Margaret was abducted by
Ralph, Lord Stafford, who had helped
Edward III take the throne. At the time, her worth was at least £2314 a year, which was more than ten times Stafford's own estates. (However, he eventually rose to
Earl of Stafford in 1350.) After the abduction, her parents filed a complaint with the king, but Edward supported Stafford. In compensation, the king appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh the 1st
Earl of Gloucester. Margaret de Audley and Stafford married before 6 July 1336. They subsequently had two sons and four daughters: • Sir Ralph de Stafford (d. 1347), married
Maud of Lancaster, daughter of
Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and
Isabel of Beaumont in 1344. •
Hugh de Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, born circa 1336 in
Staffordshire, England, married
Philippa de Beauchamp; they were the ancestors of the
Dukes of Buckingham (1444 creation). • Beatrice de Stafford, born circa 1341 in Staffordshire, England, died 1415, married firstly, in 1350,
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond (d. June 1358); married secondly,
Thomas de Ros, 4th Baron de Ros, of Helmsley; married thirdly Sir Richard Burley,
Knt. • Katherine de Stafford, born circa 1348 in Staffordshire, England and died in December 1361. Married on 25 December 1357 Sir
John de Sutton III (1339 – c. 1370 or 1376), Knight, Master of
Dudley Castle, Staffordshire. They were parents of Sir
John de Sutton IV, hence grandparents of Sir
John de Sutton V. ==References==