in-law] Jane Cholmley Countess of Westmoreland (age 31) were married. She by marriage Countess of Westmoreland. He would later marry her older sister Margaret Cholmley Countess of Westmoreland (age 41); an example of Married to Two Siblings. He the son of Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 50).
In 1553 [her son-in-law] Fulke Greville 12th Baron Latimer 4th Baron Willoughby (age 17) and [her daughter] Anne Neville Baroness Latimer were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 54).
On 14 May 1555 Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland (age 56) died at Holywell, the house of her son-in-law the earl of Rutland (age 28), in the parish of Shoreditch.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 17 May 1555. The xvij day of May was bered the contesse of Vestmerland (deceased) at Sordyche [Map], for ther was a goodly hersse with iiij banars of emages, and iiij banars-rolles, and mony mornars, and ther was master Garter and Ruge-crosse, and after all done a gret dener.
Note. Page 88. Funeral of the countess of Westmerland. Katharine, daughter of Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, K.G. and wife of Ralph earl of Westmerland. A letter from her to the earl of Shrewsbury, 25 Apr. 1544, has been published in Miss Wood's Letters of Ladies, iii. 182. She died at Holywell, the house of her son-in-law the [her son-in-law] earl of Rutland (age 28), in the parish of Shoreditch, on Tuesday, May 14, 1555. (MS. Harl. 897, fol. 78b, 80.) In that church was erected a joint monument, with four kneeling effigies, representing Elinor (Paston) countess of Rutland, who died in 1551; this countess of Westmerland (deceased); her daughter Margaret countess of Rutland, who died 1560 (see Note hereafter to p. 215); and lady Katharine Constable, who died 1591, a granddaughter of the first; which see engraved in Ellis's Shoreditch, p. 56, or Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. ii. pl. xii.
[her son] Christopher Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her son] Thomas Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her daughter] Elizabeth Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her daughter] Margaret Neville Countess Rutland was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her daughter] Mary Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her daughter] Anne Neville Baroness Latimer was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her daughter] Dorothy Neville Countess of Oxford was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her son] Ralph Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her son] George Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
[her son] Edward Neville was born to Ralph Neville 4th Earl of Westmoreland and Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of Philip "The Fair" IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Stafford 2nd Earl Stafford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edmund Stafford 5th Earl Stafford 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Beauchamp Countess Stafford
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas of Woodstock 1st Duke of Gloucester
Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne of Gloucester Plantagenet Countess Eu and Stafford Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Bohun Duchess Gloucester
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster
GrandFather: Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset
Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster
Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Beaufort 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Beauchamp 12th Earl Warwick 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Ferrers Countess Warwick
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 10th and 5th Baron Berkeley, Baron Lisle
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Countess Warwick 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lisle Baroness Berkeley 3rd Baroness Lisle
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Father: Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Woodville
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Woodville
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Bittelsgate
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Beauchamp
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beauchamp
GrandMother: Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham Duchess Bedford 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy of Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Ligny
8 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Luxemburg Count St Pol 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilde Chatillon Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Count of Enghien
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Brienne
Great x 1 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Francesco Baux 1st Duke Andria
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Nicholas Orsini Count 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sueva Orsini 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Sabran
Katherine Stafford Countess of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Percy 1st Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry "Hotspur" Percy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Neville 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Mortimer 3rd Earl March, Earl Ulster
6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness Camoys Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Plantagenet Countess March 5th Countess Ulster
Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Percy 3rd Earl of Northumberland 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Neville Countess Northumberland Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster
GrandFather: Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Poynings 3rd Baron Poynings
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Poynings 4th Baron Poynings 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Grey Baroness Poynings 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Poynings 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Reginald Grey 3rd Baron Grey Ruthyn 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Grey Baroness Poynings 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Ros Baroness Grey Ruthyn
3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Poynings Countess Northumberland 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Rich Berkeley 8th and 3rd Baron Berkeley 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Clivedon Baroness Berkeley
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Berkeley Countess Arundel 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bettershorne
Mother: Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William ap Thomas "Blue Knight of Gwent" Herbert
Great x 1 Grandfather: William "Black William" Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandfather: Llewellyn Brecon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Dafydd Gam Brecon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam "Star of Abergavenny" Brecon
GrandMother: Maud Herbert Countess Northumberland 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Devereux
5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Crophull 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Crophull 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Devereux 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Merbury
