THE PEOPLE OF ELFORD

The Elford Pedigree

Sir Thomas Arderne (died 1391)

Sir Thomas was a knight who accompanied the Black Prince to Spain and who fought alongside him at Poitiers in 1356. He married Matilda, daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Stafford of Pipe and Clifton Campville.

Sir John Stanley (1423-1469/74)

Sir John, son of Sir Thomas Stanley and Matilda Arderne, married three times. His first marriage, 1428, was by dispensation at the age of five years! He later had a son, John, by this marriage. His second marriage, to Matilda, daughter of Sir Richard Vernon of Peake, was soon followed by a third to Anne Hansacre, widow of Sir William Norreys, Knight.

Sir John was sheriff of Staffordshire four times in 1450, 1459, 1465 and 1469. He was listed to attend the Privy Council when summoned by Henry IV. He addes the south aisle to St Peter's Church and completed the Chantry of the Cross founded by his father 'for the maintenance of one Prieste perpetually to celebrate dayly masse for the good of all Christians'.

The presence of the eagle and child on his tomb relates to the following legend. One Sir Thomas Latham had an illegitimate son he wished to adopt since his wife was barren. Seeing that an eagle had built its nest in an old oak tree on his parkland, he secretly had the baby placed in the nest and sent for his wife, who was overjoyed by the apparent miracle. She happily took the child as her own. Sir John Stanley was descended from the female side of the Latham family. There is a wooden shingle from the original church roof which has the legend painted on it. This now hangs on the north-east pillar of the Chantry by Sir John's effigy.

Hon. Mary Howard (1785-1877)

Mary was the last lineal descendant of Sir John Stanley. She was a great benefactress to Elford repairing the church and improving the tenants cottages.

Francis Edward Paget (1806-1882)

Rector of Elford (1835-1882), a prolific author and member of the Oxford Movement, Francis Edward Paget wrote 'The Hope of the Katzekopfs' in 1844 to decry the selfishness of a spoiled prince and convey a sense of self-discipline through the lessons taught by a fairy, an imp, and the old man 'Discipline'.

Other books include -

Caleb Kniveton. 1833.

St. Antolins: or Old Churches and New. 1841.

The Warden of Berkingholt. 1843.

The Owlet of Owlstone Edge. 1856.

A Student Penitent of 1695. 1875.

And many other works.

Proceeds from his books were given to the Parish. He also ran evening classes, a library, a savings scheme and a choral society.

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