Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, on this date in 1690: seventh great-grandmother Mary Stafford (m. Bennett). She was grandmother of our “famous” pioneer ancestor in Pennsylvania, Thomas Bennet. Looking backward, Mary was (by anecdote only) descended from the scheming Duke of Buckingham, Henry Stafford. Duke Buckingham was a close adviser to his cousin King Richard III, but switched his allegiance to Henry Tudor (a more distant cousin) a bit too early. The Duke was executed before his new benefactor made good his overthrow of King Richard, and took the throne as King Henry VII in the year 1485. If the anecdotal evidence is correct, Duke Henry Stafford is our 15th great-grandfather. Read more …
